Best Underwater Fishing Camera 2020

Don’t get us wrong, we love fishing as a past-time. It’s certainly very relaxing!

…but those long hours with nothing to do but wait (patiently or not) are arduous.

This is where underwater fishing cameras come in. Whether you’re skeptical of their performance or just believe they’re too high-tech for a simple fishing trip, you’ve probably written them off as an unnecessary expense.

So, we’ve tested the best in the market to show you what they’re about and how they can change your fishing experience.

SPOILER: they’re not all over-priced gizmos! There’s something here for every budget.

How We Picked the Best Underwater Camera for Fishing

The purpose of the underwater fishing camera is to show you what’s going on under the surface by your fishing line. The main features we considered were:

• Camera quality – does it deliver a clear picture of what’s going on? Most measure in TVL, the same as security cameras. Here’s what TVL means.
• Battery life – will it keep going all day or cut out while you’re fishing?
• Ease of use – is it easy to set up, use all the functions, and pack away?
• Applications – can you use it for ice fishing? Can you use it in saltwater?
• Price – is it worth the money?
• Quality – how likely is it to break, corrode or malfunction?

There were also some features that resulted in an immediate veto. For example, we discovered some camera styles, shapes and lights were scaring off the fish. Others that were advertised as ice fishing underwater cameras just couldn’t be handled in the cold or with gloves on.

Rest assured, we used our common sense when selecting the top 10 best underwater fishing cameras for 2020!

Best Underwater Fishing Camera We Recommend

Eyoyo Fish Finder O0417MG

Best Underwater Fishing Camera

• The most comprehensive fishing kit with 50m depth, adjustable LEDs and a 1000TVL HD camera.
• 9-inch monitor display is bright and detailed even in murky waters, with a removable sun visor.
• Records video onto a micro SD card while you’re fishing under ice, in lakes, rivers and the ocean.

Customer Quote: “This fishcam is so cool. It works great. Long battery life and records in increments to easily find the image you seek.”

Our Rating: 9.5/10

As you’re going to find out, most underwater cameras on this list have one standout feature, whether it’s the large screen, long cable depth or just impressive battery time.

Except for this Eyoyo model.

It has the best of everything.

The camera is designed to go everywhere from the depths of the ocean to shallow lake fishing, with a 50-meter cold-resistant cable. The camera itself records 1000TVL, the highest quality of all the best underwater fishing cameras and is equipped with 12 infrared LEDs with adjustable light levels for night fishing.

The design of the camera is silver and fish-shaped – the standard shell for all Eyoyo cameras regardless of the model. It doesn’t spook the fish and is, of course, very waterproof.

It comes with an 8gb micro SD card already installed – we loved how we could just open the box and immediately start fishing without much set-up. You’ve also got a float, battery charger (for when your 6 hours of fishing are up), sunshade and fishing accessories all included in the waterproof carrying case.

You can swap the 8gb card if needed too.

Overall, this is one of the best all-round kits for underwater fishing that we had the pleasure of testing out. The picture quality is excellent and, although it is priced high, it is most definitely worth the money.

Best Underwater Fishing Camera Features

• Suitable For: all ice, freshwater and saltwater locations, clear and murky waters
• Monitor Size: 9-inch
• Lights: 12 infrared LEDs
• Quality: 1000TVL HD camera
• Video Recording: yes
• Cable Length: 50-meters
• Battery Time: 6-hours
• Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

Aqua-Vu AV125c Underwater Camera

Runner-Up Best Underwater Fishing Camera

• Reliable and sturdy 7-inch monitor with cable reel that will all fit into a standard 5-gallon fishing bucket.
• The camera is designed with anti-spooking for fish with adjustable LEDs and CMOS camera optics.
• Drops down to 15-meters in clear and still waters.

Customer Quote: “Works as advertised and WILL help you catch fish.”

Our Rating: 9/10

This underwater fishing line camera is one of the costliest, but also one of the most reliable. It’s one of those devices that you buy once in a lifetime (plus there’s 1-year warranty just in case).

It’s fitted with a 7-inch screen that will auto turn from color to black and white when the light quality drops underwater. The unit itself doesn’t come in a waterproof case like most on our list. Instead, the cord wraps around the base and it folds neatly to fit into a 5-gallon bucket, which you most likely already have.

The quality of the video picture is very good in clear and still waters. The LEDs do help a little in dark waters but will just reflect off water particles in murky waters. You don’t pick this fishing camera for the best picture, you pick it because it’s going to last.

What puts this model in the runner-up spot is its reliability and sturdy construction. When you accidentally drop your portable fish finder, the battery stops on your wireless fishing camera, and the cable snaps on your budget underwater camera, the Aqua-Vu is what you fall back on.

What prevents it from snagging the top spot is that, well, it’s outdated. It looks old even when it’s brand-new and it won’t record video, hook up to your iPhone or do anything remotely special.

It’s perfect for the traditional fisherman who wants to monitor activity without spooking the fish.

Runner-Up Underwater Fishing Line Camera Features

• Suitable For: clear water under the ice, in lakes, rivers, and oceans
• Monitor Size: 7-inch
• Lights: LED lights
• Quality: standard camera
• Video Recording: no
• Cable Length: 15-meters
• Battery Time: 10-hours
• Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

Moocor Portable Fish Finder LQ-3505D

Best Underwater Camera for Ice Fishing

• Delivers a very clear picture with the image sensor chip from under ice or in saltwater to the 3.5-inch monitor.
• The cable is designed for ice conditions with special waterproofing and anti-pressing design.
• The battery is designed to withstand the cold and deliver 8-hours of video.

Customer Quote: “Price is right. Great customer service!” 

Our Rating: 8.8/10

Our best underwater camera for ice fishing is also one of the smallest, but don’t let that put you off. The 3.5-inch screen is HD and always provides perfect clarity with a sun visor and LED backlight.

Although the monitor screen is small, it’s not fiddly. Flipping it open and pressing the buttons is easy even with gloves on. You can also plug into the video outlet on the monitor to watch the video on a larger screen. The cable is 15 meters of cold-resistant, anti-pressing, special waterproof genius. It was easily one of the sturdiest cables of all we tested: it can hold up to 30kg pull.

The camera features a CMOS sensor, image sensor chip with 440,000 pixels and is designed to record clearly even with low-level lighting. Furthermore, the unit has an infrared LED light for fishing at night or in very dark waters.

Basically, you should be impressed. Not only is this underwater fishing camera designed to work like a dream in icy conditions, but it features some of the most impressive tech of all cameras on this list.

If you fish under ice regularly, we highly recommend this small portable fish finder. It’s supremely reliable and provides a very clear picture.

Best Ice Fishing Underwater Camera Features

• Suitable For: ice and saltwater fishing in murky waters
• Monitor Size: 3.5-inch
• Lights: infrared LED
• Quality: 700TVL HD camera
• Video Recording: no
• Cable Length: 15-meters
• Battery Time: 8-hours
• Warranty: 1-year warranty

MarCum RC5P Recon 5 Plus

Best Underwater Video Camera for Fishing

• Records footage for up to 6 hours to a 32gb micro SD card.
• 50-meter cable for ice, lake, river and saltwater fishing.
• 5-inch monitoring screen with adjustable color, brightness, and contrast.

Customer Quote: “Happy with the product, sure nice to use on slow days” 

Our Rating: 8.5/10

The best camera for recording video is the MarCum Recon 5 Plus. It’s not cheap, but for quality recordings your Facebook friends will love, this is a perfect portable camera.

The carrying case is made of red fabric that we’re not overly impressed with. Solid waterproof cases are the norm in the underwater fishing camera market as they’re sturdy and will handle accidental drops in the water or light rain. Still, it’s better than no case at all and we found the handle comfortable to hold.

The camera records video to a micro SD card up to 32gb while also displaying it on the screen in your carrying case. You can adjust the screen monitor contrast and brightness as you view what you record.

This is why we love this underwater video camera. You can monitor your fishing and record the footage simultaneously without sacrificing on battery time or video quality. Our wireless option, for example, will record and send the video to your smartphone… for a maximum of 3 hours. The MarCum will record for 6 hours easily.

If recording video of your fishing adventures is the priority, you should definitely consider our best underwater video camera for fishing.

MarCum Underwater Video Camera Features

• Suitable For: ice, lakes, salt water etc.
• Monitor Size: 5-inch
• Lights: infrared LED
• Quality: 800 x 480 pixels
• Video Recording: yes
• Cable Length: 50-meters
• Battery Time: 6-hours
• Warranty: 1-year warranty

GoFish Wireless Underwater Fishing Camera

Best Wireless Underwater Fishing Camera

• A wireless camera you can cast out like usual in freshwater and saltwater.
• Records for up to 3 hours at 1080p HD quality.
• Perfect for observing small fish and recording your best catches.

Customer Quote: “The cam has been awesome. I tried it here on the lake and the videos are really cool.”

Our Rating: 7.3/10

The GoFish is a neat device that wirelessly records and transmits video of your underwater fishing to the GoFish app on your Android or Apple smartphone.

To use the camera, turn it on with a full battery and set up the app to stream the video to your smartphone. Alternatively, you can record on an SD card that you take out when you reel in. Attach it to your fishing line and cast out like normal.

The battery lasts up to 3 hours at 720p, but closer to 1 hour on the 1080p setting while live streaming to your phone. For a wireless camera, this is pretty good.

Once you reel in, you can take out the SD card and upload the video to your laptop or share it via the app. It’s modern and reliable – it brings fishing to the 21^st century and we love it.

We were also impressed by how well-constructed the camera unit really is. It can handle filming in rough waters and isn’t just going to fly off when you cast out.

Overall, this is the best wireless underwater fishing camera and we highly recommend it for the modern fisherman who needs a no-fuss camera that hooks up easily with a smartphone.

Underwater Wireless Fishing Camera Features

• Suitable For: fishing in freshwater and saltwater for small fish
• Lights: night vision green LED
• Quality: up to 1080p HD
• Video Recording: yes
• Battery Time: 2 hours
• Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

Eyoyo Fish Finder EF07

Best Cheap Underwater Fishing Camera

• 1000TVL HD camera at 15-meter depth for just over $100 – an excellent price!
• 7-inch HD screen with a removable sun visor.
• Waterproof carrying case to hold the entire kit.

Customer Quote: “Great picture quality ice fishing for 8+ hours and the battery was still good to go.”

Our Rating: 8.3/10

Our best budget underwater fishing camera is Eyoyo’s Fish Finder EF07. It contains all the basics you need to video fish up to 15 meters underwater with a very clear picture. This model has a high 1000TVL HD camera (there are many similar models with lower TVL that are more expensive) and 12 infrared LED lights.

And yet, it’s currently just over $100!

You also get a float, cable reel and battery charger that all fit snugly in the waterproof carrying case.

It’s suitable for ice fishing, lake fishing, and saltwater fishing. The cable is waterproof (obviously) but also cold-resistant. Combined with the infrared lights, you can comfortably see what’s going on under the ice even in dark water.

This model doesn’t record video, but there are similar models from Eyoyo that will. You can also select different cable lengths down to 50 meters… just be prepared to pay a significant amount more. The beauty of the 15-meter model is the value for money.

The rechargeable battery lasts up to 8 hours which is about standard for similar models from other brands. You can’t, however, adjust the camera once it’s in the water.

Overall, we definitely recommend this set for the budget-conscious and beginners who don’t want to spend a lot of money on an underwater fishing camera.

Eyoyo Best Cheap Underwater Fishing Camera Features

• Suitable For: ice, lake and boat fishing
• Monitor Size: 7-inch LCD
• Lights: 12 infrared LEDs
• Quality: 1000TVL HD camera
• Video Recording: no
• Cable Length: 15-meters
• Battery Time: 8-hours
• Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

Aqua-Vu AV Micro Plus Underwater Camera

Best Small Underwater Camera for Fishing

• Pocket size device with a small camera the size of a bottle top.
• Infrared lights for night fishing in dark waters.
• Very easy to use and recharge.

Customer Quote: “I am very pleased with this camera and the packaging it came in”

Our Rating: 8.6/10

Our best small underwater camera for fishing is the tiny Aqua-Vu AV Micro Plus.

You have a few features, including only 2 infrared LEDs, a basic camera the size of a bottle top, and a 3x zoom. However, there are some great extra benefits to having a small underwater camera for fishing. It charges via USB cable, so you can recharge on the go from the car or with a laptop. It’s also going to fit easily in your pocket and not weigh you down if you’re fishing from a boat or difficult location.

Like a smartphone, the screen is small but high quality and allows you to see in impressive detail. It comes with a screen protector and a sun shield, but really with such a small device, you can just move it around into the shade without a second thought.

Another feature we weren’t expecting was the sturdy metal box the device arrived in. When buying something small, there’s always a higher risk of losing it or accidentally breaking it. With the storage box, we were satisfied that this device would last for longer.

If you’re thinking this all sounds too good to be true, well, maybe it is.

The price tag on this baby is near $300. You could buy 3 regular sized camera sets for that price. So, the big question is; should you buy it?

Our answer is yes. It is certainly worth the money as a very durable, reliable and easy to use pocket fishing camera.

Micro Plus Underwater Camera Features

• Suitable For: ice and lake fishing
• Monitor Size: 3.5-inch LCD
• Lights: 2 infrared LEDs
• Quality: standard camera
• Video Recording: no
• Cable Length: 15-meters
• Battery Time: 8-hours
• Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

Anysun Underwater Fish Finder 700TVL_15M

• Super-long battery life providing up to 12-hours of clear HD video.
• Perfect for fishing in cold and dark conditions, or at night, with 12 infrared LEDs.
• 1-year warranty and 30-days no questions asked return policy.

Customer Quote: “It is easy and intuitive to use and provides a great picture.” 

Our Rating: 7.3/10

Unlike the other Anysun camera on this list, this is a compact kit. A budget option that we thoroughly enjoyed testing. Within the box, you’ve got the camera, 15-meter cord, battery, charger, carry case and float.

It’s simple and contains everything you need for a fishing day trip. The line is waterproof, cold-resistant and pull-resistant so it’s not going to deteriorate under ice or if it gets caught on underwater rocks.

The infrared lights are limited but will provide you with some night vision for fishing at night or in dark waters. With a 15-meter cord, it’s not suitable for fishing at great depths. We’d also stick to relatively still waters, so avoid fast flowing rivers and the ocean.

Picture quality at 700TVL is not great, but it is brightly lit and provides a clear image of fish in close proximity to the camera.

It’s not the sturdiest with plastic components, but that’s what you’d expect from a fishing camera under $100. Still, we definitely feel that it’s worth the money. You have everything in the box that you’d get from the BOBLOV or Aqua-Vu models but at a lower price.

Finally, the most impressive feature is the battery life. It lasts 10 to 12 hours which is the longest on this list. We highly recommend this basic fishing camera!

Anysun 15m Underwater Fishing Camera Features

• Suitable For: ice and lake fishing
• Monitor Size: 7-inch
• Lights: 12 infrared LEDs
• Quality: 700TVL HD camera
• Video Recording: no
• Cable Length: 15-meters
• Battery Time: 10-12 hours
• Warranty: 1-year warranty

Anysun Underwater Fishing Camera AS_SY3800

• Remote control underwater fishing camera with 360-degree views.
• 16 high power bright white LEDs to illuminate dark and gloomy water.
• Professional kit with a 7-inch color screen.

Customer Quote: “my first underwater camera, pictures are as clear as the water conditions are where ever you are at” 

Our Rating: 7.7/10

The key feature that brought this underwater fishing camera to our attention is the 360-degree control. This camera is remote control equipped so you can rotate the camera once it’s lowered to depths of 20 meters.

Not something you see on your average underwater fishing video camera! Of course, that does mean this set is priced at the high end of the market.

It’s constructed with heavy-duty waterproof materials – we found them to be extremely sturdy and suitable for choppy, cold and salt waters. The camera has 16 LEDs which are very bright and help to illuminate murky waters, however, they’re not strong enough or equipped with infrared to allow night fishing.

The screen is only 7-inches wide and a lower TVL than some cheaper models on this list… and yet the lid size of the kit where the screen is embedded could fit a screen double that size. Considering the technology, price and level construction that’s gone into the camera controls, we expected a bit more from the screen. Our other issue was that the battery life wasn’t up to 10 hours as stated by Anysun. We managed 4-5 hours before the battery needed recharging.

We’d recommend this camera for those that want to see everything (not just fish but underwater wreckages and exploration) in clarity through murky water. The bright lights and 360-degree controls are a great feature!

Anysun 360 Degree Fishing Camera Features

• Suitable For: ocean, ice and lake fishing
• Monitor Size: 7-inch
• Quality: 800TVL HD video camera
• Video Recording: no
• Cable Length: 20-meters
• Battery Time: 10-hours
• Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

BOBLOV Fish Finder

• HD 1000TVL camera feeding a 7-inch brightly colored screen.
• Record down to 30-meter depths when fishing under ice, in lakes and saltwater
• Battery lasts 10 hours of continuous use and is rechargeable with included charger.

Customer Quote: “Simple and easy to use. Picture quality is decent. Needs a better positioning system.” 

Our Rating: 7.8/10

BOBLOV’s fish finder kit is a good all-round underwater fishing camera. What we really liked about it was the quality. It’s a small kit that all packs together into a small case, and while the camera only goes down to 30 meters, it’s a quality cold-resistant and of course waterproof.

In the box you’ve got: 7-inch TFT monitor, the underwater camera with 30m cable and wheel, rechargeable lithium battery, battery charger, carry case, user manual, and a fishing float.

Video recording isn’t an option, but you can sit comfortably and monitor your line for up to 10 hours via the 7-inch screen. It’s built into the lid of the storage box (measures 9.1 x 5.5 x 7.9 inches with a carrying handle and weighs just over 4lb) with a removable sun visor.

Although it’s a good quality underwater fishing set, it’s very simple. It’s not that easy to move the camera around underwater, and although you can turn the LEDs on and off as you desire, seeing through murky water is not really possible.

Overall, we recommend this underwater camera for fishing in clear waters when you want to see what’s going on. Perfect for the novice fisherman. It would also be great for underwater exploration, monitoring aqua-marine life and general observations. If you need a professional kit that records video, check out some of the more complex underwater fishing cameras on our list.

BOBLOV Underwater Fish Camera Features

• • Suitable For: ocean, ice and lake fishing
  • Monitor Size: 7-inch

• • Lights: 12 infrared LEDs
  • Quality: 1000TVL HD camera
  • Video Recording: no
  • Cable Length: 30-meters
  • Battery Time: 10-hours
  • Warranty: standard

3 Tips for Choosing the Best Underwater Fishing Camera

Wondering how you should select one off our list? Consider these questions.

1. Where and when will you use the camera? Think about where and how often you’re going to use the system. You don’t want to spend a fortune on a camera that you’re only going to use once a summer… but at the same time, you don’t want to buy a cheap camera that will die over the winter without you even realizing. Think about how much usage it will get and the effort you’re willing to put into maintenance before deciding on a budget.
2.  Does camera/screen quality matter to you? For those wanting to record video or monitor the different types of fish in a location, seeing in clear detail is imperative. For the fisherman or woman who just wants to see what’s nibbling or entertain the kids while you’re fishing, having a 1000TVL HD screen that shows every scale isn’t so important.
3.  What water do you fish in? Although many models claim to be capable of ice fishing, they’re primarily designed for lake fishing in clear waters. If you’re going to take your fishing to the extreme, it’s better to buy a specialized camera that’s constructed for difficult conditions than save money with an all-around fishing camera that won’t last so long.

Finally, you also need to remember that no matter which underwater camera for fishing that you choose, you still need to clean and maintain it to get the most life from it.

The Best Underwater Fishing Camera in 2020 is…

The Eyoyo 50m 1000TVL Fish Finder.

During our research period, we found a lot of old-time fishermen and women praising the Aqua-Vu models. Yes, we agree that they are supremely reliable and are the fishing community’s favorite…

But after testing all the models for ourselves, the Eyoyo was clearly better. It does more for a similar/lower cost and provides a better picture.

We’d also like to point out that our best wireless model, the GoFish, is not without faults. It’s probably the weakest fishing camera on this list, and yet it was the best from the wireless category. We hope that 2020 will bring new wireless underwater fishing cameras to the market!

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