Underwater Drones: Will Sport Fishing Ever Be the Same?

Last updated on April 23rd, 2020

boat fishing with powerray fishfinder underwater drone

As an Amazon Associate, Reel Adventure Fishing earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn commissions when you buy through links on this post.

Photo: Courtesy of PowerVision

When thinking about drones, the first thing that could come to mind is a small device that looks like a helicopter flying around, being controlled by a person with a gigantic remote control.

This type of technology has been around for quite a while already, and it is now incredibly popular. Even children are asking for drones as Christmas and birthday presents. They are also being used for multiple applications, such as professional video recording, security, field recognition and so on.

Fishing, like just about everything else in our world today, is not immune to the advances of high-tech. Drone technology has stepped forward and is now going underwater for the recreational fishing market. After years of research and prototypes, we now have the launch of a revolutionary design that could open a whole new vein of possibilities for drone manufacturers all over the world.

This revolution is being led by an underwater drone called the PowerRay and, while it has certainly stirred excitement in many sport fishing quarters, it has also raised plenty of questions in others. Let’s dig in.

Who’s Behind All the Fuss?

The creator of this new type of technology is not a stranger to the drone market. The PowerVision Group has been developing interesting and innovative designs for years now.

They specialize in building UAV devices (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and providing several other services, such as smart drones, virtual and augmented reality, among others. The company has offices in Australia, China, the United States, and Canada, Finland and Germany.

Their subsidiary Powervision Robot is tasked with developing UAV solutions, drones, and even robots that are multi-purpose and serve the consumer market. Their most popular device to date, the PowerEgg, was presented at CES 2016 to much fanfare. The aerial drone, which collapses into an egg-shaped sphere for easy storage, is billed by the company as “the most intuitive consumer drone” and is sold in North America, Europe, and China.

Anatomy of a High-Tech Underwater Fishing Drone

The PowerRay Fishfinder is an innovative underwater drone designed and developed by the PowerVision Group to be used for sportfishing in multiple aquatic environments including saltwater, freshwater and even ice fishing.

fishing drone with remote bait drop

Photo: Courtesy of PowerVision

According to the manufacturer, the device can dive to a depth of a maximum of 30 meters (98 ft) underwater. It has an integrated sonar system with a depth of 40 meters (131 ft) which is used to detect fish in the area below the drone.

With onboard integrated Wi-Fi, it is also possible for the angler to visualize the information captured by the drone up to 80 meters or 262 ft. With the exact location of the fish concentration in hand, it is then possible to determine where to go with the boat and where to drop your hook and bait.

And the technological goodies keep coming: the PowerRay comes with an integrated 4K UHD camera for underwater use, delivering high-quality real-time images to any Android or iOS mobile device that has the PowerRay Mobile App installed.

According to the manufacturer, more detailed information is accessible via the app: fish distribution, real-time device speed, underwater position, temperature, and depth; even the underwater landscape is visible on the screen of the mobile device.

As if that were not enough to catch fish, the PowerRay also has an integrated LED luring system. By turning on a luring light with pre-adjusted LEDs, the fisherman can attract the fish to the position of the PowerRay drone, making the hunting even easier.

If the angler has no mobile device, it is possible to buy the PowerRay 3D display, which is a high-quality external display that can be directly connected to a cable to the drone. With this, the angler can also visualize the image content sent by the PowerRay Fishfinder.

Is There Anything Else This Drone Can Do?

Actually, yes. As if it was not enough with a light luring system, a 4K UHD camera and a mobile app that is able to supply you with a complete set of information about the fauna and flora of the water ecosystem that the angler is navigating, the drone’s use can escalate into a fully virtual reality experience.

Or should we say augmented reality experience, in this case? Using the PowerVision VR Google, it is possible to obtain a fully immersive experience with the images that the attached camera is capturing. It has a gesture-based navigation system, and multiple goggles can be connected simultaneously, allowing multiple users to have the same experience at the same time.

In case you’re wondering, the company has stated that the drone will be ready for pre-ordering starting February 2017.

Early Reactions

powervision virtual reality google for powerray drone

Photo: Courtesy of PowerVision

No doubt, the PowerRay is impressive in its technology and array of features. However, emotions about fishing with an underwater drone have been mixed so far. While the product does have several noted pros, there are also possible cons related to its use. The following is a shortlist of some of the commentary expressed online and elsewhere.

 Some of the Pros:

  • The technology can help beginners catch more fish, thereby diminishing the frustration that is often involved in a sport like fishing. This sport requires a tremendous amount of patience to catch just one fish sometimes, so this could attract more young people into a sport that has not had many technological innovations in years.
  • The immersive VR experience can give new perspectives and valuable information about underwater ecosystems. It can also be engaging mechanisms for young audiences that are interested in nature.
  • It could be used to help monitor the fish populations in certain areas and, therefore, be beneficial to the future of recreational fishing.

Some of the Cons:

  • It takes the sense of competition and the spirit of fair play out of the sport itself. It can even be considered as “cheating” when someone uses such a device.
  • Could the technology increase the exploitation of underwater ecosystems, many of which are already under pressure, adding to an environmental crisis?
  • Will fish and game agencies ultimately impose stiff regulations on their use, or even outright ban them in some markets?

What Do You Think?

These are just some of the many questions, opinions, and concerns being shared by die-hard anglers and casual observers alike on sportfishing forums and other online communities regarding the use of the device.

We here at ReelAdventureFishing try to take a balanced view of any new gear or technology that impacts the sport we all love. It will be you, however, our readers and avid anglers, who will ultimately make the final analysis on whether the use of underwater drones in recreational fishing is a step forward or a step backward for the sport.

What do you think? We’d love to hear your opinions on the subject.

Suggested Reviews/Posts:

smoked salmon fresh out of the smoker

Smoker Guide and Tips for Smoking Perfectly Flavored Salmon

Smoking salmon is an age-old tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. But, with the modern advancements ...
angler on fishing boat with bow mounted electric trolling motor

5 Best Electric Trolling Motors for Your Money

5 Electric Trolling Motors Worth Your Dollars Looking for the best trolling motor at best the value possible for your ...
best saltwater spinning reel for the money

Top 3 Saltwater Spinning Reels on a Budget

3 Best Budget Saltwater Spinning Reels for Your Money Your fishing reel is a critical piece of tackle; in fact, ...
13 fishing concept z review

Look, No Bearings! Review of the Concept Z Baitcasting Reel

A Different Kind Of Baitcasting Reel The Concept Z low-profile baitcasting reel is the latest product from new kid on ...
angler pond fishing for bass

Don’t Overlook Small Ponds for Big Bass

Small ponds are often overlooked or simply get passed by on the way to major reservoirs and, as such, offer ...
best spinning reels for surf fishing

6 Surf Spinning Reels That Need to Be on Your Short List

6 Best Surf Fishing Reels for Your Money The 6 surf fishing spinning reels presented here are neither the most ...

4 thoughts on “Underwater Drones: Will Sport Fishing Ever Be the Same?

  1. Kurt

    In the words of Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should”.

  2. John

    I think these innovations are good for fishing in general because let’s be honest this sport is way behind others. Not to mention that not as many youngsters want to learn how to fish because it can be very boring most of the time. If we want to attract the younger generation then we need to learn how to use these drones. I can see my nephew using one and catching his first fish in a matter of minutes which will make him happy and he’ll want to go fishing again.

  3. Owen

    While I can definitely see its usefulness in cases where a certain fish population might get wiped out if not tracked, I am also scared about this. I think many will start to cheat and the whole sport may be ruined because of it. Fishing has always been a sport of patience. It’s meant to be boring and it’s not for everyone. I don’t know; maybe I’m getting old but I’ve got mixed feelings about this technology.

    1. Dorado

      Thank you for your opinion, Owen. Yep, the potential for abuse is certainly there, as with almost any technology.Time will tell if this is something that people will want to embrace or not. As an old school purist, I will always welcome the uncertainties and, oftentimes, the frustrations that come with recreational fishing.

Comments are closed.