Photography and fishing have been intrinsically linked throughout history. Anglers traveling to beautiful places have documented their surroundings and trophy catches for years. And everyone knows that bragging rights must be accompanied by photographic proof. Digital cameras have gotten faster, cheaper, and a whole lot more powerful. Almost everyone owns a camera and, therefore, everyone can be a photographer. Here are 10 items that should help you on your conquest to prove that you did indeed catch that fish of a lifetime no matter what your budget.
GoPro Hero 7
GoPro basically invented the “action camera” mark and [the 7](https://www.amazon.com/GoPro-HERO7-Black-Waterproof-Streaming-Stabilization/dp/B07GDGZCCH/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=gopro&038;qid=1562945527&s=electronics&sr=1-4&linkCode=ll1&tag=fsmag-us-content-osp-20&linkId=290a28ae02cc18236723d60ca5831354&language=en_US//&asc_source=browser&asc_refurl=https://www.fieldandstream.com/gear/new-fishing-photography-gear-for-any-budget} is their latest and greatest. GoPro
The GoPro Hero 7 amazingly versatile camera for fishy subjects, it’s waterproof to 10 meters, shoots 4K video at 60 frames per second, still images at 12 megapixels and has a battery life up to 3 hours. It’s got a 2-inch touch screen, voice commands, and coupled with GoPro’s latest app, you automatically transfer footage remotely or edit while you’re still on the river.
GoPro Fusion 360
This camera isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, as spherical shoot unique footage and this one isn’t exactly cheap. GoPro
If you’re interested in showing someone a 360-degree view of your favorite honey hole, this camera is pretty sweet. The Fusion boats insane in-camera stabilization, spherical surround sound capture, and a next-level 5.2K recording setting at 30 frames per second.
DJI Spark
Always wanted to get that epic shot of yourself setting the hook from above, but didn’t have the coin to rent a helicopter? DJI
DJI’s Spark is your solution. It’s fairly inexpensive, very tiny, and can fly for 16 minutes a charge. It’s got a 2-axis gimbal for stabilization, shoots 12 megapixel stills, and can be controlled simply by using hand gestures for basic maneuvering. The miniature drone can also follow you at speeds up to 31 miles an hour. So get on that glitter boat and let’er rip.
LifeProof NUUD Phone Case
Smart phones have pretty darn impressive cameras these days, and if you make yours waterproof it becomes a perfect companion for all your fishing endeavors. LifeProof
LifeProof’s NUUD series of cases are still amongst the best for this. The case is super slim, unobtrusive, and gaskets straight to the glass, giving you a screen-less waterproof phone case that can be submerged up to two meters for 1 hour and survive drops from heights of 2 meters. You’ll be texting those underwater release shots like crazy.
Ever have that itch to shoot underwater shots of the fish you just landed, but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on an underwater housing for your camera? Enter EWA Marine Bags, “the economical, flexible underwater housings for photo cameras and video camcorders.” Basically, these are rugged PVC plastic bags with a hard lens port. The company claims to have a bag for almost every camera on the market and says they’ll allows to you submerge most cameras up to 30 feet.
Nikon 1 AW1
This might just be the perfect fishing camera for folks that want a little more than the average point-and-shoot. Nikon
While the price tag on this little beauty from Nikon seems high for a “point-and-shoot,” it really isn’t when you consider what this thing can do. It’s literally waterproof to 49 feet without a housing and that’s with an interchangeable lens system. It can shoot 15 frames a second at 14.2 megapixels and full 1080HD video at 60i/30p. It also works down to 14 degrees and can be dropped from up to 6.6 feet without breaking.
This super slim waterproof, freeze-proof, and dust-proof camera from Nikon is perfect for the angler who just wants to push the button and not think about any settings. Its lens is set back inside the body of the camera as well, making it almost impossible to scratch, which makes it a great option for those who want to just throw it in a vest or fishing bag and not worry about abuse.
Fujifilm FinePix XP140
If you really do drop this thing to the depths by accident, it’s not going to hurt like dropping a camera that’s 3 or 4 times the cost. Fujifilm
This is a little less expensive waterproof point-and-shoot that still offers a high performance zoom lens, 15 frames per second continuous shooting, and can withstand drops from 5 feet.
Smitty’s Glass Wax
Helps get rid of that spray that ends up on your sunglasses and camera lenses on a boat or the beach. Smitty
You know that annoying salty spray that ends up on your sunglasses and camera lenses on a boat or the beach, and how hard it can be to simply wipe off? Enter Smitty’s glass wax. Simply apply once and it repels dirt, salty spray, and water droplets for a long time. Think of it like RainX for your camera. It’s perfect for camera lenses and filters, making them much easier to clean should they get soiled while shooting on the water.
Pelican Cases
They can be fully customized with a variety of inserts to fit your gear exactly how you want it as well. Pelican
Pelican cases are the gold standard for protecting any type of fragile electronic equipment, especially cameras. They make everything from hard cases and backpacks, to gun cases and flashlights. They come in a ridiculous array of sizes, colors, and are all watertight, crush-proof, and dust-proof.