Best Garmin Striker Settings for Reef Fishing 🎣
Optimising you fish finder setup when bottom fishing, whether off a kayak, jetski or boat is imperative to best understand and target your fish. Use the below as a starting point and then get to best understanding and your setup.
1️⃣ Frequency Setting
Use:
• 200 kHz
Why:
• Narrower sonar cone
• Better separation between reef and fish
• Ideal for water under 60 m
(77 kHz is better for deep water search, but 200 kHz shows fish clearer on reefs.)
2️⃣ Gain (Sensitivity) Setting
Start at:
• 70–80%
Adjust until you see light speckling on the screen, then reduce slightly.
Why:
• Higher gain reveals fish tight to reef
• Too low = fish disappear into bottom
3️⃣ Scroll Speed Setting
Set to:
• Auto High or Max
Why:
• Shows proper fish arches
• Important when drifting in a kayak
4️⃣ Range Setting
Set to:
• Manual Range
Example:
• Fishing 40 m → set range to 45–50 m
Why:
• Keeps the bottom area larger on screen
• Easier to see fish close to reef
5️⃣ A-Scope Setting (See other article related to benefits of this)
Turn:
• A-Scope ON
Why it helps kayak anglers:
• Shows fish entering the sonar beam instantly
• Lets you see fish approaching your bait
• Excellent for vertical jigging or bottom rigs
6️⃣ Bottom Zoom Setting
Use:
• Bottom Zoom: 2x or 4x
Example:
• Fishing 35–40 m reef
Zoom shows:
• 35–40 m enlarged
Why:
• Reveals fish holding just above reef
• Most reef fish sit 0.5–3 m above structure
7️⃣ Noise Rejection Setting
Set:
• Low (depending on situation)
Too much filtering removes smaller fish returns.
What Fish Look Like on the Striker 4:
Reef fishing sonar clues:
• Hard reef: Thick red/brown bottom
• Small reef fish: Yellow dots close to bottom
• Bait schools: Cloud shapes
• Predators: Larger arches above bait
Kayak Fishing Tip (Very Effective)
When you mark fish:
1. Stop paddling
2. Drop bait immediately
3. Watch A-Scope
You’ll often see:
• Fish rise toward bait
• Then bite
This is one of the big advantages of A-Scope for kayak fishing.
For more information on the above setup, as well as setups for Jetskies and boats, please feel free to contact us at Wild Coast Kayaks. We are Garmin and Lowrance Dealers.
