Simrad 3D Structure scan

21Likes

20,313Views

2016Feb 25

The Simrad 3D Structure Scan is going to change the way we view the bottom of the ocean and make finding structures and fish easier than it has ever been. And the best thing about this new technology is that it is easy to use. BoatAdvice managing Editor, Steve Lague, was joined by Simrad representative, Stephen Burney, just off the coast in Hillarys, WA, to test the new fishfinder technology. Hillarys is not only Steve’s local waters, and an area he knows well, but is extremely popular among WA boaties, especially in late spring and early summer when the amateur crayfish season opens. It is a section of coast that is littered with reef and rock formations creating the perfect habitat for these delicious crustaceans. With water depth varying between 2.0m and 12.0m it as the ideal location to fully test the capabilities of this 3D technology and see how much it would change the way we view the bottom of the ocean. Stephen Burney had had previous experience with the technology but admitted he had never seen it work on ground as interesting as we encountered. As we drifted across bombies, caves and big drop-offs, the screen lit up with red dots showing big schools of bait fish around every drop-off. It made finding fish as easy as I have ever seen before. We also drove along a drop-off and found about four of five different areas where you definitely want to drop a cray pot. I have to admit that as one of the thousands of West Australians who runs craypots each season and enjoys getting out on the water for a fish whenever I can I was pretty excited when Navico released the 3D Structure Scan. But what we saw today has blown me away. This is ground I am very familiar with and to see it in such detail was amazing – it was like discovering it for the first time.