Setting Up Your Profile

After creating your account, DerbyFish walks you through a quick setup process to personalize your experience. Here is what to expect and how to make the most of it.

Profile Details

The first thing you will do is fill in some basic profile information:

• Display name -- This is the name that appears on your profile card. It can be your real name, a nickname, or anything you like. Unlike your username, display names do not have to be unique.
• Bio -- A short description about yourself. What kind of fishing do you enjoy? Where do you fish? Keep it casual -- this is your chance to introduce yourself to the community.
• Location -- Your general area (city, state, or region). This helps connect you with nearby anglers and local derbies. You are not sharing your exact address -- just enough to find relevant competitions.

Mailing Address

DerbyFish may ask for a mailing address during setup. This is used for:

• Shipping physical prizes if you win a derby
• Verifying your identity for paid competitions
• Sending you any physical goods from the shop

Your address is stored securely and never shared publicly. You can update it anytime in your account settings.

Choose Your Theme

DerbyFish lets you pick your visual theme during onboarding. Choose between light and dark modes based on your preference. The dark theme is particularly handy for early morning or late evening fishing when you do not want a bright screen in your face. You can switch themes anytime from Settings.

Explore the App

Once your profile is set up, you will land on the home screen. Take a minute to look around:

• Home -- Your personalized dashboard showing active derbies, recent catches from people you follow, and suggested derbies to join.
• Go Fish -- Start a fishing session to track your outing and submit catches.
• Derbies -- Browse and join fishing competitions.
• Shop -- Purchase derby tickets, BAIT tokens, memberships, and Fish Cards.
• Profile -- View your catches, badges, Fish Cards, stats, and settings.
• Messages -- Chat with other anglers, receive derby invites, and contact support.

What to Do First

Here are a few things worth doing right after setup:

1. Join a derby -- Browse the open derbies list and join one that interests you. Many are free to enter, so there is no risk.
2. Start a Go Fish session -- Head out fishing and try submitting your first catch. Even a quick practice run helps you learn the flow.
3. Follow some anglers -- Search for friends or browse suggested profiles to start building your network.
4. Check out the Fishdex -- See which species are in the encyclopedia and start planning which ones you want to catch first.
5. Load some BAIT -- If you want to enter paid derbies or mint Fish Cards, grab some BAIT tokens from the shop.

Skipping Steps

Every step of onboarding is optional. If you want to jump straight to fishing, you can skip profile setup and come back to it later. That said, a complete profile with a photo and bio makes you more recognizable in derbies and helps other anglers connect with you.