Fishing navigation apps

Hi All,

considering making the leap to Navionics ($25/yr) to get live charts in my hand, especially like how they include the various restriction zones as well.  very much don't like the cost...for an app that is essentially just showing me charts they get from the government for free.  Now, the app is capable of much much more...but on a kayak, I won't be using many of those capabilities.

I really just want an app that reads the charts, overlays the MPE's etc.

anyone using something different?

I looked into C-MAP (free) but the free version is online only, and no MPE support.

Hi Brian

I have been using Navionics for several years, and it is definitely worth $25 per year.  Love the Relief Shading overlay option for rockfishing.
Also, I downloaded MLPA areas for my Lowrance FF from the following website and saved as trails:

https://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/threads/mlpa-areas-for-your-chart-plotter.385354/

Linked correctly.

Paul

I use Gaia GPS and it works well for me—on and off the water…

I used iNavX for a while and I think it's free with the basic NOAA maps.   Perfect for seeing where you are, tracking your outing, etc.

But I ended up switching to Navionics because I like the relief shading to find structure in new locations.

I use FishLegal for the MPAs.

thanks for the feedback guys!

I just use the free version of navionics and then fish legal.

I just use the free version of navionics and then fish legal.

I used it for 2 weeks, but then expired - is there a different version?

The nacionics app I use is this one "Boating" and it has been good to me. I haven't paid for it and use it to msrk waypoints, find reef and track my routes

The Boating app is the official Garmin Navionics app.  The free version does a lot, and the big advantage with the paid version is the "relief shading" feature which shows a more defined bottom picture.  If I was fishing from a boat for rockfish/lings/other fish that are highly dependent on bottom structure, I would for sure pay for the additional features to help find new fishing areas, but as a kayaker I am pretty limited to within a couple miles of where I launch, so not really a huge advantage. 

I did the 2 week trial, and took a few screenshots of areas that I wanted to check out while on the water.  Cool feature would be much more useful if I could travel further. 

I do also like that the web version and app both show user shared points - so some reefs/structure points are already charted and visible to everyone.