CDFG News Release - New Mobile Web App Puts Fishing Information at Your Fingerti

California Department of Fish and Game News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 22, 2010

Contacts :  Kirsten Macintyre, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8988
Angela Barlow, DFG Web Coordinator, (916) 322-8965

New Mobile Web App Puts Fishing Information at Your Fingertips

Its a nice weekend, and you want to go fishing. If you're new to fishing, or in an unfamiliar area, where should you go? If not everyone in your group has a license, where will you find the nearest place to purchase one?

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has released a mobile Fishing Guide web application that provides access to fishing locations, latest fish planting sites and fishing license sales locations. The web app, which is optimized for iPhone, Android and Blackberry smartphones, can be accessed by navigating to www.dfg.ca.gov/mobile.

The new web app has three components:

1. Fishing Guide: The core Fishing Guide component provides a listing and maps of more than 1,500 fishing locations across the state. This includes locations that are accessible by car as well as back-country sites.

2. Fish Planting Schedule: Recently planted locations often provide excellent fishing opportunities. Anglers can now use their mobile phones to quickly find the latest fish planting sites in their area.

3. Fishing Licenses: Use your mobile phone to find one of the more than 1,600 locations around the state that sell fishing licenses.

DFG's mobile Fishing Guide app was developed in collaboration with the Office of the State Chief Information Officer, in conjunction with the newly designed CA.gov portal. The Fishing Guide app can also be found by navigating to www.m.ca.gov  and clicking on Recreation and Leisure.

Additionally, content on the newly designed home page at www.dfg.ca.gov has been reorganized with the two most common visitor types in mind. A section for anglers and hunters provides links to popular recreation pages such as regulations and license services. Another prominent section targets those needing scientific or conservation services and information.

Web users are encouraged to comment on these new products, and DFG's website in general, at www.dfg.ca.gov/survey.

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Cool!  I'll give it a shot and report back later    Thanks for posting!

Cool!  I'll give it a shot and report back later    Thanks for posting!

Eh, its not that great as one would suspect    Shows a list of planting schedules, which seems broken or at least not in order.  A list of lakes broken down by county (guess its a little bit useful) with a google map showing it.  And a list of places that sell fishing licenses.

What would be cool is if they added some real information on there, like a species size/bag limits, open/closed areas, MLPA zones, etc.  Or another idea; be able to buy a fishing license off their website by phone would be cool too!

This could be so cool! Use your phones GPS to pin point where you are and the special reg's for that area. Or when the area will be stocked again. 

Even allow advertising from merchants/guides in the area that you are fishing. How cool would it be to hit a new area and have a resource to find the local bait shop, which would get you the local knowledge for that area.