The new Fisherman FD3S builds on the proven FD3 platform with improved flight control, stability and smarter battery management.

At a Glance: FD3S vs FD3

The Biggest Difference: Improved Flight Stability

The improvement we noticed immediately with the Fisherman FD3S is its flight stability.

Fishing drones have a difficult job. They are expected to fly offshore in coastal wind while carrying bait, leads and fishing line underneath the aircraft. As the payload moves, the drone constantly has to compensate to maintain its position and heading.

The FD3 was already very capable, but the FD3S feels noticeably more settled in the air. Corrections are smoother, the aircraft feels more planted and there is less of the movement and oscillation you can experience when flying a heavily loaded fishing drone.

That matters particularly when flying further offshore. A calmer, more predictable aircraft gives the pilot greater confidence and makes accurate bait placement easier.

Why Stability Matters for Drone Fishing

Flight stability is important with any drone, but it becomes even more important when you're carrying a fishing rig underneath it.

A heavy bait load changes the way an aircraft behaves. The line and bait can move beneath the drone, wind conditions can change as you head offshore and the aircraft needs to compensate continuously.

The improved flight control of the FD3S makes those corrections feel much more controlled. For experienced FD3 pilots, this is likely to be one of the first differences you notice.

Smarter Battery Management

The FD3S also improves one of the less exciting – but very important – parts of fishing drone ownership: battery maintenance.

Fishing drones are often used seasonally or may sit unused for several weeks between trips. Lithium batteries don't particularly like being left fully charged for extended periods, so correct storage is important for maintaining battery health.

The newer smart battery system makes this easier by automatically managing the battery when required, reducing the amount of manual battery maintenance needed between fishing sessions.

For anyone who doesn't use their drone every week, that's a genuinely useful improvement.

Improved Landing Protection

Fishing drones don't usually have the luxury of perfectly flat landing pads. They are regularly operated from beaches, rocks, shingle and other uneven coastal environments.

The FD3S introduces improved landing assistance designed to make the final part of the descent smoother and help protect the aircraft during touchdown.

It might not be the headline feature, but anything that makes repeated beach take-offs and landings easier is a welcome addition on a fishing drone.

Better Calibration in Difficult Locations

Beaches and fishing marks can also present some unusual challenges for a drone's compass and positioning systems.

Harbour walls, reinforced concrete, vehicles, metal structures and even some rocky environments can create magnetic interference.

The FD3S introduces improved calibration and flight control designed to make the aircraft more dependable in these types of environments.

The FD3S Still Has the Big Advantage Over the FD1S: A Camera

While the FD1S is designed as a simple camera free bait delivery drone, the FD3S remains the better choice for anglers who want to see where they are flying and where they are dropping their bait.

The onboard camera provides a live view during flight, which becomes particularly useful when flying further offshore or when trying to position bait around a particular area.

For occasional drone fishing, the simpler FD1S may provide everything you need. For anglers who expect to use their drone regularly and want greater control over bait placement, the FD3S sits a step above it.

What Has Stayed the Same?

SwellPro hasn't tried to reinvent the Fisherman FD3. Instead, the FD3S keeps the fundamental features that made the original aircraft successful while improving the technology underneath.

It remains a purpose built waterproof fishing drone designed to carry substantial bait loads offshore, provide a live camera view and give anglers access to fishing marks that would otherwise be extremely difficult – or impossible – to reach from the shore.

Should Existing FD3 Owners Upgrade?

If you already own an FD3 and it is performing well, there isn't suddenly anything wrong with it. It remains an extremely capable fishing drone.

But if you use your drone regularly, the improved flight behaviour of the FD3S is a compelling reason to consider upgrading. The difference isn't just something written on a specification sheet – you can actually feel the improvement when you fly it.

For anyone buying a new fishing drone and deciding between an older FD3 and the new FD3S, we'd choose the FD3S. The improved stability and smarter systems make it the more refined aircraft.

Final Verdict

The original Fisherman FD3 was already a very capable fishing drone, so SwellPro didn't need to start again.

Instead, the Fisherman FD3S improves the areas that make a real difference when you're actually standing on a beach with bait hanging underneath your aircraft.

The standout improvement is flight stability. The FD3S feels smoother, more planted and more confidence-inspiring in the air, particularly when carrying a load.

Combine that with smarter battery management, improved landing protection and refinements to the flight control system, and the FD3S feels like a worthwhile evolution of an already proven fishing drone.

Interested in the SwellPro Fisherman FD3S?

The FD3S is designed for anglers who want a waterproof, camera-equipped fishing drone capable of carrying substantial bait loads offshore, now with noticeably improved flight stability and smarter onboard systems.