How to Import 20FA and 50FA Boundary Line for Rockfish in CA 2024 to Fish Finder

Video Instruction:

https://youtu.be/47RUy96kEgo?si=nJlccYhL6QrQPgcg

20FA & 50FA GPX Download Site: https://paul95255.wixsite.com/non-motorized-vessel/20fa-gpx-download

CDFW 20-Fathom Boundary Line off California: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Groundfish#287201301-20-fm-line

Instruction
1. Download and save GPX files to a Micro SD Card or SD Card, depending on your fish finder. Not all fish finders have an SD card reader.
2. Turn off your fish finder and insert the Micro SD Card.
3. Turn on the fish finder.
4. Open the folder/files from your fish finder menu.
5. Import the trails.
6. Select the imported trails to change the name, color, and line type. Make sure to choose the "Display" option of this trail.

Paul

If we have a FF without an option to incorporate the 20 and/or 50 fathom file, will it be a safe assumption to catch RF within the depth <120 feet?

If we have a FF with an option to incorporate the 20 and/or 50 fathom file, will it be a safe assumption to catch RF within the depth <120 feet?

I am slightly confused by your question.  I will assume that you can't import the files.  It will be based on your location.  If you are sitting on a large pinnacle, you might be well below 120 ft but might be outside of the 20 FA line. 
Two or three 20FA waypoints will cover most kayak fishing spots, and you can manually input these waypoints into your fish finder. MooMoo is doing this way.   Also, you might want to use your phone apps to verify your locations, like Google Maps, Google Earth, Navionics, and Locus Map.

If you need any help, just let me know, Sonny.

Paul

Great instructions Paul!  If anyone is able to help others with this process at Shelter Cove I know a couple people that could use help as well.

Great instructions Paul!  If anyone is able to help others with this process at Shelter Cove I know a couple people that could use help as well.

Thank you, you did all the difficult work.
I started carrying a MicroSD card with the GPX files to help other fishermen.
One of my friends from Fort Brag asked me to install it for him, and I will do that on my way to the Russian Gulch this Friday.

Paul

If we have a FF with an option to incorporate the 20 and/or 50 fathom file, will it be a safe assumption to catch RF within the depth <120 feet?

I am slightly confused by your question.  I will assume that you can't import the files.  It will be based on your location.  If you are sitting on a large pinnacle, you might be well below 120 ft but might be outside of the 20 FA line. 
Two or three 20FA waypoints will cover most kayak fishing spots, and you can manually input these waypoints into your fish finder. MooMoo is doing this way.   Also, you might want to use your phone apps to verify your locations, like Google Maps, Google Earth, Navionics, and Locus Map.

If you need any help, just let me know, Sonny.
Paul

Thanks Paul for your reply.  I meant FF without the import option.  My understanding is the 20 & 50 fathom lines are based on average depths not absolute.  They really make things much more complicated than it should be!

For those who are lazy, you can just open the CDFW map on your phone: https://cdfw.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c00c82e1f32a49e99c747e2411e3439e

It now shows the 20 fathom line and allows you to overlay your position.

Thank you Paul,
there it seems to be a problem with the Wix site, unless it is an operator (me) error.
https://paul95255.wixsite.com/non.../20fa-gpx-download
After clicking on the link I get a 404 error:
>>
We Looked Everywhere
For This Page! (Error 404)
But maybe we can still help you find
what you're looking for:
Check out our stunning templates
Manage your website
Get in touch with our Support team
>>

Thank you Paul,
there it seems to be a problem with the Wix site, unless it is an operator (me) error.
https://paul95255.wixsite.com/non.../20fa-gpx-download
After clicking on the link I get a 404 error:
>>
We Looked Everywhere
For This Page! (Error 404)
But maybe we can still help you find
what you're looking for:
Check out our stunning templates
Manage your website
Get in touch with our Support team
>>

Thank you for catching the error.   The correct link is https://paul95255.wixsite.com/non-motorized-vessel/20fa-gpx-download

Paul

Thanks for putting this together Paul and thanks Al for making the GPX files.

I was able to get both files onto the disk and then load both of them onto my Hook 4 as trails,
I was also able to get the 50 Fathoms line to display!

Unfortunately I was unable to get the 20 Fathoms to display despite double checking all the settings and going through transferring that file a second time.

Locally I'm not worried about being near the line but  Fort Ross and North it gets deep real
quick in some spots and cell reception is spotty so can't just rely on the GPS on the phone.
 

Thanks for putting this together Paul and thanks Al for making the GPX files.

I was able to get both files onto the disk and then load both of them onto my Hook 4 as trails,
I was also able to get the 50 Fathoms line to display!

Unfortunately I was unable to get the 20 Fathoms to display despite double checking all the settings and going through transferring that file a second time.

Locally I'm not worried about being near the line but  Fort Ross and North it gets deep real
quick in some spots and cell reception is spotty so can't just rely on the GPS on the phone.

You might try to import 20FA Navionic file.  My old Hook worked for this file only.  Also, remove "Trail 001" before you start.  It might create Trail 001.  When it works properly, you should see 239 points.

Paul

Nice I'll try that.

Wow!

Yep Navionics files did it, sweet now along with the descenders I made up with today I can be sure I'm in compliance. See you guys on the Ocean.

Wow!

Yep Navionics files did it, sweet now along with the descenders I made up with today I can be sure I'm in compliance. See you guys on the Ocean.

Great.  I could not believe that the different models of Lowrance fish finders act differently on the same file.

Paul

Pual, thank you for sharing this helpful information.
I bookmarked the thread for future reference. 

Al