Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about using PocketAngler.
For Anglers
Telemetry & Dashboard
We provide real-time water levels, tide predictions, and weather forecasts for fishing locations across the UK and Ireland. You can search by location name or browse via the map.
Yes. Water levels can be displayed in metres or feet, and temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Your preference is saved to your dashboard.
Your dashboard shows pinned telemetry widgets for locations you care about. Pin a weather, tide, or water level widget from any telemetry page using the pin icon. You can add up to 9 widgets (or more with a PA+ subscription).
No. You can browse weather, tides, and water levels without an account. However, you need to be logged in for your pinned widgets to sync across devices.
You can view water level history for 1 day, 1 week, or 2 weeks. The trend badge shows whether the level is currently rising, falling, or stable.
Water levels and weather data refresh automatically. Each widget shows a "Last updated" timestamp so you can see exactly how current the data is.
Bookings & Permits
Search for a fishery on the Explore page, select your dates and permit type, add to cart, and complete checkout with a card payment. You will receive a confirmation email and your permit will appear on the My Permits page.
Items are reserved for 15 minutes. A countdown timer shows how much time remains. If the timer expires, items are released and you will need to re-add them.
Go to My Permits from the navigation bar. Your upcoming bookings appear at the top with a "Confirmed" badge. Tap any booking to see details, your QR code, and download options.
Your QR code is your digital permit. Show it to the fishery on arrival for quick check-in. You can also download a PDF version or add the booking to your calendar.
Refund policies are set by each fishery. Contact the fishery directly to request a refund. If approved, the fishery processes it through their management panel and you will receive a confirmation email.
This is a payment request from a fishery, typically for a phone or walk-in booking. Click the link, log in with the email it was sent to, and complete payment. The booking will then appear on your My Permits page.
A pending booking means payment has not yet been completed. Open the booking details and click "Complete Payment" to finish. The booking is not valid until payment is confirmed.
A small booking fee (2.5% + 20p) is added to each transaction. This is shown as a separate line item at checkout. The ticket price itself is set entirely by the fishery.
Memberships
Visit the fishery page and look for the memberships section. Click "Apply" and submit your application with an optional message. The fishery will review it and send you an offer if accepted.
Click the link in your offer email. Log in with the email address the offer was sent to, review the details and price, then pay with your card. Your membership activates immediately.
Auto-renewal means your membership renews automatically before the season ends. Your saved card is charged 7 days before expiry. You can toggle auto-renewal on or off from the My Memberships page at any time.
Go to My Memberships and look for the "Update Payment Method" link on the affected membership. Enter new card details. If your bank requires verification, you may receive an email with a link to complete the process.
Your bank requires additional verification (3D Secure) to process the renewal payment. Click "Complete Renewal" on your membership card or follow the link in the email we sent you.
Yes. On the offer page, scroll down and click "Decline this offer". The spot will be freed for other anglers.
Go to My Memberships from the navigation bar. Each membership shows your status, season dates, and membership type. Click "View Details" for payment history, renewal settings, and fishery contact information.
Yes. Fishery owners can block auto-renewal for individual members. If this happens, you will see a "Renewal blocked" alert on your membership with the reason provided by the fishery.
Account & Profile
Click Register on the login page. You can sign up with email and password, or use Google or Apple Sign-In for a quicker setup.
Fisheries need your name, date of birth, and contact details to issue permits. Your profile must be complete before you can purchase day tickets or memberships.
Click "Forgot Password" on the login page, enter your email, and we will send a reset link. If you signed up with Google or Apple, you do not have a password to reset — use the same social login instead.
Yes. Go to your profile and scroll to the bottom to find the delete account option. Account deletion removes your personal data. Note: if you own a fishery, you must transfer ownership or remove it before deleting your account.
Go to your profile page and tap the pencil icon on your avatar. Upload a new photo (PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP, or HEIC). You can zoom and crop before saving.
PA+ is an optional subscription that unlocks additional dashboard widgets beyond the free limit of 9, and premium features as we add them. Plans start from a small monthly fee. You can cancel at any time.
For Fishery Owners
Registering Your Fishery
Click "Register Your Fishery" from the About page or go directly to the onboarding form. You will provide your personal details first (name, email, phone, address), then your fishery details (name, type, species, location).
Rivers, stillwaters, loughs, lakes, and sea fishing operations. We support day ticket fisheries, membership-based clubs, and mixed models across the UK and Ireland.
Your contact details, fishery name and type, waterbody information, species available, facilities offered, and fishing methods allowed. You can add photos, rules, and descriptions later during setup.
Yes. After your first fishery is set up, you can register additional fisheries from the fishery switcher in your profile menu. Each fishery has its own management panel.
No. Registration and the management platform are completely free. PocketAngler only earns commission when bookings are made through the platform.
No. Registration captures the basics. After approval, you complete setup at your own pace using the setup checklist: connect payments, create permit types, set availability, and upload your gallery.
Application & Approval
Our team reviews your application to verify the fishery details. You will receive an email when your application is approved. During review, you can still log in and prepare your settings.
Most applications are reviewed within 1-2 business days. We may contact you if we need to clarify any details about your fishery.
You can log in and access your fishery settings during the review period. Changes to basic details will be visible to our review team.
You will receive an email explaining why. Common reasons include incomplete information or fisheries outside our current coverage area. You can resubmit after addressing the feedback.
Approval means your account is active, but your fishery is not publicly visible until you complete the setup checklist and click "Go Live". This gives you time to configure everything properly.
Yes. As soon as your application is approved you have full access to your dashboard, settings, permit types, availability, gallery, and all management tools.
Going Live
The setup checklist tracks 5 key steps: connect Stripe for payments, create at least one permit type, set your availability, configure your booking settings, and upload at least one photo to your gallery.
Go to the Revenue section and click "Connect with Stripe". You will be guided through Stripe Express onboarding to verify your identity and bank details. This is required to receive payouts.
Go to Manage Availability. Create a year, then set which days are open and how many rods are available. You can copy availability from one year to the next, and suspend individual days for maintenance or events.
Create a permit type for each ticket you sell. For example: "Adult Day Ticket", "Junior Day Ticket", "Evening Session". Set the name, session type, rod count, and pricing for each. You can set different prices per month.
Once you have completed all 5 setup checklist items, the "Go Live" button becomes available. Click it and your fishery will appear on the Explore page for anglers to find and book.
Yes. In your fishery settings, you can toggle visibility to private. This removes you from the public Explore page but keeps your management panel and existing bookings intact.
Yes. Use the "Block Days" feature in Manage Bookings. Select the dates and permit type to block. Existing bookings on those days are not affected, but no new bookings will be accepted.
Payments, Fees & Payouts
All payments are processed securely through Stripe. Anglers pay by card at checkout. The booking fee is added on top of your ticket price and paid by the angler. Your payout is the ticket price minus commission.
Commission starts at 4% and increases with volume using progressive tiers: 4% on the first 10,000, 6% on 10,001-50,000, 8% on 50,001-100,000, and 10% above 100,000. Tiers reset each January. Each portion of revenue is only charged at its own tier rate.
Payouts are handled by Stripe according to your connected account settings. Typically funds arrive in your bank account 2-7 business days after the transaction, depending on your Stripe payout schedule.
The booking fee is 2.5% + 20p, added on top of the ticket price and paid by the angler. For example, on a 35 ticket the angler pays 36.08 (35 + 1.08 fee). You receive the full ticket price minus commission.
You can process refunds from your Manage Bookings page. Select the booking and choose a refund percentage. A 2 processing fee per refund is deducted from your account. The angler receives the refund to their original payment method.
Yes. Use "Add Booking" in Manage Bookings and select "Record Payment" mode. This logs the booking without online payment. Offline bookings have a free allowance before they affect your commission tier progression.
Yes. Use "Add Booking" and select "Send Invoice" mode. Enter the angler's email and booking details. They receive a payment link by email and pay online. The booking is confirmed once payment is complete.
Go to the Revenue section of your management panel. You will see your payout history, commission tier progress, monthly and year-to-date revenue, and a full breakdown of the fee structure.
Managing Members
Go to Manage Members. You can add people to a waiting list, send membership offers with pricing, and track active, invited, and pending members. Members pay online and their membership activates automatically.
Yes. In Membership Settings, create types like Adult, Junior, and OAP with different prices. You can also configure age thresholds so the correct membership type is suggested based on the applicant's date of birth.
Use the Contact Members tool. Filter by membership type or status, compose your message in the rich text editor, and send. Your recent communications are tracked with send history.
Support
Permit & Payment Issues
Contact the fishery directly. They manage their own bookings, availability, and refund policies. You can find their contact details on the fishery page or in your booking details. If the fishery cannot resolve the issue, contact PocketAngler support.
Check your email spam folder for the confirmation. Then check My Permits to see if the booking appears. If not, contact the fishery first. If they cannot see the booking either, contact PocketAngler support with your payment details.
This can happen if there was a brief delay in payment confirmation. Wait a few minutes and refresh the page. If the status does not update, contact PocketAngler support.
Refunds are processed through Stripe and typically appear on your statement within 5-10 business days, depending on your bank. You will receive a refund confirmation email.
Check your Stripe Express Dashboard (accessible from the Revenue section). Payouts are managed by Stripe and subject to their payout schedule. If a payout appears stuck, contact PocketAngler support with the booking reference.
Before raising a dispute with your bank, please contact the fishery and PocketAngler support first. Bank disputes (chargebacks) incur fees and are much harder to resolve than a direct refund.
Contacting PocketAngler
Use the Contact tab on this page to send us a message. Alternatively, email us at support@pocketangler.net. We aim to respond within 24 hours on business days.
PocketAngler is based at The Innovation Centre, Catalyst, Bay Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 7TG, Northern Ireland.
We would love to give you a personalised walkthrough. Use the Contact form and select "I'm a fishery owner" from the dropdown, or email hello@pocketangler.net.
Yes. PocketAngler supports club membership management including waiting lists, offers, auto-renewal, and member communications. Select "I represent an angling club" on the Contact form to get in touch.
Go to the Legal tab on this page. You will find our Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and Cookie Policy.
Use the Contact form and select "Report a bug" from the dropdown. Include as much detail as you can about what happened, what you expected, and what device/browser you were using.
Send Us a Message
Quick Response
We typically respond to enquiries within 24 hours during business days. Fishery and partnership enquiries are our top priority.
Get in Touch
Support
support@pocketangler.netLocation
The Innovation Centre,
Catalyst,
Bay Rd,
Derry / Londonderry
BT48 7TG
Are You a Fishery Owner?
Interested in using PocketAngler to manage your bookings? We'd love to give you a personalised demo.
Select "I'm a fishery owner" from the dropdown above.
Built for the Fishing Industry
PocketAngler serves fisheries across the United Kingdom and Ireland, from small day-ticket waters to large salmon rivers and angling club networks.
Our Story
PocketAngler was born from a simple observation: the fishing industry deserves better technology. While other sectors have embraced digital transformation, fisheries across the UK and Ireland have been left behind—forced to rely on outdated booking systems, expensive platforms, or manual processes that waste time and money.
We set out to change that—combining decades of angling industry experience with modern software expertise to build a platform that actually works for fisheries, not against them.
Our Mission
To empower fisheries with affordable, intuitive technology that simplifies operations, increases bookings, and helps preserve angling for future generations.
What Sets Us Apart
Mobile-First
60%+ bookings on phones. 3 steps max for any task.
Live Telemetry
Real-time water levels and weather data.
Fair Pricing
£30/month. No hidden fees!
Industry Experts
Decades of fishery management experience.
Our Team
Joe
CEO & Lead Developer
Tom
Director of Client Support
Steve
Head of QA
Privacy Policy
How we collect, use, and protect your data
Who We Are: PocketAngler is a fishing booking platform connecting anglers with fisheries across the UK and Ireland. We are the data controller responsible for your personal information.
Data We Collect: Account information (name, email, phone), booking details, payment information via Stripe, catch statistics (optional), device push notification tokens, and usage data. For fisheries: business information, bank details for Stripe Connect, and staff accounts.
Device Permissions: PocketAngler may request access to certain device features. All permissions are optional and can be revoked at any time through your device settings.
- Push Notifications: We use Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) to send push notifications to your device. When you grant notification permission, we collect and store a unique device token that identifies your device for message delivery. We use notifications to alert you about cart expiry reminders (when reserved tickets are about to expire), booking confirmations and updates, and important service announcements. Your device token is stored securely and is automatically removed if it becomes invalid. We do not use push notifications for marketing or advertising purposes. You can disable notifications at any time in your device settings, and we will no longer send messages to that device.
- Camera: Camera access is requested only when you choose to upload a catch photo to your catch report. Photos are uploaded directly to our secure servers and are associated with your catch record. We do not access your camera in the background, and no images are collected without your explicit action. You may also choose to select an existing photo from your device gallery instead of using the camera.
- Location (Geolocation): We request access to your device's location to help you find nearby fisheries, display your position on fishery maps, and provide accurate directions to fishing venues. Location data is used in real-time and is not stored on our servers or tracked over time. We do not share your location with third parties, other users, or fishery operators. Location access is only used while you are actively using the app and is never accessed in the background.
How We Use It: To provide our booking services, communicate with you, improve our platform, connect anglers with fisheries, prevent fraud, and comply with legal obligations.
Data Sharing: We never sell your data. We share with: fishery operators (your booking info), Stripe (payment processing), Google Cloud Platform (hosting), Google AdSense (advertising, only with your consent), and legal bodies when required by law. If you consent to advertising cookies, Google may use this data to serve personalised ads. Without consent, no advertising data is shared.
Data Retention: Active account data is kept for the duration of your account plus 2 years. Booking and payment records are kept for 7 years for legal and tax purposes. Server logs are kept for 90 days.
Your Rights (UK GDPR): You have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, data portability, object to processing, and withdraw consent. Contact privacy@pocketangler.net to exercise these rights.
Security: We use encryption in transit and at rest, secure authentication, regular security assessments, and PCI-DSS compliant payment processing via Stripe.
Contact: For privacy enquiries, email privacy@pocketangler.net. You can also lodge a complaint with the ICO at ico.org.uk.
Terms of Service
Rules for using PocketAngler
Acceptance: By using PocketAngler, you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, please don't use our services.
Account Responsibilities: You're responsible for maintaining the security of your account and all activities under it. Use a strong password and notify us immediately of any unauthorised access.
Booking Terms: Bookings are subject to fishery-specific terms and conditions. Cancellation policies vary by venue. PocketAngler facilitates bookings but the contract is between you and the fishery.
Payments: All payments are processed securely via Stripe. Prices are displayed in GBP unless otherwise stated. Refunds are subject to individual fishery policies.
Acceptable Use: Don't misuse our services, attempt to access unauthorised areas, submit false information, harass other users, or use the platform for any unlawful purpose.
For Fishery Operators: You agree to provide accurate information about your fishery, honour confirmed bookings, and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
Limitation of Liability: PocketAngler provides a booking platform. We are not liable for issues at fisheries, weather conditions, fishing outcomes, or disputes between anglers and fisheries.
Changes: We may update these terms from time to time. Continued use of the platform constitutes acceptance of any changes.
Cookie Policy
How we use cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookies: Required for the platform to function. These cannot be disabled.
- Session cookie (
__session): Keeps you logged in and maintains your shopping cart. Expires after 5 days. - CSRF token: Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks on form submissions. Expires after 30 minutes.
Functional Storage (Browser): We use your browser's local storage for features that improve your experience. This data stays on your device and is not sent to our servers or shared with third parties.
- Dashboard widgets: Remembers your pinned telemetry widgets (river levels, tides, weather).
- Offline catch queue: Stores catch submissions when you're offline, syncs when connectivity returns.
- Push notification preference: Caches your notification permission choice.
Advertising Cookies (Consent Required): Google AdSense may set cookies to serve and measure advertisements. These cookies are only set if you give consent via the cookie banner. They include cookies such as _gads, IDE, and ANID. PA+ subscribers do not see ads and these cookies are never set.
Third-Party Cookies: Our payment processor (Stripe) may set cookies for fraud prevention and security. These are strictly necessary for payment processing and are governed by Stripe's privacy policy.
Managing Your Preferences: When you first visit PocketAngler, a consent banner will ask you to accept or reject advertising cookies. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the button below.
Last updated: March 2026