200KHZ for FCV 1100L

[phish]

I have a FCV1100l 2KW with a CA50B-12 and a CA28F-18 and the deep water performance is excellent. I would like to add a 200khz for shallow water use and would like a recommendation on which transducer to purchase. The CA200B-8B looks like it will fill the bill but is the Q value low enough. This will be a thru hull mount. I would appreciate any insight you may provide.

 

[Deep Blue]

phish,

What exactly would you be using the CA200B-8B for..? Would it be for better fishing detail, or Bottom Hardness Detection in Shallow Water..?

:think

Deep Blue

 

[phish]

Individual fish detection in waters 100-250 ft deep. The 50B gives good bottom discrimination at these depths but I don't believe it shows larger , individual fish as well.

 

[Snips]

Phish,
It is true that certain fish will appear differently using different frequencies. But before you go to the trouble of replacing a transducer have you try changing the Pulse Length on the 1100 when you are fishing in shallower water?

Snips

 

[phish]

The forum has been most helpful. I have shortened the pulse length and manipulated the TVG and clutter. I still don't mark chevrons around bait shows. Going over the areas, I change settings and screen speed 1/1,1/2,2/1, and still don't get those chevrons. The larger fish are there as we catch red snapper to 20lbs and amberjack (think kingies) to 60lbs. Other commercial fishermen with the FCV 1150 and a 200khz with 600watts a Tvg of 1 set at 600 ft mark these individual fish as chevrons and individual red marks 4 ft off the bottom in the case of bottom hugging grouper.

 

[Snips]

Phish,
Creating "arches" is all about timing. If two targets are at the same depth but one is directly under the vessel and the other is on the outer part of the transducers beam, the one on the outside will appear at a deeper depth than it really is. As that target comes under the vessel the depth decreases (rises) then increases again as the target exits the transducers beam. So even though the target is at the same depth it has an inverted "V" shape (chevron). The wider a transducers beam angle and the deeper a target is in the water column the greater this timing difference becomes, thus it can produce a more pronounced arch. Another important part in trying to produce an "arch" is the vessels speed, 3-4 knots I found works the best in our testing. The CA2008B has a 5.5 degree beam, about a third of your 28 & 50Khz ducer so to produce an arch it will need to be deep and go slow.

Snips

 

[phish]

Thanks, Snips
I usually search at 5kts and mark likely areas. Then,return and approach from several directions at a slower speed. I am trying to cone down the area for the best fish show and then anchor. Miss a spot by 60 feet and it can mean the difference of a good bite versus no bite. Moving and reanchoring is often time consuming and difficult. So, that was my reasoning for the 200khz.
One narrow, one wide, side by side no place for the fish to hide. I will continue to adjust the settings and take a few screen shots and see what you think.