Lowrance help: mark an area (an MPA for example)
 

I've got a Lowrance hook5 (just like an elite 5) and a relative noob to it. Been RTFM'ing the manual again to no avail.

What are people doing to mark/record a prohibited area? I see waypoints, trails and routes, but is there something where I can key in an area (like LJ or Swami's preserve) so it shows on my FF?

Am I missing something obvious?


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First, identify the areas that may impact you by going to:

Southern California Marine Protected Areas

For La Jolla, generally the only area that I am personally concerned about is the Scripps Coastal. The nice thing here is that the western edge is the only thing I really care about. So, I entered a Waypoint in my GPS the north west corner. If I am east of that - no fishing. If I am west - hook up time!

In this context, I use 32° 53.000' N. lat. 117° 16.400' W. long. You could use the coordinates for the southern zone also, what matters (For me) is the Longitude.

32° 53.000' N. lat. 117° 15.166' W. long.;
32° 53.000' N. lat. 117° 16.400' W. long.;
32° 51.964' N. lat. 117° 16.400' W. long.; and
32° 51.964' N. lat. 117° 15.252' W. long.

If you are fishing another area, I would use the same methodology if possible. Some are crazy shapes and dont follow clean North/South - East/West lines. I do not know of any method of identifying a 'Zone' on Lawrence. If someone has a better idea, I am all ears.

I do not know about that particular unit, so someone familiar with it will give you better info, but, I would look for a way to enter LAT/LONG. coordinates. Make sure to enter them in the same format your unit expects, or is set up for. For instance, the Southwest Matlahuayl SMR boundary point at :

32deg 51.067min N
-117deg 16.400min W

The boundary points are easily available from the web. Between the points, straight lines usually connect them, but some have curved boundaries. All this is probably not needed if you purchased your unit with maps such as BlueChart, or another.

I'm sure good info will follow from others. Good luck

Create waypoint. Enter lat/long. I like to use the skull and crossbones for mpla boundaries.

Bought Navionics + for $150. It shows it all very clearly.

If your unit can take a memory card, bankrobber over at BD has created free MPA chart overlays you can download.

http://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/thr...lotter.385354/

Worked great on my HDS, but it might depend on what unit you have.

Yep, this is exactly what I did with my HDS. I now have every mlpa in california boxed in and it took no more than 15 minutes. That dude on BD did the hard part.