Got me a GoPro!!! - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

N.ShoreFisher · 07-14-2015, 10:12 AM

So, I'm sure this is somewhere on here, but to be honest, I'm just being lazy. The wife bought me a GoPro Hero 4 silver for our 10 year Wedding Anniversary. Anyway, enough with the back story.
Anyone have a preferred way to mount this thing for fishing? I bought the handlebar/pole mount and I also got the chest harness. Just trying to figure out the best way to capture fishing with it so that I get some hook ups on camera. If you use one on a regular basis, I know there are pro settings, but to be honest, I don't have a ton of experience with cameras and technology. I've seen all the cool videos online, but it's overwhelming, and I'm sure most are from people with serious editing and camera skills. I just want a decent video. Going for shark on friday with some friends and would like to get some of it.I'm 35 and my computer is older than both my kids, if that gives you an idea about me and technology...lol. Anyway, any and all advice welcome. Thanks again.

PRBuzz · 07-14-2015, 02:58 PM

Look for pics of BigFish's setup! But you might need 3-5 more cameras

putty · 07-14-2015, 03:09 PM

2 bits of advice...if using it on a boat...PURCHASE AND ATTACH THE FLOATY BACKDOOR...and if you don't go that route, DON'T USE THE QUICK CLIP AND TRY TO CLIP IT ONTO YOUR WINDSHIELD!

I bought one last winter (Hero 3+ Silver) and shot some test footage one day last spring while working a small pod of schoolies in Plymouth...was very happy with the grand total of 2:30 of footage that I got.

I dragged my brother out there the next day and was giving a quick tech demo of some of the features. I downloaded the GoPro App and clipped the gopro to the top of the windshield (with no floaty backdoor attached...which is still at my house) and launched the app and started viewing the virtually real time footage that was being captured (Strongly recommend the smartphone app even if you have one of the newer version with the LCD screen built in...and its free!). We're just getting underway in the boat going about 12 kt in the main channel and I happen to notice a flock of birds working and some fish popping underneath it. I go to point out to him these birds pounding the surface and I somehow knock the clip off my windshield, it bounces once on the center console, bounces again off the gunwale and plummets like a rock down to the bottom of Plymouth Harbor channel...a one in a million shot to happen the way it did...I didn't even bother to stop to pine over the losses

Not sure if you need to download the GoPro Studio app onto your computer, but again its free and can assist you with some of the editing features and trim down your raw footage to make a nice end of season compilation video anyway.

Bottom line- It seemed like a really cool and useful tool...just make sure it is securely fastened to either your person or your boat.

N.ShoreFisher · 07-14-2015, 03:29 PM

I will definitely make sure is is clipped good. I have a floating GoStick in yellow made for it and will also be using the chest harness I hope. I already downloaded the app, very cool. And I will probably get the floaty back door when I have the money. Thanks for the advice!

Linesider82 · 07-14-2015, 03:39 PM

I have and have used the hero3 which I'm sure is not as nice as the current models. I mounted it to my snorkeling mask on a night dive in Hawaii 3 years ago while viewing the manta rays feeding on plankton, came out awesome but definitely picked up all the muffled sounds of people hooting and hollering, and the sound of the camera entering and exiting the water envelop is obnoxious but very good video quality. In this case there was a lot of light. They use a sealed light box anchored to the ocean floor about the size of a refridgerator.

I've also used it from the surf in false dawn conditions and sunrise/set mounted on my chest. The video is grainy but the top water action was cool enough to want to watch again.
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N.ShoreFisher · 07-14-2015, 06:08 PM

Were you wearing a head lamp, and if so, did it help at all?

PaulS · 07-14-2015, 06:34 PM

I've used mine skiing but not fishing yet. I wish I had one when I use to do things worth videoing.
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thefishingfreak · 07-14-2015, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N.ShoreFisher

my computer is older than both my kids, if that gives you an idea about me and technology...lol. Anyway, any and all advice welcome. Thanks again.

Keep the packaging because if you don't have a recent, very fast & powerful computer you will never be able to watch or edit the movies. I have one and all I use it for is to check the props underwater when I hit stuff. I tape it to a gaff and dunk it to look around then watch the video on my phone thru the Gopro app. It is way easier to watch and post, and even slightly edit, the videos on a smartphone thru the app, then an old computer
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tysdad115 · 07-14-2015, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N.ShoreFisher

Were you wearing a head lamp, and if so, did it help at all?

They are terrible in low light..I wear mine sometimes in surf or at canal . I wear the chest mount , gets a good angle. You don't realize how much your head moves when fishing, the head videos make me nauseous.
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Linesider82 · 07-15-2015, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N.ShoreFisher

Were you wearing a head lamp, and if so, did it help at all?

Wearing one yes, but it was not "on". I think it is worth testing out, your model camera has probably been upgraded for things like low light conditions. Removing or reducing of the "fish eye" look.

I think if I reduced the frames per second it would likely take better low light video. For example 60 fps has a super fast shutter speed which lets a small amount of light in and therefore creates the grainy end product in low light conditions. However in full daylight, 60fps video while getting into a helicopter while hot will capture the blade movement. The problem with 60fps video is that each frame equals a piece of information that your camera stores, so the file sizes are huge. Like Tysdad said an old computer likely cannot handle that.
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bart · 07-15-2015, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linesider82

I have and have used the hero3 which I'm sure is not as nice as the current models. I mounted it to my snorkeling mask on a night dive in Hawaii 3 years ago while viewing the manta rays feeding on plankton,
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That must've been wild!

Matt D · 07-21-2015, 10:02 AM

My wife bought me a ION knockoff last year. I took it hunting with me and never saw anything worth videoing.

Figured I should at least see if it works so I took it with me to the canal last week. Used the head strap mount. One tip, either remove or reverse your hat when shooting that way. About 1/4 of the frame is the bill. Other than that the quality was better than I expected. Was well after dawn though.

MAKAI · 07-21-2015, 10:45 AM

Don't you think the most common use of the go pro is home porn ?
Just a guess.
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Higgie · 07-21-2015, 09:08 PM

I picked up a 3+ black this past fall and have used for snowboarding and fishing. I tend to use it more for photos than I do video especially in time lapse mode. I even opted to take it with me to Costa Rica this past march instead of my dslr and the photos did not disappoint
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Katie · 07-28-2015, 08:13 PM

Gotta get one of these! We're getting these in at work in a couple weeks.