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Casting Time: Best Fishing Watches in 2022

This product guide was written by Billy Brown
Last Updated May 28, 2021
Billy Brown
Billy Brown has a problem sitting still. His constant search for the next challenge has him doing everything from running ultramarathons and climbing 14er’s to gaining 40 pounds to compete in powerlifting, breaking several state records and growing a killer beard in the process. With over a decade of writing under his belt, his work, covering action sports, gear, and beer, can be found in a variety of publications. He lives with his wife and their two cats in Sacramento, California.
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What’s a good camping trip or day off without a little bit of fishing? And unless you’re reeling in trophies like some IRL character from A River Runs Through It, you’re going to need an edge. These are the best fishing watches to give you a bit of an advantage when you’re out on the lake or sitting by the shore.

A good fisherman watch has a powerful water resistance rating, timekeeping functions, bright displays to battle against solar glares, and some even display barometric pressure for a better understanding of your environment. It’s a quintessential tool that transitions easily between home and stream; a specialized timepiece that you can always carry with you.

Our Top Picks
  • Best Overall: Casio Pro Trek Solar Fishing Watch
  • Best GPS Fishing Watch: Suunto Traverse Alpha Fishing Watch
  • Best Fishfinder: Casio WR100M Men’s Fishing Timer Quartz Watch
  • Best Military Watch: Suunto Core All Black Military Model Fishing Watch
  • Most Durable: Timex Expedition Shock XL Fishing Watch
  • Best Nylon Strap: Suunto Traverse Alpha Digital Display w/ Nylon Strap
  • Best Bargain: Casio Men’s AQW101-1AVCF Fishing Watch

The Best Fishing Watch Review

1
Casio Pro Trek Solar Fishing Watch

casio pro trek solar fishing watch

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 watch for fishing. 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.

No fishing watch is complete without a little mood lighting. Press the button, light up the case, and you’re able to see everything in a clear, low light so you’re not scaring off the fish. If you’re out there on the water early in the morning, the sun’s coming up, and you’re worried that your watch might run out of juice before you’re done, you needn’t fret. This is a completely solar-powered watch, so simply by fishing, you’re charging your battery at the same time.

Casio uses the finest components while still maintaining their costs. You get a metal bezel that sits flush with the dial window, all wrapped around the stainless steel case. From the buckle closure and the clear black-and-silver design elements, this is an all-day watch for any gentleman, and a quick trip out onto the fishing pier when you’re itching to cast your line.

Our tester has been taking the Pro Trek Solar out and has banged it around on boating adventures and spent over 50 hours in the water with it, with no signs of wear and tear. The clasp was secure and the wristband was comfortable, and the bright face was easy to read, even in bright conditions. 

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Key Features:

Impressive 660 ft water resistance rating

Six-way atomic timekeeping function

Chronograph display

Compass, barometer and altimeter built into three simple buttons

Solar-powered digital display

Backlit case

Specification:
  • BrandCasio
  • ModelPRW-2500R-1CR
  • Weight1.75 pounds
BUY ON AMAZON

2
Suunto Traverse Alpha Fishing Watch

suunto traverse alpha fishing watch

Suunto’s done it again. The company really put its focus on making great hiking and fishing watches and they always slay it when it comes to the outdoors. Crafted from textured stainless steel, this beautiful case and bezel are the epitome of rugged design, ready to stand up to the elements and whatever hell you put it through out there in the wilderness. One of the strongest elements 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 crystal clear.

That’s before you even get into the features that really make it a good fishing watch. For one, they went with their usual nylon band for its water and sweat resistance. And because nobody wants bacteria sitting under their leather strap and creating an odor. In addition, it’s waterproof down to 330 feet, which makes it as good a spearfishing watch as it is a fly fishing watch. And if you’re more of a rod person, you won’t have to worry about reaching into the water and pulling that bass off the line.

There’s a barometric pressure detector, as well as alerts for the sunrise and sunset. And when it’s hooked up to your app (available on iOS and Android), you’ll be able to access the GPS tracking feature. If you’ve got a bit of a walk to and from the fishing spot, or you feel adventurous and want to veer out a little farther than normal, this is your ticket back to where you started.

Last but not least, there’s a moon phase calendar, making it a contender for the best tide watch for fishing. Suunto threw all the best features in here, including a lithium-ion battery with an average fourteen-day life before needing to be recharged. Keep in mind that if GPS is on, that time span will shrink dramatically, but it’ll still work for days on end. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best waterproof watches.

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Key Features:

Textured stainless steel case and bezel

Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal dial window

Moon phase calendar based on your location

GPS path tracking for iOS and Android

Sunrise/sunset alerts

Barometric pressure detector

Specification:
  • BrandSuunto
  • ModelSS022469000
  • Weight2.72 ounces
BUY ON AMAZON
BUY ON WALMART

3
Casio WR100M Men’s Fishing Timer Quartz Watch

casio wr100m men's fishing timer quartz watch

The Casio WR100M is one of the best sports fishing watches, 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 a 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. 

Key Features:

Fishing indicator 

Moon phase indicator 

Multi-functioning alarm 

Stopwatch, countdown timer, auto calendar

100m (660ft) water resistance 

10-year battery life

Specification:
  • BrandCasio
  • ModelWS-1200H-3AVCF
  • Weight3.99 ounces
BUY ON AMAZON

4
Suunto Core All Black Military Model Fishing Watch

suunto core all black military model fishing watch

First off, this watch is so pretty, you’ll want to wear it whether or not you’re casting line. But it’s also one of the best angler watches we’ve seen. On top of how it looks, the Suunto Core is extremely comfortable as well. 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 the band into the case. It’s flexible, doesn’t catch any stray arm hairs, and adjustable to fit any user.

You’ll also get a weather trend graph 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. Like any forecast, it’s not guaranteed, but it’s good to have an idea of what you might be in for. Weather changes, and having a detector on your wrist when you’re far away from cell phone service, can be a serious one-up on Mother Nature.

You’ll also get over four hundred local maps that come pre-installed, with more available from Suuno’s official website and app. So you can master your environment, understand your surroundings, and maneuver like a wayfinder. This watch also comes with a two-year warranty, leaving you well over a hundred weekend fishing trips to test this and put the pedal to the metal. Our handy guide to the best compass watches features more great products like this.

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Key Features:

Weather trend graph w/ sunrise and sunset times

Over four-hundred pre-installed location maps

Altimeter, barometer and compass features

Backlit case back

100 ft water resistance rating

Includes a two-year warranty

Specification:
  • BrandSuunto
  • ModelSS014279010
  • Weight8 ounces
BUY ON AMAZON
BUY ON WALMARTBUY ON REI

5
Timex Expedition Shock XL Fishing Watch

timex expedition shock xl fishing watch

Timex is one of the leading inexpensive watch brands because they pack in way more value than the price tag suggests. It’s clear that they want to be your only watch brand because they’ve put together everything they could to compete with 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.

This digital fishing watch also sports 660 ft of water resistance and an anti-scratch acrylic case window. If they could have fit a kitchen sink in there, they would have. It’s built tough and designed to last through every fishing excursion you partake on. Use the Indiglo light-up case back feature to view your display in the early morning light and to take full advantage of the three-part calendar function tucked into the display.

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. If you’re looking for a cheap fishing watch that performs like an expensive one, this is a great choice.

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Key Features:

Indiglo dial lights up

Impressive 660 ft of water resistance

Resin strap

Anti-scratch acrylic dial window

Stainless steel case w/ shock resistance

Includes a chronograph, timer and alarm feature

Specification:
  • BrandTimex
  • ModelT49950
  • Weight7.2 ounces
BUY ON AMAZON
BUY ON WALMARTBUY ON TIMEX

6
Suunto Traverse Alpha Digital Display w/ Nylon Strap

suunto traverse alpha digital display w/ nylon strap

And Suunto strikes again. The company’s Traverse Alpha series dominates this space, yet they still find a way to make each and every watch its own unique item. This one comes with a thick nylon strap and fixed buckle that makes it simple to slip on and keeps the watch face exactly where it’s supposed to be. The case is made of stainless steel, ion-coated with a textured finish to give it durability and 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.

Then you get into the intricate details. This watch comes with an excellent 330 ft of water resistance, allowing you to perform all your usual activities without worry: this watch is up for the task. Your battery has an average of eleven days of continuous use, and an on-screen battery life indicator lets you plan ahead and keep the battery charged. If you like this product, be sure to also check out our handy guide to the best tactical watches. 

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Key Features:

Thick nylon watch strap

Digital compass and activity tracking features

GPS and GLONASS navigation functions

Battery life indicator + calendar function

Textured stainless steel bezel

330 ft of water resistance

Specification:
  • BrandSuunto
  • ModelSS022469000
  • Weight1 pounds
BUY ON AMAZON

7
Casio Men’s AQW101-1AVCF Fishing Watch

casio men's aqw101-1avcf fishing watch

Casio is one of the only watchmakers with a dedicated fishing line. 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 designed to indicate how many fish are in the water at a given 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 feature. This watch is water-resistant to 200 meters, has an EL backlight, and a super durable strap. It also has a 100-hour countdown timer, a stopwatch, and 30 time zones (50 cities). Even if you don’t need the fishing functions on this watch, it’s a great watch for daily use.

Key Features:

200M water resistance 

Moon data 

Thermometer 

Fishing indicator 

EL backlight 

100-hour countdown timer 

30 time zones (50 cities) 

Specification:
  • BrandCasio
  • ModelAQW101-1AVCF
  • Weight4 ounces
BUY ON AMAZON
BUY ON WALMART
Fishing Watch Buying Guide
  • How We Tested & Why You Can Trust Us
  • Who This Is For
  • How We Picked

How We Tested & Why You Can Trust Us

To give you an in-depth look at each fishing watch on this list, we researched the best products online, recalled the watches that we’ve used in the past, and went out in the field with a rod and some beers to do some “testing.”

We rounded out our first-person impressions with user reviews online to gather a comprehensive view and to find the top-rated items. I’ve been covering the outdoors, tech, and gear for over a decade as well.

Who This Is For

This article is intended for people who are looking to find the best fishing watch for an array of situations. We found watches for a variety of needs and priorities, as well as a few for specific needs.

How We Picked

We tried to find fishing watches that would be useful in all kinds of situations and sported a range of features, styles, and budgets. We looked at battery life, GPS, displays, and comfort, among other features, and tried to find a watch for a wide range of fishermen.

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