What Is the Best Fishing Trolling Camera and How to See Your Lure Spread in Real Time
When youโre trolling offshore for marlin, tuna, sailfish or other pelagic species, most of the action happens out of sight.
You can watch the rods, read the sounder and fine tune your spread from experience. However, you still cannot see how your lures are swimming, how fish are reacting, or what is happening behind the boat in real time. This is where a fishing camera system becomes incredibly valuable for understanding whatโs really happening below the surface.
Over the years, anglers have used everything from line mounted cameras to GoPro housings like TrollPro to capture that underwater view. These setups can produce incredible footage. However, they all share the same limitation, you only see the result after the moment has passed.
A modern tow cam for fishing changes that.
If you want to see how your lures are actually performing and how fish are reacting in real time, the right system makes all the difference.
What Is a Tow Cam for Fishing?
A tow cam for fishing is an underwater camera system designed to be towed behind a boat while trolling. It allows anglers to observe lure performance, fish behaviour and underwater conditions either through recorded footage or live viewing.
For offshore trolling, this means you can see:
- Marlin and billfish chasing lures
- Tuna feeding behind the boat
- Sharks investigating the spread
- Kingfish tracking movement
- Dredges, teasers and lure positioning
Most tow cams fall into three categories:
- Line mounted strike cameras that record near the lure
- Trolling housings like TrollPro that tow behind the boat and record
- Real time tow systems that let you see everything live
This difference is what defines how useful the system actually is.
See the full fishing camera guide
A tow cam is just one way to use a fishing camera setup. If you want a complete overview of how these systems work, including different setups, live viewing options, and how to choose the right approach, you can explore our full fishing camera guide.
Fishing Without vs With a Tow Cam
Without a tow cam
- You rely on rod tips and your sounder
- You donโt know if fish are following
- You guess lure performance
- Missed opportunities go unexplained
With a real time tow cam
- You see fish approach your spread
- You know if lures are working properly
- You adjust positioning instantly
- You learn from every pass
This is where tow cams move from a filming tool to a fishing tool.
Without real time viewing, you are always reacting after the moment has passed. This limits your ability to adjust and improve your spread while trolling.
Quick Recommended Setup
If your goal is to actually see whatโs happening while trolling, the best setup is the Seavu Explorer Adventure Kit, available in 17m or 27m.
This setup gives you a stable, real time underwater view of your lure spread while you are still fishing.
Tow Cam Systems for Trolling: Whatโs Available?
The tow cam category is often misunderstood because very different systems are grouped together.
Hereโs how they compare in real offshore use.
| System type | Examples | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line mounted cameras | Water Wolf, CanFish | Strike footage | No live viewing |
| Trolling housings | TrollPro | Recording spread and dredges | Record only |
| Dedicated live systems | TowCamHD | Live trolling view | Fixed setup |
| Real time action camera systems | Seavu Explorer | Full spread visibility live | Setup required |
Line Mounted Trolling Cameras
These cameras attach directly to your fishing line and travel with the lure.
They are useful for capturing strike footage. However, they only show a narrow view and do not provide feedback across your full spread.
TrollPro Style Camera Housings
TrollPro camera housings helped bring underwater trolling footage into mainstream offshore fishing.
By placing a GoPro inside a hydrodynamic housing, anglers could tow a camera behind the boat and record their lure spread, dredges and fish behaviour.
These systems are still used today. However, they are record only. You retrieve the camera, then review the footage. That means you cannot adjust your spread while the fish are actually there.
Dedicated Live View Tow Systems
Systems like TowCamHD include live underwater viewing into trolling setups.
They are designed for offshore use and allow anglers to see underwater activity while fishing. However, most of these systems rely on built-in cameras with limited resolution, and because the camera cannot be upgraded, they tend to become outdated as technology advances. They also offer less flexibility in terms of camera choice and setup.
BuiltBuilt In Cameras vs Action Camera Systems
Many tow cam systems include a built in camera.
While convenient, these systems come with a number of limitations:
- Lower resolution compared to modern action cameras
- Limited low light performance
- Cannot be upgraded
- Become outdated as camera technology improves
They also lock you into a single system. As camera technology continues to improve each year, fixed camera setups can quickly fall behind.
In contrast, systems like Seavu use GoPro and DJI Action cameras.
This means you can:
- Achieve higher image quality
- Benefit from improved low light performance
- Upgrade your camera as new models are released
- Use gear, apps and footage formats you already know
Instead of replacing your entire setup, you can simply upgrade your camera.
Your tow cam stays current, not outdated.
Real Time Tow Cam Systems: The Game Changer
This is where Seavu stands apart.
The Explorer Adventure Kit is a real time underwater viewing system built around the cameras anglers already trust.
It is also part of Seavuโs wider range of fishing camera systems, designed for real time underwater viewing in offshore fishing conditions.
Instead of guessing what is happening behind the boat, you can see it live.
You can watch:
- Marlin rising behind your lure
- Sharks circling the spread
- Kingfish tracking movement
- Tuna reacting to speed and positioning
- Dredges working or collapsing
This is real time feedback, not footage you review later.
Explorer vs Explorer+: Choosing Your Setup
Seavu offers two ways to view your footage.
Explorer: Mobile Viewing
The Explorer version uses WiFi to connect to your action camera app on your phone or tablet.
- View live footage on your phone or tablet
- Use your cameraโs app
- Control recording and settings
- Keep your setup simple and portable
Explorer+: HDMI to Chartplotter or Screen
The Explorer+ Adventure Kit uses a fibre optic cable system to deliver a direct HDMI video feed to chartplotters, boat displays and monitors.
- Direct video feed to chartplotters and monitors
- Near zero latency
- Larger screen viewing
- Integrated boat setup
The Explorer+ system is ideal for serious offshore setups, professional filming and anglers who want the underwater feed displayed on a dedicated screen.
Built for Trolling: The Explorer Troll Fin System
The Explorer Troll Fin is what makes this a true trolling camera system and a key part of Seavuโs fishing camera systems designed for real world offshore use.
Developed over years of real world testing, it solves the core challenges of towing a camera offshore, including stability, depth control and tracking.
It:
- Tracks cleanly behind the boat
- Holds a consistent depth around 2m to 3m
- Trolls effectively at speeds up to around 7knots
- Reduces spin and vibration for clearer footage
- Includes integrated weight to help maintain depth and balance
- Features a teaser decal designed to attract fish and bring them into view
Without these features working together, most tow cams struggle to stay stable or positioned correctly in real conditions.
The combination of hydrodynamic design, integrated weight and visual attraction helps keep the camera in the strike zone while increasing the chances of capturing fish behaviour on camera.
Fishing Line Integration with Release Clips
The Explorer system includes release clips to connect your fishing line.
You can:
- Attach bait or lures near the camera
- Watch fish approach in real time
- Capture strike behaviour clearly
- Release the line automatically when a fish hits
This turns the system into a functional part of your spread.
Built for Trolling and Much More
While the Explorer Adventure Kit is one of the most effective tow cam setups available, it is not limited to trolling.
The system is fully adaptable.
With the same kit, you can also use it for:
- Drifting
- Pole mounted viewing
- Stationary setups such as burley trails
- General underwater exploration
This means you are not buying a single purpose tow cam. You are investing in a system that adapts to how you fish.
Where to Position a Tow Cam in Your Spread
For best results:
- Run the camera just behind prop wash
- Maintain around 2m to 3m depth
- Position near your lure or dredge zone
- Keep a clear, stable viewing angle
What a Tow Cam Shows When Trolling
A good tow cam gives you insight, not just footage.
You can see:
- Lure action at real trolling speed
- Fish following but not striking
- Spread positioning issues
- Dredge performance
- Water clarity and bait activity
Watch Real Tow Cam Footage While Trolling
This footage was captured while trolling offshore using the Seavu Explorer Adventure Kit, showing real fish behaviour around the lure spread.
Real time underwater trolling footage captured using the Seavu Explorer Adventure Kit, showing pelagic fish interacting with the lure spread.
Real World Use: Al McGlashan
Al McGlashan is one of Australiaโs most recognised fishing personalities, known for his offshore game fishing expertise and decades of experience targeting pelagic species.
This footage shows Al McGlashan using the Explorer+ Adventure Kit during a real offshore marlin trip.
Al McGlashan using the Seavu Explorer+ Adventure Kit during a marlin trip, showing real time underwater footage while trolling offshore.
This is not a controlled demo or staged scenario. It is a real world setup being used in offshore conditions, targeting pelagic species.
The Explorer+ system feeds live underwater footage directly to onboard screens, allowing anglers to monitor lure spread, fish behaviour and underwater activity as it happens.
Common Tow Cam Mistakes
- Running too close to prop wash
- No stabilisation
- Incorrect depth
- Expecting WiFi to work underwater
- Using record only systems for live decisions
Record Only vs Real Time Viewing
| Feature | Record only | Real time |
|---|---|---|
| Watch while trolling | No | Yes |
| Adjust spread live | No | Yes |
| Learn fish behaviour instantly | No | Yes |
| Review later | Yes | Yes |
Why WiFi Cameras Donโt Work Underwater
Water blocks WiFi and Bluetooth signals almost instantly.
This is why most action cameras cannot stream live underwater. They can record, but they cannot provide a reliable live feed while submerged.
How Seavu Solves This
Seavu uses a cable based transmission system instead of relying on underwater WiFi.
This provides:
- Stable live viewing
- No signal drop out
- Real time feedback
- Full visibility of your spread
Who Should Use a Tow Cam?
- Offshore game fishing anglers
- Tournament teams
- Charter operators
- Content creators
- Anyone serious about improving trolling performance
Final Thoughts
A tow cam used to be about capturing footage.
Now, it is about understanding what is happening behind the boat in real time.
With systems like the Seavu Explorer Adventure Kit, it also becomes a flexible underwater viewing platform that adapts to how you fish.
And as shown by anglers like Al McGlashan, it is already being used in real offshore conditions to refine techniques and capture what was previously invisible.
Instead of guessing, you are reacting. Instead of hoping, you are learning. Over time, that leads to better results offshore.
Ready to See Whatโs Happening Below?
A tow cam is no longer just about capturing footage. Itโs about understanding fish behaviour, improving your spread, and making better decisions in real time.
If youโre serious about offshore fishing, a real time system will change the way you fish.

