Have you ever reached into the water to grab that trophy fish only to realize seconds too late that you still have that $500 non-water-resistant watch on your wrist?
Painful feeling right?
For that reason, we have put together this post together.
In this post, we will consider a few of what features to look for when searching for the best fishing watch.
We will also take a closer look at some of the useful functions for fishing applications that many watches on the market have to offer.
Lastly, we have included a few of our favorite fishing watches. I hope you enjoy.
The Best Fishing Watch – My Top 6 Picks
Casio Men’s Pro Trek
Features
- Water Resistant up to 200 meters
- Altimeter
- Barometer,
- Compass
- Thermometer
- Solar Power
The first watch that we want to take a closer look at is the Casio Men’s Pro Trek.
This Casio Pro Trek Pathfinder watch is water-resistant up to 200 meters and features a durable resin band fits comfortably to your wrist and a large but comfortable face that makes readings much easier. The stainless steel backing and metal bezel further provide durability which is much-needed in a fisherman’s watch.
This Casio model features an altimeter, barometer, compass, and thermometer making it an excellent watch for any fishing and outdoor enthusiast.
The barometer feature also allows tracking of pressure changes so you can better map out atmospheric and fish behavior patterns.
Other features include a tide and monograph function. For saltwater fishing, these features will be a huge advantage to you to match fish migration and feeding periods.
The duplex LCD provides an easy to read screen that provides time and date and can easily be scrolled through the watch’s various features. The LCD backlight is very bright and allows easy readings in low light conditions.
The backlight can also be toggled between automatic and manual settings depending on your preferences.
Lastly, it is equipped with a solar powered battery. This means that any light can charge the batter. In fact, according to their website, a single battery can last anywhere between 5 to over 20 months without a single charge.
I wouldn’t say this is an essential feature for us fishermen, but it is definitely a nice one to have.
Suunto Core All Black Military Watch
Features:
- Water Resistant up to 100 Feet
- All Black Finish
- Altimeter
- Barometer
- Compass
- Thermometer
- Weather Indicator
Another tough competitor on the market is the Suunto Core All Black Military Watch.
Before I go any further I have a confession to make.
While doing reviews such as this one, I always try to be objective, but I love this watch. I love the look of this watch. I like the features of this watch has to offer. I simply love this watch and I think you will love it too. That being said, let’s take a look at a few of these features.
This watch from Suunto also offers you an incredible amount of features for a fishing and outdoor enthusiast such as a functional digital compass which is extremely beneficial when going backcountry looking for pristine waters.
This can be categorized as an ABC watch since it also features an altimeter and barometer function. The barometer will be extremely useful on the water as fish activity often coincides with changes in atmospheric pressure.
The barometer also logs its readings so that you can better track potential storm systems that might be moving through the area.
This feature is awesome for fishing because as we know some of the best fishing is either just before a storm or just after. With the barometer function, you can get the timing just right and better your chances of catches more fish.
The buttons are easy to find and punch to switch between the watches various functions. It is also very water-resistant. While you don’t want to dunk it often, it can stand up to casual water encounters and still provide an accurate performance.
The watch offers a clear digital display that can toggle between 12/24 hour time settings. It is easy to read in low or no light settings with a bright LED backlight built into the watch.
I love the sleek all-black finish that makes it look like it belongs in the outdoors. You will also like the water repelling rubber buckle strap that is comfortable on your wrist and won’t yank your hair out.
It also has several other features that make it an excellent fishing/outdoors watch.
This includes a digital thermometer, which works best if you take the watch off before taking a reading, and a sunrise and sunset alert system.
Best of all, it makes for a great fishing gift for a friend that fishes.
Still not sure about this watch? Check out the following video of someone who had this watch for 2 years and what he liked most about it.
The first video is was taken after he initially bought the watch and the second video is how it held up after two years.
Two years later…
G-Shock Mudmaster
Features:
- Shock Resistant
- Mud Resistant
- Water Resistant up to 200 meters
- Compass
- Thermometer
- Black
- Imported
Let’s face it! Fishing can be a dirty job!
And when hiking through the woods to get to that perfect fishing spot, there is no time to have that nice gold watch on your wrist.
You need something that is going to be able to resistant the elements that we put ourselves through.
One such option is the G-Shock Mudmaster.
This watch from G-Shock offers you water resistance up to 200 meters. It’s also shock and mud resistant with its protective mineral crystal window. Meaning you don’t have to worry about scratching up this watch when trekking through the woods.
The face of this watch is large and easy to read from quick glances, but it still sits light and comfortable on your wrist. The black leather wristband and buckle clasp are also durable and will take a lot of wear for potential breaks to occur.
There are both analog and digital time features.
As far as digital features go, there is a countdown timer, multi-function alarm, hourly time signal, compass, thermometer and a bright LED backlight that makes reading time easy in low to no light conditions.
The time, both analog and digital, are very accurate and show very little time loss throughout the years. It also features a 10-year battery life.
While this watch doesn’t offer you a lot of fishing features as others on this list might, it’s affordable, comfortable, and resistant enough to be used on the water without fear of getting it wet.
Let’s take a closer look in the following video:
G-Shock Mudman
Features:
- Mud/Shock Resistant
- Water Resistant up to 200 meters
- Solar Power
- Compass – Easy Access
- Thermometer
- Moon Data
- Resin band
- Black
Another option designed for when outdoors is the G-Shock Mudman.
Like the previous model mentioned earlier this is both shock and mud resistant. That means it is able to take a hit or two and keep ticking. I am not saying that you should go out and hit your watch after buying it.
What I am saying is that it can get bumped or hit while fishing and it won’t be affected.
Like most watches by G-Shock it is mud resistant meaning that it is protected from the elements such as dirt and mud from entering into the delicate parts inside.
And of course, it is water resistant up to 200 meters.
With the touch of a single button, you are able to easily access the digital compass that is highly accurate when calibrated and can be a lifesaver when backcountry.
This watch features a large face with a clear LCD that is easy to read and provides the time, date, and day. The time can be toggled between a 12/24 hour reading setting depending on your preference. The backlight is also useful for low light settings.
This watch, of course, comes with normal watch features such as multiple alarms settings.
It’s also a very straightforward watch that is easy to set up and program without the use of a thick manual which might be preferred by some users.
Lastly, it is equipped with a solar rechargeable battery ensuring everything keeps ticking.
Take a closer look in the following video:
Timex Intelligent Quartz Tide Tracker
Features:
- Water Resistant up to 100m
- Compass
- Tide Tracker
- Thermometer
- Easy to Read Analog Display
- Silicone band
Another great looking watch for fishing is the Timex Intelligent Quartz Tide Tracker.
So far, we have looked at several watches that either have a digital only display or a combination of an analog and digital display.
The Timex Intelligent has an analog display only. So you might be wondering, if it is analog only how does the compass and tide tracker tell you the information you want to know.
On the display, you will see a large hand with one end that is red and the other end is white. The red end is your indicator. When you press the tide tracker button the red indicator will point to a hide or low tide.
The same is true with the compass and temperature function.
Additionally, the outside bezel then can be moved to make it easy to follow the compass.
Overall what I like most about this watch is that it looks really cool and it has some cool/useable functions for fishing.
Take a closer look in the following video:
Suunto Traverse Alpha
Features:
- Water resistant up to 100 meters
- Compass
- Thermometer
- Altimeter
- Barometer
- Moon Phase indicator
- Built-In Flashlight for late night fishing of course
- Track and log movements vias GPS
- Bluetooth capable
Let’s conclude our list with what I like to call not just the best, but the ultimate fishing watch, the Suunto Traverse Alpha.
The Traverse Alpha Watch from Suunto is the ultimate fishing, and outdoor enthusiasts watch. It comes with a plethora of functions that can give you the advantage in the water.
It is available in stealth or foliage color and features a knurled stainless steel bezel and water-repellent nylon wrist strap. The window of this watch is made from a sapphire crystal which is highly scratch, abrasion, and shatter resistant. This is a water-resistant watch that can withstand depths up to 100m and still function normally.
I probably don’t have to mention the digital time and date display, it is a watch, but this particular model has an incredible amount of features that include a digital compass, altimeter, barometer, and thermometer.
On top of these features, you also have location-based moon-phase calendar and sunset and sunrise alerts. It also has e bright backlight and built-in flashlight.
The coolest feature of this watch is the ability to track your movements via GPS and log the location of fish you have caught.
The watch logs your movements and makes it easy to move between holes where you have pulled several fish out of the water. It’s also valuable if you are in a remote country.
This watch is Bluetooth compatible and can be synced up with your phone or another device where Suunto software can further provide incredible tracking and logging of your trips.
The Suunto Traverse Alpha uses a lithium-ion rechargeable battery that has up to 14 days of battery life when only using the watch functions and between 10-100 hours of life when utilizing the GPS system.
While it is more expensive, if you need an all-purpose fishing/outdoor watch, (in my opinion) this is one of the best watches for fishing available.
Final Thoughts…
Whether you just want a durable and water resistant timepiece or a watch that offers features to help you track weather patterns, having a watch you can depend on while on the water is invaluable.
In this post, I have listed six watch models that cover a wide range of functionality and features. While they may differ in some aspects, all of them are proven to be reliable.
Remember the best watch for fishing not only will give you the time, but it will give you the tools needed to catch more fish.
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