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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
We have over 1,200,000 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.
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!