When it comes to marine electronics, bigger and more expensive does not automatically mean better for every application. For me, choosing a fishfinder is about matching the electronics and, importantly, the transducer to the type of fishing I actually do.
For close-in offshore fishing from a small boat or jetski, my preferred combination is the Lowrance Elite FS 7 paired with an Airmar TM150M Medium CHIRP transducer.
Most of my offshore fishing takes place in water shallower than 50 metres, although I will occasionally fish deeper water, generally to a maximum of around 80 metres.
My fishing includes trolling and conventional bottom fishing, but I also spend a lot of time Slow Pitch Jigging. For these applications and the depths I normally fish, I have found the Elite FS 7 and TM150M to be an extremely capable, practical and compact combination.
Why the Lowrance Elite FS 7?
A 7-inch unit makes a lot of sense on a small fishing boat or jetski where console space is limited.
The Elite FS 7 gives me a high-quality 7-inch touchscreen display while still providing many of the sonar, networking and chartplotting capabilities normally associated with larger units.
It supports conventional sonar and CHIRP, as well as technologies such as Active Imaging and ActiveTarget when paired with the appropriate additional hardware.
For my particular offshore setup, however, quality conventional CHIRP sonar is one of my main priorities.
The Elite FS also provides the GPS, chartplotting and networking capabilities I need, turning a relatively compact display into the navigation and fishfinding centre of my boat.
The Elite FS Screen and C-MAP REVEAL
Another major part of why I enjoy using the Elite FS 7 is its mapping capability.
I make extensive use of C-MAP REVEAL mapping, and this has become an important part of the way I fish.
The quality of the Elite FS display really comes into its own when viewing detailed C-MAP charts. The combination of the excellent screen and C-MAP REVEAL makes studying the chart, identifying potentially productive areas and navigating between fishing spots a pleasure.
For offshore fishing, good mapping isn't simply about getting from point A to point B.
I use the chart extensively when searching for bottom contours, depth changes, drop-offs and other potentially productive areas. Once I locate something interesting on the chart, the sonar then becomes the next part of the equation as I investigate what is actually beneath the boat.
This combination of quality mapping and quality sonar is one of the things I particularly like about my setup.
Why I Paired It With the Airmar TM150M
The transducer is an extremely important part of any fishfinder installation.
The Airmar TM150M is a 300-watt Medium CHIRP transom-mount transducer, operating across approximately 95–155 kHz.
Its beam varies across that frequency range, providing a good balance between coverage and target definition.
There are certainly larger and more powerful CHIRP transducers available, but that doesn't necessarily mean I need one for the fishing I do.
Remember, I am predominantly fishing in less than 50 metres of water, with only occasional fishing down towards approximately 80 metres.
For those depths, the TM150M provides the type of Medium CHIRP performance I am looking for without requiring a much larger and more expensive transducer installation.
Medium CHIRP Makes Sense for My Fishing
One of the biggest reasons I like the TM150M is its Medium CHIRP frequency range.
Instead of transmitting on only one fixed frequency, CHIRP operates across a range of frequencies. This can provide improved target separation and clearer definition of fish, bait and structure.
For close-in offshore fishing, this is particularly useful.
I want to distinguish individual fish, bait and bottom structure rather than simply see a large mass of colour on the screen.
When bottom fishing, and particularly when Slow Pitch Jigging, that distinction becomes extremely important.
Slow Pitch Jigging – Where This Setup Gets Really Interesting
Slow Pitch Jigging has become an important part of my offshore fishing, and this is one area where I particularly enjoy using the Elite FS 7 and TM150M combination.
When conditions, boat movement, jig position and sonar settings all come together correctly, I can actually watch my Slow Pitch jig moving on the fishfinder screen.
This adds another dimension to jigging.
Rather than simply dropping the jig to a predetermined depth and working it blindly, I can use the sonar to see where the fish are holding in relation to the bottom and, at times, watch what is happening around my jig.
It is fascinating to see fish activity around the jig on the sounder.
You can be working the jig through a particular depth and see fish returns around it. That information can influence whether I continue working that depth, drop back towards the bottom or bring the jig higher through the water column.
For me, this is where a fishfinder stops simply being a device for finding fish and becomes an active part of actually fishing for them.
Being able to clearly follow the jig and observe fish activity around it can be both extremely interesting and very effective.
Bottom Fishing – Seeing What's Down There
Bottom fishing is another major reason I chose this combination.
When fishing reef and other bottom structure, particularly in the depths where I spend most of my time, I want to know considerably more than simply how deep the water is.
I want to identify:
- changes in bottom hardness and structure;
- small rises, ledges and reef;
- fish holding immediately above the bottom;
- individual fish and larger concentrations of fish;
- bait suspended above the structure; and
- fish holding higher in the water column.
This is exactly where good conventional CHIRP sonar remains incredibly valuable.
SideScan and DownScan are fantastic technologies, but for my offshore bottom fishing I still place enormous value on a quality CHIRP sonar return directly beneath the boat.
Trolling – Watching the Water Column
The combination is equally useful when trolling.
When trolling offshore, I am not necessarily interested only in what's happening near the seabed. I am constantly watching the entire water column.
Bait schools are particularly important.
Finding bait can often be the first step towards finding gamefish. If I see concentrations of bait at a particular depth or stronger fish returns associated with that bait, it immediately gives me information that can influence where and how I troll.
It can also give me an indication of where in the water column the activity is taking place.
Again, the sounder becomes an active fishing tool rather than simply a depth display.
Why Not Simply Use a Bigger Transducer?
There are more powerful Airmar CHIRP transducers available, including 600-watt and 1 kW options, and for anglers regularly fishing considerably deeper water these may make perfect sense.
But I believe there is an important principle when selecting marine electronics:
Match the equipment to the fishing you actually do.
I predominantly fish in less than 50 metres and occasionally venture towards a maximum of around 80 metres.
For my close-in offshore fishing, I don't believe I necessarily need a large 1 kW transducer with the additional installation requirements and expense that go with it.
The compact 300-watt TM150M provides the Medium CHIRP performance that suits the water I actually fish.
Particularly Well Suited to Small Boats and Jetskis
Space and weight matter on a small offshore boat, and they matter even more on a fishing jetski.
A 7-inch display is large enough for me to clearly view sonar and mapping information while remaining compact enough that it doesn't dominate the console.
The TM150M is also a transom-mounted transducer, making installation relatively straightforward compared with some of the larger thru-hull CHIRP options.
The result is a serious offshore fishfinding and navigation system without requiring the space or installation normally associated with a much larger offshore boat.
Correct Transducer Installation Is Critical
No matter how good the fishfinder or transducer is, installation remains critical.
The TM150M needs clean, relatively undisturbed water passing across its face. Incorrect height, angle or positioning can introduce turbulence and aerated water, particularly when travelling at speed.
That can dramatically affect sonar performance.
On small boats and jetskis this deserves particular attention because there is often less transom space available and potential interference from hull strakes, chines, intakes, motors and other fittings.
A correctly positioned transducer is one of the most important parts of getting the best performance from the entire system.
My Typical Offshore Use
For my fishing, the Elite FS 7 and TM150M combination covers four particularly important areas:
Slow Pitch Jigging – locating fish, watching my jig on the sonar and observing fish activity around it.
Bottom Fishing – identifying reef, bottom changes and fish holding close to structure.
Trolling – locating bait schools, suspended fish and productive areas in the water column.
Navigation & C-MAP REVEAL – using detailed mapping to identify potential fishing areas, navigate offshore and return accurately to productive marks.
These are the things I actually need from my electronics.
A Balanced Offshore Setup
There will always be bigger screens, more powerful sonar systems and larger transducers available.
But that's not really the point.
For me, the Lowrance Elite FS 7 and Airmar TM150M represent an excellent balance of screen quality, sonar performance, mapping capability, physical size and practicality.
The Elite FS gives me an excellent compact fishfinder and chartplotter platform. C-MAP REVEAL gives me the detailed mapping I use extensively when planning and conducting my fishing, while the TM150M provides the Medium CHIRP performance that suits the depths and style of offshore fishing I enjoy.
Most importantly, the entire system works together.
I can use C-MAP REVEAL to investigate an area, use the TM150M and Elite FS to find the structure, bait and fish, and then, when Slow Pitch Jigging, actually watch my jig and the fish activity around it on the screen.
For close-in offshore trolling, bottom fishing and Slow Pitch Jigging — predominantly in water shallower than 50 metres and occasionally down to around 80 metres — this is a combination that works extremely well for the way I fish.
And ultimately, that's why I chose it.
For more information on my specific setup and any questions you may have for your application, feel free to email me HERE
