Forward facing sonar

[Chrisper4694]

What are your thoughts about all this new technology in the fishing world? Specifically the foward facing sonar? Is it too much? If not, where SHOULD the line be drawn?

This weeks episode, we have Taylor Stewart who both uses ffs in competition and recreationally, with different opinions on each. We also talk about throwing big swim/glide baits to target big fish.

Link to the yoitube episode is below:

https://youtu.be/_HgFi0nb6rA?si=0KMpeF6Ou0IRSvDw

[NJSquatch]

everyone hates the idea until they fish with it...it really is cheating

[bunker dunker]

all the tech in the last 20 years has changed fishing for ever.better hooks,better line,faster reels,lighter rods,better boats and now much much better electronics.
think about all the fish that would not have been caught in those last 20 years
and think of all that have been.we had what we had and learned to work with it.
are's was all trial by error,we had to work for them everyday without the help.i am only speaking for"me" but i like it allot more when we had to hunt for them.know the seasons and patterns of not just the target fish but the forage
and habitat.i know i'm old but turning on the boat, lighting up the eltronics and running around the lake till you"find them on the screen"is just that.

[AndrewT]

I don’t go fishing to stare at more screens but I only fish recreationally. I would get FFS if I fished tournaments due to the competition having it. If I had a vote to ban it, I would vote in favor of banning it.

[Broad Bill]

All these technological advancements have taken the sport out of sport fishing, are threatening recreational fishing in its purest sense and tournament fishing should be banned. Tournament sponsors, bass masters, boat and tackle manufacturers all make millions on a public resources at the resources and public's expense. Millions of the largest fish every year are killed because these fisheries are being commercialized and tackle manufacturers have a platform to advertise their merchandise. All the technology in the world won't mean a thing when there's no more fish left to catch and then what happens to our beloved past time.

[AndyS]

If they come up with a sonar to find tires I'm all for it !

[Jigman13]

I know they've split many offshore tuna tournaments into 2 categories now due to the sonar enhancements available now. LiveScope with auto pilot is bananas. You can literally find tuna and essentially follow them now. Next we'll have AI deploying spreads, robots rigging flawless ballyhoo and automated prehensile gaffing arms that come out and stick fish with only calculated headshots. Lol

[Broad Bill]

Saw too many tournaments years ago with enormous tiger sharks, makos and threshers killed. At least makos and threshers were consumed, killing a huge tiger for a tournament is nothing but a disgrace. Same with the big billfish tournaments killing 800-900 lb blue marlin so that the uber rich can have their bragging rights and millions are made.

It all has to stop and so does advancements in technology as it will be the end of every fishery. It's what Dan (Hammer) said about spot lock. Guys who couldn't anchor up within a football field of a small piece are now able to drop right on top and blackfish populations which are already in decline are under even more pressure and don't stand a chance.

These advancements, while amazing individually, collectively will cause tremendous amounts of damage to our natural resources. Fisheries have limited pressure they can sustain and these technologies have made it as easy as fishing in a barrel. How can that be beneficial? Like everything else, it's all about money and not at all about the sport or fisheries management.

[Gerry Zagorski]

I don't fish as much as I'd like to but if this helps me target fish for me and my buds when we do get out, I'm in. Problem right now is it's very expensive with the hardware and the batteries and charging system to run it effectively.

[Broad Bill]

These technologies will eventually ruin sportfishing as we've known it forever. If you're focus is primarily or exclusively catching, you don't understand the intrinsic values of fishing, spending time with friends and family and enjoying nature. And you certainly don't understand the importance of preserving natural resources.

To me front facing sonar is the equivalent of spotting deer at night or illegal baiting. We're moving further away from the experience and value of sport fishing and closer to immediate gratification at any expense to the amazing fisheries we currently enjoy.

FFS has nothing to do with fisheries preservation and everything to do with conglomerates making millions. If your short sided and concerned only with catch, you'll love all these advancements in technology. If you're focus is sport, enjoyment of the outdoors, preservation / conservation and fishing versus catching, these advancements all have potentially consequential damaging impacts on every fishery so years from now with all these electronic advancements your fishing dead water, don't complain. Many tournaments are considering banning FFS in 2025, that alone should give you an idea how lethal it can be to fisheries.

What drew me and many to fishing was love of the outdoors and the challenge of figuring out patterns. Catching was always an earned reward. That's what made it special. It's a sport people can enjoy whether they're 5 or 75 with family, friends or by themselves. No other sport like it. Why risk it's future with these technological advancements. That's not progress, it's destruction of a past time tens of millions enjoy so why destroy all the things that make it great for the benefit of corporate greed and tournament elitists. How many think a 10 your old gives a crap about forward facing sonar as opposed to spending a day fishing with their family and learning all the incredibly important values fishing teaches our kids at a young age. If it were up to me, I'd ban it.