Kayak fishing puts different demands on a fish finder than a boat does — space, weight and power draw are all tighter, and a lot of kayak anglers don’t want to run wiring at all. Here’s our pick of the best options for kayak anglers in the UK.
Best Overall for Kayaks: Deeper PRO+ 2 Smart Sonar Castable WiFi Fish Finder
The Deeper PRO+ 2 Smart Sonar Castable WiFi Fish Finder (£229.99) needs no wiring, no mounting bracket and no battery beyond its own — cast it out on your line, and it streams sonar straight to your phone over WiFi. For kayak anglers who don’t want to drill a hull or run cables, it’s the simplest option available.
Best Wired Options: Garmin STRIKER Plus 4 Fish Finder with GPS and Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3 Fish Finder
If you’d rather have a fixed screen mounted to your kayak, the Garmin STRIKER Plus 4 Fish Finder with GPS (£172.99) is compact, low-power and includes GPS for marking spots — ideal for a small 12V battery setup. The Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP GPS G3 Fish Finder (£287.99) steps up to a larger display with CHIRP sonar for sharper target separation, still small enough for most kayak consoles.
Best Compact Colour Display: Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv Fish Finder
The Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv Fish Finder (£172.99) packs a bright colour display into a small footprint — easier to read in direct sunlight on the water than many budget units, without the bulk of a larger unit.
What to Look for in a Kayak Fish Finder
- Power draw: kayak batteries are small — check the unit’s current draw against your battery’s capacity.
- Mounting: look for track-mount or RAM-compatible units if you want to switch between kayaks or remove the unit for storage.
- No-wiring options: castable sonar like the Deeper PRO+ avoids drilling or running cable through the hull entirely.
- Screen size vs weight: bigger screens are easier to read but add weight and draw more power — balance against your kayak’s setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to drill my kayak to fit a fish finder?
Only for a fixed transducer. Castable units like the Deeper PRO+ need no drilling at all, and many kayak anglers use suction or clamp transducer mounts to avoid it too.
What battery do I need for a kayak fish finder?
A small sealed lead-acid or lithium battery in the 5–12Ah range is typically enough for a compact fish finder for a full day on the water.
Is GPS worth having on a kayak fish finder?
Yes — marking productive spots and finding your way back in poor visibility is genuinely useful, even on small inland waters.
Need help fitting a fish finder to your kayak setup? Our team can advise on mounts and power — browse the full range in our online shop.