Garmin used to be well known for its GPS systems (it still is), but we never would have called its new LiveScope 2 HD fish finder being part of the lineup. The company reckons its newest fishing hardware lets users “see fish and lures in real time in high definition”. That’s… mighty attractive, if you’re a (lazy) angler.
The updated LiveScope 2 will give anglers “detailed imagery” within casting range and at depths of up to 38 metres, according to Garmin. It probably won’t give you the same view as you’d experience in Sega Bass Fishing, but it should provide decent views of the bottom surface. And the fish. Can’t forget those.
360 LiveScope
Here’s where it gets tricky. And expensive. The Garmin LiveScope 2 HD isn’t a complete system on its own. When it launches at the end of the week, it’ll consist of one of two transducers. You’ll pay either R33,000 ($2,000) or R36,000 ($2,200) to sink one under your boat. After that, it’ll need to be paired with a compatible chartplotter. Luckily, Garmin sells those too.
The best units start at R35,000 and go way up from there, though there’s a long list of compatible options available. When you’re already spending R30k on the sonar system, it makes sense to get the best visuals available.
Why would you pay all of this money? If you’re asking, you’ve obviously never caught a fish, but there are real reasons, too. Garmin reckons its system is detailed enough to let anglers know when to set the hook. Then there’s the claim that “fish and lures near the boat [are visible] in up to 50% more detail and 20% higher resolution with reduced sonar artefacts and smoother images compared to previous generations.”
