Systems and methods for controlling a watercraft in response to a fish bite

A device for controlling a watercraft, the device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory including computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• determine receipt of at least one of user input or sensor input indicating occurrence of a fish-on event, wherein the fish-on event corresponds to occurrence of a bite on a fishing line associated with the watercraft;
• and
• cause, in response to determination of the receipt of the at least one user input or sensor input indicating the occurrence of the fish-on event, performance of a fish-on operation, wherein the fish-on operation includes at least one of altering a speed of the watercraft, altering a direction of the watercraft, altering a rate of change of the speed of the watercraft, altering a direction of a trolling motor, notifying other watercrafts, or engaging an autopilot to navigate the watercraft according to a preset route, wherein performance of the fish-on operation is designed to aid in a user landing a fish that bit on the fishing line, and wherein the fish-on operation comprises:
• causing at least one motor of the watercraft to adjust direction or speed;
• and
• causing activation of a sonar system to adjust a direction of the sonar system based on a detected location of the occurrence of the bite on the fishing line, and presenting of a live sonar image based on sonar return data from the sonar system, wherein the live sonar image provides a view of the fish involved with the fish-on event.

A method for controlling a watercraft, the method comprising:

• determining receipt of at least one of user input or sensor input indicating occurrence of a fish-on event, wherein the fish-on event corresponds to occurrence of a bite on a fishing line associated with the watercraft;
• and
• causing, in response to determination of the receipt of the at least one user input or sensor input indicating the occurrence of the fish-on event, performance of a fish-on operation, wherein the fish-on operation includes at least one of altering a speed of the watercraft, altering a direction of the watercraft, altering a rate of change of the speed of the watercraft, altering a direction of a trolling motor, notifying other watercrafts, or engaging an autopilot to navigate the watercraft according to a preset route, wherein performance of the fish-on operation is designed to aid in a user landing a fish that bit on the fishing line, and wherein the fish-on operation comprises:
• causing at least one motor of the watercraft to adjust direction or speed;
• and
• causing activation of a sonar system to adjust a direction of the sonar system based on a detected location of the occurrence of the bite on the fishing line, and presenting of a live sonar image based on sonar return data from the sonar system, wherein the live sonar image provides a view of the fish involved with the fish-on event.