Smarter fishing as Simrad integrates FishCast forecasts into helm displays

Finding fish just got a lot simpler. Simrad Marine Electronics has launched FishCast powered by ROFFS, an on-screen forecasting tool that gives anglers access to professional-grade fishing insights directly on select Simrad displays — no extra hardware required.

“By integrating this powerful forecasting tool directly into our Simrad multi-function displays and C-MAP charts, we’re giving anglers a smarter, more seamless way to find fish,” says Jeremiah Clark, vice president of product management, electronic solutions for Navico Group.

The move marks a new step in Simrad’s parent company Navico Group’s goal — under Brunswick Corporation — to link advanced marine data, mapping and electronics in one connected ecosystem.

Developed by Fathom Science and powered by decades of ROFFS analyses, FishCast blends real-time ocean data with historical fishing intelligence. Users can view changing sea conditions — including temperature, ocean colour, currents, and frontal boundaries — directly over their navigation charts. AI-based analytics then identify high-probability fishing zones, giving anglers a ranked list of hotspots within up to 120 nautical miles of their chosen port.

ROFFS stands for Roffer’s Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service. That’s a US-based company that provides scientific oceanographic analyses and fishing forecasts to help commercial and recreational fishers identify the most productive areas to target.

For offshore fishers, the detail is practical. Forecasts update every three hours and can be viewed forward in time, helping crews plan routes or trips around the best conditions. FishCast layers can also be toggled alongside radar or bathymetry, creating a compact digital toolkit for trip planning and live decision-making.

Matthew Upton, president of ROFFS, says the partnership brings trusted science to more users: “FishCast powered by ROFFS opens new automated ways for anglers to find and visualise the most productive waters right at their fingertips.”

The feature is currently available on Simrad NSX, NSX ULTRAWIDE and NSS 4 displays, with coverage spanning the US East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas and parts of the northern Caribbean. Further regions are expected to follow.

FishCast is available by subscription through the C-MAP store.