Best Watches for Fishermen

Fishing isn’t just a sport. It’s a way of life for a lot of fishermen, whether they are catching for commercial sale or just to have dinner. If you’re serious about fishing to the point where you’re looking to invest in a fishing watch, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve worked hard to curate a definitive list of the best fishing watches money can buy.

But what makes a great fishing watch? Some watches are extraordinary from a water resistance standpoint, but they don’t have the nuances and information that pushes a great fishing watch over the top. When looking for the best fishing watch for you, you need to look past its water resistance and look for things like tidal graphs, moon phase calendars, backlights, sunrise/sunset data, and other things which are immediate and relevant when you’re out on the water.

In short, you want a fishing watch that understands fishing. Otherwise, it’s really not a fishing watch! 200 meters of water resistance is standard for a lot of watches nowadays. For those who love fishing, you’ve got to expect more out of your watches so that you can get all of the inside information you need to turn okay days on the water into big scores and bounties full of different fish.

We’re here to help! Below is our in-depth countdown of The 7 Best Watches For Fishing In 2021. And stay tuned after our countdown for our useful Frequently Asked Questions section.

First, let’s get to the list!

The 7 Best Watches For Fishermen In 2021

7) Rip Curl Men’s Rifles Tide Watch

While this is more of a surfing watch than a fishing watch, the Rip Curl Men’s Rifles Watch is still a great tool for any fisherman to have around their wrist. There are no fishing-specific features to be had except for the wealth of pre-programmed tide locations, but those can definitely help when it comes to picking the right spot to fish for the day! What we love about this watch is its durability, sleek design, and easy-to-read display. It also comes at a fair price which is must less than what a smartwatch currently goes for on average!

Specs

Color: Multiple

3 Key Features: 500 pre-programmed tide locations in either detailed or graph format >> Fully tested for waterproof sealing, water resistant for all kinds of different fishing types >> Easy-to-use stopwatch

Battery Life: Standard battery lasts 2-4 years before replacement

Pros

• We love the water resistance of this watch. While it’s not good for diving, it’s definitely water resistant enough for fishing excursion after fishing excursion.
• The 500 pre-programmed tide locations will help you find the right fishing spot at the right time.
• This watch is sleek with a clear and large digital display. We like the way it looks our our list, and we love how easy it is to read.

Cons

• This is pretty light on features for a fishing watch. It has some, but there’s a bit left to be desired.
• The button system is a bit too sensitive for our liking. You have to time your presses right or you’ll be frustrated.

6) Casio G-Shock Gulfmaster GWNQ1000

The first of two Casio G-Shock watches which we count among the best fishing watches available for sale, the Casio G-Shock Gulfmaster earned its spot on our list thanks to its barometric pressure gauge, full moon data, reliable compass and altimeter, and a host of other nuances which are super useful for those who see fishing as a way of life. In addition, the G-Shock series is known around the world for its amazing ruggedness and patented shock resistant casing. If you want a fishing watch that’s gonna last, you can’t do much better.

Specs

Color: Blue, Black

3 Key Features: Features full moon data, 31 different time zones to choose from >> Measures barometric pressure with ease >> A host of useful features including a compass, altimeter, thermometer, and depth meter.

Pros

• The Casio G-Shock label means you’re getting unbeatable water resistance and shock resistance at a fair price.
• For an analog/digital hybrid watch, the barometric pressure gauge is actually really accurate and easy to figure out.
• This watch is tailored for active lifestyles. While it has plenty of great fishing-related features, it’s also primed and ready for activities such as hunting, hiking, swimming, and biking.

Cons

• The band is a bit stiff and uncomfortable to wear for bigger wrists.
• The analog hands system can be a bit hard to read for those with visual impairments.

5) Suunto Core Outdoor Watch

One of two Suunto offerings on our list, the Suunto Core Outdoor Watch is a stripped-down stunner which doesn’t qualify as a smartwatch in the way our second entry does. That’s what places it a bit behind the curve in our eyes, but we’re still in love with the digital compass/barometer combination, sturdy and long-lasting design, and accurate depth meter. Suunto is an unsung brand when it comes to fishing watches, but this no-nonsense time piece is quality enough to change that in a hurry.

Specs

Color: Multiple

3 Key Features: Altimeter, digital compass, and barometer for accurate weather tracking >> Depth meter for both snorkeling and fly fishing use >> A bevy of normal watch functions including alarms and a stopwatch

Battery Life: 12-18 months per battery

Pros

• The sturdy design and casing of this watch make it a reliable fishing companion for even the most hectic excursions.
• The compass, barometer, altimeter combination provides accurate readings in just seconds.
• The band offers great adjustment capabilities and sits softly on wrists of all sizes.

Cons

• Compared to the other Suunto offering on this list, this watch is pretty bare bones.
• Some of the screen indicators are exceedingly small and hard to read for those with visual difficulties.

4) Apple Watch Series 5

If you’re not familiar with the Apple Watch Series 5, it’s time to become so. The Apple Watch Series 5 is one of the most feature-packed smartwatches available for sale right now, if not the most. While this isn’t a fishing specific watch by trade, there are applications you can download from the Apple Store which can turn this into the ultimate fishing watch with tide information and the like. And if you love to listen to music when fishing, you’ll dig the improved speaker and connectivity with Apple Music. Add in iPhone syncing capabilities and a great GPS system and the Apple Watch belongs on this countdown for sure.

Specs

Color: Multiple

3 Key Features: Full access to Apple Store, hundreds upon hundreds of applications to customize your watch >> Syncs with your iPhone >> Built-in Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS, GPS capabilities

Battery Life: Up to 18 hours per charge

Pros

• The 64-bit processing power of the Apple Watch Series 5 is lightning fast.
• You can customize this smartwatch with a variety of different applications downloaded from the Apple Store. It can be a great fishing watch when you need it and then something else for other activities!
• If you have an iPhone, syncing it with your Apple Watch is a snap and super useful.

Cons

• The Apple Watch Series 5 is the peak of Apple’s smartwatch technology, which means you’ll be paying a solid amount to procure one.
• If you’re not an Apple user, the interface may take some getting used to.

3) Casio Men’s G-Shock Frogman GWF1000

Our second Casio G-shock entry on our list is an absolute fishing watch masterpiece that makes up for its hefty price point with unbeatable durability and an atomic clock that’s more accurate than even the best luxury quartz watches. This kind of reliability is great and all, but fishermen will absolutely go bonkers over the included tide information and the super accurate moon phase calendar. If you want a fishing watch that’s going to last for years upon years with nary a scratch, there’s no need to search elsewhere. This is it.

Specs

Color: Black

3 Key Features: Unparalleled shock and water resistance at a fair price point >> Equipped with tide information and moon phase calendar >>Atomic clock for the most accurate timekeeping possible

Pros

• You can’t beat an atomic clock for clock accuracy. If you always want to know exactly what time it is with little to no chance of deviance, the atomic clock in this watch will do that for you.
• Casio’s G-Shock series is known for its durable, nearly unbreakable time pieces. This watch is no different.
• Some great fishing-related features including a moon phase calendar and detailed tide information.

Cons

• This watch is one of the most expensive entries on our list and it’s not even a smartwatch!
• The design isn’t exactly the sleekest out there. This watch is kind of a behemoth of sorts, not exactly a looker compared to some of the smartwatches we’ve profiled.

2) Suunto Traverse Stealth Alpha Smartwatch

For fishermen who engage in other outdoors activities like hunting and boating, the Suunto Traverse Alpha is an amazing smartwatch which keeps on giving. Some of the features which make this (nearly) the ultimately fishing smartwatch include a diary function for writing down catches and information about different fishing locales, a bright red backlight for using it at night, and a moon phase calendar. The GPS system is super on point and you can even download different tidal maps to your device. A great hunting watch by trade, the Suunto Traverse Alpha is also an amazing fishing smartwatch by proxy.

Specs

Color: Black

3 Key Features: Includes moon phase calendar, red backlight for night use, and sunrise alert >> Features journal function for writing and recording >> Easy to download tidal maps

Battery Life: 10-15 hours in full GPS mode >> 100 hours for normal use

Pros

• This is a great smartwatch which doesn’t come with an inflated smartwatch price tag. You get a lot of value out of a moderate investment.
• The sleek look of this watch makes it our pick for the most attractive watch on this countdown. It looks good on your wrist and actually looks good with most outfits you pair it with.
• Lots of features for fishing aficionados including a sunrise alert and tidal maps that can be easily downloaded from Suunto.

Cons

• The sapphire crystal lens window has been said to be annoyingly reflective when the light hits it wrong.
• If you’re using the step counter, you may have to manually sync your steps from your watch to the Suunto app.

And our pick for the best watch for fishermen is…

1) Garmin Quatix 5 Multisport Marine Smartwatch

Our pick for the ultimate fishing watch narrowly beat out the aforementioned Suunto Traverse Alpha because of the quality features that we’ve come to expect and love from the Garmin brand name. The Garmin Quatix 5 Multisport Marine Smartwatch features the GPS system which made Garmin famous, but there’s more than that here for fishermen to celebrate. The watch actually includes a hunt/fish calendar and barometric trend indication with storm alert function. You can even monitor your heart rate and do tons of other awesome smartwatch things while enjoying the benefits of the best fishing watch out there. This is a real catch, pun intended.

Specs

Color: Light Blue, Black

3 Key Features: Hunting/fishing specific features include a fish/hunt calendar and barometric trend indicator >> Features Garmin’s top tier GPS tracking system >> Elevate heart-rate monitor system

Battery Life: 24 hours in GPS/HR mode >> 75 hours in UltraTrac mode with gyro-based dead reckoning >> 2 weeks in smartwatch mode

Pros

• For fishing lovers and those who do it for a living, the inclusion of a barometic trend indication system (with storm alert) and fish/hunt calendar pushes this watch to the next level.
• This watch includes our pick for the best GPS system you can find in a smartwatch.
• You get peak smartwatch functionality in a marine-quality casing that resists water with ease and keeps this watch ticking through a variety of different extreme circumstances. It will be a fishing companion of yours for years to come.

Cons

• There are no maps included. This may be frustrating when trying to get to the best fishing spot possible.
• This watch is a bit big and unwieldy for those with smaller wrists.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do tide watches work?

Tidal watches are intricate and amazing devices which turn the normal and fall of the tides into digestible information for you to use. This is critical information to have when fishing as it will inform you of which spots are worth checking out and which will need some time before becoming a viable fishing opportunity. A tides watch is also a great fishing watch because it opens up opportunities for amazing catches in breathtaking locales.

A watch with tides measures the ebbs and flows of tides and gives you an estimate of how tides should look at any given time. Analog watches tides use a tide indicator which makes a full rotation every twelve hours and 24 minutes — the amount of time for half a tide cycle. When the indicator is at the 12 o’clock position, high tide is here or close. A digital tide watch does the same thing but without the analog indication. If you want to get the most out of your next fishing trip, let’s hope your watch comes with tidal information! (And if you buy one of the watches above, chances are it will!)

What are the key features should one look for in a great fishing watch?

There are many things which separate ordinary watches and great fishing watches. The best fishing watches aren’t just the best water resistant watches out there. A watch comes with solid water resistance more often than not nowadays, so a great fishing watch needs to have much more than that to actually stand out.

If you’re looking for one of the best fishing watches out there, you’re looking for peak water resistance (at least 100 meters, but 200 meters of depth is preferable) and even shock resistance for potential impacts. An analog or digital compass is a huge get as well. Other things to look for in the best fishing watches include a moon phase calendar, a barometric pressure gauge, a display that’s easy to read in normal or low light, and other fishing/hunting related nuances. Don’t settle for an okay fishing watch. Only the best fishing watch will do for fishermen who really care about the sport.

Closing Thoughts

The difference between a normal watch and a great fishing watch is similar to the difference between casual fishermen and actual fishermen. You can technically call any watch that’s water resistant a fishing watch, but that’s missing the point of what fishing watches actually are. The best fishing time pieces are built sturdy and have ample information on tides and moon phases among other things.

The seven fishing watches above have everything you’ll want for your next big fishing trip. If you want top tier water resistance and a watch that will work with you when you’re reeling in your next big catch, grab one of the watches above as soon as you can. You won’t be disappointed.