Garmin Striker Cast Castable SONAR Review
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Quick Overview
FEATURES
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Cons
While marine electronics with big screens and consoles make fishing a lot easier, they are not for everyone.
Not all anglers use a big boat; in fact, some prefer fishing along the shoreline.
For such fishers, a large-sized fish finder can be too much to carry around or mount on a small fishing vessel.
Here is where castable fish finders come into play.
In this Garmin Striker Cast Castable SONAR review, we’ll talk about one of the most popular castable fish finder models.
About Garmin Striker Fish Finders
Garmin Striker Fish Finders are only a few of Garmin’s marine electronics, and the series features both mountable and portable devices.
The Garmin Striker Series has three subseries: the Striker Vivid, Striker, and Striker Cast.
These models provide a better way not only to find fish but also to mark the spots where you find them.
With any Striker Vivid device, you can preview underwater SONAR scans represented in vivid, high-contrast images with exceptional clarity.
On the other hand, the Striker Series devices are controller and transducer bundles that provide the best portability without third-party electronics.
Lastly, the Striker Cast Series helps you take advantage of what you already have—your tablet or smartphone.
Garmin Striker Cast Castable SONAR Review
The Garmin Striker Cast is a castable SONAR that converts phones and similar mobile devices into easy-to-handle fish finders.
It is a pod that only measures 3.0 by 2.97 by 2.28 inches and weighs a mere 2.6 ounces.
With these dimensions, it fits the palm of your hands, and you can store it in a pocket or small compartment of your fishing toolbox.
Furthermore, this device is rugged by design, which means Garmin built it to last.
It only requires very little maintenance, and its feature set allows straightforward operation.
Who Is This Product For?
The Garmin Striker Cast is perfect for those looking to use their smartphones or tablets as fish finders.
Its size makes it so portable that it is an excellent option for on-the-go anglers.
If you are looking for a fish finder that attaches to your fishing line, this is the model for you.
It does not require bridge mounting, and it can help you find fish without spending too much on high-end marine electronics.
What’s Included?
If you get the Garmin Striker Cast, you will also receive a 16.4-foot tether, a USB charging cable, the device documentation, and a carrying pouch.
Unfortunately, the set does not include a portable wall charger. Even so, you can use any wall adapter with a USB port.
Overview of the Features
Unlike controllers that mount onto a panel and have large screens, the Garmin Striker Cast is a small, lightweight plastic ball.
It floats on the water, and it can scan depths from two to 150 feet.
The Striker Cast can support two SONAR frequencies: 260 kHz and 455 kHz.
At 260 kHz, the scanning beam creates an elliptic cone with a beam angle measuring 22 by 63 degrees.
On the other hand, the beam is narrower at nine by 14 degrees when using the higher frequency.
Other features include a waterproof rating of IPX7 and an operating temperature range between -4 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Quick Setup
Before using the Garmin Striker Cast for the first time, be sure you have a mobile device where you can install the Striker Cast app.
This application will let you mark fishing locations scanned by the fish finder, all from the convenience of a smartphone or tablet.
Fortunately for you, the Striker Cast can pair with both Android and iOS devices.
What’s more, the Striker Cast App is free to download and use, and initial setup is a breeze.
- Easy Operation
With the Garmin Striker Cast, you won’t ever have to guess where to find fish.
The device transfers easy-to-read SONAR scans to your phone in real-time to show you exactly where the fishes are.
You can cast as far as your fishing line can reach, as the Striker Cast connects and streams wirelessly as far as 200 feet.
Moreover, Garmin makes device operation very simple by giving you the option to turn on fish icons on the resulting scans.
These icons pinpoint where fish targets are to tell you where you should cast your fishing line.
- Dual Flasher Modes
Another advantage of the Striker Cast is its dual flasher modes.
You can choose between traditional two-dimensional flashing or ice-fishing-optimized flashing.
Output scans from both modes are easy to interpret, and they have their own adjustments for gain, range, and other settings.
- Extended Battery Life
Unlike other castable fish finders, the Striker Cast has an upgraded battery that offers an extended operational power supply capacity.
On a full charge, the device can work continuously for a minimum of 10 hours, ensuring you spend more time actually catching fish.
If you think 10 hours is not enough for a single fishing trip, bring a power bank with a USB output to recharge the device.
- Power Saving
Aside from its long-lasting battery, the Striker Cast extends its operational capabilities by saving the battery charge.
Garmin designed it so that it only scans while it is floating in the water.
It has water contact sensors that shut down the power whenever it is out of the water.
- Versatile Fish Finding
The Striker Cast is a very versatile device that works in almost any water type.
You can use it in the open sea where the water is salty, or you can cast it out on any freshwater lake.
Additionally, it works for ice fishing, as long as the water temperatures stay above -4 degrees Fahrenheit.
This device has a built-in temperature sensor, which it uses to display the temperature on your mobile device.
- Garmin QuickDraw Community
The Striker Cast app pitches a useful extra—the Garmin QuickDraw online community.
This community is a network of other Garmin device users who share maps of already charted fishing locations.
You can download maps with one-foot contours onto your mobile device before you head on out fishing.
These maps will show you where to find fish, and you can use them to remember where the targets were the last time you made the same trip.
How To Use the Garmin Striker Cast
If you’re still unsure that the Garmin Striker Cast is the right fish finder for you, you might want to know how it works before you make a purchase.
As mentioned, setting up and using the Striker Cast is as easy as 1-2-3.
Just follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Charge the Striker Cast
The Striker Cast will not have the built-in battery at full capacity the first time you set it up.
As such, you will need to plug it into a USB charger before going on your fishing trip.
The charging status LED indicator will flash red while the device is charging.
It will then stop blinking when the device’s battery becomes fully charged.
If you want to test it out before your trip, you can proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Pair It With a Mobile Device
To gain complete control of the Striker Cast, you will need to install the Striker Cast app on an Android or iOS device.
It is a free software program downloadable from the App Store, and installation will only take a short while.
As soon as the app is running, sign in to your Garmin account or create one.
Next, turn the device on by putting it in water with the contact sensors touching the surface.
You will find the two-pin sensor right beside the four-pin charging port.
When the app detects the Striker Cast, you can begin pairing.
As long as no other Striker Cast devices are nearby and turned on, the drop-down menu on the app will only display one option.
After a successful pairing, a message will appear on the app, displaying SONAR data.
Step 3: Attach a Tether
To start using the Striker Cast, you will need to attach it to your fishing line or rod.
Connect the included nylon tether to the device and attach the opposite end to a 20-pound fishing line using a snap-on #3 barrel swivel.
Alternative
With Garmin, you only have two castable fish finders to choose from—the GPS version and this unit.
If you want to check out other brands, you might also like the Deeper Smart SONAR PRO+ 2.
It costs much more than either of the Garmin Striker Cast variants, and it can only continuously operate for up to nine hours.
Nevertheless, it packs more features to make up for the price.
Aside from being an excellent castable fish finder for all seasons and fishing methods, it boasts three beam frequencies for more accurate SONAR readings.
It is similarly helpful for kayak fishing, boat fishing, ice fishing, and shore fishing.
Plus, it carries a built-in GPS, unlike the Garmin Striker Cast.
Furthermore, the Deeper Smart SONAR Pro+ 2 has an outstanding depth and casting range, and it can produce excellent target separation.
Is the Garmin Striker Cast Worth Buying?
Not all castable fish finders are created equal.
As you’ve learned in this Garmin Striker Cast Castable SONAR review, some cost more and have better features to offer.
This particular model does not include a built-in GPS, so you might want to consider other offers.
The Garmin Striker Cast has a GPS version if you plan to plot charts and create your own maps using your mobile device.
That said, the non-GPS version should be enough for finding fish along shores or small fishing vessels.
It can be an excellent tool for bait fishing, bait casting, spinning, and trolling.