Do Underwater Cameras Scare Away Fish?

You ever mention using an underwater camera, and someone pipes up with, “Doesn’t that scare the fish?” I've heard this question more times than I can count.

Dropping a piece of plastic and electronics into the water sounds like it might spook anything with fins. But the truth is, if you are using the right kind of camera and setting it up correctly, many fish do not care one bit. Some of them even get curious.

Fish Are Curious, Not Cowards

We all know fish are "cautious," to say the least. In pressured lakes or clear water, they will dart off at the smallest disturbance—a shadow overhead, a clumsy cast, or the thunk of a boot on an aluminum hull.

But that doesn't mean they will panic at every foreign object. Drop in a compact, quiet camera that moves naturally, and most fish are more likely to give it a once-over than to bolt.

I've used underwater cameras in stained reservoir backwaters to 40-foot-deep drop-offs in Midwest lakes, and curiosity tends to beat fear more often than not—especially when the gear is subtle. I've seen walleyes trail one for about 20 feet before turning off, and bass come nose-to-lens just to figure out what it is.

They seemed more curious than scared, like a dog sniffing a new pair of boots. So what really matters is how you present that camera.

It Is All About Size, Movement, and Noise

Fish don't have eyelids, and they sure know when something weird shows up in their living room. If your camera is too big, clunky, flashing lights, or spinning like a drunk bluegill, yeah, it might put fish off.

Some anglers have noted that when cameras are introduced carefully and stay steady, fish are more likely to ignore or even investigate them. But as with any gear, how you use it—along with environmental factors—often matters more than the specs alone.

And fish don't need a lot of excuse to back off—especially in clear or pressured water. But the smallest underwater cameras that are built to blend in—those slip by them much more easily. It becomes just another inanimate object drifting by, nothing worth expending the energy to run from. Anglers regularly run cams everywhere from under the ice to out in open water—and watch fish actually come closer to check it out.

More compact, stable cameras generally create less disturbance and are less likely to trigger avoidance behavior. For example, models like the Westin Explore Cam and Escape Cam are designed to minimize motion and noise:

• The Westin Explore Cam is a compact option—roughly the size of a AA battery and weighing under an ounce. Its slow, steady descent can help reduce sudden movement in the water, which some anglers find beneficial in clear or pressured conditions.
• The Escape Cam is slightly heavier at 1.4 ounces and includes features like a stabilizer and Dive Lip designed to help it maintain a steady trajectory. These design elements can help reduce erratic movement, making the camera less likely to disturb fish in sensitive environments.
• If you’re mainly looking to document the underwater environment without tracking fish behavior or towing behind a lure, action cameras like the Olympus Tough TG-6 can be fun tools. They’re durable and have generally high image quality, but they aren’t really designed for real-time fishing use.
• Another option for general underwater photography is the Ricoh WG-6. It’s waterproof and built to handle harsh environments, but like other action cams, it’s not suited for fishing-specific tasks like lure tracking, filming strikes, or real-time feedback.

There’s also a flood of no-name cameras out there, and they tend to fall short in key areas—hence the reason they are "no-name." Common trade-offs might include bulkier designs, limited stabilization, or features like bright lights or louder motors that could potentially disturb fish. That doesn’t mean they’re completely useless, but there’s usually a reason they stay off the radar. As with any gear, it’s important to review user feedback and test what is best suited for your fishing style and conditions.

Without consistent build quality or thoughtful design, they can end up doing more harm than good underwater. When you're choosing an underwater fishing camera, it’s worth being picky—look for compact, quiet models with good user feedback and footage examples before dropping one in the water.

Let the Fish Get Comfortable

Just like you wouldn't stomp into the woods shouting if you were trying to spot deer, you should not toss a camera into the water and expect fish to stick around for a photo shoot. Ease it in. Let it sink naturally and come to rest. Especially in clear water, fish notice sudden movement and noise, and they will hang back if something feels off. Give them a couple minutes. Let the camera become part of the "background" for them.

If you're casting it out ahead of your lure, or running it behind while trolling a weedline or drop-off, keep your presentation smooth and consistent. Fish are dialed in on motion and rhythm. When your lure moves naturally and the camera is not flailing around behind it, most of the time, the fish will lock in on the lure and ignore the camera entirely.

Tip: Let them come to you on their terms. Patience makes the footage better—and it makes the fishing better too.

Fine-Tuning for Conditions and Species

Now, of course, not all fish react to everything the same way, and conditions matter more than folks sometimes think. Here are some general tips for fishing with underwater cameras:

• In clear, shallow water—especially when targeting cautious species like trout—you will want to be extra mindful of light and movement. Cameras with built-in lights can be helpful in murky or deep water, but in clear conditions, that brightness can act like a warning flare. If your camera has adjustable lighting, keep it dim. If it doesn't, you are probably better off going without it.
• Even with compact, low-profile setups like the Explore or Escape Cam, placement still makes a difference. Dropping one near natural structure—like a rock pile, weedline, or sunken log—can help it blend into the environment and keep fish at ease. These cams are already small and steady, so they do not draw much attention. But giving them a backdrop that feels natural helps avoid putting fish on edge, especially in clear or high-pressure water.
• Fish tend to be less wary during low-light periods like dawn, dusk, or overcast days. If you're noticing spooky behavior during bright midday hours, it might not be the camera—it could just be the conditions.

Adjust your approach based on where you are fishing and what you are after. Some fish are bold, some are nervous. The more you pay attention to their behavior, the better you can use an underwater camera to your advantage.

The way game fish react to underwater cameras depends heavily on the species, the camera type (especially noise and light), whether the underwater cam is rigged inline with the lure, water clarity, and fishing pressure. Based on field use, fishing reports, and limited observational studies, here’s a breakdown by general tendency:

 

Species	Reaction to Underwater Cameras	Notes
Largemouth Bass	Generally curious or indifferent	Often approach slowly or inspect inline rigs
Northern Pike	Aggressive and curious	Occasionally strike cameras directly
Muskellunge	Occasionally curious	Reacts like pike but less consistent
Lake Trout	Often indifferent	Commonly caught on camera while feeding
Crappie	Tolerant or indifferent	Works well with vertical jigging setups
Walleye	Mostly indifferent	Prefers low-light, so use without LEDs
Grouper	Often approach cameras	Prefer low/no movement. Even more likely to approach if bait is nearby
Bonefish	Easily spooked in clear water	Use a small, discreet underwater camera—avoid movement
Permit	Very cautious and sensitive	Requires discreet/low-profile camera
Snook	Skittish in clear conditions	Use discreet camera—ideal in brackish water
Tarpon (Juvenile)	More easily startled than adults	Avoid bright light; let camera settle quietly
Tarpon (Adult)	Usually indifferent, sometimes curious	Use a small/discreet camera—avoid flashing lights or erratic motion
Peacock Bass	Can be curious or wary	Compact cameras help in urban waters
Striped Bass	Mixed behavior	Use inline cameras in deeper water
Amberjack	Often aggressive toward cameras	Will investigate gear and flash
Catfish	Usually indifferent	Prefers low-light, murky conditions
Snapper (e.g., Mangrove, Red)	Often curious	Approaches camera, especially with bait nearby
Triggerfish	Very curious	May peck or inspect camera closely
Salmon (in rivers)	Sometimes spooked	Use discreet, in-line cameras—avoid spawning sites
Sailfish	Generally indifferent or curious	Avoid erratic movement of camera
Marlin	Usually indifferent—may approach underwater cams	Secure gear to avoid slapping noise or vibration
Cobia	Behavior toward underwater cams changes based on depth, location, and fishing pressure (how heavily area is fished)	May circle camera if movement is subtle
Sharks	Often attracted	Drawn to underwater cameras

 

Use It as a Tool, Not a Toy

As a fisherman, I don't mess with gimmicks, and I do not carry anything in my tackle box that does not pull its weight. An underwater camera is both a serious tool for fishermen and some of the best gear for fishing content creators, if you know how to use it right.

I lean on mine to answer the questions that matter:

• Are the fish actually hitting the lure or just swiping at it?
• Are they reacting to the action, the size, the color?
• Are they even the species I think they are?

Reviewing hours of underwater footage over the years has taught me more about how fish behave around different presentations than any seminar or article ever could.

And it's not only personal experience. A study published in Fisheries Research in 2023 examined how fish respond to approaching underwater cameras. The researchers found that most fish didn't exhibit strong reactions to the cameras—and some even approached or tended to "hover" near them. Interestingly, roundfish species were more likely to approach the cameras out of curiosity, and flatfish tended to avoid them:

1. Roundfish (e.g., cod, pollock): These species exhibited the highest levels of attraction to the cameras, often approaching closely and displaying curiosity.
2. Flatfish (e.g., flounder, sole): These fish showed the most avoidance behavior, tending to steer clear of the cameras used in the study, especially at close ranges.
3. Rockfish: Reactions varied, with some showing neutral behavior or approaching slightly.
4. Sculpins: More mixed reactions, but many showed no clear avoidance, hovering or remaining near the camera.

This suggests that the effect of underwater cameras varies among different fish species, with some displaying curiosity and others showing avoidance behavior. Some are bold and come in for a closer look, while others give the camera the cold shoulder and drift off.

All this is to say: If you are dragging around a bulky, noisy camera or jerking it through the water without care, then yes, you might spook fish. But if you run something compact and steady and you fish it clean, fish usually don't mind it.

Treat it like part of your presentation, and fish will not just tolerate it. Half the time, they will come check it out.

You ever watched a pike stare down a jig, then slowly turn and smash it right in front of the lens? Gives you goosebumps. Better than most things on TV.

More importantly, it's the kind of perspective you only get from time on the water and watching fish react in real time—not just hoping they will hit.

Citation:

Williams, K., Rooper, C., & Bryan, D. (2023). Fish behavior in response to an approaching underwater camera. Fisheries Research, 264, 106569.