Importing Fishing Spots Into Garmin

Garmin

Importing our fishing maps into your Garmin GPS unit is easy. For some units, you can simply add the files to the SD card (GPX), allow your unit to boot up, and then stick the card into the unit and it will prompt you to import the data. Some units require the files to be in a Garmin folder on your SD card. For example you will need a Garmin folder with a GPX folder within it, and you would add the GPX file to the GPX folder. If your Garmin does not have this functionality, please follow these instructions for importing our fishing spots into your unit.

How to Make Your Own Fishing Spots Card:

If you haven't already installed Garmin Homeport, please do this now.

***PLEASE NOTE *** Garmin has discontinued Homeport and recommends Active Captain (see instructions below), which does not work on a PC or Mac. BaseCamp is the only option at the moment. You can follow the same instructions for Homeport in the videos below in BaseCamp, they are nearly identical. 

Download Garmin BaseCamp or Download Garmin Homeport

Have a fresh SD card ready (8 GB or under recommended) and use this video for downloading, importing, and exporting to your SD card:

Here is a video of using Garmin Homeport and Fishing Status to make a custom SD card with many tips on how to quickly remove spots for high density areas.

Once you have your SD ready, power on your GPS unit and stick in the SD card. Follow the instructions on the screen and select "Merge With Card" option when prompted. 

Example of loading ADM file into Garmin XSV series.

Most Garmin Units

If you are not prompted to import the spots, most Garmin units allow you to click Nav Information > User Data > Manage Card > Merge From Card  and it will import in the spots. 

GPSMAP 42XX and 72XX users can insert the SD card with a GPX file into the unit and from the Home screen select Information > User Data > Data Transfer > Card and select Merge From Card to transfer it from the card and merge it with existing user data.

943 and 1043 units  users can insert the SD card with a GPX file into the unit and from the Home screen select Where To > Manage User Data > Data Transfer > Card and select Merge From Card to transfer it from the card and merge it with existing user data.

 

Handheld Units

Connect your USB cable to your unit and computer. Copy the GPX file to the Garmin/GPX folder on the unit. When you restart the unit, they should already be loaded.

Active Captain

You can download our GPX files and import them into Active Captain from an Android or iOS (Apple) device. Simply email or download  the GPX file to the device and follow these instructions: 

  1. Click on Chart and then the menu at the top. 
  2. Select User Data and then the menu at the top
  3. Select Import from GPX File and select the GPX file you downloaded.

 

Supported Garmin Units

Garmin ModelMax WaypointsMemory Card
10405000SD
10425000SD
105sv5000microSD
1200 series5000microSD
12425000SD
1253sv5000microSD
188C3000Garmin Data Card
198C3000Garmin Data Card
32104000Garmin Data Card
4201500SD
42081500SD
4213000SD
42101500SD
42121500SD
4413000SD
44cv5000microSD
455000microSD
478Garmin Data Card
50121500SD
52081500SD
52121500SD
5413000SD
5451500SD
546s3000SD
5475000microSD
54dv5000microSD
64st5000microSD
70s5000microSD
7200 series5000SD
735000microSD
745000microSD
7403000SD
7400 series5000microSD
7415000microSD
7425000microSD
750s3000SD
753sv5000microSD
76 cx1000microSD
7600 series5000microSD
782000microSD
80125000SD
8200 series5000SD
8400 series5000microSD
840xs5000SD
853sv5000microSD
8600 series5000microSD
93sv5000microSD
9425000microSD
94sv5000microSD
95sv5000microSD
Echomap UHD series5000microSD
Echomap Ultra series5000microSD
Montana 6004000Unknown
Montana 6504000microSD
54 GPS Units
*** PLEASE NOTE ***
Models in Red are supported with the files we supply, but we do not offer Garmin Data Cards for these units.


We have over 600,000 fishing spots in our database. You can only see half of the fishing spots on our Fishing Spots Map. Our hotspots are based on known fishing spots (buoys, reefs, wrecks, ledges, myths, lies, and hearsay from retired captains.

Fishing Spots Maps for GPS Units

If you are looking for GPS coordinates of fishing spots for your GPS Unit, you have come to the right place. We provide GPS files that can easily be imported into many of the popular boat and car navigation units. We also provide a KML file to open the spots in Google Earth. Don't see your area?

Make a request and we will add it!