Fishing can be both peaceful and riveting for anyone who tries it. You’ll feel calm as the water and surrounding nature soothe your soul. When something bites onto your fishing line, your heart will start pumping faster — excitement and adrenaline taking over. However, fishing isn’t always this pleasurable of an experience due to all the unpredictability. You have to watch out for environmental conditions using iOS or Android weather apps, research fishing times, and keep track of the fishing conditions. Fortunately, the best fishing apps help you do all these things.
In this article, we list the 13 best fishing apps you can find to make your fishing experience more convenient.
13 Best Fishing Apps You Should Try
What are the best places to fish near me? Where can I buy a good fishing tackle nearby? Whether you’re in search of ideal fishing places or great equipment, there are fishing apps available to give you answers. Here are the 13 best fishing apps you can download to help you fish better and smarter.
1. ANGLR
If you’re serious about fishing, ANGLR is one of the best fishing apps to get. That is because ANGLR allows you to input all your fishing information over time. It’s hassle-free as well. You can just press start and not have to worry about constantly fiddling with the app. ANGLR automatically tracks your route via GPS, weather status, and even water temperature and flow.
Apart from these, ANGLR also allows you to include photos and other records so you can track your progress. Over time, you can analyze the effectiveness of the baits you use. That will boost your knowledge for future fishing expeditions. ANGLR truly gives you useful information that can help you be better at catching more fish!
You can download it for free on iOS and Android. However, if you want upgraded features, you’ll have to pay a fee.
2. FishAngler
Some apps are great for logging your fishing information, while others are great for planning your next trip. However, it can be clunky to shuffle between apps while on your journey. Wouldn’t you want fishing apps that serve all the functions in one? Enter FishAngler, an app that gives you everything you need for fishing.
With FishAngler, you can log your catch, monitor the weather, map your trip, and even connect with fellow fishermen! Maybe you want to explore new fishing areas, check out a week-long daily fishing forecast, or organize a detailed description of your catches over the years — use FishAngler.
How about asking other fishermen for help when you’re stuck or just want to talk about fishing? You can use FishAngler for that, too! It’s versatile and all-encompassing, that is why it’s one of the best fishing apps we recommend.
3. Fishbrain
Fishing apps don’t always need to have high-end fishing detection or location mapping features. Sometimes, all you require is good advice from fellow fishermen within the areas you want to check out. With more than 9 million users and counting, Fishbrain has the largest network of fishing enthusiasts on any fishing app. This is why Fishbrain made its way as one of the mainstream fishing apps beloved by many.
With Fishbrain, you can do the basics: logging and recording of fishing progress. It also helps you find updates about fish in certain areas in your current time and forecasts your fishing. Furthermore, it can also identify fishing hotspots, show you locations from a crowdsourced database, and more. However, some of the higher-end features do hide behind a paywall. Nonetheless, the standard version of the app is free to download on iOS and Android.
4. Fishidy
You’re new to fishing and you don’t know where to start. Consequently, you turn to everyone’s best friend, Google. After opening Google Chrome, you type in “fishing areas near me” or “best places to fish near me.” However, it can be troublesome to have to ask Google every time you want to go fishing. That’s why fishing apps like Fishidy exist — to give you that and more.
Apart from letting you find, save, and record favorite fishing spots, Fishidy offers much more. It’s an app that also provides you with a functional map featuring more than 17,000 waterways. Fishidy can even tell you about current reports regarding each of those waterways to help you decide how, where, or when you’re going to fish. Furthermore, a subscription to its premium service offers more resources. That includes detailed underwater and offline maps, hotspots, and tips.
If you picture fishing as a lonesome hobby, think again. That’s because you can use Fishidy as a fishing social media site. Share what you caught with all your friends on the app and flaunt your amazing skills! Check out the basic app on iOS and Android for free.
5. Fishing & Hunting Solunar Time
Are you looking for the best fishing times today? It can be tricky to find out the best times to fish and predict underwater critters’ habits — especially if you’re new to fishing. Even some seasoned anglers have a little trouble telling if it’s the right time. That’s why apps like Fishing & Hunting Solunar Time are great finds — they do all that thinking for you!
With Fishing & Hunting Solunar Time, you can easily track fish feeding time and movement directly on your phone. You’ll find approximations for major and minor periods, and sun- or moonrise, zenith, and set times. Moreover, you can check a five-day weather forecast for your location.
It’s a simple app, but it gets the job done when you want to find the best fishing times. What’s more, it’s free to download with an option to pay for the premium version. However, the paid version only removes ads and includes only minor features. Also, Fishing & Hunting Solunar Time is only available on Android. Sorry, iPhone users; better luck next time.
6. Fishing Knots
Let’s face it, tying knots is one of the most confusing aspects of fishing for first-timers. In addition, with so many knots to memorize per fishing line, it can be extremely confusing!
Thankfully, fishing apps like Fishing Knots exist to help you find and choose the best knot for your line. With photos and detailed instructions about each knot, you’ll never have to curse your memory again! Of course, it’s ideal if you can memorize most of the knots you use for fishing. Nonetheless, Fishing Knots certainly takes the headache out of learning and is handy for when you forget certain knots.
7. FishTrack
Navigating the seas used to be an explorer’s greatest ambition — but also most people’s greatest fear. That’s because the seas can be unpredictable and treacherous. Many things can go wrong during one trip to the ocean. But nowadays, navigating the seas isn’t as crazy as it used to be. With FishTrack, you can easily find information on the current saltwater status. You can find everything from sea surface temperature (SST) charts, satellite and chlorophyll imagery, water currents, and more.
Using FishTrack makes seafaring easier than ever also because it lets you make and save navigation routes for fishing. Moreover, the app shows weather forecasts to help you schedule future navigation and fishing trips. However, the only downside is that it comes with a paid subscription on both iOS and Android. It does offer a 15-day free trial, but you need to fork up the cash beyond that.
8. Fishing Points
Some fishing apps can make you feel overwhelmed because of the number of features they offer. Sometimes, all you need is a trusty map, log, and forecaster so you can focus on fishing. With Fishing Points, you get just that.
Fishing Points allows you to save your favorite spots, trotlines, and more on the map. You can get back to certain points easily with Google Maps guiding the way unless Google Maps is not working. At the end of the day, you can record all of the things you managed to catch.
If you’re planning a future trip, you can use Fishing Points’ forecaster for the weather, tides, solunar calendar, and fish movement. It’s pretty straightforward and does what you need without too much fuss. If you want something more advanced, though, try the in-app purchases to acquire detailed information and unlock more features. Otherwise, the free version on iOS and Android should already be good for you.
9. HuntStand
Have you experienced getting into trouble because you’ve gone fishing in a pond you did not realize to be off-limits or part of private property? Avoid that problematic scenario using HuntStand, a hunting app that can be used for planning your fishing activity.
When it comes to identifying potential fishing spots, HuntStand is as useful as the popular fishing apps with location features. The app’s data accuracy is due to users mapping land boundaries and animal sightings, and adding the information to their shareable maps. By being “connected” to other fishermen or hunters using the app, you can confirm in a breeze whether an area is a public fishing spot or not.
Considering all its features, HuntStand suits you best if you are an angler who is also a hunting enthusiast. Otherwise, you cannot maximize the paid subscription the hunting app offers.
10. Navionics Boating Marine & Lakes
Navigation might not be your strong point, but it doesn’t have to be your weakness either. With Navionics Boating Marine & Lakes, you get access to all the information you’ll need to navigate the waters.
You can check on nautical charts and use the built-in navigation tools to assist you on your journey. The app also offers other features, including sonar charts, route finder, community notes, and more. It doesn’t end here. Navionics even gives you information on the weather and tides, so you can make a backup plan or cancel your fishing trip if it is dangerous.
With Navionics, you barely have to worry about the troubles of navigation while you’re out fishing. Just focus on catching that fish! Perhaps the only thing you have to worry about is the price of in-app purchases and subscriptions. Navionics is only free for 15 days but still worth checking out on iOS and Android.
11. Pro Angler
Saltwater isn’t the easiest place to fish, given how difficult it is to navigate it. With Pro Angler, you can find hotspots and reefs, check weather maps, view regulations, and find out about various fish species. If you’re planning for a trip, you can check out what’s biting around your area with weekly updates. Furthermore, it also has guides for knots and gear. You can truly fish out at sea like a pro! Check the free Pro Angler app on iOS and Android now.
12. BassForecast
The bass is among the fishes newbie anglers love to catch because of how easy it is to bait — it is abundant. Even in fishing simulators and games, the bass is one of the common species you can reel in. If you love bass fishing, too, the app called BassForecast will be handy for you.
BassForecast is smarter than your typical fishing apps. It can rate from 1 to 10 the bass fishing conditions for a specific location in advance. That is thanks to the app utilizing reports from experts, such as biologists, and data from Accuweather. Getting a 10 rating from the app means that the spot you’ve found is perfect for getting a bountiful catch.
The app also doubles as a solunar time checker and a private log for keeping your fishing data. It can be downloaded for free, but you can opt for a paid subscription if you want extra features.
13. PictureFish
Caught something but you do not know what type of fish it is? You need fishing apps that can identify many species. Among the most user-friendly of those is PictureFish, which has a database of more than 2,500 fish.
As this entry’s name implies, you only need to snap a photo of your catch and upload or save that image on PictureFish for instant species identification. The app will not only show you the fish’s name. It can also display the ideal water conditions for the critter to thrive or be caught easily.
PictureFish is free with in-app purchases. It’s up to you if you want to purchase a subscription for more features or not.
Fish Like a Pro with the Best Fishing Apps
There are many fishing apps to choose from that can help you in different aspects of your fishing adventure. Some of those are more well-rounded, being able to give you weather forecasts, navigation guides, logs, and more all at once. However, others are stripped down, zeroing into a specific aspect of fishing that can help you focus on that area. Whether you’re looking for an all-in-one or just trying to figure out how to tie a knot, there’s a fishing app out there for you. Catch fish like a pro via our recommendations!
