Fishing with Captain Jay

If you've been fishing on a boat, you've probably used some type of electronics, whether it was the old depth finders and fish finders or the newer chartplotters and sonar. Anglers have always been curious about what's under their boats and sonar has played a big role in that discovery. Whether you're fishing channel edges, flats or deep-water structure it's always nice to know what will be holding the bait, therefore increasing your odds and giving you a better chance of catching fish.

Garmin's new LiveScope sonar technology is the most unique and innovative sonar on the water, giving you the ability to see structure, bait, any fish swimming and see it all live and in real time. The detail is simply amazing!

Old style sonars allowed you see what you'd already gone over in your boat but this new technology lets you see in front of you, to the side and below your boat. It will even show you 3D images of fish and structure around your boat. It's quite impressive!

Over the last few years, anglers with this forwardfacing sonar have unlocked the mystery of what was ahead. Whether it's locating structure, finding bait or actually seeing fish suspended in the water column, with this detailed technology you no longer need to just follow birds or bait with your eyes, it’s possible to see and track fish on the screen better than ever. It's without a doubt the best available when it comes to getting the most out of areas where traditional sonar doesn’t quite do the trick. There are certain Garmin models that are “Panoptix compatible" so please do your research before you purchase.

Just because the fish are there that doesn't mean they're going to bite, but what's so amazing about this technology is that you can actually see your lure in front of the fish to watch the reaction (or lack thereof). If your presentation isn't what the fish wants, simply change your lure, lure color or presentation. And even then some fish won't bite. A lot of fish will also strike your lure, not out of hunger, but out of instinct. A single fish may follow your bait but never strike it, but if you get a few fish interested, one of them will usually give in to the temptation.

Getting the most out of your fishing time often means getting the most out of your electronics. The traditional way of watching birds goes a long way, and it can be a great instantaneous indicator of bait and fish location, but there are plenty of fish to be caught without being right on diving birds.

Traditional sonars were costly and the new tech is even more expensive. If you spend a lot of time searching and trying to get

By Captain Jay Cranford www.coastalgafishing.com

a bite when you're not even sure fish are in an area, this will cut down your search time exponentially.

For our chartplotter and screen we chose the Garmin 1026sv and paired it with the LiveScope GLS 10 and the LVS34 transducer. The 34 seems to have better separation and clarity and has a range of up to 200 feet.

If you purchase this technology, be prepared to spend time learning it. You'll be able to identify fish, even the types and sizes, when you get your settings dialed in properly. The best way to learn your LiveScope is to get out and use it. There’s nothing better than time spent actually pushing the buttons and spending quality time on the water. It's really exciting technology and gives you something to look forward to. It's also a great way to locate bait if you're into catching your own. Most anglers look for better ways of locating and Photo provided by Garmin catching fish and this is just another tool to have in your

arsenal.

We're excited to use the new Garmin technology and to share our experiences and what we learn with others. It adds another element of excitement and increases your knowledge of fish behavior and then in turn hopefully you will catch more fish! Please, be good stewards of our waters; don't litter and only keep what you plan to eat. There will be more opportunities the next time you go.

Don't wish ... let's go fish!

Captain Jay has over 20 years experience fishing the Georgia coast. He's passionate about fishing and enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with you! gacharterfishing@gmail.com • www.coastalgafishing.com/