Many different types of systems are utilized and tasks are performed in a marine environment. The present invention provides various configurations of castable devices that can be operated and/or controlled for such systems or tasks. One or more castable devices can be integrated with a transducer assembly, such as a phased array, that emits sonar beams and receives sonar returns from the underwater environment. Processing circuitry may receive the sonar returns, process the sonar returns, generate an image, and transmit the image to a display.

The invention relates to a method for adjusting the buoyancy of a fishing bobber. The method includes providing a buoyant member and a stem guide configured to receive the buoyant member, mounting the buoyant member to the stem guide and cutting the buoyant member. The buoyant member is made of a material capable of being severed by a cutting device and having first length, a lower end, and an upper end. The stem guide receives the buoyant member and a fishing line with fishing tackle. The buoyant member is cut such that the buoyant member has a second length shorter than the first length. The buoyant member is cut to a second length such that the buoyancy of the buoyant member when cut to a second length is enough to oppose the tendency of the stem guide and fishing tackle to submerse the buoyant member such that a top surface of the cut buoyant member is adjacent to the surface of the water when the stem guide, buoyant member, fishing line and any fishing tackle are placed in the water.

The invention relates to a method for adjusting the buoyancy of a fishing bobber. The method includes providing a buoyant member and a stem guide configured to receive the buoyant member, mounting the buoyant member to the stem guide and cutting the buoyant member. The buoyant member is made of a material capable of being severed by a cutting device and having first length, a lower end, and an upper end. The stem guide receives the buoyant member and a fishing line with fishing tackle. The buoyant member is cut such that the buoyant member has a second length shorter than the first length. The buoyant member is cut to a second length such that the buoyancy of the buoyant member when cut to a second length is enough to oppose the tendency of the stem guide and fishing tackle to submerse the buoyant member such that a top surface of the cut buoyant member is adjacent to the surface of the water when the stem guide, buoyant member, fishing line and any fishing tackle are placed in the water.

A powered jigging device has a support frame, and a rod carrier that pivots in a first working plane while holding a fishing rod. A motor carrier is movably coupled to the support frame in a manner allowing constrained motion of the motor carrier in a parallel second working plane. A motor on the motor carrier drives an eccentric about a rotational axis of the motor. The eccentric is engaged with a mating feature the rod carrier at a position radially spaced from the pivot axis such that said driven revolution of the eccentric normally pivots the rod carrier upward and downward about said pivot axis, while the available constrained motion between the motor carrier and the support frame accommodates freewheeling operation of the motor when a caught fish pulls a front end of the rod carrier into a lowered position via tension in the fishing line.

The present invention comprises a novel strike assist device that aids in the catching of fish. The strike assist device comprises a body that attaches to a fishing line, a displacement element that attaches to the body, and a leader which connects the displacement element to a lure or bait. The various elements of the strike assist device are each configured to allow the lure or bait to be displaced towards a fish strike to aid in securely hooking the fish.

The present invention comprises a novel strike assist device that aids in the catching of fish. The strike assist device comprises a body that attaches to a fishing line, a displacement element that attaches to the body, and a leader which connects the displacement element to a lure or bait. The various elements of the strike assist device are each configured to allow the lure or bait to be displaced towards a fish strike to aid in securely hooking the fish.

In embodiments of a system for attracting and catching fish, a motor that's operationally coupled to a fishing reel is operated according to a predetermined motion profile in order to impart detailed and lifelike motion to a bait.

Many different types of systems are utilized and tasks are performed in a marine environment. The present invention provides various configurations of castable devices that can be operated and/or controlled for such systems or tasks. One or more castable devices can be integrated with a transducer assembly, such as a phased array, that emits sonar beams and receives sonar returns from the underwater environment. Processing circuitry may receive the sonar returns, process the sonar returns, generate an image, and transmit the image to a display.

An electronic jigging device is used with a fishing rod, reel, line and lure, which device is user-programmable to provide a wide range of electronically-generated jigging functionality and to electronically detect the optimum moment to signal electronic release of the fishing rod so as to set a hook that is used within or near the lure. The device, system and method of the present invention allows for user-programmable specific jigging and hook-setting options.

A fish chute and method for assisting fishermen in retrieving fish that have been hooked, particularly large game fish. Once a fish has been hooked, the fish chute deploys a chute. As the fish tries to swim away, the chute acts as a drag, slowing the fish down and causing it to tire.