We both know that we can't cast as far as we would like to, sandbar is too far out to get past with a cast from the shore, and walking out into the surf to gain an extra 10 meters on your cast does not much at all. That's why fishing drones have taken off with Aussie land-based anglers.
Two names keep coming up: the Aeroo Pro and the SwellPro fishing range. They look similar on paper but are built with different priorities. Here's how they stack up.
SwellPro Fisherman FD3S
SwellPro Fisherman Max
SwellPro Fisherman FD1S
Aeroo Pro
Image: Aeroo Drones
The SwellPro Fisherman FD3S, Fisherman Max Advanced and Fisherman FD1S, alongside the Aeroo Pro.
Aeroo Pro: 1 kg payload, up to 45 minutes of flight and a 3-axis 4K camera from $1,299.
SwellPro: dedicated bait droppers carrying 2–3.5 kg, mostly IP67 rated and built to float.
Heavy baits or rough surf, go SwellPro. Light baits plus a camera drone, the Aeroo Pro is worth a look.
| Spec | Aeroo Pro | SwellPro FD1S | SwellPro FD3S | SwellPro Fisherman Max Advanced | SwellPro SD4+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (AUD) | $1,299 (1 battery) $1,899 Fishing Combo |
$2,345 | $3,399 | $4,199 | From $3,699 (drone only) $5,899 Full Bundle |
| Max payload | 1 kg | 2.2 kg | 2.2 kg | 3.5 kg | Up to 2 kg |
| Max flight time* | Up to 45 min | 27 min | 27 min | Up to 30 min | Up to 28–30 min |
| Battery | 6S 4000 mAh, 86.4 Wh | 6S LiHV (capacity not stated) | 6S LiHV 4200 mAh | 6S 4500 mAh, 22.2 V | 6S 4500 mAh, 22.2V |
| Water protection | Weather-resistant shell, corrosion-coated internals (no IP rating stated) | IP65, self-floating | IP67, self-floating | IP67, floats with floating bars | IP67, self-floating and self-righting |
| Wind resistance | 50+ km/h | Approx. 65 km/h | Approx. 65 km/h | Approx. 65 km/h | Approx. 61 km/h |
| Range | 10 km video / 16 km control (FCC) | 1.3 km | 1.3 km | 1.5 km | Up to 7 km transmission |
| Camera | 4K, 12 MP, 3-axis gimbal | None | 4K, 12 MP, 1-axis gimbal | 4K, 1-axis gimbal | 4K/60fps, 48 MP, 3-axis (Standard Pack & up) |
| Autopilot | Waypoints, drop point save, auto RTH, emergency release | Cruise mode, one-button RTH | FDFly app: waypoints, tap-to-fly, auto-fish, spot saving, auto RTH | One-button take-off, auto RTH | Waypoints, auto bait drop, RTH |
*Manufacturer figures with no payload. Prices at time of writing. Aeroo specs from au.aeroodrones.com.
This is the big one. The Aeroo Pro's maximum safe payload is 1 kg, enough for some squid or blue bait rig or a modest live bait. SwellPro starts at double that. The FD1S and FD3S both carry 2.2 kg, the FD3 Advanced and SD4+ take 2 kg, and the Fisherman Max Advanced lifts a hefty 3.5 kg.
Maximum Payload (kg)
Manufacturer maximum payload figures. Orange = SwellPro, teal = Aeroo Pro.
The Aeroo Pro claims up to 45 minutes from its 6S 4000 mAh smart battery, well ahead of SwellPro's 27–30 minutes. Aeroo says that's payload and condition dependent, and doesn't publish loaded figures.
Maximum Flight Time (minutes, no payload)
Manufacturer figures in ideal conditions. Real flight time drops as you add bait and wind.
SwellPro is upfront here: the FD3S does about 27 minutes empty, roughly 14 minutes with 1 kg and around 9 minutes with 2 kg. A drop 500 metres out and back only takes a few minutes, so you'll still get several runs per charge.
Salt water is where SwellPro pulls ahead. The FD3S, FD3 Advanced, Fisherman Max and SD4+ are IP67 rated and built to float if they end up in the drink. The FD1S is IP65 and still floats, but treat that as a safety net.
Aeroo describes the Pro as having a weather-resistant shell with corrosion-coated internals. Handy around spray, but there's no published IP rating or floating claim, so a dunking is a bigger gamble.
Aeroo rates the Pro to 50+ km/h. The FD1S, FD3S and Fisherman Max are rated to 18 m/s (about 65 km/h), with the SD4+ at around 61 km/h. When the afternoon sea winds kick up, know that your drone will hold steady so you can land your bait exactly where you intended.
This is where the Aeroo shines: waypoint planning and memory, drop point save, payload stability mode, one-click take-off and landing, and return to home on low battery, signal loss or command. It also releases the payload automatically on signal loss.
The FD3S is the pick, with the FDFly app offering waypoints, tap-to-fly, saved fishing spots, auto-fish drops and offline maps. The SD4+ offers waypoints and auto bait drop, while the FD1S keeps it simple with cruise mode and one-button return home.
The Aeroo Pro's 4K camera sits on a 3-axis gimbal and streams 2.7K live video to your phone, so it doubles as a holiday drone. The SD4+ Standard Pack and Full Bundle go 4K/60fps on a 3-axis gimbal, the FD3S, FD3 Advanced and Fisherman Max use a 1-axis 4K camera for spotting gutters, reefs and all those fish you want to catch, and the FD1S skips the camera.
Aeroo quotes a 10 km video range, but CASA's drone safety rules require recreational drones to stay within visual line of sight, so SwellPro's 1.3–1.5 km is plenty.
Both brands use a remote-controlled release, and the FD1S and Fisherman Max have dual releases for two rigs per flight. That matters more than it sounds. Fishing's always better with a mate, and with a dual release you can fly both your baits out in the one trip, so nobody's stuck standing on the sand waiting for their turn while the other line soaks.
SwellPro's FD models are calibration-free, so you're flying within a couple of minutes, while Aeroo says the Pro is airborne in under a minute.
The Aeroo Pro is the cheapest way in at around $1,299, or $1,899 for the three-battery Fishing Combo. SwellPro runs from roughly $2,345 (FD1S) to $4,199 (Fisherman Max), and the extra buys more lift, real waterproofing and a purpose-built fishing drone.
If you fish the beach or rocks often, yes. You're paying for a drone that's built to live around salt water: IP67 waterproofing on most models, a body that floats if it goes down, and at least 2.2 kg of lift so heavier baits and bigger rigs aren't a problem. One dunking in the surf can write off a drone that isn't waterproof, so that protection counts for a lot.
If you only fish a few times a year in calm weather, and you'd like a drone for holiday footage as well, the Aeroo Pro makes more sense for the money. For regular fishing, the SwellPro range is money well spent.
Aeroo Pro for lighter baits, calmer spots and a do-everything camera drone.
SwellPro FD1S to get baits past the break for the least money.
SwellPro FD3S for IP67 protection, a live camera and the smartest SwellPro autopilot.
SwellPro Fisherman Max Advanced for big live baits aimed at sharks.
SwellPro SD4+ for top-shelf video too (the Full Bundle includes the bait release).
Aeroo calls it weather resistant but publishes no IP rating. Most SwellPro fishing drones are IP67 and float.
The SwellPro Fisherman Max Advanced, at up to 3.5 kg. The Aeroo Pro tops out at 1 kg.
Not for recreational fishing, but CASA's rules apply: daylight only, under 120 m, within sight and 30 m from people. Check CASA's website for current registration rules.
Both will get your bait further than your arm ever will, but for surf beaches, rocks and heavier rigs, SwellPro is the safer bet. Browse our range of:
Got questions? Call us on 1300 902 361, Monday to Saturday, 8am–9pm AEST, and we'll help you pick the right drone.
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