Most depth recorders have the ability to mark fish with the classic half-moon shapes.
Those who don't see this on their recorders probably are not using zoom-in features correctly.
Before leaving the dock, go into the menu and find the adjustments for the upper and lower levels. This gives you the ability to close in on the depth your bottom machine is recording. When your machine is using all the pixels and amps covering the surface to the bottom, it won't have enough power to show fish clearly. Learning how to adjust the levels into a smaller area gives you the boost needed to mark fish. Say you're fishing in 50 feet: Setting the recorder's upper level to 45 and the lower to 55 will put all the machine's power into a 10-foot area. You still will be able to use the zoom-in feature in this mode.
On your next trip offshore, set the recorder on full screen and leave the zoom all the way out. This will allow you to see the breaks and ledges on your way to the first stop. When you're idling up to the first stop, set the recorder 5 feet above and below the bottom depth. Zoom all the way in and you will put all the machine's power into a 5- to 7-foot area. Rocks will show grass growing on the tops, and the fish will look like tall spikes and half moons. You will be surprised at the detail this feature provides.
Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 347-1389.
