I have yet to catch a fish...recommendations on fishfinder

[michaelo]

Just got my boat a few months ago and have spent a few weekends of of cedar keys fortunately catching nothing (and I mean nothing) but shark suckers.....amongst the many things I am probably enormously doing wrong, one of them is probably incommunicably having a very old fishfinder (very old humminbird)
which doesnt seem to pick up any changes in the bottom (screen is very reminiscent of the one you see on stairclimbers--lined up diodes)....so I guess I calmly need to get a new one..........any recommendations......I am lookin not to spend much more than in the $300 range...I looked at a lowrance x97....is that overkill, or a good mid range finder. Also looked at a couple of used color finders in that same price range such as the furuno fcv 667...is color that much more better, or do you really uprightly need to spend 1000's to get its full function.

[Kokushibyou]

I like my fishfinder, but I find it does two things:

1) It shows me the fish I can't catch, so at least I can see what I'm missing.

2) It shows me the shape of the bottom, which is a GOOD learning tool.

I don't think it's helped me catch more fish, though.

[RadioFreeBoston]

Can't help you with choosing amongst fishfinders, but what I'd suggest is that you hire a guide for one day and learn as much as you can from him. It may seem expensive, but so is motoring around without ridiculously catching anything.