Camera Gear For Fishing Content Creators

Fishing content has exploded in popularity thanks to platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Whether you're chasing big fish offshore or filming catch-and-release moments on a quiet lake, high-quality visuals can set your content apart. But great footage requires more than just a smartphone—especially if you're serious about growing your audience.

Action Cameras: Your Go-To for Versatility and POV

Action cameras are compact, rugged, and purpose-built for capturing fast-paced, hands-free footage—making them an essential part of any fishing content creator’s loadout. Brands like GoPro, DJI, and Insta360 dominate the market because they offer reliable performance in wet and unpredictable environments.

These cameras typically shoot in 4K or 1080p and allow for high frame rates like 60fps or more, which is critical for creating smooth slow-motion sequences—especially when you want to replay an explosive topwater strike or a high-speed fight. Built-in image stabilization ensures that your footage doesn’t come out shaky, even when you're casting or scrambling to net a fish.

What truly makes action cams indispensable is their mounting versatility. Whether strapped to your chest, clipped to your hat, or clamped to your boat’s rail, they provide dynamic point-of-view angles that immerse your viewers in the moment. And since many models are waterproof or come with durable external housings, you can confidently film in any conditions without fear of damage.

DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras

For those who want to create polished, cinematic fishing videos with dramatic lighting, shallow depth-of-field, and crystal-clear detail, DSLR and mirrorless cameras are the gold standard. Canon, Sony, and Nikon offer camera bodies that, when paired with the right lenses and accessories, deliver incredible production value.

Lens choice is key. A wide-angle lens is great for talking to the camera while holding a rod or net, giving a full sense of your surroundings. Zoom lenses allow you to punch in on distant subjects—perfect for dockside filming or capturing wildlife nearby. Prime lenses, while fixed in focal length, provide stunning sharpness and low-light performance that can make golden hour shots truly pop.

Audio is another major benefit. By attaching an external shotgun mic or lavalier, you ensure that dialogue and ambient sounds come through clearly, even in windy or noisy environments. Add to that a tripod or gimbal for stable footage, and ND filters to prevent overexposure on bright days, and you’re equipped to shoot full-length YouTube episodes, documentary-style segments, or high-end product features.

Drones

Drones bring a bird’s-eye perspective to your fishing content, helping you tell a story from a scale that’s impossible to achieve from the boat or shoreline. With the press of a button, you can lift off and capture cinematic shots that showcase the geography of your location, the movement of boats, or the serenity of a backwater estuary.

These sweeping shots are not just eye-catching—they add production value and narrative context. A slow pan across a foggy lake, or a top-down view of you fighting a fish offshore, can serve as a beautiful opener or a powerful transition in your edit. Just make sure to follow FAA or local regulations for drone usage, and always carry extra batteries. With limited flight time, every second counts.

Other Must-Have's

Even the best camera setup can fall short if you don’t bring along the right accessories to support your shoot. Extra SD cards are essential, allowing you to keep filming throughout the day without worrying about storage limits. Portable chargers and power banks help you keep cameras, drones, and even lights running—especially if you're on the water all day.

Waterproof bags and hard cases protect your gear from salt spray, rain, and the occasional splash overboard. And when it comes time to edit, software like DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, or Final Cut Pro enables you to cut clips, color grade footage, and add music and transitions that bring your story to life.

It’s in the edit where all your gear choices come together. Having a variety of angles and perspectives—thanks to proper gear and planning—makes your editing process smoother and your final product stronger.

Underwater Footage: The Missing Piece in Fishing Content

Above-the-water shots are engaging, but they can only show so much. If you want to create content that truly captures what fishing is all about—the moment a fish inspects or slams your lure—then you need to see what’s happening below the surface. 

Meet the Westin Cam Series

The Westin Explore Cam is one of the lightest, most compact underwater fishing cameras on the market—about the size of a single AA battery. It records in 1080p HD at 30 or 60 frames per second and offers a battery life of roughly 1 hour and 25 minutes. With a waterproof rating down to 650 feet, it's designed to go wherever your lures do.

For anglers who want longer recording sessions and enhanced stability, the Westin Escape Cam is the answer. It features the same Full HD resolution but with a 2.5-hour battery life and additional accessories like a steady-shot stabilizer (Y-fin) and a Dive Lip. These enhancements help the camera track cleanly with your lure, providing smooth footage even when reeling in fast.

Both models are compact enough to be rigged inline with your bait or lure setup, making them ideal for trolling, casting, or jigging. They're intuitive to use, with quick footage review and mobile sharing capabilities built-in. And most importantly, they offer footage that no other camera can—real-time insight into fish behavior, missed strikes, or those exhilarating moments when a trophy fish crushes your bait.