Fishing Points: Map & Forecast

What it does

Fishing Points is a specialized tool designed for anglers. At its core, it's a GPS and mapping application that allows users to save and find fishing locations, record trolling paths, and navigate on the water. It layers this functionality with a comprehensive suite of forecasting tools, including data on fish activity, tides, waves, weather, and solunar cycles to help users plan their trips effectively.

Where it shines

The app's strength lies in its density of relevant, well-organized information. The main map view is clean, but a tap on the contextual action button (01:34) reveals a suite of powerful tools like measuring distances and saving catches without cluttering the interface. The integrated forecast dashboard, accessible via the bottom navigation bar (05:34), is a standout feature. It allows users to fluidly switch between tides, wave data, and fish activity forecasts for a specific location, turning complex data into an actionable dashboard for planning.

UX highlights

Clean Map Interface: The primary screen prioritizes the map, with key actions neatly tucked away in a contextual FAB (01:34).
Efficient Data Entry: Saving a catch (04:17) is a streamlined process that allows for adding photos, location, length, and weight in a single flow.
Multiple Basemaps: The ability to switch between map types like Normal, Hybrid, and Nautical (01:57) provides flexibility for different environments, from inland lakes to open seas.
Manual Coordinate Adjustment: When saving a location, users can long-press on the map (02:49) to precisely set coordinates, a valuable feature for serious anglers.
Clear Data Visualization: Forecasts are presented in clear, graphical formats, making complex information like tide charts (06:05) and fish activity levels easy to understand.
Location-Centric Design: Nearly every key feature, from forecasts to saved catches, is tied to a specific geographic location, making the app highly contextual.

Monetization & growth

The app employs a direct monetization strategy with a hard paywall encountered during onboarding (00:42). After a mandatory sign-up, a brief feature carousel primes the user on the premium benefits before presenting a choice between a monthly and a yearly subscription, both with a 7-day free trial. This approach gates the entire app experience, aiming to convert high-intent users immediately. The value propositions on the paywall directly mirror the features shown just moments before in the carousel.

Who it’s for

This app is clearly built for serious recreational and semi-professional anglers. The feature set, including nautical charts, trotline recording, and detailed solunar data, goes beyond the needs of a casual fisher. It's for the planner who wants to analyze conditions before heading out and meticulously log their activity for future reference. The ability to import coordinates also suggests a user who might be sharing spots with a community or using data from other sources.

Notes & opportunities

The mandatory sign-up and hard paywall create significant upfront friction. While this may filter for committed users, it likely deters a large number of potential users who want to explore the basic map functionality first. A freemium model, where core mapping is free and advanced forecasts/unlimited saves are premium, could broaden the user base. Additionally, the app repeatedly shows an 'Awaiting GPS' banner, which could be a source of user frustration if it persists.