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Best Fish Finder Under 500 (Our Top 5 Picks)

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The Garmin Striker 7SV is our top pick for the best fish finder under 500. This fish finder features a 7-inch screen with split-screen technology. This allows you to combine four different sonar technologies’ strengths. It also has a high waterproof rating of IPX7 and can stay submerged in water for 30 minutes. This fish finder features a built-in flasher that makes finding fish through the ice possible. Another good fish finder under 500 is the MOOCOR Fishing Camera. This fish finder supports a high resolution of 800×480, allowing you to see when a fish bites. It also supports DVR video recording and photographing features that enables you to record your fishing journey. It even comes with a rechargeable battery that lasts about 5 hours when fully charged. 

There are numerous fish finders in the market today, and choosing the right one that fits within your budget can be pretty hectic. We have compiled the five best fish finders under 500 in 2023.

Top Fish Finders Under $500

Looking for an affordable fish finder to locate fish when bass fishing? We’re sharing under $500 fishfinders below!

1. Garmin Striker 7SV

Best Fish Finders for Sonar Imaging

Key Features:

  • Larger screen Size: 7 inches
  • Display Type: LCD
  • Weight: 1.7 pounds
  • Clearer sonar scan
  • Built-in flasher

This Garmin striker 7SV offers great imaging sonar technology at a relatively affordable price.

It has a 7-inch screen size with split-screen technology. The bigger screen enables you to combine four different sonar technologies’ strengths while viewing images along with each other. It’s like a fishing game but in real life.

This 7-inch fish finder has a high waterproof rating of IPX7. It can withstand up to 30 minutes in meter-deep water.

Its integrated GPS capability allows you to keep track of your fishing coordinates. Besides, you can retrace the path at any given time, thus making this fish finder perfect for navigation and recording essential locations.

Garmin striker 7SV also has a built-in flasher functionality that necessitates ice fishing. For instance, when this flasher is activated, there will be a circular flasher reading on the screen. It shows depth, temperature, and bottom consistency information.

The clear sonar scan allows you to see more of what is in the water around your boat. The high-frequency sonar offers near-photographic images that have detailed representations of structures, objects, and fish.

It also has a waypoint map. You can use this map to easily view, mark, and even navigate to locations such as stumps, docks, and brushes.

Besides, the chirp sonar sends a continuous sweep of frequency that gives you a wide range of information. It creates crisper fish arches with excellent target separation.

The only downside of this fish finder is that it does not have mapping functionality. For instance, it does not allow you to use internal GPS with maps or create your own maps on your fishing trip.


2. MOOCOR Underwater Fishing Camera HD 1000 TVL 5″ Fish Finder

 Best All Around Fish Finder for Casual Anglers

Key Features:

  • 800×480 High-Resolution Screen
  • DVR Video Recording and Photographing
  • HD 1000TVL and IP68 waterproof and 130° View Angle Camera
  • 4pcs Infrared + 2 White LED Lights Camera
  • Rechargeable Battery

If you are looking for a kayak fish finder best for casual anglers, consider buying MOOCOR Underwater Fishing Camera HD 1000 TVL 5″ Fish Finder.

It has an underwater fishing camera with a 5-inch HD screen and an 800 x 480 resolution super high. This gives you a more realistic view of the underwater world. For instance, you will clearly see whether the fish has bitten the hook or not.

It also has depth, temperature, electricity, and direction display functionalities. This makes fish finding more convenient and accurate.

This fish finder also supports photo taking and video recording when you experience a fantastic fishing moment that you can later share with your friends and family.

The 130° View Angle high and camera-equipped HD 1000TVL configuration supports vertical and horizontal direction for a better observing angle.

It also has an Infrared white light integrated system that supports three levels of light brightness adjustment. This will allow you to make a free choice of light intensity as required for more convenience when fishing.

It has a rechargeable battery that has a long standby time. For instance, it can sit for about 5 hours after a full charge. You can also power it when fishing outdoors using a 5V USB cable.


3. Garmin Striker 4cv with Transducer

Best Fish Finder GPS Combo for Down Imaging

Key Features:

  • Rugged design
  • Intuitive user interface
  • CHIRP ClearVü sonar scan
  • Built-in GPS

This down imaging fish finder with transducer fish finder features a 3.5-inch display. Although the display is small, it makes up for the size with bright HVGA colors and an incredible pixel count of 480 x 320.

It also has all the sonar options you could require with clear-view and 2D. Besides, this fish finder supports a wide range of frequencies within those sonar options. For instance, when using a traditional sonar, you can use dual beam sonar 77/200 kHz for various cone coverage.

This fish finder also has a CHIRP ClearVü of 455/800 kHz coverage. This offers perfect shallow water and deep water performance. You can see high and mid-range chirp bands with the help of included GT20-TM transducer.

Furthermore, this fish finder has GPS capability – great if you want the best fish finder GPS combo for down imaging. It gives you a considerable ability to drop waypoints on a particular place of interest you find during your fishing outings. As such, you can return to your hot fishing point any time you want.


4. Deeper Start Smart Fish Finder

Great Fish Finder for Depth

Key Features:

  • Weight: 0.08 kg
  • Power Source: Battery-powered
  • Castable fish detector
  • Smart technology
  • Rechargeable battery
  • 40° sonar beam 
  • Fish Deeper app
  • Sleek design

Deeper Start Smart Fish Finder comes with a 5-inch backlit screen display. Therefore, you can see the screen even during the sunniest days while fishing.

This is a chirp side imaging fish finder that gives you a clear view of what is happening under the water’s surface. Besides, the sonar gives you an edge by offering more range and depth.

Its 40° dual beam sonar combines with two beams to provide you even more coverage. This will allow you to view more of what is happening below the water’s surface.

It is also lightweight for comfortable casting. Its sleek design allows for easy reeling.

This depth finder also comes with smart technology so you can find fish easier. For instance, it generates Wi-Fi and does not require internet or mobile data. Besides, each scan is saved automatically with location and time.

It also features the Fish Deeper app, which displays water depth, fish size and location, vegetation, and bottom contour.


5. HOOK2 Fish Finder 

Best Value Fish Finder for Sonar Capability

Key Features:

  • Screen Display Size: 4.3 inches
  • Display Type: LCD
  • Weight: 4.5 pounds
  • Sonar capability
  • auto-tuning sonar and phone-like menus 
  • Bullet Skimmer transducer
  • wide-angle sonar cone
  • DownScan sonar

This Hook2 fish finder has a screen display size of 4.3 inches with LED backlighting, 16-bit color, and a 480 x 270 resolution.

The main selling point for this fish finder is the sonar capability. For instance, it boosts DownScan imaging and chirp sonar that can be viewed on a split-screen. The sonar improves the fish target separation on the display screen, especially in deeper water.

DownScan overlay combines the best of both DownScan sonar and 2D. This gives you a hybrid picture that takes the structure revealing, thus revealing the DownScan ability, and overlays it with 2D sonar. This enables you to differentiate objects and fish within the same screen.


best fish finder under 500
Source: Canva Pro

Conclusion

Choosing the best fish finder in 2023 is not an easy task. Many factors go into your decision, and the wide range of technology behind how these fish finders work is hard to understand.

However, I hope this article cleared up much of your confusion and pointed you to the best choice.

All the fish finders mentioned above are great options. However, it is about choosing a fish finder that makes the most sense for you and the one that suits your budget and needs. Even the most affordable fish finders are excellent to use.

I would recommend Garmin Striker 7SV  since it offers all the features of a top fish finder at a relatively affordable price.

Let us know your best choice in the comments section below.

Jon Stenstrom
Founder & Angler
Jon Stenstrom is a fishing enthusiast. He has over 25 years of fishing experience, and 6 years of spearfishing experience, and is currently learning how to boat. Jon has his Open Water PADI Certification and FII Freediver Level 1 Certification. Jon has traveled the world to fish and dive, most notably in the Great Barrier Reef, Baja Mexico, Thailand, and Malaysia. More Articles
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