By Jason George

If you are an avid angler, you have probably heard about the recent release of the Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging Ultrex. Open to the public just at the end of 2019, this new piece of technology could be a game-changer for fishing enthusiasts. 

It offers 360-degree imaging and includes the MEGA technology that has become famous in the Humminbird products. 

But what is the Humminbird MEGA 360 all about, and what is the big deal? Let us take a closer look at the Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging Ultrex. 

Sonar and imaging fishing technology gives anglers the ability to understand what is below the surface of the water. These technologies produce picture-like images of underwater life. Using this technology, anglers can see the depth of the water as well as structures under the water. More top-of-the-line imaging technologies even allow people to “see” individual fish and their homes. 

Before these technologies became more developed for fishing, many anglers would rely on triangulation to find a productive fishing spot. Of course, this is still a practice that some people use today, but technology has come so far over the past few decades that these old school ways of fishing are not nearly as common. Sonar and GPS technology have become so powerful and so convenient that even hobby anglers use them. 

Using sonar technology while fishing will not make the fish jump into the boat or bite your fishing lure, but it will give you a ton of intel to help you catch that prize fish. 

Humminbird is a company that began in 1971 in a garage-like building in Eufaula, Alabama. Tom Mann, along with a few investors, started modifying Heath Kits. These modified kits became the first Humminbird Depth Sounders. What began as a small project soon grew into something that had a real market. 

In 1975, Humminbird introduced the waterproof depth sounder known as the Humminbird Super Sixty. It was an incredibly popular fishfinder and grew their sales exponentially. 

Today, Humminbird features imaging, sonar, mapping, and navigation products. Their mission statement explains, “For over 40 years Humminbird has operated with one goal in mind: create difference-making days for anglers out on the water. Day after day, year after year, we’ve done just that. It is no wonder we have become America’s favorite fish finder.”

The Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging Ultrex is a sonar imaging transducer kit that works with Minn Kota Trolling Motors. 

Humminbird was the first to take sonar into the Megahertz range, and this improvement has also been used in the development of the new Humminbird MEGA 360. 

Here are the things that make the Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging Ultrex exciting:

The Humminbird MEGA 360 has been a highly anticipated piece of technology, but how has it been received? What are the professionals in the field saying about the Humminbird MEGA 360, and is it worth the investment? 

At the 2019 international Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) trade show, the Humminbird MEGA 360 Ultrex was voted “best in electronics.” 

Chris Hatton, the Humminbird brand manager is quoted saying, “Humminbird has driven innovation in our industry by consistently developing breakthrough technologies and products. We’ve continued this trend by bringing our MEGA imaging capabilities to our 360 Imaging transducer, the only sonar option that provides a high-resolution 360-degree view around the boat. Providing sonar clarity more than three-times the traditional 455 kHz frequencies, Humminbird’s MEGA 360 allows anglers to mark waypoints and cast to structures accurately, maximizing every second on the water.”

In an interview with The Bass University, professional angler Chris Zaldain spoke very highly of the Humminbird MEGA 360. 

He explains the usefulness of the Humminbird MEGA 360 by saying, “I use Humminbird 360 with MEGA Imaging…Basically, MEGA 360 is an underwater radar. So it’s a high-frequency sonar pinging that happens 360 degrees all around the boat…When you box that fish offshore, you hop up to the front of the boat, and the wind may have moved the bow, but just by looking down at your screen you know its exact angle so there’s no wasted cast. It shows every detail in every direction…No one else has this 360 degrees technology.”  

Extremely well-known tournament angler Kevin VanDam (KVD for short) shared his thoughts on the Humminbird MEGA 360 with Outdoor Sportsman Group at the 2019 ICAST show. 

He says, “I’ve been fortunate to be with Humminbird from the beginning of site imaging when it first came out. It’s part of the One-Boat Network where everything that we have is integrated. So my Ultrex, my Talon, my LakeMaster mapping, my Helix or Solix units, whatever you have. Now, with the 360 which it’s mounted right on the trolling motor, and all it does is scan everything around the boat.

“MEGA imaging came out a couple of years ago, and just the detail is incredible…I said with the 360 we got to have that same kind of detail. Now you can look at the screen and see the bait and the trees, it’s just like the MEGA imaging. It spells it out. You can see the bluegills. You can see the bluegills in the beds…. It’s incredibly detailed, and the beauty of it is you see everything around you… It’s a huge game-changer for me personally because I know the distance and direction of everything out there in the water.”

The Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging Ultrex mounts independently to the Minn Kota’s Ultrex bow-mount trolling Motor. Once mounted, it keeps a constant orientation and imaging of a 360-degree circle. The trolling motor can still be used, and the MEGA 360 will not affect any of the features of the Minn Kota® or Spot-Lock™. 

When the MEGA 360 is connected to a compatible Helix or Solix unit, then the imaging can be shared through an Ethernet network. 

The images are revealed using a high-frequency beam. The MEGA 360 beam rotates like an underwater radar. It continually updates the information and sends it to your MEGA 360 imaging screen. 

Different shades on the screen give detail about things found under the water. Brighter colored images mean that there is a strong sonar return. Deep or soft water areas will appear darker on the screen while lighter shades will indicate a hard bottom or shallow area. 

Furthermore, the MEGA 360 also gives anglers the chance to see how tall or big objects are. Tall shadows cast by the object indicate a taller object, while short objects will cast a short shadow. Additionally, you can also use the shading and shadows to identify bait and game fish areas. A fish’s shadow can be used to see how far they are from the bottom of the water.    

One of the best things about the Humminbird MEGA 360 is that it’s so versatile and so useful that it can be used by both amateur and tournament offshore anglers. This imaging system can be used in both shallow and deep water, making it far more marketable to a broader community of anglers. 

Where the Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging Ultrex shines is in the details. Humminbird has taken the MEGA imaging technology and put it into a 360-degree model. The high-definition imaging can help anglers locate the exact place to cast. Currently, there’s no other product on the market quite like it. 

To summarize, the Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging Ultrex is a real commodity for both weekend and professional anglers who want to get out on the water and find the perfect fishing spot. 

Jason Georgehttps://guidefishing.com