Sonar Information
I first started using sonars over 25 years ago in the herring fisheries in Alaska, making me feel like I was more involved in the ‘hunt’…
Please note: Sonar training is no longer available.
There are two basic types of sonars…
Searchlight Sonars and Omni Sonars
Which sonar you buy is related to the potential payback from the use of them. I'd say that for salmon seining, for example, buying an Omni sonar is going to be harder to justify than buying a searchlight sonar. In fact, there are many excellent salmon fishermen who do not use sonar at all.
For most school fish, like sardines, anchovy, herring, mackerel, tuna, and menhaden, a sonar is a must, in my opinion.
With an Omni sonar, you are able to search much further and much faster than with a Searchlight sonar, though it costs a lot more.
An Omni sonar can give 360 degrees of a picture with every transmit. A searchlight is more like a radar, except with a slower scan because transmitting and receiving in water is slower than in the air. It gives transmits in segments, and the most detailed picture is with the smallest segment, like six degrees. As you scan a larger segment, 12 degrees or 24 degrees at a time, your speed increases, but the detail of your image decreases.
Hondex Sonar
There is such an amazing array of electronics available to fishermen now.
Many of the nets I deal with are for school fish like herring, menhaden, anchovy, sardines, and mackerel, and for fishing these, a sonar is a must! it was while fishing menhaden in Maine, US that I came across a sonar that is perfect for small seiners, say 45ft (14mtrs) and under. I also think it would be ideal for a squid light boat, where higher frequencies seem to work better for showing squid.
One option is the Hondex HE-773II-DI 290 khz, an almost unbelievable sonar for the price. Effective up to 650ft this unit is easy to install and easy to use. It’s $3,500 for the manual hoist version and $4600 if you want the electric hoist.
A new second option is the 773 MK III, a variable frequency from 140-240khz, For the manual version the price is $3,800 and $4,900 with an electric hoist.
To view videos of these sonars in use, click here.
Video 1. Setting on a school of menhaden to our starboard, the beach showing ahead and to port.
Video 2. Cruising between 2 schools, shallower water showing ahead.
Video 3. A bad weather day so using a drone was simply not possible, finding a school ahead and running over them and seeing them on the sounder. Try avoid running over them, trust the sonar!!
You can view and find out more about the Hondex Sonar, here.
The costs of the use of these two types sensors varies depending on which system, live or data recording, how many sensors are used, and the extent of the data analysis
For cost estimates, examples, and any other questions…