FishCast® powered by ROFFS®

Buy FishCast

FishCast® powered by ROFFS®

Buy FishCast
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Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

What is FishCast® powered by ROFFS®?

FishCast® brings powerful ocean and fishing intelligence to your fingertips through a subscription-based service. FishCast® combines AI-enabled oceanographic forecast technology from Fathom Science® with over a decade of trusted ROFFS® historical fishing reports to predict the best offshore fishing locations, displayed as an user-friendly interactive map overlay on select Simrad® chartplotters.

What do I need to use this service?

To get started, you’ll need:

  • A compatible Simrad® chartplotter or display running the latest NEON™ operating system (software version 2.3 or higher). A beta version of software update 2.3 is now available for NSS® 4 (US only), with broader availability coming soon for NSX® and NSX® ULTRAWIDE. Be sure to check for updates regularly to ensure compatibility. Supported devices include:
    • NSS® 4
    • NSX® (coming soon)
    • NSX® ULTRAWIDE (coming soon)

Please note: older Simrad® chartplotters not listed here are not compatible.

  • An internet connection is required only during activation — for purchasing and downloading your subscription and updates at the dock before going out. No internet connection is required offshore to use the service.
  • Optional desktop access via the C-MAP® X-CHART Manager, a PC-based application coming February 2026, for maximum accessibility.

How do I subscribe?

You can subscribe directly through your Simrad® display using C-MAP® X-Chart Manager, or visiting C-MAP.com to manage your subscription. See details here for further instructions.

Coverage & Availability

Where is FishCast® powered by ROFFS® available?

FishCast® currently covers 133 of the most popular inlets along the entire U.S. East Coast, Gulf of America (Mexico), Bahamas, and parts of the northern Caribbean.

Expansion plans include the U.S. West Coast, Central America, Australia, Bermuda, parts of Mexico and Alaska in future versions which will be announced once it’s available.

Can I use FishCast® powered by ROFFS® globally?

Not yet. While global scalability is planned, current coverage is limited to specific North American regions as mentioned above.

Can I use FishCast® powered by ROFFS® in multiple areas at once?

Yes, FishCast® fishing analytics are optimized to each specific inlet. To access multiple regions, you will need to purchase a FishCast® subscription for each region.

Can I switch my subscription region for FishCast® throughout the year?

No, not at this time, but options will be made with later versions. If you are moving your boat or switching regions where you fish and want to see FishCast®, the best way is to select a region for a specified amount of time, then purchase a subscription to another region for the next specified amount of time that you are fishing to change your inlet/region.

Using FishCast® powered by ROFFS®

What does the service provide?

You get:

  • Real-time and forecasted Optimal Catch Location maps 120 miles from selected inlet
  • Top 10, 15 and 20 specific hot spot locations overlaid on the Optimal Catch Location layer based on your selected port and distance; 30, 60, or 100 miles respectively
  • Real-time and forecasted Cloud Free modeled Sea Surface Temperature (SST) layer 120 miles from your inlet
  • Real-time and forecasted Cloud Free modeled Ocean Color/Chlorophyll layer 120 miles from your inlet
  • 3-day forecasts and 1-day hindcast of all layers in 3 hour increments updated at 1AM EST daily
  • SST contours/water mass boundaries displayed in °F or °C depending on the chartplotter settings

How do I view the data?

All maps and coordinates overlay seamlessly on your Simrad® chartplotter (select devices only) and are optimized for C-MAP® charts. A desktop-based application, the C-MAP X-CHART Manager, for maximum accessibility will be available in February 2026.

What happens if I don't have internet on the water?

FishCast® does not require offshore internet. FishCast’s three-day forecast is generated once a day at 1AM Eastern Time so you can quickly download all the map overlays before leaving the dock.

Can I use FishCast® powered by ROFFS® on my desktop or mobile before a trip?

Yes, A desktop-based application, the C-MAP X-CHART Manager, for maximum accessibility will be available in February 2026. Login with the account you enabled your subscription on, and you will be able to see the data on your computer.

Data & Performance

How frequently is the data updated?

The data is updated once-a-day for the most accurate conditions. However, FishCast® powered by ROFFS® data layers are dynamic. You can progress in the past or future every 3 hours covering 3AM, 6 AM, 9 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM, 6 PM for today, two days into the future, and one day in the past. With FishCast you can now track water and watch how fishing conditions change in real time with unprecedented detail.

How accurate is the data?

FishCast® powered by ROFFS® uses several oceanographic data sources to identify optimal fishing conditions for large pelagic game fish, including satellite data, buoys, and ocean forecasts of water temperature, ocean color/chlorophyll, fronts, wind and currents, along with information from over a decade of historical ROFFS® fishing reports. ROFFS® fishing forecasting service has had nearly 40 years of experience and success in putting anglers in the most productive waters and winning tournaments (www.roffs.com). FishCast® now combines world-class ocean forecasts by Fathom Science® with ROFFS® experience providing the most accurate automated fishing forecasts.

How is this different from ROFFS® regular fishing forecasting reports?

FishCast® powered by ROFFS® is an automated and forecast-driven product with georeferenced map overlays produced from some of the best oceanographic models available. Traditional ROFFS® fishing forecasting analyses include curated, oceanographer-generated daily reports and analyses derived by real time satellite data and served in PDF format over email with a summary write up of the conditions and what to expect the next day. FishCast® powered by ROFFS® is a supplement, not a replacement for regular ROFFS® analyses. ROFFS® regular reports has a customized manual aspect to their product showing the most accurate real time ocean conditions, while FishCast® powered by ROFFS® is a modeled automated product with increased coverage and cloud free.

How do I know when my data download is complete?

Your Simrad® chartplotter will show a confirmation notification. Automated updates are planned for a future release. You must manually update your regional data each day before you go offshore from your C-MAP® X-Chart Manager or while you are offshore (if you have offshore internet connection) for the most accurate conditions. Downloads of updates take roughly 5 minutes or less depending on your internet connection.

What are the Hotspot Dots showing?

For each region, you can view hotspots between 30, 60 or 100 miles from your inlet by selecting the hotspot range on your compatible Simrad device. These hotspot locations show the best fishing conditions from the inlet you are subscribed to and are automatically sorted and ranked by ocean analytics in reference to the optimal catch location layer. Each hotspot is given a score 1-100, where 100 indicates the best fishing conditions. As all the best anglers know, fishing conditions are better some days than others. FishCast® will provide the most likely location to catch game fish each day. However, it is important to click and view the rank and score under object details of each hotspot because some of the hotspots may have low scores depending on conditions and time of the year. Lastly, other than the hot spots, an angler can utilize the power of the Optimal Catch Location layer to go to the areas of relatively better fishing conditions indicated in red (most likely) to orange and yellow (likely) to less desirable fishing conditions indicated by green to blue (least likely).

Pricing & Subscription

How much does FishCast® powered by ROFFS® cost?

Pricing ranges from $99/week, à la carte $150/ month to $1,260/year, depending on subscription length.

Is there a free trial available?

Not currently. We are exploring trial option. Please check the website or X-Chart Manager for updates.

Can I cancel the subscription anytime?

It is not possible to cancel a subscription once activated. Please review the terms and conditions when purchasing your subscription.

Can I cancel the subscription renewal anytime?

Yes, just enter the ‘My Account’ area using X-CHART Manager or through the C-MAP® website on desktop.

Are discounts offered for multiple regions?

No, each region is priced individually at this time.

Support

Where can I find tutorials?

Visit the Simrad® Yachting YouTube page, where we’ll be adding more videos soon, or head to our support page for additional resources.

Will this work on other chartplotters or brands?

No, FishCast® powered by ROFFS® is exclusively available on select Simrad® chartplotters running the latest NEON™ operating system.

Installation & Setup

Do I need to install any software or updates to use FishCast® powered by ROFFS®?

Yes. Your Simrad® device must be running the latest version of the NEON™ operating system, version 2.3 or higher. We recommend checking for software updates prior to purchasing the subscription.

How do I know if my chartplotter is compatible with FishCast® powered by ROFFS®?

FishCast® is currently only compatible with NSS® 4 displays with the NEON™ 2.3 beta software update installed (US only), with broader availability coming soon for NSX® and NSX® ULTRAWIDE. Earlier generation models are not supported.

Features & Customization

Can I choose how far offshore I want my fishing hot spots to be?

Yes. When selecting a region, you can define your home inlet. Once activated, your home inlet will appear on the chart with a FishCast® pin icon. From there, you’ll be able to view all hotspots within 30, 60, or 100 miles of that inlet across all layers.

Are there species-specific fishing recommendations?

FishCast® powered by ROFFS® is currently optimized to identify ocean conditions that favor the most popular game fish species, especially offshore pelagics such as all tuna species, mahi (dolphinfish), billfish (white marlin, blue marlin, sailfish, and spearfish), swordfish, sharks and wahoo. Many of the main fish preferred habitat parameters (such as SST, currents, frontal boundaries, and bottom structure) apply to most if not all of the popular target species for many regions during the peak fishing effort months. However, depending on your selected inlet and radius, the tool can also support nearshore and coastal fishing, helping target species like kingfish (king mackerel) and cobia that are influenced by similar environmental conditions. Species-specific filtering and targeting capabilities may come available in future FishCast version updates.

Can I overlay FishCast® powered by ROFFS® on my existing C-MAP® charts?

Yes. FishCast® layers seamlessly overlay on your C-MAP® charts for easy interpretation and navigation. With C-MAP®, Simrad®, and FishCast® working together, you can use multiple chart layers depending on your system configuration and connected products—such as Radar Overlay, High-Resolution Bathymetry, and more—all in conjunction with FishCast® on your Simrad® chartplotter. FishCast® appears as a simple toggle layer within the chart app, making it easy to turn on and off as needed with a simple tap on screen.

Data Refresh & Notifications

Will I be notified when new data is available?

You will receive a notification on your chartplotter when there is a new data set available. Then you run C-MAP® X-Chart Manager App to download updates.

Tips & Best Practices

What’s the best way to use FishCast® powered by ROFFS® for planning a fishing trip?

Make sure you have downloaded the latest data on your chartplotter before you leave the dock or while you are on the water if you have an offshore internet connection. Pull up and view the current data layers and use the 3-hour forecasts to spot trends in fish and water movement while you are on the water, select your optimal spot or target zone based on distance and log in your waypoints and route on your Simrad® chartplotter for a successful fishing trip. While on the water you will be able to view on the chartplotter your vessel location in comparison to the FishCast® data and hot spots all overlaid on the detailed C-Map® bottom structure charts. For tips and tutorials, visit our support Simrad® Yachting YouTube channel.

About FishCast® powered by ROFFS®

FishCast® is the result of a unique collaboration between two leaders in marine science.

ROFFS® - For nearly 40 years, ROFFS® has provided professional oceanographic analysis using satellite data to sportfishing captains, commercial fleets, and researchers around the world. Their expertise in interpreting the most important ocean parameters has helped thousands of anglers find the most productive waters resulting in successful fishing trips and tournament winners.

Fathom Science® - A pioneer in ocean forecasting, Fathom Science® specializes in turning complex oceanographic and atmospheric data into accurate, real-time insights. Their AI-enabled modeling technology powers forecasts for fishing, sailing, and other marine operations.

Together, ROFFS® and Fathom Science® combine trusted fishing forecasting analyses with state-of-the-art AI-enabled ocean analytics to bring professional-grade intelligence to your helm. With FishCast®, these powerful forecasts are now seamlessly available on your Simrad® chartplotter through a simple C-MAP® chart overlay—no extra hardware required.