Introduction

Portable fish finders are a great accessory for any angler, whether you’re a novice or a pro. Some are very basic while others are surprisingly robust in the features they offer, so there’s definitely a portable fish finder for every angler out there.

Portable Fish Finder Reviews

Deeper Smart Sonar iPhone iOS and Android Smartphone and Tablet Compatible

Features

Bluetooth wireless

The Deeper Smart Sonar has built-in wireless capabilities and can be synched with all of your Bluetooth compatible devices, making it a highly versatile fish finder for fishermen on the go.

iOS and Android compatible

With iOS and Android compatibility built-in, you can synch the Deeper Smart Sonar with all of your favorite mobile devices like your smartphone and tablets.

Detailed readings

Perhaps one of the coolest features the Deeper Smart Sonar offers is its ability to provide a number of detailed readings that enable you to get the data you need in an instant. You get water contouring, water depth, water temp, underwater structures and vegetation, and, of course, you can easily tag fish, a highlight feature.

Versatility

The Deeper Smart Sonar can be used in both saltwater and freshwater, and its temperature range is -4 degrees Fahrenheit to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Thanks to its endurance and versatility, this is a portable fish finder that can be used for a variety of fish finding purposes, whether you’re ice fishing, kayak fishing, or shore fishing.

Range

Working on a dual sonar beam (290kHz [15 degrees]/90kHz [55 degrees]), the Deeper Smart Sonar can mark bodies as small as 3 inches at depths down to 130ft. Additionally, it also features adjustable sensitivity so you can tailor the device to better suit your specific needs.

The Pros

What to like:

Wireless Bluetooth technology
iOS and Android compatible—great for smartphones and tablets
Fish tagging; mark fish as small as 3 inches down to 130ft
Multiple detailed reading modes: water depth, water temperature, underwater structures, underwater vegetation
Water contouring readings
Robust temperature range: -4 degrees Fahrenheit to 104 degrees Fahrenheit
Suitable for saltwater and freshwater, including ice fishing
Dual sonar beam: (290kHz [15 degrees]/90kHz [55 degrees])
Adjustable sensitivity
Rechargeable battery (included)
2-3-month battery charge cycle

The Cons

What to consider:

Some people have had trouble synching the Bluetooth after a connection has been lost. This is a minor issue as a second attempt usually solves the problem. As an aside, always remember that range and line of sight are important with Bluetooth, and you have to have both for Bluetooth to properly synch with your devices.

HawkEye FT1PX FishTrax Portable Dot Matrix Fish Finder

Features

VirtuView Dot Matrix Display

The VirtuView Dot Matrix Display brings a classic visual touch to the modern technology of portable fish finders.

Water depth detection

The HawkEye Fish Trax can accurately detect water depth to give you the info you need to find the fish you’re targeting.

Fish depth detection

The fish depth detection feature lets you know whether or not you’re on the right track.

Dual frequency FishTrax intelligent sonar

FishTrax’s dual frequency sonar optimizes the sonar experience to give you the most accurate water stats and fish finding information. Multilevel depth ranges and auto-zoom tracking maximize the sonar’s utility. You can also adjust the frequency to fit your needs.

Ideal for new anglers

FishTrax is explicitly designed to meet the needs of the novice angler or the fisherman who is new to using fish finders by providing you all the necessary information you need to know to get a handle on how to effectively use fish finders to get your target catch. These very user-friendly features allow you to learn on the go as you become an expert at fish finding.

The Pros

What to like:

Ultraportable at 1.1lbs
Can be mounted
VirtuView Dot Matrix Display is retro yet informative
Water depth detection
Fish detection
FishTrax intelligent dual frequency sonar
10 adjustable levels
Designed for beginners

The Cons

What to consider:

Very basic and simplified both visually and in terms of capabilities, but at the same time is no muss and no fuss, as well as being newbie friendly, so it really comes down to your preferences and needs on whether this is a pro or a con.

Venterior Portable Fish Finder

Features

Fish detection

The Venterior Portable Fish Finder displays approximate fish location and is equipped with a fish alert to let you know if your target is nearby.

Surface and structure detection

The Venterior model also gives you info about the structures and vegetation below the water’s surface so you can make plans accordingly.

Depth range

The depth range is 1m to 100m, making it a solid choice for lake, sea or ice fishing.

Adjustability

The Venterior Portable Fish Finder offers the user 5 various depth adjustment presets for ease of use.

The Pros

What to like:

1-year warranty
Fish detection, approximate location
Surface, structure and vegetation detection
Depth range of 1m to 100m
Adjustable with 5 presets
Very user-friendly

The Cons

What to consider:

The screen isn’t waterproof—only the transmitter is. While it would be nice if the screen was waterproof as well as the transmitter, only the transmitter really needs to be in the water anyway, but it’s still a bit annoying.

Signstek FF-003 Portable Fish Finder

Features

LCD display

The Signstek Portable Fish Finder is unique in the world of small portable fish finders in that it has a built-in TFT LCD Sunlight display. That means it’s optimized to deal with the harsh sunlight that can sometimes annoy fish finder users, allowing you to view your screen with ease. The high-quality pictures come in crisp and clear.

Sonar detection

The personal sonar technology on the FF-003 allows you to view contours and fish of various sizes at varying depths with reliable precision. Better still, it can read water temperature, so you can further ascertain where your target is. Additionally, the sonar is adjustable for various levels for better accuracy.

Castable

Operating the Signstek FF-003 is a piece of cake. All you do is turn it on and cast it into the water; the fish finder does the rest.

The Pros

What to like:

TFT LCD color display
View bottom contours
View big and small fish
Detect water temperature
Adjust settings for improved performance
Castable
Easy to use

The Cons

What to consider:

It’s not mountable, but this isn’t much of an issue since most people in the market of portable fish finders don’t care about that.

iBobber Wireless Bluetooth Smart Fish Finder for iOS and Android devices

Features

Patented sonar fish finder technology

The iBobber has its own patented fish finder sonar technology that can detect fish down to depths of 135ft.

Versatile

The iBobber’s two snap swivel connections allow for extra versatility; you can use the iBobber as a bobber (like the name says) or as a portable fish finder, and switching out is easy.

Battery-powered

The iBobber is rechargeable battery-powered and runs an average 10 hours of battery life.

Free app

The iBobber synchs with the iOS or Android device of your choice and comes with its free app to further enhance your fish finding experience.

The Pros

What to like:

Reliable fish finding down to 135ft
Can be used as a bobber or portable fish finder
Battery-powered
Rechargeable battery included
10+ battery life
Synchs with iOS and Android devices
Comes with free iOS or Android app

The Cons

What to consider:

Some have had Bluetooth connectivity issues, but the iBobber company is reportedly super-helpful when it comes to troubleshooting.

Conclusion

While it was a tough call to make considering the fine portable fish finder offerings in this roundup, the ultimate winner has to be the Deeper Smart Sonar. When you combined its range of versatility, depth and robust functionality, it’s a clear leader of the pack.