thesquidking Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Hi Guys, This question may of had been asked before but anyway here we go, I am interested to hear who keeps their sounders on whilst anchored and fishing in shallow water such as Sydney harbour? I always turn my sounder off while at anchor but have never really tried fishing at anchor with the sounder on as i fear it will scare the fish off. I run a 620 furuno with a 600 watt tranny. Just curious on other peoples thoughts? Cheers Squidking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkedup Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Hi Squidking That is an interesting question I allways leave mine on and in the bait grounds the fish still seem to stay arround the boat however I have noticed the noise it makes under the water while I was swimming near the boat one day I would also be interested in what others think Arked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh88 Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I always leave our on. Had no idea it could affect the fish Anyone know more about this? Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightmanager Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 We always leave ours on, doesnt seem to affect the fish at all. Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tide'n'knots Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I have heard that the sound it puts out is like a dolphin and scares the fish but its probably an urban myth. whenever i fish out of my mates boat he leaves it on and we still seem to get fish most times, but out of frustration I have turned it off when the fishing is quiet and the fishing always remains quiet. Does it affect the fishing? in my humble opinion NO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I leave mine off. I ran a charter in Nz for 8 years and every time a boat came past with their sounder on the snapper would go off the bite for 10-15 minutes. A good way to stuff someone who anchored too close, put sounder on full and work up their berly trail. The ping sent down by the transducer affects the lateral line on a lot of fish. The only time I left mine on was and is when drifting as you are not bombarding the fish with the ping. Try swimming under the boat when the sounder is on. Even thick skinned people can feel the shocks hitting the skin. Let alone a sensitive fish. Cheers Rowan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King slayer Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I've heard this might be the case, and I had a similar situation a few weeks back..sort of. My sounder is always on, but the bait tank pump had some sand in it one day while gathering yakkas at balmoral, on a day when they were little shy, and it was making a grinding noise. Each time I switched it on, the bite went right off, and when off, after 5 mins and some more burley, right back on again. This is in an area normally frequented by boats and people, so noise surely has some effect. Obviously this is different to the sounder noise, which as i said is always on, but that time it made a difference. As for sounder noise, I can't say i've experimented quite enough to give an informed opinion, but I imagine it would have have some effect. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPSGT Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 (edited) Its an interesting topic, especially Kiwis dans comment on the his charter. I have caught all my big snapper in shallow water (35 feet ) at anchor and always with the sounder on and have bagged out on small snapper (38cm - 60cm) whilst do the same. And every snapper charter I've been on never turns of the sounder (just the GPS ) when your at anchor All I know is when I got my first hummingbird 100 sounder I caught more fish When I got my Lowrance X125 i caught even more fish If a fish has been scared off by my sounder - well, theres always going to be one that gets away, and I can make up a better excuse than "it was my sounder" Having said that, I'm not using US Military spec, weapons grade, able to belly up whales on a single pass sounder. One thing I do take note of though - on the American Pro Bass fishing circuit, where the top guys make seven figures in winnings and sponsorship, they always have there sounders on, even the guys not sponsored by marine electronics companies. if it gave these guys a 1% advantage over their competitors they would probably do it. Jason Edited November 15, 2008 by PPSGT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big-Banana Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 It's a rubbish theory. A complete myth IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh88 Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 One thing I do take note of though - on the American Pro Bass fishing circuit, where the top guys make seven figures in winnings and sponsorship, they always have there sounders on, even the guys not sponsored by marine electronics companies. if it gave these guys a 1% advantage over their competitors they would probably do it. Jason They aren't really fishing directly under their boat though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogtooth Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Hi squid king , I run the same sounder as you , I always turn mine off when fishing for Jewfish or Snapper anchored . Only reason i do this is because a few guys that profish swore that it would put the fish, Jewfish or Snapper off the Bite . Cheers Dogtooth ..... John.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quinnie480 Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Ahh so thats why I have never caught a jewie out of my boat, I'll have to remember to turn my finder off the next time im fishing for them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogtooth Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 (edited) Here's a worthwille read regarding sonars...... But turning your sounder off will only work if using a GENUINE 600 watt plus sounder ... Also im sure you have heard your transducer make clicking noises . As with all sounders they work off the size of the fishes swim bladder , the bigger the fish , the bigger the swim bladder and the more it is affected by your sounder.... So if your chasing Giant jews or Huge reds you dont need your sounder on while your anchored . . Your not going anywhere... http://www.physorg.com/news102869243.html Cheers John... Edited November 16, 2008 by dogtooth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesquidking Posted November 16, 2008 Author Share Posted November 16, 2008 Hi guys, Some interesting replies so far. I also think that it depends on what kind of fishing that you do as to what affect the sounder might have, example if you are luring from your boat or casting weighted baits away from the boat that will have a differance as to fishing directly under the boat as you would for kings. I have caught all my jewies and kings when my sounder is off but then again i switch it off 95% of the time when anchored. Regards Squidking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbielites Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 As with all sounders they work off the size of the fishes swim bladder. Sorry John but that is not true at all. It is a very common misconception but it is baseless. Sonar works on reflection, a signal is sent and the computer interprets that signals return. That returned signal has nothing to do with swim bladders it is all about time and distance of objects that are in the path of the signal. Sharks don't have swim bladders but I am sure a decent sounder would pick up a 80kg Mako under your boat. To the original point, I don't think I have ever turned mine off.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glennmreid Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 very interesting. always left mine on. so i am confused which way to go, on of off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamtime Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Sharks don't have swim bladders but I am sure a decent sounder would pick up a 80kg Mako under your boat. As you mentioned, very interesting topic. I, as far as I can recall, always leave the electronics on. (To ensure you have not dragged the anchor and moved off your structure) The shark issue is quite relevant, when fishing the reefs in tropical Australia. Sharks always seem to come around the boat when fishing depths of 20 metres or less. The bite goes off immediately after the first Reef Shark is caught. I always thought this was due to the sharks presence as the fish go into defensive mode. Maybe it could have something to do with the sounder. Would definately like to hear from a qualified person on this subject, that's for sure. Cheers Mariner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbielites Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 The shark issue is quite relevant, when fishing the reefs in tropical Australia. Sharks always seem to come around the boat when fishing depths of 20 metres or less. The bite goes off immediately after the first Reef Shark is caught. I always thought this was due to the sharks presence as the fish go into defensive mode.Maybe it could have something to do with the sounder. Cheers Mariner Carl. if the fish are there and your electronics are on then an apex predator shows up and the fish bugger off I wouldn't blame it on the electronics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogtooth Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 (edited) Heres another intresting read..... As for sharks if you have ever cut one open there livers are very huge and floats so yes you will pick up sharks with your sounder..... http://www.gpscentral.ca/fishfinders.html http://www.science.org.au/nova/102/102print.htm Large jewfish have very large otoliths... Cheers John...... Edited November 17, 2008 by dogtooth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbielites Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 (edited) Heres another intresting read..... As for sharks if you have ever cut one open there livers are very huge and floats so yes you will pick up sharks with your sounder..... Agreed mate. The reasons sharks float is the high level of oil in their liver, it is their buoyancy system. However, the liver of a shark or a swim bladder on a bream is not what makes a sounder work. If I shaped a Bream out of concrete and dragged it through your sonar cone you would see it, swim bladder or not Edited November 17, 2008 by Robbielites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogtooth Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Agreed mate. The reasons sharks float is the high level of oil in their liver, it is their buoyancy system. However, the liver of a shark or a swim bladder on a bream is not what makes a sounder work. If I shaped a shark out of concrete and dragged it through your sonar cone you would see it, swim bladder or not I agree that you will see a concrete block but , sounders work off fishes swim bladders and if your using a colour unit , fish will show up differently depending on the size of there swim bladders. . Have a look at the previous links posted . . . I am able to watch a soft plastic dropped to the bottom in 20 metres of water and watch my jig when jigging at the peak . . . When downrigging can watch the bomb perfectly . . . Able to take you in the river sometime for a soft plastic session so you can have a look... http://www.defender.com/html/fishfinder_info.html cheers John... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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