Waterproof
The first thing you should look for in fishing binoculars is if they are waterproof.
Whether you will be out on the water on a boat or just on the shore, having waterproof binoculars will ease your worries if you ever drop them in the water.
Binoculars of all price ranges come waterproof, so even if you are buying a low budget option you should be able to find ones that are waterproof.
Some binoculars even float, but looking for binoculars with this feature is not needed since you can buy a floating strap for less than the cost of a few cups of coffee.
Specifications
When looking at binoculars you will notice that they measured in two numbers, for example, “8×42”.
The first number is the magnification.
For fishing on a boat, I recommend anything between 7-10x magnification unless you have image stabilization (this will be explained later).
Anything greater that will make it very difficult for you to keep the object in view unless the binoculars come with image stabilization.
If you get image stabilizing binoculars anything up to 14x will be great.
The second number is the objective lens diameter.
This determines the brightness of the image relative to the magnification.
The greater the objective lens diameter the easier it will be to spot fish in low light.
If you will be fishing a lot at dawn or dusk consider buying binoculars that have a larger objective lens diameter.
The next specification you should look for is the field of view, which is usually described as the width of the image you will see at 1000 yards.
This varies between binoculars and should not be a breaking point in your decision, but all else being equal a wider field of view is better.
Image Stabilization
Something that can make a big difference when fishing is having image stabilizing binoculars.
These binoculars will compensate for the movement of the boat and create a stable image for you to view.
This allows you to use higher magnification binoculars without creating a shaky image.
Weight and Size
When purchasing binoculars for any purpose knowing the weight and size is always important.
You have to worry less about the weight if you are buying them for fishing rather than hiking or hunting.
This usually comes down to personal preference, but it can be a deciding factor when making a choice between two pairs.
Warranty
Different companies offer different lengths and different specifications for their warranty.
Having a good warranty can ease some worry if there is a problem with the product.
It is also good to check out the reviews for the product and search for keywords such as “warranty” or “repair” to see if other users have had positive experiences.
Price
The last but certainly not least aspect to consider when buying binoculars for fishing is the price.
If you are on a tight budget even a low budget option can make a big difference.
With that being said binoculars do consistently get better as the price goes up.
Buying higher quality binoculars allows you to have image stabilization and a better quality image.