The Best 6 GoPros for Fishing in 2021

Fishing is super fun, but it’d be even more fun to record those awesome moments and share them with your loved ones or on the internet.

A GoPro camera allows you to do just that. GoPros are designed to capture action photos and videos by being lightweight, easy to mount, and simple to use. They’re also waterproof, enabling you to take underwater video footage.

If you’re in the market for a new GoPro but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve crafted a list of some of the best GoPros for fishing you can find on the market today.

Comparison Table:

GoPro	Video Resolution	Photo Resolution	Waterproof	Weight	GPS	Battery Life
GoPro Hero5 Black	4K at 30 fps	12 MP	Up to 33ft	4.2 ounces	Yes	2 hours max
GoPro Hero5 Session	4K at 30 fps	10 MP	Up to 33ft	4.5 ounces	No	2 hours max
GoPro Hero7 Silver	4K at 30 fps	12 MP	Up to 33ft	4.2 ounces	No	2 hours max
GoPro Hero4 Session	1440p at 30 fps	10 MP	Up to 33ft	2.6 ounces	No	2 hours max
GoPro Hero6 Black	4K at 60 fps	12 MP	Up to 33ft	4.16 ounces	No	1 hour 40 minutes
GoPro Hero	1080p at 60 fps	10 MP	Up to 33ft	4.2 ounces	No	2 hours max

The Best 6 GoPros for Fishing in 2021

1. GoPro Hero5 Black – Best Overall Pick

While the Hero5 isn’t the newest offering from GoPro, it is a great overall package that gives you high value for your money.

It features a 12MP camera that captures impressive 4K videos and sharp still images with several shooting modes like single, burst, and time-lapse. In time-lapse mode, you can set the interval from as low as 0.5 seconds to up to 60 seconds, allowing you to capture your special moments in a fun way. There’s also a 2-inch touchscreen display for previewing your photos.

One cool feature of the GoPro Hero5 Black is that you can control it with your voice, making it easier for you to capture photos and videos with the rod and reel in your hands. The Hero5 also has built-in GPS for geotagging.

Furthermore, it allows you to keep RAW versions of your photos so you can edit them professionally in photo editing software like Adobe Lightroom. However, RAW images take up lots of storage, so only shoot RAW when necessary. Alternatively, you can subscribe to GoPro’s cloud service to upload your files to the cloud automatically and free up space.

As for battery life, the GoPro Hero5 black can last anywhere from 80 minutes and up to 2 hours, depending on the functionalities that you keep enabled. Moreover, the Hero5 Black’s battery is removable, allowing you to use some spare batteries when needed.

What We Like:

4K video recording
Voice controls
Supports Raw photography
Waterproof up to 33 ft
Geotagging using GPS
Removable battery

What We Don’t Like:

No image stabilization in 4K mode

Bottom Line

The Hero5 Black is packed with a ton of features that make it an excellent GoPro for fishing.

2. GoPro Hero5 Session – Best Compact Pick

The GoPro Hero5 Session is vastly similar to the Hero5 Black with a few differences here and there.

The most notable difference between the Hero5 Black and the Hero5 Session is size, with the latter being considerably smaller than the former. This makes the Hero5 Session easier to mount on your rod, fishing kayak, or a shoulder strap.

Another major difference between the two cameras is that the Hero5 Black has a preview touchscreen display, while the Hero5 Session doesn’t, but the size difference sort of justifies for the lack of a display. However, you do get a smartphone app that allows you to connect to the Hero5 Session to view your photos and videos.

Moreover, unlike the Hero5 Black, the Hero5 Session doesn’t support RAW photography, which can be disappointing for those who like to edit their photos professionally.

The Hero5 Session is capable of shooting 4K videos, but the sensor’s maximum resolution is 10 MP as opposed to the 12 MP on the Hero5 Black, and you get the same single, burst, and time-lapse modes. Just like on the Hero5 Black, you can control the Hero5 Black conveniently using voice controls when fishing.

Battery life lasts up to 2 hours, depending on how you use the camera. However, unlike the Hero5 Black, the Hero5 Session’s battery is non-removable.

What We Like:

Compact design
Voice control
4K video recording
Smartphone app for previewing photos and videos
Waterproof up to 33 ft
Image stabilization

What We Don’t Like:

No preview screen
Doesn’t support RAW photography
Non-removable battery

Bottom Line

The Hero5 Session packs many of the Hero5 Black’s features in a smaller, more affordable package.

3. GoPro Hero7 Silver – Best Value for Money

The GoPro Hero7 Silver is yet another excellent action camera from GoPro that promises to deliver exceptional image quality at a very reasonable price.

It features a 12MP sensor that produces crisp still images and is capable of shooting 4K videos at 30 frames/second, allowing you to take some awesome video footage of your fishing adventures and moments. You can even take snapshots while shooting videos so you can keep a few photos of each video’s best moments like when you’re about to retrieve your bait.

Moreover, the GoPro Hero7 Silver’s small footprint makes it easy to mount virtually anywhere, something that many anglers would appreciate when they go kayak fishing.

As you’d expect, the GoPro Hero7 Silver has several cool modes like Time Lapse and Low Light Mode. An LCD touchscreen display is used to preview your photos and videos. You can also control the Hero7 remotely using your smartphone to ensure that you never miss any action.

The battery can last for around 2 hours, depending on how you use the camera. However, the battery is hardwired, which means you can’t get a few spare batteries to use when you run out of battery life.

What We Like:

Compact design
Capable of shooting 4K videos and 12MP stills
Time Lapse and Night Mode
Preview LCD touchscreen display
Smartphone remote control
Video snapshots
Affordable

What We Don’t Like:

Unresponsive screen
Non-removable battery

Bottom Line

The Hero7 Silver is an affordable GoPro for fishing that also features a compact design and high image and video quality.

4. GoPro Hero4 Session – Best Budget Pick

The GoPro Hero4 Session is a small and budget-friendly GoPro for fishing, but don’t let the low price fool you. Even at this price and size, the GoPro Hero4 Session can capture high-quality 1440p videos and crisp 8MP still images.

Not to mention that it has the same one-button control that’s found in higher-end GoPro models, in addition to the excellent dual microphone system.

The Hero4 Session’s small form factor makes it easy to mount anywhere you want. You can mount it on a shoulder strap or even your fishing rod to get the best possible view of your fishing skills.

Moreover, you can control many of the camera functions using a single button by varying the pressing duration or number of presses. You also get many awesome shooting modes like Time Lapse and Auto Light Mode.

As for battery life, you should expect at least 80 minutes of video recording out of your GoPro Hero4 Session. You can even make it last for 2 hours by adjusting a few settings. The battery is non-removable, which means that the only way for you to continue using the Hero4 Session once the battery is dead is to charge it.

What We Like:

Compact and lightweight
Suitable for those on a budget
One button control
Easy to use
Dual microphone system

What We Don’t Like:

No 4K video recording
Non-removable battery

Bottom Line

The Hero4 Session has proven to be an excellent budget GoPro for fishing that’s easy to use and mount.

5. GoPro Hero6 Black – Best GoPro with EIS

The GoPro Hero6 Black is one of the company’s high-end action cameras that will completely change how you take your fishing videos and photos.

It can shoot impressive 4K videos at 60fps thanks to the custom GP1 chip inside that allows for buttery smooth video performance.

Furthermore, the Hero6 Black features industry-leading electronic video stabilization that allows you to take professional-grade action videos of your fishing adventures. GoPro claims gimbal-like stabilization with the EIS technology.

While there are still some visible shakes in videos, it’s definitely an impressive achievement. We expect a bright future for this technology, and we may even see gimbals becoming obsolete soon.

Another thing we really like about the GoPro Hero6 Black is the beautiful still images it takes with its advanced 12 MP sensor. Moreover, the Hero6 Black is super easy to use, even for first-timers.

The GoPro mobile app makes it easy for you to capture videos and images remotely. You can even edit them and apply special effects like making timelapse videos out of burst mode photos.

With so many functionalities, the GoPro Hero6 Black’s battery life is a bit lower than the other models. You can still get around 1 hour and 40 minutes of continuous video footage with it. Moreover, the Hero6 Black’s battery is interchangeable, allowing you to swap out the battery once it’s dead.

What We Like:

GoPro app for remote shooting and editing
Capable of shooting 4K videos at 60 fps
Smooth video performance
Crisp still images
One button control
Easy to use
Removable battery

What We Don’t Like:

Expensive

Bottom Line

The Hero6 Black delivers many of the latest and greatest from GoPro, making it a very strong contender on our list.

6. GoPro Hero – Alternative Budget Pick

Just because there are many new models doesn’t mean that the original GoPro Hero isn’t worth it. This classic GoPro is still capable of delivering the essentials, allowing you to save lots of money if you don’t need the extra stuff in the more premium models.

The GoPro Hero can shoot 1440p videos at 60 fps, and it has a 10MP sensor for still photos that produce images with a decent level of detail. Moreover, it’s equipped with a touchscreen display for previewing your photos and videos, but the software is a bit outdated.

The best part about the GoPro Hero is that it has voice controls, which means that you can easily control it without even having to touch it. Moreover, you can download the GoPro app and control the camera using your smartphone. You can also subscribe to a GoPro Plus plan and upload all your files to the cloud automatically.

Additionally, just like all the other GoPro cameras, the original GoPro Hero is waterproof up to 33 feet. As long as battery life is concerned, the GoPro Hero can provide you with up to 2 hours of video recording. You can also extend the camera’s usable time by changing the battery.

What We Like:

Affordable
Easy to use
Waterproof up to 33 feet
Voice controls
Compatible with the GoPro app
Preview screen
Good battery life
Removable battery

What We Don’t Like:

No 4K video recording
No GPS
No TimeWarp or live streaming capability

Bottom Line

While it lacks some of the features in the more premium GoPros, the original GoPro Hero still makes an excellent GoPro for fishing.

What to Look for When Buying a GoPro for Fishing

Before choosing a GoPro for fishing, you need to consider a few factors to make sure that it has what you’re looking for.

Video & Photo Quality

The first thing you need to consider in a GoPro is the video and photo quality. There are GoPros that can shoot videos in 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, so it all depends on what level of detail is satisfactory for you. It’s also important to check the frame rates since some people would prefer smoother video footage with higher framerate at the expense of quality.

As for still images, it all depends on the camera sensor. A sensor with a higher megapixel count and larger pixel size will produce images that are richer in detail and more color-accurate.

Size

The size of your GoPro will decide how and where you can mount it. Some GoPros are too large to be mounted on a shoulder strap, while others are so small that you can even mount them on your head. The smaller GoPros don’t have a preview screen, so that’s a trade-off that you’ll have to make.

Control

Your GoPro’s ease of control can make it much easier to take videos and photos while fishing. Thankfully, many of GoPro’s cameras have an easy one-button control system that makes video and photo capturing a breeze. Some GoPro models even have voice controls, allowing you to start and stop recording hands-free with the fishing rod in your hand.

Battery Life

A dead GoPro is just as useful as a brick, which is why you need to consider battery life before buying one. A battery life of around 1.5 – 2 hours should be sufficient, but if you want to shoot more, you can always invest in some spare batteries. However, you’ll need to get a GoPro camera with interchangeable batteries.

Mic Quality

Going fishing in a boat in the middle of the waters with lots of sounds around you like wind, waves, and engine noise means that recording high-quality audio is no easy task, which’s why you should invest in a GoPro with a decent mic. To ensure a clear audio input, choose a GoPro with a dual microphone system.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Do You Film Yourself Fishing?

GoPros allow you to film yourself fishing effortlessly. They’re super easy to mount while also being light and comfortable. If you mount your camera on your kayak or boat, you’ll be able to capture full footage of yourself while fishing, while mounting it on your fishing rod will allow you to get a better view of your catch.

Do I Need a Gimbal for My GoPro?

A gimbal allows you to take more cinematic video footage by making them more stable and less shaky. If you’re serious about producing the best possible action videos, then you should definitely consider getting a gimbal.

It’s worth mentioning that some GoPro models have electronic video stabilization, which does something similar to what a gimbal does. However, gimbals still produce superior performance.

Final Thoughts

Our favorite pick as the best GoPro for fishing is the Hero5 Black. With 4K video recording at 60 fps, voice controls, and GPS, it’s hard not to recommend this camera.

Another good option for those who need something more compact is the GoPro Hero7 Silver. Even at this small footprint, you can still capture 4K videos with it.

Do you want to go low cost without sacrificing much? Then the GoPro Hero4 Session would be an excellent choice for you.