# FishingBC — user reviews > 79 indexed App Store user reviews of FishingBC by Sport Fishing Institute of BC, rated 4.60/5 from 72 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fishingbc/id1202047514/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fishingbc/id1202047514.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 53 · 4★ 15 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 2 ## What do users think of FishingBC? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Easy to use - 💡 Comprehensive information - 🗺️ Useful map feature - ✅ Clear regulations - 📱 Digital license - 🚀 Fast and efficient - 🎯 Accurate data (mostly) - 🤝 Good collaboration with DFO - ✨ Best app encountered - ✅ One-stop shop for fishing needs - 👍 Well-executed app - 👍 Great for tidal water fishing - 👍 Informative - 👍 User-friendly - 👍 Great job by developers - 👍 Makes regulations easier to understand - 👍 Syncs regularly for updates - 👍 Helpful for checking regulations - 👍 Good for managing tidal water license and catches - 👍 Great resource - 👍 Makes fishing information accessible - 👍 Time saver compared to DFO web pages - 👍 Convenient - 👍 Updated regs - 👍 Good for planning - 👍 Updated information on areas for fishing - 👍 Good to have on boat - 👍 Daily updates for fishing regs - 👍 Easy to find fishing areas - 👍 Quick response from support - 👍 Works great after updates - 👍 Vital information on the go - 👍 Must have for fishermen - 👍 Good functionality - 👍 Easy to scan license - 👍 Quick and easy to use - 👍 Super easy to use - 👍 Intuitive with clean layout - 👍 Finally all fishing info in one app - 👍 Easier to find fishing limits **Cons** - 🐛 Inaccurate closures/openings - 🐛 Incomplete regulations (e.g., max size) - 🐛 Catch log portal displays productive areas - 🐛 Unable to register account (verification email) - 🐛 Pop-up salmon facts annoying - 🐛 Pop-up tips annoying - 🐛 Corrupted data requiring re-download - 🐛 Species ID not always accurate (e.g., all salmon as chinook) - 🐛 Maps are terrible/difficult to discern boundaries - 🐛 Maps not detailed enough/zoom issues - 🐛 Confusing and hard to understand regulations - 🐛 Regulations are chopped up - 🐛 Difficult to understand sub-area regulations - 🐛 Missing info on legal transport/packaging of catch - 🐛 Dead link for AI species identification - 🐛 Boundary map could be better/zoom needed - 🐛 Prawn opening times confusion - 🐛 Rockfish identification needs improvement - 🐛 Species identification generic - 🐛 Bio toxin reports outdated - 🐛 Regulation changes not always timely in app - 🐛 Seasonal changes not communicated ahead - 🐛 Rockfish Conservation Area maps vague/poor resolution - 🐛 Sub-area closures unclear - 🐛 Needs live GPS map with boundaries - 🐛 Crab fishing regulations info lacking - 🐛 Useless without internet/account - 🐛 Requires internet connection - 🐛 Confusing shellfish biotoxin report - 🐛 Regulations can be inaccurate - 🐛 Species ID needs work - 🐛 Hatchery identification missing - 🐛 Needs more detailed and useful maps - 🐛 App is confusing - 🐛 Regulations are hard to understand - 🐛 Needs to be easier to understand for responsible fishing - 🐛 Unable to link BC gov account - 🐛 Wrong regs for area 14 - 🐛 Species ID needs improvement - 🐛 Map feature needs improvement - 🐛 GPS overlays would be useful - 🐛 Offline use not described well - 🐛 Max size for halibut not listed - 🐛 Some fishermen gun shy about using it due to catch log portal - 🐛 Unnecessary addition in catch log portal - 🐛 Needs to be spot on with closures/limitations - 🐛 Needs better maps - 🐛 Needs RCA and sponge reef on maps - 🐛 Needs more detailed area maps - 🐛 Needs to be able to zoom into area maps - 🐛 Needs to check tides - 🐛 Needs to communicate seasonal changes ahead - 🐛 Needs scaleable maps - 🐛 Needs clearer sub-area closures - 🐛 Needs live, zoomable, GPS enabled map - 🐛 Needs alarm for drifting into new areas with different regs - 🐛 Crab sizes/limits unclear - 🐛 Shellfish biotoxin report conflicts - 🐛 Does not trust app for regulations - 🐛 Lacks info about crab fishing regulations **Commonly reported bugs** - Unable to register account (verification email not received) - Corrupted data requiring re-download - Dead link for AI species identification - Species ID not always accurate - Maps are terrible/difficult to discern boundaries - Maps not detailed enough/zoom issues - Rockfish identification needs improvement - Species identification generic - Regulation changes not always timely in app - Seasonal changes not communicated ahead - Rockfish Conservation Area maps vague/poor resolution - Sub-area closures unclear - Crab sizes/limits unclear - Shellfish biotoxin report conflicts - Wrong regs for area 14 - Unable to link BC gov account - Catch log portal displays productive areas - Pop-up salmon facts annoying - Pop-up tips annoying - Max size for halibut not listed - Some fishermen gun shy about using it due to catch log portal - Unnecessary addition in catch log portal - Needs to be spot on with closures/limitations - Needs better maps - Needs RCA and sponge reef on maps - Needs more detailed area maps - Needs to be able to zoom into area maps - Needs to check tides - Needs to communicate seasonal changes ahead - Needs scaleable maps - Needs clearer sub-area closures - Needs live, zoomable, GPS enabled map - Needs alarm for drifting into new areas with different regs - Needs to be easier to understand for responsible fishing - App is confusing - Regulations are hard to understand - Requires internet connection - Useless without internet/account - Does not trust app for regulations - Lacks info about crab fishing regulations **Most requested features** - Add freshwater license - Add juvenile license and catch log data - Ability to add multiple licenses - Add hunting app - Improve species identification - Add hatchery identification - Include bio toxin reports from past years or remove - Add tide charts - Add live GPS map with boundaries - Make map zoomable and GPS enabled - Overlay fishing boundaries on map - Click on map boundary to see summary - Sound alarm if boat drifts into new area with different regs - Add crab fishing regulations information - Add RCA and sponge reef to maps - Add more detailed and useful maps - Improve map resolution and zoom capabilities - Add ability to toggle between sub-area regulations and map easily - Map should remember previous settings or allow default layers - Better description of offline use - Clearer guidance on legal transport and packaging of catch - Add dark mode option - Add advanced analytics dashboard - Add freshwater licenses integration - Add prawn opening map (green open, red closed) - Add ability to zoom in on boundary maps - Add ability to see seasonal changes ahead of time - Add ability to see sub-area closures more clearly - Add ability to see crab sizes and limits - Add shellfish biotoxin report clarity - Add ability to manage dependants licenses and catch ## Newest reviews (16 of 79) ### 4/5 — Add freshwater licence!!!! Please *2026-05-31* Wish it could hold freshwater license too. Why wouldn’t it? Right? Like, I feel like I’m taking CRAZY pills… ### 4/5 — Enjoying the app, but a few suggestions *2026-04-09* I’m really liking this fishing bc app for its species id, regulations by area (although some are incomplete ie max size for halibut is not listed as far as I found) and easy catch log. I do have a feeling some fisherman are gun shy about using it since it publicly displays which areas are most productive at any one time in the catch log portal. I feel like that’s an unnecessary addition that will scare off the majority of Cagey fisherman from using the app and deprive dfo of potentially useful data. Hopefully removing that is considered for a future update otherwise great first month with the app. ### 5/5 — One shop stop *2025-08-19* Everything , regulation, weather conditions, tide charts, etc ### 4/5 — Well Executed *2025-08-12* Solid app allowing up to date regulation changes. Love the map feature that provides your GPS position relative to management areas! Only suggest would be the ability to more easily toggle back and forth between sub-area specific regulations and the map, then back again. Also, it’d be great if the map could remember your previous settings or allow you to set default layers instead of having to turn them on each time you visit the map page. Overall, fantastic!! ### 4/5 — Pretty good *2025-08-09, version 2.6.2* If they described off line use better I would have given it 5 stars ### 5/5 — Easy to use *2025-08-09* Very easy to use and the GPS button at top right in maps is good to have so you can clearly see where you’re at so you’re not near the RCA areas . ### 4/5 — Packaging and Transport *2025-08-09* Helpful app for checking regulations, but it’s missing important info on how to legally transport and package your catch. Clear guidance (with examples) would make it much more useful and help anglers stay compliant. ### 4/5 — Convenient *2025-08-08* Nice to have all the information in one place and not have to use the glitchy DFO maps. However it’s a bit annoying to have to keep deleting and redownloading it due to corrupted data. If they fix that glitch it’s 5/5 ### 5/5 — Amazing apps *2025-07-28, version 2.6.2* Easy access for a lot of things particularly fishing licences,tidal info. Rules and regulation and I save me carrying paper license👌I love it! ### 5/5 — It just makes sense *2025-07-27* I was honestly shocked that this app was as useful as it is. I have learned to temper my expectations when it comes to anything produced by the government, but this was a pleasant surprise. Now they just need the same group who produced this app to get to work on a hunting app. ### 5/5 — Satisfied *2025-07-22* Information easily available. User friendly. ### 4/5 — GPS overlays *2025-07-12, version 2.6.2* It would be very cool if they would overlay your GPS position on their maps. You would know exactly what regulations to follow when close to boundaries. ### 5/5 — Getting better *2025-07-07, version 2.6.2* Not the most accurate for openings and closures but it’s getting better ### 5/5 — Impressed!! *2025-07-05, version 2.6.2* Best thing since the invention of sliced bread!!! ### 5/5 — Yuhhh *2025-07-04, version 2.6.2* This so tuff fr ### 5/5 — Must Have *2025-06-29, version 2.6.2* If you’re a fisherman or enjoy water activities, you must have this app in your back pocket ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — WARNING *2026-05-16* The app is not monitoring closures/openings correctly, especially when it comes to shellfish. following the apps open/closure information and catch limits can result in SEVERE fines, seizure of property (your boat) and fishing prohibition if you run into an officer, as they don’t care at all if you’re using the app, even though it’s supposedly made in collaboration with the DFO using their data. ### 1/5 — Unable to Register Account *2026-01-22* Tried to create an an account multiple times but wont get any email to verify your account creation. ### 1/5 — Regs *2025-09-25* The regs are inaccurate in the app. Don’t trust it. ### 1/5 — Confusing app *2024-08-13, version 2.5.2* App is hard to understand and confusing, regulations are hard to understand and chopped up, little info here and little info there. If you want people to fish responsibly make it easier to understand ### 1/5 — Wrong Regis *2023-09-03, version 2.3.2* Regis for area 14 do not match do website ???? ### 1/5 — Do not trust or you will be in court one day *2019-04-24, version 1.1.2* This is a lie. official Regulations the app said. April 22 2019 I went fishing for chinook salmon As the app said two a day. Now I have a court day and am charged as its closed coast wide. I had updated the app that morning. I showed Dfo my app and that it was updated and it didn’t matter. ### 2/5 — Good idea but confusing. Worthless as constructed *2019-07-14* Looking at regulations. Crab sizes? Limits? Shellfish biotoxin report has multiple conflicts. Developers may want to talk with fishermen. **Developer response:** Hi, We apologize for any inconsistencies, please email us at FishingBCSupport@tractioncreative.com so that we may follow up. Thank you. ### 3/5 — Good tool *2025-09-27* Get rid of the pop up salmon facts please. ### 3/5 — Needs a live GPS map with boundaries *2019-08-19, version 1.1.2* This app is a good start and better than wading through multiple dfo notices, maps and retention charts etc. however what is really needed is a live, zoomable, gps enabled, google type map that shows my location in real time with fishing boundaries overlaid. I should then be able to see a detailed summary of what a I can or can not do in this area without having to click back through multiple summaries as the app currently requires. I should also be able to just click on any fishing boundary area on this map and see the same summary. See Chinook in area 29 as an example of multiple boundaries intersecting at a point with different/multiple regs in each area. If you really want to kick it up a notch have your phone sound an alarm if your boat drifts into a new area where the regs are different (easy to do in area 29). ### 3/5 — Need internet connection *2017-03-15, version 1.0* Nice app, however useless when you are out there fishing because it requires an account and internet connection all the time. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Easy to use *2026-08-07* Great map function for the fishing areas including use my location. Easy to find the local regulations and report a catch. ### 5/5 — Very handy *2026-07-23* The regs are so complex that an app like this helps a lot. ### 5/5 — Awesome *2026-07-12* This app is awesome. It is user friendly. You will enjoy discovering it. ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-07-01* Useful, handy and easy to use ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-05-23* These government funded apps are always BS, but someone clearly has put proper resources and thought into this one. Whatever is being done please keep doing it, this thing is great. ### 5/5 — Good App *2026-04-03* Easy to use ### 5/5 — Wow! *2026-03-27* Best app I've come across in years. These guys rock! All the stuff any fisher wants and it's at your fingertips. Amazing! Well done!!! ### 5/5 — Great app *2025-09-17* Please remove the pop up tips. ### 5/5 — Very informative *2025-09-06* I use the app constantly while fishing. Great to see updated regs, fish identification and catch log. Great job. ### 5/5 — Excellent *2025-08-29* Great app. Makes reading and understanding the regulations much easier. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*