The 9 Best Underwater Fishing Cameras
Updated by · How we research
Nine cable cameras for ice holes, boats and kayaks, compared on screen, cable length, battery and recording. The FishPRO 7 HD1080P is our overall pick. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A fishing camera won't show you the whole lake. Even a good one sees only a few feet in stained water, and many budget kits can't record what they show. These cameras drop on a cable through an ice hole or off a boat, so you can watch fish react to your bait, check weeds and read the bottom.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The FishPRO 7 HD1080P now leads this list. It pairs a seven-inch screen with a long cable and a big battery, and owner feedback on it is unusually consistent. The bigger surprise was how many famous names are gone from the store we link: the Aqua-Vu AV715C, Aqua-Vu AV Micro 5.0, MarCum Recon Viewing 5 Plus and GoFish Cam Wireless are all unavailable, and MarCum lists the Recon 5 Plus as discontinued. Aqua-Vu still sells its cameras through its own site, so it gets a special honor.
We also dropped the MarCum LX-9, a 2012-era unit, the Anysun CCD, which has left the market, plus the PowerVision PRW10 Powerray Wizard, because an underwater drone is a different tool. The Moocor Portable Underwater is now sold as the FishPRO 4.3 and stays, as do the Eyoyo 9-inch kit, now listed as the Eyoyo EF09RBO, and the Lucky FL180PR handheld.
For a category with no lab testing, the useful evidence was a Field & Stream roundup, MarCum's spec page, ice-fishing forum threads comparing kits side by side, and patterns in owner feedback on battery life in the cold and how far the cameras see in murky water.
November 13, 2020:
While there weren't a lot of upgrades among the models on our list, one extremely exciting new addition is the PowerVision PRW10 Powerray Wizard, which, frankly, is likely the future for underwater fishing cameras. More than just a camera, this is effectively a drone you can control with the help of an included set of FPV goggles, creating something of a virtual reality experience that takes you beneath the waves in 4K resolution. We particularly like it because it's so immersive and interesting that it can make a day on the water a blast, even if you end up catching nothing. Of course, if comes with a fish finder, as well, so the odds of getting something to bite go up.
The other new model to join our ranking was the GoFish Cam Wireless, which stands out for being a camera that doesn't come with a monitoring device of any kind. Rather, it comes with a transmitter that floats on the surface of the water and relays video and images from the camera to a mobile device of your choosing. The app is particularly well-regarded for iOS users, but problems with its functionality on Android devices kept the selection from rising very high on our list.
We did introduce the Eyoyo 9-Inch 1000TVL as an update to the old seven-inch model. They're pretty similar in most regards other than the notable increase in display size, but the new model has a significantly longer cable than its predecessor's, which, at only 15 meters, was just long enough for most uses. Having an extra 35 meters of length can be really useful.
April 19, 2019:
We've added a couple of models to this ranking since we last visited it, including the Marcum LX-9, which boasts some serious resolution, as well the ability to toggle between black and white and color modes, which can make finding certain fish in certain waters much easier. Its price is the only thing that kept it from breaking into the top slot. Our top pick moved up from the number four position mainly on the strength of its battery, which far outlasts most of the competition.
Elsewhere, the Wosports 720p has suffered from some availability problems, but you can find similar image quality in several other options on our list, including the offerings in the top two slots.
Our former number one pick has been demoted down to number six along imaging lines as well, through there doesn't seem to be a consensus as to whether these arise from the display or the camera. It's still a smart buy given its IP67 waterproof rating, but there are definitely better models out there nowadays.
Special Honors
Aqua-Vu Underwater Cameras Aqua-Vu has made underwater fishing cameras since 1997, and its Micro and HD lines are the ones ice anglers often name first. Field & Stream picked the HD7i-125 for low light and the Micro Stealth 4.3 as a portable choice. They're sold through Aqua-Vu's own site and outdoor retailers. aquavu.com
Cable Length, Water Clarity And What You'll See
In clear water, makers claim their infrared lights reach 15 to 20 feet; in stained or silty water the view drops to a few feet, sometimes inches.
Match the cable to the deepest water you fish. A cable of 50 to 65 feet covers most ice fishing, with slack to spare. Deep basins and big reservoirs call for 100 feet or more. Field & Stream makes the same point: the basic Eyoyo's 49-foot cable suits small lakes and streams, while Aqua-Vu sells a 125-foot version for deep water.
Water clarity matters more than resolution. In clear water, makers claim their infrared lights reach 15 to 20 feet; in stained or silty water the view drops to a few feet, sometimes inches. Infrared lights give a black-and-white picture that cuts through gloom without lighting up every floating particle. White lights give color in clear water but can glare off silt like headlights in fog. Ice anglers on IceShanty also point out that cloud cover and snow on the ice darken the water, so infrared earns its place even at midday.
Watch how the cable is stored. A spool or a built-in reel keeps it from tangling, and a loose coil is the most common complaint on cheaper kits. A heavier camera head, or a small sinker clipped above it, keeps the camera from spinning or drifting in current.
Batteries, Cold And A Screen You Can Read
Battery hours on these cameras are makers' claims at room temperature. Cold shortens them. Lithium packs hold up better in the cold and weigh less than the old lead-acid bricks, as Field & Stream notes. A camera that charges over USB-C can be topped up from a phone power bank in your pocket, which is the simplest fix for a long day. Keep the monitor in your jacket between looks.
Glare is the other enemy. Snow and open water bounce sunlight onto the screen, so a sun visor or hood matters more than a few extra pixels. IPS screens hold their color when you look from the side, which helps when two people share one monitor. A seven- or nine-inch screen suits a shanty or a boat; a 4.3- or five-inch unit fits a kayak or a quick check through one hole.
Never charge a lithium pack that has swollen, and don't leave one in a hot car through the summer off-season.
Recording, And Staying Safe On The Ice
Many budget kits show live video but can't save it. If you want clips for later, or to study how fish react to a lure, pick a camera with a built-in recorder. The MarCum Pursuit HD L saves MP4 video to a microSD card of up to 128 GB, and the larger Eyoyo kits record to a card as well. An HDMI output lets you send the picture to a bigger screen in a fish house.
No camera makes ice safe. The Minnesota DNR says to stay off ice thinner than 4 inches of new, clear ice when walking or fishing on foot, and to double its guidelines for white or snowy ice. Check thickness with a spud bar or auger as you go, and keep the camera cable clear of a spinning auger.
Underwater cameras are legal for recreational fishing in most places, but a few states have debated limits on them, and tournament rules vary. Check your state's fishing rules and any tournament rules before you rely on one.
How we researched this
We compared 16 underwater fishing cameras, read the makers' spec sheets and MarCum's product page for the finalists, weighed a Field & Stream roundup and ice-fishing forum threads, analyzed owner feedback, and checked the main brands against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall data.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my phone or a GoPro as an underwater fishing camera?
An action camera in a waterproof housing records good video, but you can't watch it live, because Wi-Fi doesn't carry through water. Line-mounted cameras like the GoFish Cam work the same way. For a live view while you fish, you need a camera on a cable wired to a monitor.
How far can an underwater fishing camera see?
It depends on the water, not the camera. In clear water you may see fish several feet away or more; in stained or muddy water the view can shrink to a few feet or less. Infrared light helps in dim water but can't cut through heavy silt.
Do I need a camera that records?
Only if you want to keep clips or review how fish reacted to a lure. Many budget kits are live view only. The Eyoyo EF09RBO, MarCum Pursuit HD L and Lucky FL180PR record to a memory card.
How thick does ice need to be to fish with a camera?
The Minnesota DNR advises at least 4 inches of new, clear ice for fishing on foot and twice that for white or snow-covered ice. No guideline replaces checking the ice as you go.
Will an underwater camera work from a kayak?
Yes. A 4.3- or five-inch unit fits on a kayak, and models that charge over USB-C can run from a small power bank. Clip a light sinker above the camera so it hangs straight while you drift.
