A comparison of the characteristics of recreational‐ and survey‐grade side‐scan sonar units (with compressed high‐intensity radar pulse [CHIRP]) for measuring fish populations. The recreational‐grade sonar systems listed can simultaneously record other sonar channels at equal frequency, such as down‐imaging, and are models commonly used by natural resource agencies and anglers in the United States. The EdgeTech 4125 survey‐grade sonar units, which are most commonly used for fish enumeration, are currently available to 1,600 kHz and can simultaneously image at 600 kHz (Kazyak et al. 2020).
| Characteristic | Sonar type | |
| Recreational grade | Survey grade | |
| Resolution | High‐resolution options (up to 1,200 kHz) | Highest resolution options (up to 1,600 kHz) |
| Availability | Installed on many agency‐owned and private vessels for navigation and “fish‐finding” | Primary use for research surveys |
| Deployment | Typically hull‐mounted and more suitable for shallower water | Typically deployed as a towfish, but can be mounted to the vessel |
| Ease of use | More portable and user‐friendly interface | Bulkier equipment and cables. The interface requires greater training and technical understanding. |
| Software | Manufacturer‐supported software for quantifying fish targets is currently limited. Third‐party software options are available. | Manufacturer supported software and third party options available for quantifying fish targets. |
| Example equipment models | Humminbird (G4N: 1,200 kHz; Johnson Outdoors, Racine, Wisonsin), Garmin (ECHOMAP: 1,200 kHz; Olathe, Kansas), Lowrance (HDS Pro: 1,075 kHz, Tulsa, Oklahoma) | EdgeTech (4125P: 600/1,600 kHz; West Wareham, Massachusetts), Klein Marine Systems (5900: 600 kHz; Salem, New Hampshire), JW Fishers (450/900: 1,200 kHz; East Taunton, Massachusetts) |
| Characteristic | Sonar type | |
| Recreational grade | Survey grade | |
| Resolution | High‐resolution options (up to 1,200 kHz) | Highest resolution options (up to 1,600 kHz) |
| Availability | Installed on many agency‐owned and private vessels for navigation and “fish‐finding” | Primary use for research surveys |
| Deployment | Typically hull‐mounted and more suitable for shallower water | Typically deployed as a towfish, but can be mounted to the vessel |
| Ease of use | More portable and user‐friendly interface | Bulkier equipment and cables. The interface requires greater training and technical understanding. |
| Software | Manufacturer‐supported software for quantifying fish targets is currently limited. Third‐party software options are available. | Manufacturer supported software and third party options available for quantifying fish targets. |
| Example equipment models | Humminbird (G4N: 1,200 kHz; Johnson Outdoors, Racine, Wisonsin), Garmin (ECHOMAP: 1,200 kHz; Olathe, Kansas), Lowrance (HDS Pro: 1,075 kHz, Tulsa, Oklahoma) | EdgeTech (4125P: 600/1,600 kHz; West Wareham, Massachusetts), Klein Marine Systems (5900: 600 kHz; Salem, New Hampshire), JW Fishers (450/900: 1,200 kHz; East Taunton, Massachusetts) |
A comparison of the characteristics of recreational‐ and survey‐grade side‐scan sonar units (with compressed high‐intensity radar pulse [CHIRP]) for measuring fish populations. The recreational‐grade sonar systems listed can simultaneously record other sonar channels at equal frequency, such as down‐imaging, and are models commonly used by natural resource agencies and anglers in the United States. The EdgeTech 4125 survey‐grade sonar units, which are most commonly used for fish enumeration, are currently available to 1,600 kHz and can simultaneously image at 600 kHz (Kazyak et al. 2020).
| Characteristic | Sonar type | |
| Recreational grade | Survey grade | |
| Resolution | High‐resolution options (up to 1,200 kHz) | Highest resolution options (up to 1,600 kHz) |
| Availability | Installed on many agency‐owned and private vessels for navigation and “fish‐finding” | Primary use for research surveys |
| Deployment | Typically hull‐mounted and more suitable for shallower water | Typically deployed as a towfish, but can be mounted to the vessel |
| Ease of use | More portable and user‐friendly interface | Bulkier equipment and cables. The interface requires greater training and technical understanding. |
| Software | Manufacturer‐supported software for quantifying fish targets is currently limited. Third‐party software options are available. | Manufacturer supported software and third party options available for quantifying fish targets. |
| Example equipment models | Humminbird (G4N: 1,200 kHz; Johnson Outdoors, Racine, Wisonsin), Garmin (ECHOMAP: 1,200 kHz; Olathe, Kansas), Lowrance (HDS Pro: 1,075 kHz, Tulsa, Oklahoma) | EdgeTech (4125P: 600/1,600 kHz; West Wareham, Massachusetts), Klein Marine Systems (5900: 600 kHz; Salem, New Hampshire), JW Fishers (450/900: 1,200 kHz; East Taunton, Massachusetts) |
| Characteristic | Sonar type | |
| Recreational grade | Survey grade | |
| Resolution | High‐resolution options (up to 1,200 kHz) | Highest resolution options (up to 1,600 kHz) |
| Availability | Installed on many agency‐owned and private vessels for navigation and “fish‐finding” | Primary use for research surveys |
| Deployment | Typically hull‐mounted and more suitable for shallower water | Typically deployed as a towfish, but can be mounted to the vessel |
| Ease of use | More portable and user‐friendly interface | Bulkier equipment and cables. The interface requires greater training and technical understanding. |
| Software | Manufacturer‐supported software for quantifying fish targets is currently limited. Third‐party software options are available. | Manufacturer supported software and third party options available for quantifying fish targets. |
| Example equipment models | Humminbird (G4N: 1,200 kHz; Johnson Outdoors, Racine, Wisonsin), Garmin (ECHOMAP: 1,200 kHz; Olathe, Kansas), Lowrance (HDS Pro: 1,075 kHz, Tulsa, Oklahoma) | EdgeTech (4125P: 600/1,600 kHz; West Wareham, Massachusetts), Klein Marine Systems (5900: 600 kHz; Salem, New Hampshire), JW Fishers (450/900: 1,200 kHz; East Taunton, Massachusetts) |
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