Ever fancied yourself having a first-person view under the water without actually being under the water? That is precisely what an underwater fishing camera enables you to do, in a nutshell.
It wasn’t the first time technology met fishing. But when underwater fishing cameras came out, the newest collaboration of technology with fishing surely left people awestruck. Come to think of it, that’s actually an understatement, people’s excitement with underwater fishing cameras has been seeing a steady increase, ever since. The possibilities are endless, the sky is truly the limit for these devices!
Want to see how the fish reacting to your bait? Like observing the behavior of fish around your trap? Just send the underwater fishing camera down there and see the video feed conveniently from above the water, on the screen.
In this article, I’ve rounded up seven of the best underwater fishing cameras in the market and discussed every single detail about them. No matter what criteria you have, I’m sure you’ll find at least one that’ll satisfy your needs. In addition, there’s also a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section accompanied by a buyer’s guide – which should clear up any confusion.
Without further ado, let’s get right to it.
Best Underwater Fishing Camera- 6 top picks
Best Underwater Fishing Camera- comparison
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
 
|
Premium Choice
|
|
 
|
My Pick
|
|
 
|
Best Ice fishing Camera
|
|
 
|
Best for Beginners
|
|
 
|
|
|
 
|
Value for Money
|
|
 
|
Budget Choice
|
1. PowerVision PRW10 – Premium Choice
Specifications
- Cable Length: 230 feet.
- Camera Resolution: 3840 x 2160 (4K).
- Additional Lighting: 450 lumens light with adjustable brightness.
- Screen: No screen, comes with Zeiss VR One Plus virtual reality headset.
- Battery Backup: 4 hours.
Did you read Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Verne? If you have, chances are high the futuristic design of this device will remind you of Nautilus, the fictional submarine that belonged to Captain Nemo.
While owning a submarine may be a bit tricky for most, PowerVision PRW10 can be bought off the shelf any day and I tell you what, navigating your own drone under the water is as close as it gets to the real deal.
Yes, you heard that right, this is an underwater drone that you can drive like a remote controlled toy car!
It packs a lot of neat features like the deep diving capability, 4K UHD camera, fish finder sonar and magnetic bait drop to locate and place bait any your desired location. But what truly steals the show is, you can connect it to VR goggles. That means you get to have the first-person view (FPV) as if you’re actually inside of a submarine searching for Atlantis!
PowerVision PRW10 is not for everyone, frankly speaking. If all you just want is some underwater fishing camera, this would be way overkill. However, if you’re the type that gets a kick from trying out highly sophisticated, futuristic devices and budget is no problemo, this one is something you’d really, really enjoy.
Pros
- Great camera, excellent for underwater exploration.
- VR headset offers an immersive experience.
- Onboard fish finder sonar.
- Can be paired to any iOS or Android mobile device using the dedicated app.
Cons
- More on the expensive side.
- The app could be better in terms of user experience.
2. Eyoyo EF360 – My Pick
Specifications
- Cable Length: 100 feet.
- Camera Resolution: 1280 x 720 (HD).
- Additional Lighting: Infrared LED light.
- Screen: 9 inch TFT monitor.
- Battery Backup: 4 hours.
Eyoyo EF360 is one of my favorites from this list, and by the time you’re done reading this article, I’m confident it’ll be one of your favorites too. And why won’t it be? This underwater fishing camera comes with everything you will possibly ever need.
How many times did you wish you were Elasti -Girl from Doom Patrol so you could extend your hand deep into the water and rotate the camera just a little bit to get a better viewing angle? Say no more! The key feature of this underwater fishing camera is, its camera can be fully rotated horizontally from above the water remotely which is a total game changer.
And while that remains to be the highlight, Eyoyo didn’t hesitate to make the other aspects just as great, either. Big color screen? Check. Infrared lighting? Check. Good battery backup? Check. It has everything, as I said!
If you’re looking for the best underwater fishing camera you can get, check this one out.
Pros
- The camera can be rotated 360° using the remote control for greater visibility.
- A big screen with a good resolution provides a decent viewing experience.
- The IR light consists of 18 pcs of LED, so it’s easier to see even in dark water.
- Comes with aluminum case for ease of transportation.
- A pretty lengthy cable allows you to send the camera deep into the water.
Cons
- The cable it comes with is quite thin. The lack of tethering point on the camera doesn’t allow the user to attach any additional line, either.
3. MarCum Recon 5 Plus – Best Ice fishing Camera
Specifications
- Cable Length: 50 feet.
- Camera Resolution: 800 x 480.
- Additional Lighting: Infrared LED light.
- Screen: 5 inch LCD monitor.
- Battery Backup: 6 hours.
MarCum Recon 5 Plus is a compact, humble-looking underwater ice fishing camera that is very popular among ice fishing enthusiasts. Unlike most of its competitors, the underwater fishing camera has a very portable and lightweight design making it easy to carry around. Ease of transportation is what MarCum focused on for Recon 5 Plus, and I must say they’ve done a very good job with that.
The camera has a good resolution and the screen may be small in size but doesn’t do a terrible job at displaying clear footage from the camera. It doesn’t have many impressive features, true. But the end of the day, the beauty of simplicity is what puts MarCum Recon 5 Plus in a league of its own.
To wrap things up, if you need an underwater camera for ice fishing, Marcum Recon 5 Plus would be one of the best underwater fishing cameras for you.
Pros
- Good for ice fishing.
- Compact and lightweight design, easy to store.
- The cable length is more than enough for most anglers.
Cons
- The sun shield doesn’t do a good job at reducing glare from the sun, resulting in poor screen visibility.
4. Aqua-vu 715C – Best for Beginners
Specifications
- Cable Length: 50 feet.
- Camera Resolution: 644 x 488
- Additional Lighting: Infrared LED light.
- Screen: 7 inch LCD monitor.
- Battery Backup: 4 hours.
Aqua-vu 715C is the best fishing camera for those who have no prior experience with underwater cameras.
On the one hand, it doesn’t have a lot of features so no chance of overwhelming the user. But on the other hand, it may not do a lot of different stuff, but this fishing camera can do everything an underwater fishing camera should, and that too in a great way. And the simple but decent performance paralleled with its excellent ease of use is what makes it such an appealing option for newbies who want to explore the underwater world.
One of the key features I must mention is the OptiRX lens that’s been used in the camera, which is of the same quality researchers use at the laboratory. So, you can guess how good it allows the camera to perform underwater.
If you want something that’s a piece of cake to use, Aqua-vu 715 would be undoubtedly one of the best underwater cameras for you.
Pros
- The camera is equipped with a laboratory quality OptiRX lens, that provides a crystal-clear underwater view.
- Can be connected to a bigger monitor (e.g. TV) if the screen it comes with doesn’t suffice.
- Affordable.
- Intuitive control, high usability.
Cons
- Not suitable for ice fishing and murky water.
- No video recording function.
5. Moocor LQ-4315
Specifications
- Cable Length: 50 feet.
- Camera Resolution: 1280 x 720 (HD).
- Additional Lighting: Infrared LED light.
- Screen: 4.3 inch LCD monitor.
- Battery Backup: 8 hours.
This one is a compact, neatly designed underwater fishing camera that does what it’s supposed to do fairly well. What do I mean by that?
In simple words, you won’t be happy with this if you’re all about the bells and whistles.
No, Moocor LQ-431 is definitely not the fanciest fishing camera of the year. It’s more like a minimal but reliable underwater fishing camera that won’t let you down when you need it the most. Along with the rugged and durable build quality, its battery backup is very good too. I did say it doesn’t boast many features but don’t get me wrong, this surely comes with the ones you’d actually be using. Low battery alert, for example, is there anything more useful than that?
That being said, unfortunately, the lack of a video recording function may be a deal-breaker for some. But apart from that, there’s no significant flaw in this underwater fishing camera from Moocor, really. Given the price, you can’t really go wrong with Moocor LQ-431.
Pros
- The portable screen has a sun visor and LED backlight, make it readable even under bright sunlight.
- Has plenty of useful features like 4x digital zoom, low battery alert, toggling IR light on or off.
- The cable is very strong, can bear the tension of 88 lbs. maximum.
- Great for kayak fishing and dock fishing.
Cons
- The camera picks up lots of distortion on the screen in cold water, shouldn’t be used for ice fishing.
- No video recording function.
6. Eyoyo EF07 – Value for Money
Specifications
- Cable Length: 50 feet.
- Camera Resolution: 1280 x 720 (HD).
- Additional Lighting: Infrared LED light.
- Screen: 7 inch LCD monitor.
- Battery Backup: 10 hours.
Eyoyo is one of the mover and shakers that manufactures some of the most popular fishing cameras. And that’s for a reason, of course. Their products provide the most value for money, without question.
Okay, did the last sentence get your attention? The people who hunt for the most bang for their buck, gather around me. Today I’m here to tell you about the most appropriate fishing camera for you, which is none other than *drum roll* the Eyoyo EF07!
It’s simply amazing how Eyoyo went above and beyond for this one, packing as many features as they could while still managing to keep it one of the least expensive fish finders. Kudos to the designers.
The camera is HD. The battery backup is awesome. It can withstand extreme heat conditions as well as extreme cold conditions. Come on, what more one could ever wish for?
This underwater fishing camera takes the crown when it comes to the value to cost ratio. If that’s what you’re looking for, Eyoyo EF07 won’t disappoint you.
Pros
- Can withstand -20 degree to +60 degree temperature, making it ideal for all kind of weather conditions.
- Comes with an aluminum case for ease of transport.
- Can be used for a long time on a single charge.
Cons
- The cable is somewhat thin.
- The instruction manual isn’t helpful.
- The IR light can’t be turned off.
7. HANRICO Portable Underwater Fishing Camera – Budget Choice
Specifications
- Cable Length: 100 feet.
- Camera Resolution: 1280 x 720 (HD).
- Additional Lighting: Infrared LED light.
- Screen: 4.3 inch LCD monitor.
- Battery Backup: 20 hours.
HANRICO portable underwater fishing camera is certainly the most affordable underwater camera on my list, but that doesn’t make it inferior in any way, of course. If it wasn’t as good as the other ones, I wouldn’t have kept it on this carefully curated list, right?
First off, the battery backup of this thing is a head-turner. Twenty hours, can you imagine that? Two times more than its competitors! You can even charge it with your good old power bank! Although I doubt you’d ever be viewing the underwater action for that long on a single charge.
Then comes the very wide viewing angle, which is the highest in its segment. The digital zoom is a pleasant surprise at this price. The only thing I didn’t like is it can’t record video.
But I guess one can’t have everything in life.
In a nutshell, if you’re looking for a bare-bones camera that’ll get the job done and won’t break the bank, this is one of the best underwater fishing cameras at this price.
Pros
- Excellent battery backup.
- The camera has a wide 200° viewing angle.
- Can be charged using a 5v power bank.
- Offers 4 levels of digital zooming (1x, 1.1x, 1.3x and 1.5x).
- The cable can withstand a tension of up to 175 lbs.
- Very affordable.
Cons
- The video quality isn’t great.
- No video recording function.
- The screen doesn’t display any water information like depth or temperature.
Buying an Underwater Fishing Camera: Everything You Need to Know
With so many options to choose from, it’s okay to be confused or even feel a bit lost when it comes to picking up the perfect underwater fishing camera for yourself. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Just take a deep breath, lay down your criteria, keep a few factors in mind and you’ll be fine. Really.
Let me walk you through the ins and outs of buying an underwater fishing camera.
Cable Length
Newbies often make this mistake of not checking the cable length and that’s okay, I myself didn’t realize the importance about it in the beginning either.
So, what’s the big deal about it? Firstly, cable length is what determines how deep your camera can go. And yes, that’s obvious, but I’ve also made another rookie mistake there. I thought I needed something that allows up to 45 feet of depth, so the 50 feet long cable length would suffice, right?
Wrong.
Using the 50 feet cable, the camera could only be right underneath my boat as the maximum possible distance was the length of it. I’d need a longer cable if I wanted to move my kayak a few feet away after dropping the camera unless I was planning on dragging the camera along.
That being said, if you’re dock fishing or ice fishing, you wouldn’t have to face this issue. But at least you now know why and how cable length matters.
Additional Lighting
I can’t stress this enough, additional lighting is a must in dark waters. Even if you’re fishing in the cleanest water, it starts getting dark just a few feet below the surface. Fortunately, all of the cameras on my list come with additional lights.
Speaking of that, make sure the camera you’re picking has infrared lights and no, that’s not because infrared light is invisible. It’s only invisible to human eyes, fish can very well see it. You’d want to go for infrared light because it simply offers better visibility than regular lights in darker waters
Screen Specifications
Yes, the camera per se can be great, but if the screen can’t display the video feed sent by the camera clearly, does it really matter how amazing the camera you have on the other end?
You get the point. The screen doesn’t have to beat your home theatre setup, but it at least should display the video properly. The bigger the screen is, the better. Resolution should be something you’d want to check for, as well. If the screen has RCA output, that’s another plus as you can connect a bigger screen or your TV to it for higher visibility.
Lastly, make sure it’s bright enough. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to see anything under the bright sunlight. On that note, sun protection visors can be a lifesaver.
Battery Backup
If you go fishing for long hours, decent battery backup is more than a requirement. Most manufacturers state how long the camera can be used on a single charge, which ranges from 4-10 hours, while few even offer as much as 20 hours of usage. Pick the one that meets your criteria, and keep in mind that it’s good to have a bit more than what you need.
Very few fishing cameras have a replaceable battery. However, some can be charged using a power bank so that can serve as an additional power source.
DurabilitY
This may be a no-brainer, but here goes a friendly reminder anyway – make sure to check the camera enclosure can withstand the pressure underwater – which can build up quickly with higher depth. Along with that, the cable should also be strong enough to support the camera and withstand some pressure, in case the camera gets stuck somewhere and you need to pull the cable hard to retrieve it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does an underwater camera work?
Underwater cameras – the ones that are designed specifically for finding fish – are basically regular cameras that come with some additional features for better visibility and underwater.
Most, if not all, underwater fishing cameras come with infrared light they may have to work in low light conditions in deep water.
A monitor is included with underwater fishing cameras, using which the angler can see the camera feed from above the water. The camera and the monitor are connected via a cable, that doubles as the tether too.
Lastly, they’re battery-powered and can run for hours on a single charge. Some advanced models offer camera panning control and digital video recorder (DVR) as well.
How deep can an underwater camera go?
It depends on how much pressure the waterproof housing of the underwater camera can withstand. As we all know, the deeper the water is, the more pressure would be exerted on the camera.
However, in the case of underwater fishing cameras, there’s another constraining factor. Underwater fishing cameras can only go as deep as the cable length allows. Most have a 15-30 meter long cable, so they can go into such depths easily.
Do underwater cameras work in stained water?
Yes, as long as you’re managing your expectations.
These days, most underwater fishing cameras come with plenty of image enhancement technologies that make it easier to recognize fish even in murky water. The IR lights can be of great help in such situations. Along with that, a good monitor would also be useful, as low resolution and smaller monitors can make watching fish even in clear water challenging.
That being said, technology can only go so far. If the water is so stained that you yourself wouldn’t be able to see anything down there, don’t expect your camera to magically have x-ray vision.
How do you use an underwater camera for ice fishing?
The idea of sending your favorite underwater fishing camera under the ice in the cold, cold water may make many uncomfortable. But take my words for it – it’s not a big deal for your camera. Even the least expensive underwater fishing cameras would be fine there.
I could tell you the exact process in words, but I think you’d find this video more helpful as you’d get to actually watch how it all works. It also has some pointers that’ll help you to get started.
Final Words
Phew, we’re done. It’s been quite a wild ride in the underwater world, isn’t it? Let’s have a quick recap of what we’ve learned.
As the title promised, I’ve discussed seven of the best underwater fishing cameras in the market along with making sure to include all the intricacies so you don’t have to check any other place for more information. In case you’re still not sure about what to get, my pick is Eyoyo EF360.
After that, I’ve answered some commonly asked questions about underwater fishing cameras. Lastly, I’ve also added the supreme guide to buying underwater fishing cameras that you’ve just read above.
Choosing the best underwater fishing camera may be a daunting task, and I’ll be more than happy if my article makes it easier for you to pick. Whichever camera you get, make sure to do adequate research before making the final decision.
Happy Fishing!