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Best for Detailed Maps: Fishidy

Fishidy

Buy on Fishidy.com

Available for iOS and Android, map-based fishing app Fishidy is an excellent aid for anglers of all experience levels. It offers maps of more than 20,000 freshwater and 180 saltwater waterways across America, each one accompanied by fishing spot markers and information about seasonal fish movements and catch patterns. Real-time angler activity reports ensure that you never miss out on the action. The app also works as a logbook, allowing you to record and share your catches with other anglers. When you do, weather variables are recorded automatically.

You can also store secret fishing spots privately or opt to share them with a select few friends. Reviewers praise the app for its easy-to-use interface and its efficiency at eliminating guesswork—so that you get the most out of your time on the water. There are free and premium versions available. Benefits of upgrading to premium include access to GPS coordinates detailing proven fishing hot spots; and detailed map overlays that give information about factors like underwater structure and bottom composition.

Best Fish Finder Compatible: Fish Deeper

Deeper

Buy on Deepersonar.com

Free app Fish Deeper is designed to be used in conjunction with any of Deeper’s popular castable fish finders, Deeper Smart Sonars. It displays live data transmitted by the transducer, allowing you to view invaluable information about water depth, temperature, bottom topography, fish location, and more directly on your smartphone screen. The app can be customized in several ways. You can set different fish and depth alarms, change the display appearance, and switch between narrow or wide-beam scanners.

There are specific modes for onshore, boat, and ice fishing. The latter lets you track your lure underwater and mark ice holes, while the onshore mode allows you to create bathymetric lake maps. Best of all, the app can also be used without the transducer. Highlights include a solunar calendar and weather forecasting functionality (useful when planning your next trip); and downloadable maps that you can use to mark your favorite spots offline. Employ the notes function to log your catches and the camera mode to share photos of fish with your fellow anglers.

Best for Trip Planning: Fishing & Hunting Solunar Time

Fishing & Hunting Solunar Time

Buy on Fhstime.com

Fishing & Hunting Solunar Time uses solunar theory to accurately predict the movement and feeding activity of all types of fish and wildlife. The solunar theory is the hypothesis that animals and fish move according to the moon and sun’s location in relation to their bodies. You can use it to determine the best time to fish at a given location, which the app pinpoints using manual entry or automatic GPS. You can save your favorite fishing spots to access solunar forecasts at the click of a finger.

These forecasts show major and minor feeding or activity periods for specific fish species. You can also view moon phases as well as moonrise, moonset, sunrise, and sunset times. An upgrade to the app gives saltwater fishermen the ability to view tide charts as well. Because the weather is also a factor in animal and fish behavior, the app even offers current weather information and a five-day forecast. Free and Pro versions are available.

Best for Saltwater Fishermen: Pro Angler

Pro Angler

Buy on Proangler.us

The Pro Angler app acts as a one-stop-shop offering all the information you need to enhance your saltwater fishing experience. This includes GPS coordinates to over 7,500 fishing hotspots located throughout the coastal United States and more than 1,000 useful services ranging from local bait shops to public launches and weigh stations. Weekly location reports from veteran captains make sure that you’re up-to-date with the latest angling news.

Use the app’s real-time weather forecasts, tide tables, and solunar data to work out the best time to fish. An identification guide provides a list of tried-and-tested fishing techniques for 220 saltwater species. The easy-to-navigate State and Federal regulations list is another highlight, while bonus features include seafood recipes, a shareable catch log, and license information. A paid Live-Action upgrade to the free version of the app is available.

Best for Competition Anglers: iAngler Tournament

iAngler Tournament

Buy on Ianglertournament.com

The top app for competitive anglers, iAngler Tournament is designed to take care of the practical side of tourney fishing so you can concentrate on hooking the winning fish. When participating in registered tournaments, use the app to log your catch data while still on the water. Compare your biggest fish statistics with those of your fellow competitors by monitoring the app’s live tournament leaderboard.

Other helpful features include the ability to review lists of available tournaments in your area; and register for those that pique your interest. The app also sends bulletins about local tournament activities. After signing up for an event, use the app to keep an eye on the weather forecast and tide tables for the tournament location. iAngler Tournament can also be used as a helpful data collection tool for marine researchers.

Best for Social Networking: Fishbrain

Fishbrain

Buy on Fishbrain.com

With over 14 million global users and 12 million logged catches, Fishbrain is the largest social network for anglers—and the best way to brag about your record catch or commiserate about the one that got away. Use it to log your catches and view statistics reports about your historical performance. Interactive fishing maps introduce you to new fishing spots and allow you to view other anglers’ exact catch positions.

You can also connect with those anglers to find new fishing buddies or share tips. Other handy features include a fishing forecast that shows the best time to fish for more than 130 specific species, including bass, trout, and carp. The app uses real-life catch data to recommend the most effective live bait set-ups for each one. Fishbrain is available in free and premium versions (for a monthly fee).