10 Best Fishing Watches (Review) In 2021

Features To Look For In Fishing Watches

Water Resistance – One of the most obvious features to look for in a fishing watch is water resistance.  No matter how careful you are when you’re fishing, you’re bound to get wet. The water could come from waves, rain or something as ordinary as washing fish guts off your hands.  Then too, if you enjoy fishing on a boat, who’s to say you might not slip and fall into the water? That’s why water resistance is such an important feature in a fishing watch. You may also want to enjoy some other aquatic activities such as swimming or snorkeling. You don’t want to be worrying about your watch so check for water resistance when looking for the best fishing watch for you.

Vibrate Alarm – Fishing and spending time outdoors can often be noisy so an ordinary alarm on your watch may not be good enough. If you’ve ever tried fishing on the shoreline in high winds you know how little you can hear anything but the wind. The sound of crashing waves can also be quite loud. That’s when a vibrating alarm can make all the difference. Many of the fishing watches we’ve featured have time alarms to remind you when it’s time to pack up and head home, but more importantly, you want a vibrating alarm on a watch with a storm alarm. Fishing is tranquil and relaxing so it’s easy to overlook the signs of an impending storm. A storm alarm on a fishing watch is one you definitely want to be made aware of.

Analog or Digital Dial – Fishing watches are available in analog or digital versions. Both are quite good at telling the time and it all comes down to personal preference. The advantage of choosing a digital fishing watch is that they may feature more data that can be accessed through different modes. Analog watches may still have a decent amount of data available on them and they may also be more reliable time keepers.

Barometer – The main purpose of a barometer is to detect and measure changes in the air pressure. A drop in barometric pressure generally indicates an approaching weather front and clouds. Higher pressure indicates a bright, sunny day. In terms of fishing, some anglers swear that lower barometric pressure is better for fishing, while others prefer higher pressure. One thing is for certain, the general consensus is that fishing is best while the changes are occurring so having a fishing watch with a barometer will alert you to these changes so you can get fishing, and hopefully catch some too.

Lunar (& tidal) Information – There is a popular theory that different phases of the moon, or lunar phases affect the quality and success of fishing. Depending on the anger you ask, you may get a very different answer. The same can be said for high and low tides. Good men’s fishing watches usually feature data on lunar phases and tidal times so the best way to determine when the fish will bite is to follow the information and keep records of your success.

Sunrise and Sunset Information – Fishing is an activity you can enjoy at any time of the day or night, but the fish tend to be the most active during the twilight moments of sunrise and sunset. That’s a great reason to have sunrise and sunset data on your fishing watch. You can look ahead to see when the sun will set or rise so you can be in your favorite fishing spot, ready for action. Some of the more advanced fishing watches have this data available for multiple locations making them perfect for the angler who likes to explore different fishing spots.

Compass – Fishing can take you to some pretty amazing and visually stunning locations. Immersing yourself in the scenery can result in you losing your bearings and not being able to find your way back to your vehicle or home. If you find a watch with a compass, you’ll at least have the right tool to find your way again. Of course, that’s not the only reason a compass is a good feature on a fishing watch. Some fishing spots are simply better than others and you want to be able to find them again. The compass can help you find a good spot, even after you’ve moved away from it considerably.

Band material – The materials used for a watch band need to be comfortable and resistant to many everyday occurrences. Add salt water to the equation and you may have a recipe for disaster. The band of a good fishing watch needs to be made from materials that will not deteriorate or rust when it comes in contact with salt water. This would include things like stainless still or a variety of rubber materials. Rubber or resin bands are most suitable for fishing as they are durable and don’t mind getting wet, even in salt water. They are also quite flexible making them very comfortable for rigorous activities.

Illumination – Fishing at night is a whole lot different to fishing in the full light of day with the main issue being a lack of visibility in the dark. That doesn’t mean you should avoid night fishing. A good fishing watch will give you all the data you need so a watch that illuminates is essential so you can access and see all the information you need in the dark. Some fishing watches are illuminated with the help of Indiglo, while others light up with an LC display. Regardless of what lights the watch’s display, the main thing is that you can see what you need to see in the dark.

Ease of Reading – Although fishing is all about patience and taking your time, you still want to be able to read the data on a fishing watch quite quickly. Fishing in itself may be relaxing and slow, but when things start to happen, they happen fast. You want the information on your watch to be displayed quite quickly and you want it to be simple and easy to read and understand. Look for a fishing watch that displays the information you need quickly and simply and if the watch shows you the data in different modes, make sure you can access each mode without any fuss and a minimal amount of fiddling. You want to spend less time reading your watch, and more time reeling in the fish.

Fishing Watch FAQ

Q: What are the different levels of water resistance in Fishing Watches?

A: All fishing watches have some level of water resistance. However, the levels can be very different and you need to be aware of them before you head for the water. Most fishing watches have a water resistance level of 50 meters to 500 meters, with an average of 100 or 200 meters. The thing to consider is what you can actually do with each water resistance levels. For example, if your fishing watch is water resistant up to 50 meters, you can get it wet and maybe get into the water a little bit. Up to 100 meters you can get some serious swimming in during your fishing adventures or still have a working watch if you accidentally fall off your boat. 200 meters and up you can be sure your fishing watch will still be working even in some serious watery conditions.

Q: How to care for a Fishing Watch?

A: The best way to care for a fishing watch is to avoid damaging it in the first place. Getting your fishing watch wet will never be a problem but it is important to clean your watch at the end of a day’s worth of fishing. Whether you have been fishing in fresh or salt water there will be a degree of dirty water and other particles in your watch. Over time they can deteriorate your band and the watch itself. Clean your watch in a solution of clean water and a small amount of mild detergent. Use a small brush to dislodge sand or other particles and when you’re done, rinse your watch thoroughly with clean water. Let it dry before you use it again.

Technology is everywhere and that includes fishing watches. No matter how good an angler you may be, there is nothing wrong with using the data available on a fishing watch to make you an even better angler. Use it to your advantage.