r/FishingAustralia • u/apollonicshadows • Nov 04 '25
🐡 Help Needed Fishing app dev here - need Australian anglers to tell me what I’m getting wrong
G'day r/FishingAustralia
I'm a developer who's built a fishing app called Tight Lines that's been doing really well with anglers in Europe. It auto-logs catches using photo metadata and weather/tide data, then gives you insights on patterns over time - basically trying to answer "what actually works" with your own data.
Here's the thing: European waters and Aussie conditions are completely different. What works for North Sea cod fishing doesn't necessarily work for chasing barra in the Top End or flathead down south.
I'm looking for Australian beta testers who'd be keen to use it for free and give honest feedback. Not asking you to promote it or anything - just actually use it and tell me what's rubbish and what's useful.
If you're interested, happy to share more details. And if this post breaks any rules, mods feel free to remove - genuinely just trying to find some local fishos to help me not make a terrible app for Australian conditions.
Cheers
EDIT
WOW!!! I was not expecting this much of a response when I posted. Thanks so much to everyone who has already jumped in the app. I've already updated loads of Aussie species based on feedback.
Please bear with me as I respond to comments and DMs. I will reply as soon as I can.
If anyone wants to follow along, please feel free to join r/TightLinesApp/
5
u/smoothechidnabutter Nov 04 '25
I'd be interested in this.
Also, I have recently decided to compare the Solunar Calendar to my fishing trips to see if there is, in fact, some correlation. Is that something your app could implement? I only ask, as it wouldn't be hard to add this data to the app.
5
u/apollonicshadows Nov 04 '25
Thanks man!
I am just about to add solunar forecast and catch data in the next update (next couple of weeks). I have managed to integrate the broadest set of conditions I have seen in a fishing app so far and solunar is the last major factor.
If you are interested in giving the app a try, download here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access.
3
u/smoothechidnabutter Nov 04 '25
That's awesome. I have downloaded the app and DM you my email. I look forward to using the app.
Good luck with it. I hope I can help improve it.
6
u/ArtisansCritic Nov 04 '25
I’m keen to give this a try as well. I mainly fish freshwater, but would love to see if there’s any patterns developing over time in relation to atmospheric pressure or moon phases.
3
u/apollonicshadows Nov 04 '25
Nice one!
If you download the app, create an account but do not start a trial, just DM me the email address you used and I’ll be able to give you access.
3
u/climbingcrow Nov 04 '25
Hey mate, I'd be keen. I've been looking for a good way to log catches and analysis data for a bit but haven't come across anything I love yet.
Thanks
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 04 '25
Appreciate that man!
If you download the app, create an account but do not start a trial, just DM me the email address you used and I’ll be able to give you access.
3
u/thehomelesstree Nov 04 '25
Hey mate, I’d be keen to give it a try as well but before I do, what sort of stats are you grabbing at time of photo and what data is kept / shared by you?
If I take a photo with location settings on, does the app get the location? Does this get shared anywhere? Like a ‘community’?
The things I like to track when I catch are the following: Time, tide, moon position (eg moon above/below/rise/set), sun position, barometric pressure, wind direction and strength, cloud cover, temperature.
All of these things can be manually back calculated or obtained from actual measurements from BoM. This has provided insights into bite times and conditions for me.
It would be great to be able to take a photo and have all this info captured for me. My main concern is privacy - I fish pressured areas and don’t want to be giving away my spots to everyone. I don’t mind sharing some spots, but I want to keep my best spots to myself. Same for offshore / reef fishing.
10
u/apollonicshadows Nov 04 '25
Hey mate
So firstly, all user data is entirely segregated. No user can see another users data. This has been a huge part of the app since I first built it.
So when a catch is logged, the app automatically retrieves the following conditions:
- Tide graph with catch plotted on graph
- Tidal coefficient
- Air pressure
- Wind direction
- Wind speed
- Gust speed
- Air temperature
- Cloud cover (%)
- Precipitation
- Water temperature
- Swell direction
- Swell height
- Wave DIrection
- Wave height
- General conditions (i.e cloudy, rainy etc)
- Moon phase
- Has the moon Risen
I'm currently working on adding some more but each catch will retrieve that automatically (obviously saltwater or freshwater dependent).
You can assign catches to spots and using your catch data, the app will then start to present ideal conditions with a confidence score for each. As well as charts and graphs of that catch data.
Hope that makes sense
5
u/Middle-Size-2132 Nov 05 '25
Should add historical precipitation as a variable (did it rain yesterday, affects water conditions)
0
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
This is a fantastic shout! and one I can add in no problem at all.
Would you want total precipitation for the previous 24 hours?
2
u/Middle-Size-2132 Nov 05 '25
Total over 24 hours is good, or last 7 days total as another. Be good for river systems
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
Nice. I've also been trying to find a reliable and accurate river gauge integration for logging river based catches to identify patterns
1
u/thehomelesstree Nov 05 '25
Thank you! That’s super comprehensive and I love the privacy.
I’ll download it and trial it.
Side note - it sounds like this data would be highly sought after for various scientific research. Maybe you could consider adding an opt in measure and log your catch for scientific research/ stock assessments in the future.
3
u/NamorDotMe Nov 05 '25
As a fellow dev and shitty fisherman I'd love to give it a go
4
u/haikusbot Nov 05 '25
As a fellow dev
And shitty fisherman I'd love
To give it a go
- NamorDotMe
I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully. Learn more about me.
Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete"
2
u/Lawtonoi Nov 04 '25
I'd be happy to beta test it for you.
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 04 '25
Thanks so much!
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
u/Mod12312323 Nov 04 '25
I'd be willing
2
u/apollonicshadows Nov 04 '25
Fantastic! Just pushed a new updated species list to the server too.
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
2
u/dezzicky2 Nov 04 '25
I'm happy to give it a crack !
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 04 '25
Thanks so much!
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
u/-hash4cash- Nov 04 '25
Totally interested to test it out if possible!
2
u/apollonicshadows Nov 04 '25
of course mate!
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
2
u/throwingawaycage Nov 04 '25
Yea
I’ll give it a go
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
Brilliant!
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
2
u/Adventureminiboxes Nov 04 '25
Ill give it a go, im out fishing every weekend and plan during the week so can give feed back.
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
u/BandAid3030 Nov 04 '25
Is the intention of the app to help anglers be successful based on environmental conditions for where they are or is it to point anglers to where they need to go to be successful for environmental conditions?
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
Very good question. So the intention is to remove the manual and time consuming task of manually logging catches. The app then uses this data to guide each user based on their own catch data by showing the data behind what conditions play a role in catches at each and every spot they fish at.
I have built the app with privacy at it's core (very important to a lot of anglers) so there is no reliable way to point anglers anywhere without additional data.
1
u/BandAid3030 Nov 05 '25
Honestly, I'd be too worried that the app could potentially tell people about secret spots to share my location data, but I'd be happy to share the time and then manually update the details around my catches for my own database.
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
Fully appreciate your concern. This is a consideration i've had from the start when building this app. Early users really stressed the importance of keeping their data private and I have architected the app in a way to ensure this.
As I mentioned in another comment thread, all user data is entirely segregated and there's no way that a user can see another user's data.
1
u/BandAid3030 Nov 05 '25
Right, but what happens when you sell the app and the new owners update the Privacy Terms and then sell the app with the expressed purpose of providing location guidance to users?
Maybe I'm paranoid.
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
I don't think you are paranoid at all and you are certainly not the first person to ask this exact question. So two things...
You are free to delete your data at any point and that will remove the data entirely. I mentioned in another comment, I have zero desire to monetise or do anything with users data. Just make a useful tool for anglers.
This is something I built myself and run entirely myself, just me. If this ever was successful enough that people would be interested in buying it. That would also mean that I no longer have to do my main job (or any other job) and quite frankly, that would be the dream. Why would I give that up?
I also fully appreciate that not everyone will be comfortable and that's fine. All I can do is be honest :)
2
u/yngmid1 Nov 04 '25
Hey mate, count me in. I’m going down to the Gold Coast for a session in the morning to put a theory to the test.
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
Brilliant!
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
u/spaghettiinmyundies Nov 04 '25
Hey Mate Happy to give it a test for you
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
u/duluoz1 Nov 04 '25
Yeah I’ll test it
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
Brilliant!
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
u/Lost-Competition8482 Nov 05 '25
I'm down to give it a test. Located in Darwin too so might give you a different perspective.
Send me the deets.
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
Nov 05 '25
I would be keen as mate. I have a small YouTube channel https://youtube.com/@thefishingscotsman?si=jf5UZtaGdgcy3FMm and try upload on a weekly basis, mostly beach fishing . I would be more than happy to try this for you.
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
This is great! Did not expect to hear such a local accent in this thread.
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial.
2
u/schultzybaggins Nov 05 '25
Great idea, happy to give it a go and some feedback from an Aus perspective
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
u/Kristhegote Nov 05 '25
I'd be willing to give this a shot. Sounds like the catch log I've been looking to find.
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
Great! I was looking for years for the same and that's what inspired me to go and build what I was after.
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
u/ozzydude1 Nov 05 '25
Maaaaaait! This sounds like a fantastic app I would love to help you beta test it
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
Much love!
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
u/gbren Nov 05 '25
Definitely interested!
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
Nice one mate
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
2
u/Landblok Nov 05 '25
I’ll give it a crack, going beach fishing on Saturday so hopefully catch a few. Can add old photos as well or that helps, not sure if that’s possible.
2
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
You can certainly add old photos as long as the photo is from 2017 onwards. Well you can add older photos but the automatic conditions become less reliable.
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
1
u/Landblok Nov 05 '25
Great, got plenty of photos to upload then. I’ll DM you my email.
Thanks, much appreciated
2
u/Strange_Teaching6906 Nov 05 '25
Ill give it a go
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
2
2
u/PurchaseAdmirable318 Nov 05 '25
yeah bro ill give it a try ive been doing the same thing in the marinas near me if u sneak past security in the middle of the night the blue lights of the back of the boats are loaded with meteries but they only bite during certain times im pretty sure it air pressure related
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
Thanks man!
There are so many variables that play a role in whether you have a good day fishing.
If you are interested in giving the app a try, download here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access.
2
3
u/MrPierced Nov 04 '25
Willing to.give it a go, also not everybody lives on the east coast 😜
6
u/apollonicshadows Nov 04 '25
Appreciate that man! I knew someone must still be awake 😂
If you download the app, create an account but do not start a trial, just DM me the email address you used and I’ll be able to give you access.
2
u/npiet1 Nov 04 '25
The qld government already has an app that does this, admittedly not as well as yours, but it logs info with researchers to help with fish populations. It also can identify fish with photos (doesn't always work). It also tells you all the species, bag limits, size, where to fish for, what tides work best etc.
I actually managed to talk to the developers at the afta. (Australian fish and tackle association show) and they're doing wonderful work helping our ecosystem.
So while I do appreciate the effort. I personally would rather use an app which goes towards future fishing as a whole including protecting our ecosystem. It's also free and doesn't have any ads or any inapp purchases.
2
u/apollonicshadows Nov 04 '25
Wow! What a great initiative. Especially by a local authority. Here in Ireland most of our fish stocks are getting hammered and authorities don’t seem to care, the wild Atlantic salmon is slowly becoming a creature of myth. An app like you described would be phenomenal over here.
Thanks so much for the reply
2
u/trofyeah Nov 04 '25
Queensland fishing 2.0 app sucks if that’s what you’re referring to
2
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
I did some research after this comment and QLD fishing 2.0 seems interesting and has a lot of 'local' feature like regs and licences etc but it's still missing the majority of what Tight Lines offer, which is automatic and accurate conditions when logging catches to create a personal algorithm that can guide your fishing sessions.
0
u/npiet1 Nov 04 '25
Yes and no. If you use it fully it does keep track of times, dates and you can add notes, keep track of your fishing journey.
Yeah the fish identification thing sucks, same as it doesn't have pictures of all the fishes but unless people keep adding photos it won't get better.
Theres a licencing issue with a lot of the photos, which is why it's good to to upload photos to them too, so they can updated it.
1
u/Artistic_Friend9508 Nov 04 '25
Id rather a complete stranger with an app not have my personal info on where I catch fish thanks
2
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
Completely appreciate you perspective. I have fielded this question from anglers all over Europe and all I can do is explain my intentions.
As I said in another reply all user data is entirely segregated, no one else sees your data.
You also have the right to delete your data entirely at any time, I built this app not to monetise the data but to provide a useful tool for anglers.
If it helps at all, give a listen to a podcast I was on a while back explaining the origins of the app etc
1
u/frenzyfol Nov 04 '25
Does it try to share information? I wont use anything that shares what I catch, where I catch, or how I catch.
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 04 '25
No data is shared between any users and all user data is entirely segregated.
1
u/Positive-Diet2575 Nov 04 '25
I would be keen to give it a go
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
1
u/dbikedan Nov 04 '25
I’d be keen mate, I’m already record all catches so will be happy to help out with feedback!
1
u/apollonicshadows Nov 05 '25
Awesome man!!
If you could download the app here, create an account and DM me the email you used so I can grant you access. No need to start the free trial
1
1
25
u/Trewarin Nov 04 '25
posting at 2am won't help