Go Fish: Starting a Fishing Session

A Go Fish session is your live fishing outing tracked by DerbyFish. Think of it as clocking in for a fishing trip -- the app tracks where you go, how long you fish, and every catch you make along the way.

Starting a Session

1. Open DerbyFish and tap Go Fish from the main navigation.
2. If you are enrolled in any active derbies, you will see them listed. Select which derbies this session should count toward (you can select multiple).
3. Tap Start Session to begin.

The app will ask for location permission if you have not already granted it. GPS tracking is used to log your fishing route and confirm you are within derby boundaries (if applicable).

What Gets Tracked

During an active session, DerbyFish records:

• GPS path -- Your movement throughout the session, shown as a route on the map.
• Duration -- Total time from start to end, including any pauses.
• Catches -- Every catch you submit during the session, with timestamps.
• Location data -- Where each catch was made (approximate area, not exact coordinates shared publicly).

This data builds your fishing history and contributes to your profile stats over time.

Submitting Catches During a Session

With a session running, tap the catch button (the fish icon) anytime you land a fish. This opens the BHRV submission flow where you capture your bump photo, hero shot, and release video. See the "Submitting a Catch" article for the full walkthrough.

You can submit as many catches as you want during a single session.

Pausing and Resuming

Need to take a break? You can pause your session without ending it. Tap the pause button on the session screen. Your GPS tracking stops and the timer pauses. When you are ready to get back at it, tap Resume and everything picks back up.

Pausing is useful for lunch breaks, moving between spots by car, or any time you are not actively fishing.

Ending a Session

When you are done fishing, tap End Session. You will see a summary of your outing including:

• Total duration
• Distance covered
• Number of catches submitted
• Which derbies the session counted toward

Your session data is saved to your profile and the catches you submitted will continue through the verification pipeline.

Sessions and Derbies

If you joined a derby before starting your session, any verified catches made during that session automatically count toward the derby leaderboard -- as long as the derby is active and the catch meets the derby's rules (correct species, within the time window, etc.).

You do not need to do anything special. Just fish, submit your catches, and the system handles the rest.

Session Costs

Starting a Go Fish session may cost a small amount of BAIT, depending on the platform's current pricing. This fee helps support the verification infrastructure and contributes to community prize pools. The cost is displayed before you start, so there are no surprises.

Tips for a Good Session

• Charge your phone -- GPS tracking uses battery. Start with a full charge or bring a portable charger.
• Keep the app open -- GPS tracking works best when the app is open or running in the background. Avoid force-closing it.
• Fish within boundaries -- If your derby has geographic restrictions, make sure your session takes place within the allowed area.
• Submit catches promptly -- Do not wait until the end of the session to submit everything. Submit each catch as you make it for the best verification results with fresh photos and video.