The Striker series, a new line of fishfinders with CHIRP traditional sonar and CHIRP DownVüTM and SideVü technology that come standard with a built-in high-sensitivity GPS receiver. Fishermen will now have the ability to not only see fish and structure below the boat, but also to mark hot fishing locations and get back to them. With GPS on board, users will also have access to accurate speed over the ground (SOG) information, even at very slow speeds. Raising the standard for fishfinder performance and ease of use, the Striker series is a powerful tool to help inland and near-shore anglers find and catch more fish.
“With brilliant sonar systems and unrivaled fishing features, the Striker series is the entry-level solution for anglers who want the best sonar available at an affordable price,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “CHIRP is the sonar technology our customers want, and thanks to the addition of the Striker series, it’s now available across our entire product line. Striker also adds GPS, so anglers can get back to their favorite fishing spots next week, next month or next year.”
The Striker fishfinder series is available in bright, sunlight readable 3.5-inch, 5-inch or 7-inch color displays that feature a new rugged design and keyed interface that’s built to withstand the harsh marine environment. All models are equipped with a built-in high-sensitivity GPS antenna and waypoint map, so marking and navigating to favorite fishing spots and other areas of interest like brush piles, stumps and docks, is quick and easy. When trolling, the high-sensitivity GPS provides an update once per second, giving fishermen the precision needed to dial in the exact trolling speed and optimize lure presentation. Users can also share waypoint data across multiple Striker units, as well as all echoMAPTM series devices.
CHIRP traditional sonar comes standard on all of the new Striker devices. Instead of just sending one single frequency, CHIRP sends a continuous sweep of frequencies and interprets them individually upon their return, creating crisper fish arches with better target separation. Even when the fish are stacked up, CHIRP sonar helps anglers better determine how many, and which one is the largest.
For anglers who want to see objects and structure below the boat, the Striker dv fishfinders feature built-in CHIRP DownVü scanning sonar, which provides a nearly photographic image with detailed representation of objects, structure and fish in both freshwater and saltwater. The premier 7-inch Striker 7sv also adds SideVü scanning for customers who want to see targets and structure up to 750 feet on each side of the boat, without being directly over them. Users can use the split screen feature to show various sonar options along with the waypoint map.
All Striker fishfinders come with everything anglers need – including a trolling-motor and transmon transducer and mounting hardware – to make getting on the water fast and easy. The five new models offer flexible mounting so the devices can tilt and swivel for an optimum-viewing angle. An optional flush-mount kit is available for in-dash installation. Additionally, the Striker series is compatible with a wide-range of optional Garmin scanning transducers to customize sonar performance and installation options.
The new Striker fishfinders will be available in December 2015, with suggested retail prices ranging from $119.99 to $499.99. For more information, visit garmin.com/marine2016.