Humminbird PiranhaMax 196ci Portable Review in 2024 – Fish Finder

Humminbird PiranhaMax 196ci Review

Fish Finder Source is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

If you want affordable, high-quality SONAR imaging as well as the ability to know where you are, the PiranhaMax 196ci is the answer for you. Easy to use, easy to install, and delivering good performance, this little guy is bound to turn any bad fishing days you had in the past into excellent fishing days for the future! The 3.5″ screen is a little tiny, but it serves its purpose when you are short on space and need something that fits nicely into nooks and crannies on your boat.

You can carry this little guy wherever you go – so whether you are renting a boat, or taking a fishing trip to Mexico, your trusty fish finder is always with you! The carry case is strong and will protect your fish finder. Just stick the transducer wherever convenient, and you are good to go. This is an excellent choice for kayaks.

With 200W, and 200/455 kHz sounder, see the underwater world with incredible detail. At 200 kHz, you will see echoes show up as blobs – and the sharpness will vary depending on how deep you are looking. The deepest you can see at 200 kHz is about 200 feet. At 455 kHz, you can see about 80 feet deep, but with much more detail – the blobs will turn into images you can actually make out as trees, structure, and fish!

Great Fish Finder for Starting Out

If you feel intimidated by echoes and fish arches, not to worry! The 196ci features Fish ID+ technology – which uses a calculation to determine whether or not a particular echo is a fish – and shows it as a little fish icon on your screen. You can also program the fish finder to show an alarm with you reach a particular depth – in case you don’t want to go too shallow or too deep.

Humminbird PiranhaMax 196ci

Mark Your Favorite Fishing Spots

Using the built-in GPS, you can mark your favorite fishing spots. Catch a lot of big ones in a particular area? Make a waypoint so you know where to go to next time! The only catch is that since this is a lower-end model, there are no maps – only waypoints – so you can see your route as a line, but you won’t see much more.

Other Features

  • Sonar Coverage: 28° & 16° @ -10db
  • Temperature: Included
  • Speed: GPS Speed Included
  • Mount: Tilt and Swivel
  • Waypoints/Routes & Tracks/Points 500,0,0/2,000
  • Power Input: 10-20VDC

In the Box:

  • PiranhaMax display and carry case
  • Portable transducer
  • Installation hardware
  • Owner’s manual
Shane Baker

Shane Baker

My name is Shane Baker and when I am not with my family or working here I am out fishing! I caught my first fish when I was 6 – it was a trout at a stocked pond here in TX. Ever since fishing has been a passion of mine!

More Articles You May Like