Hey guys just saw this video on the new Garmin Panoptix sonar. It looks like it has potential to be a real game changer with 3D live views of both in front of and under the boat. It supposedly allows you to see your bait as you retrieve it as well as seeing fish moving towards you or away from you and even if they're chasing after your bait. It officially debuts tomorrow at some big marine show in Miami. What are your guys thoughts on this? Do you think it'll be as big of a game changer as side and down imaging?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2AtZb9_z_k

Garmin is hitting the freshwater market hard

Whoa...... that cant be cheap. I had a feeling that that is the direction electronics are moving. Only a matter of time before it was 3D.

Whoa...... that cant be cheap. I had a feeling that that is the direction electronics are moving. Only a matter of time before it was 3D.

You can add it on to their current units. The transducer is about $1,500. I looked at the price of the compatible units and the cheapest was $800 so as long as you don't need anything extra to make it work, it actually shouldn't be too bad.

Looks amazing...but I may be looking at the site wrong, is it $1,500 for each function (down or forward)?

No I think the 1 transducer does both. I could be wrong though since that was the first time I saw it.  

Here's a bit of an update giving a better detail view of what it can do. 

That is some crazy stuff right there.

No I think the 1 transducer does both. I could be wrong though since that was the first time I saw it.  

The Panoptix Forward and Panoptix Down are separate transducers.  The Forward is designed for the trolling motor and the Down for the transom.

Would like to see what it can do in freshwater.

 

Will take a look at it at the Classic.

 

Raymarine hit the freshwater market hard with its CHIRP units and now this new technology is introduced.

 

Makes one stop to wait for another good GSP/Sonar unit to come along before investing in the ones on the market now.

$1,500 plus installation and the increase in your watercraft insurance to cover the unit.

 

Not bad when you consider the costs of the other brands out there.

 

But what about the GPS?  Does this unit also include a GPS?

 

And guys, look at the face of the unit.  So easy to operate.

 

 

The Panoptix Forward and Panoptix Down are separate transducers.  The Forward is designed for the trolling motor and the Down for the transom.

Ouch on that price then! Even though it is new so I guess I should have expected that.

 

I got to spend several hours with a Panoptix prototype last weekend, and this is going to be the real deal. We were casting a 3/4 oz football jig, and you could easily see the jig the instant it hit the water, watch it all the way to the bottom as well as during the entire retrieve. We didn't have time to seriously fish and just stayed in the boat ramp cove, but we could see small fish (likely 3-4 inch sunfish) follow the football jig to the bottom, then trail it during the retrieves. This technology is going to provide information on real time fish abundance, movement, and location ahead of the boat as they relate to the actual lure we are fishing! Really remarkable.

 

 Very Interesting. 

 

Sounds a lot like "Playing a Fishing Video Game" does it not ?

 

As several Tournament Officials have seen it necessary to ban the A-Rig, I'll be very curious to see how this type of technology is viewed.

 

A-Jay

I guess we can all get cheaper rods. Who needs a rod to feel a strike when you can see it.