SA Fishing app for recreational fishers
The SA Fishing app is the official go-to information source and fishing log for all recreational anglers fishing in South Australian waters. The app supports responsible, sustainable fishing and includes species identification, catch reporting, fishing rules, closure maps, and more.
Key features
The SA Fishing app is free to download and use, and provides:
- a searchable catalogue of species with key information and catch tips
- simple, in-app catch reporting, including mandatory Snapper reporting and voluntary reporting for all other species
- size, bag, and boat limits for all species regulated in South Australia
- a GPS map with highlighted fishing closure zones and aquatic reserves
- general rules, including permitted fishing gear, bait and berley information, and other important info for recreational fishers
- reporting for illegal fishing, shark sightings, or aquatic pests.
Download the SA Fishing app
Our app is available for iPhone and Android devices, free to download to your smartphone!
Get the most out of the SA Fishing app
- See and add to your personal fishing diary record. Save your location, catch details, and upload photos of your catch.
- Contribute to the sustainability and management of aquatic resources and fish stocks in South Australia through voluntary reporting of fishing trips.
- Find tips on when and how to fish for a certain species and read processing, preparation, and cooking suggestions for edible species.
- Get alerts for recreational fishing announcements and news through in-app notifications.
- Use as a trusted source for current regulations, zone boundaries and closures, and personal fishing logs.
- Discreetly report illegal or suspicious fishing activity.
Logging and reporting your fishing activity
The app offers 3 ways to record fishing activities:
- Fishing log: A personal fishing diary. All logs are stored privately in app on your device, and include when and where you fished, and what you caught.
- Voluntary report: Optional fishing log of all species caught (excluding Snapper), valuable for improving fisheries data and contributing to the sustainability of South Australian fish stocks.
- Mandatory report: Mandatory fishing log of all Snapper caught and retained in the South East, required by the Fisheries Management Act 2007.
How your fishing reports help shape future management
Mandatory reporting
Mandatory Snapper reporting in the South East helps us monitor catches in almost real-time, and ensures catches stay within sustainable and allocated limits.
Voluntary reporting
Reporting is optional for all other species (including incidentally caught Snapper released outside the South East), but even a few entries can make a big difference. Voluntary reporting for other species through the SA Fishing app helps build a clearer picture of recreational fishing activity across South Australia.
Each time you submit a voluntary report, you help us understand:
- where people fish
- what species people did or didn't catch (we're especially interested in species like King George Whiting, Calamari, and Garfish, as they’re popular among fishers and play a big role in future planning)
- how often fish are lost to predators like seals or sharks.
These reports also help capture the bigger picture of how much time and money people invest in fishing, why they go, and what makes a good trip.
You can choose how much detail you provide and submit your report any time after saving your fishing log. Reports are stored in the fishing diary, so you can look back on your trips.
A recent study found that when enough people take part, app-based reports can produce similar results to benchmark surveys for some species. To get there, we need more people reporting regularly, including trips where no fish are caught.
Learn more about the research that helped shape the SA Fishing app's redevelopment.
In future, we'll share summaries of what fishers report and how we use the data, so you can see how your input makes a difference.
Learn more about how we may use and treat data submitted through the app in the Guidelines for the use of App-Based Data ( ).
More information
Using the app
Using the app without mobile reception
The SA Fishing app works without an internet connection and when out of mobile reception range. The app will save your mandatory and voluntary reports on your device and automatically submit when you next have an internet connection.
Location tracking
When you log a trip, you're prompted to drop a pin-point manually in the general area (region or zone) of where you fished. Though exact coordinates are stored, PIRSA uses them only to understand zonal trends, not to monitor specific fishing spots.
'Species found here' refers to fish you may find within 10km radius of your location. Both freshwater and marine species may display at certain points.
Missing species in the species guide
We're continuously expanding and improving the species section. Work is ongoing to build a comprehensive and accurate guide. If a species isn't listed, fishing limits don't apply, but take only what you need to ensure there are fish for the future.
Fishing, logging, and reporting
Fishing logs
A fishing log is a personal record of a fishing trip saved in-app on your device. We encourage you to log all fishing trips whether you retain any species or not. The fishing log is a personal diary of fishing activity, and information from the log is only shared with PIRSA if you submit a mandatory Snapper report or a voluntary report.
Your fishing spots are private
Your fishing spots are safe. When you log a fishing trip, you drop a pin on the map to show the general area fished. This data is stored securely and only used by PIRSA to understand zonal trends in recreational fishing and not to monitor or publish individual fishing spots.
Logging fish taken by predators
You can record whether any fish were lost to predators (sharks, seals, or other species) during a trip. This is known as depredation and helps improve PIRSA’s understanding of how often this happens and whether it’s having an impact in specific areas.
Privacy
Data
All app data is handled according to privacy laws and cannot be accessed by third parties. Your personal fishing information is never made public.
Read our privacy statement for more information.
Reporting illegal or suspicious fishing activity
We treat all reports of suspected illegal or suspicious fishing activity in strict confidence. We'll never disclose your identity without consent as per privacy-protection practices.
Reports are sent directly to PIRSA or the appropriate authority. You can report anonymously, but we can follow-up for more information if you supply contact details.
Illegal and suspicious activity reports help authorities respond quickly and support the protection of our marine environment.
App troubleshooting
Existing app update
The existing SA Fishing app will automatically update to the new version if automatic updates are enabled on your device. You can manually update the app on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
Existing fishing logs will not transfer to the updated app. If you'd like to keep a record of previous trips, you can export your logs before the app updates on your device
Instructions on how to export logs are available in the SA Fishing app's notifications panel.
Device requirements
The SA Fishing app is available for:
- Apple iPhone, iOS version 15.5 or later (iPad unsupported)
- Android devices with Android version 7 to 14.
Location permissions required for full in-app map functionality.
If you can't download the SA Fishing app, please refer to the rules for fishing limits, equipment, and closures.
Map permissions and performance
Full operation of the map requires a network connection and location permissions enabled for the SA Fishing app on your device. You should refer to official publications and the Fisheries Management Act 2007 for legally enforceable boundaries and rules.
Restart the SA Fishing app if you experience poor performance with the map.