Garmin's stock 7612 with G3 card & fish finding

[baz]

Subject: Garmin's stock 7612 with G3 card & fish finding

I have the stock Garmin 7612xsv. The primary Chart plotter has the CHIRP sonar display feature. Is this useful for fishing, display where fish are etc ? ...or do I need something in addition to this ?

From https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/169210

I see this
Built-in Advanced Sonar Capabilities
The built-in sonar capabilities of the GPSMAP 7612xsv include 1 kW dual CHIRP sonar, the most sophisticated sonar technology available for the fishing and boating public. Dual CHIRP sonar provides amazingly clear target separation and definition because it puts even more energy onto the target than CHIRP. It gives you the ability to show low/high, med/high or low/med on the screen at the same time, enhancing your ability to distinguish between game fish and balls of bait fish. It also includes both CHIRP ClearVü and CHIRP SideVü scanning sonar that provide nearly photographic sonar images of fish and structure that passes below and to the sides of your boat. ClearVü and SideVü provide the clearest scanning sonar images on the water. Also supported are 50 kHz/200 kHz, 77 kHz/200 kHz and Minn Kota® and MotorGuide® trolling motor transducers (sold separately). GPSMAP also includes sonar-recording capability that coordinates the timing of the sonar return with your boat's position and saves digital information for playback on a computer using HomePort™ planning software.

 

[Catch22]

What transducers do you have connected ?

 

[baz]

What transducers do you have connected ?

The transducer is kind of hidden so cannot view its specifications such as model number. How else can I find the info you've asked for ?

I display the fish finding displays and it shows my boat with 20 feet underneath it while in my slip. I have display fish icons ON and I know there are small fish in the marina but do not see them on the display.

 

[ixlr8]

Barry,
This is the transducer Ranger seems to put in most of their boats, it mounts on the inside and shoots the sonar thru the hull. It is a basic transducer and doesn't have the CHIRP high resolution capabilities. I think you are going to need a transducer mounted to the "outside" of the hull if you want CHIRP capabilities. Your 7612 will support CHIRP, but at present I suspect you don't have a CHIRP capable transducer.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/62369

 

[Catch22]

The 7612 has great capabilities....pretty much state of the art for chirp down view and side view BUT...they require optional transducers to take advantage of that. .Boats with outboard power can use a single transom mount . If thru hull is needed, and you have more than 5 degrees of deadrise at point of install, twin transducers are needed to get the side view . I believe those would be a gt51 and gt41 or in bronze thru hull it would most likely be a pair of B175m transducers.....do not take those as gospel.....talk to a Garmin install specialist for the proper setup. A single chirp transducer might get you the chirp down view though....

Bottomline....it's a great unit for reading water and finding bait and structure and fish.....but it is all in proper transducer install. It is a full featured unit and the optional accessories will facilitate those capabilities.