8 Best Fishing Watches (Review) in 2020

Casio is best-known as one of the most inexpensive watch brands on the planet, but that’s not the only thing that makes them a viable option for a great fishing watch. Their Pro Trek series has everything you could need to keep you fully aware, alert and informed out on the water. Control your environment, master everything around you, all with a data-gathering watch with an anti-glare mineral crystal dial window.

You’ll get an integrated compass feature that works alongside the barometric pressure detector, as well as the altimeter (which comes in handy if you’re picking a lake out in the middle of New Hampshire to fish). Everything is designed to work in tandem with as little delay as possible, all displayed in glorious resolution on this small screen.

Suunto’s done it again. They really put their focus on making great hiking and fishing watches and slay it when it comes to the outdoors. Crafted from textured stainless steel, this glorious case and bezel are the epitome of rugged design, ready to stand up to the elements and the hell you put it throughout there in the wilderness. The strongest element of Suunto Traverse Alpha is the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal dial window, which stands up against the roughest scrapes and scratches, keeping the dial window impeccable. And immaculate.

Then you get into the features that really make it a good fishing watch. For one, they went with a nylon band, because nobody wants bacteria sitting under their leather strap and creating an odor. Nylon is the perfect solution, as well as the fair 330 ft of water resistance. It’s already built with accidental drops and frequent submersion in mind, so you won’t have to worry about damages while you’re reaching into the water and pulling that bass off the line.

The Casio WR100M is a brand-new watch, designed to make every fishing trip run smoothly. It uses the time, date, and settings to calculate the moon phase and fishing level indicators, so you know exactly when to cast your line. This technology has been part of Casio’s range since the 1980s, so it’s not revolutionary. However, with each updated model, the technology gets that little bit more accurate. In addition to that, it has a multi-functioning alarm, stopwatch, countdown timer, and a fully automatic calendar. One downside with these watches is that they’re relatively complex to set up, so you’ll have to spend some time pouring over the instruction manual. 

They sure do make one sexy watch, am I right? Look at it. On top of how it looks, Suunto Core fits comfortably on your wrist. Plastic bracelets traditionally have a bad reputation for catching your arm hairs and being fragile against outdoor conditions, which is where Suunto started when they designed this model, working into the case. Comfortable, flexible, doesn’t catch any stray arm hairs, and adjustable to fit any user.

You’ll also get a weather trend graph, and that includes a sunrise and sunset detector. If you’re heading out for a few days, you can check the weather forecast before you leave on that fishing trip, but it’s not guaranteed. Weather changes, and having a detector on your wrist, when you’re far away from cell phone service, can be a serious one-u on Mother Nature.

Timex is one of the leading inexpensive watch brands that pack in more value than the price tag suggests. They want to be your only watch brand (even though we know it’s impossible to just pick one) because they’re put together everything you can expect to find on more expensive models. Flip through the settings of your Timex watch to find the chronograph, timer and alarm features, giving you a few different things to work with while you’re exploring your watch.

Everything is displayed in a decent resolution. While Timex Expedition Shock XL Watch is not as high-def as some of the other models we’ve listed, it gets the job done without being grainy. Your resin strap comfortably sits on your wrist, keeping that 48mm stainless steel case right where it’s supposed to be. Top-quality construction, as well as a ton of under-the-hood features that really make Timex a force to be reckoned with.

Last but not least, Suunto strikes again. Their Traverse Alpha series dominates this space, yet they still find a way to make each and every watch their own unique item. This one comes with a thick nylon strap and fixed buckle, making it simple to slip on, and keeps the watch face exactly where it’s supposed to be. That watch case is made of stainless steel, ion-coated with a textured finish to give it that rugged aesthetic.

You get the full force of GPS + GLONASS to master your environment beyond the shadow of a doubt. Route navigation to and from your favorite spots has never been so simple, and utilizing this watch allows you to find new fishing holes without getting turned around in the woods. Use the digital compass and activity tracker in unison to get a better feel for what treks to and from your spots will take out of you, and plan ahead accordingly.

You know the best watch brands, and Suunto is high-ranking on that list. When it comes to the outdoors, they won some high spots on our hiking watches buying guide, and absolutely took the cake this time around. With Traverse Alpha Hunting & Fishing Watch, you get an excellent resolution, and a fairly anti-reflective surface to prevent glares wreaking havoc on your readability.

They packed the features in. Not only do you get an integrated compass feature, but you can press one of the three crown buttons to illuminate the case. When you’re out on the boat in the early, early morning, that little bit of visibility can be absolutely crucial. You won’t have to start up a camping lantern, you won’t scare off the fish.

Casio is one of the only watchmakers with a dedicated fishing range. If you’re serious about fishing, you’re probably not going to rely on a watch to tell you when the time is right to fish. However, every bit of information is helping when you’re trying to predict nature. With outdoor essentials like Moon Data, a thermometer, and the famous fish indicator, you can head out with all the information you need. 

The Casio Men’s AQW101-1AVCF Fishing Watch is packed full of features. The fish indicator shows up to four fish, which is supposed to indicate how many fish are in the water at one time. The information is based on the moon cycle and time of day, which means it’s a vague guide of fish levels. We wouldn’t count on it as your only source of information but it’s definitely a cool gimmick.