Depth finder/ GPS/ Sonar

[Allmand]

I am trying to decide on a depth finder.

My usual boating activites include Galveston bay fishing (shallow), fishing in the ship channel, and off the jetties. Most likely never going out further than 30 miles off shore. A great majority of the time I would be in and around the bay. Ocassionaly going out to deeper waters.

I have read a lot about depth finders with GPS capabilities, depth finders with sonar, and depth finders with GPS, Sonar, and a bunch of other bells and whistles all in one unit. I do want a color screen, with descent features however

Would a fish finder with GPS and/or Sonar capabilities be overkill for mainly bay fishing? Would just a basic color screen fish finder be all I need?

I have never used a fish finder before. I am looking for descent quality that shows detailed bay floor and fish details on a color screen.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[tboltmike]

Re: Depth finder/ GPS/ Sonar

You can get some pretty nice color sonars at a modest cost.

If you know where you are going in the bay system,i.e. fishing jetties or buoys you may not need a full blown GPS. I've seen cell phones with GPS aps that do very good as Bing maps can be overlayed.

Ive used a hand held gps for boat and car and a separate sonar for years. Just recently got a combo and frankly the old hand held had more nav features.

Plus if the combo unit goes down, you've lost it all.