Over the last few months, I have been fishing offshore out of my home base of Brisbane.
There are a couple of key functions you need to use to get the best out of the Humminbird Helix. Firstly, make sure the unit is in Custom Mode. To do this, push the Menu button twice, go to the Setup tab, then arrow down to User Mode and select “Custom”.
Secondly, ensure you modify the Depth Range to suit the species you are targeting. This is a simple process once the unit is in custom mode. Hit Menu while on the 2D sonar screen—there you’ll find upper and lower limit options. Start with the lower limit, setting it just below the water depth you’re fishing. For example, if I’m in about 160 feet of water, I’ll set it to 170 or 180 feet. Next, adjust the upper limit. The difference between upper and lower will vary depending on the depth and species—e.g., 20 feet in shallower water and up to 50 feet in deeper water.
Sensitivity and Contrast are another two key settings that need to be fine-tuned. The general rule is: the deeper the water, the more sensitivity required. You can adjust both by pressing Menu while on the 2D sonar screen—separate options for each will appear.
Below are a couple of screenshots from the Humminbird Helix:
- The first shows a fish rising from the bottom to grab a bait before heading back down. This turned out to be a nice Red Throat Emperor, with his mates schooled beside him.
- The second shows big fish holding on the bottom of a ledge. We caught some large Coral Trout and Grass Sweetlip here.
- The third screenshot highlights a massive school of bait—herring, yellowtail scad, and slimy mackerel. Floating baits down in this area produced nice snapper and pearl perch.
The old saying is true: find the bait, and you’ll find the fish.