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The Best Fishing Weather Apps (Quick Answer)
The short version: GilledIt for fishing-specific weather (it records conditions with every catch and gives pre-session forecasts), the Met Office app for the most accurate general UK forecast, and Windy for visual wind and pressure maps. Most serious anglers run a combination of the three, and sea anglers add a dedicated tidal app.
Why it matters: conditions beat tackle every time. Barometric pressure, wind direction, temperature, and moon phase all influence fish behaviour more than your choice of bait. A rising barometer and a southwest wind can turn a dead swim into a fish-a-chuck session; a falling pressure system and an east wind can make the same swim feel like a desert. And in one of the most changeable climates in the world, 'sunny spells' can mean anything from blazing heat to sideways rain within the same session.
We have tested the most popular weather and fishing apps available to UK anglers. Here is how they compare for the data that actually matters on the bank.
GilledIt: Weather Built Into Your Catch Log
GilledIt takes a different approach to fishing weather. Rather than being a standalone weather app, it integrates weather data directly into your catch log. When you log a catch, GilledIt automatically records the temperature, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, humidity, and moon phase. Over time, you build a personal database of what conditions produce fish for you at specific venues.
The app also provides a pre-session forecast so you can plan your fishing. Check the conditions before you go, then compare them against your historical catch data. Did your best sessions at your local lake happen during falling pressure? You will know, because the app tracked it automatically every time you caught a fish.
GilledIt is free, UK-focused, and the weather data is designed for anglers, not meteorologists. It will not replace a dedicated weather app for detailed forecasts, but for fishing-specific conditions data, it is the most useful tool available.
Windy and Ventusky: Detailed Wind and Pressure Maps
Windy (windy.com) and Ventusky are both excellent for visual weather data. Their animated wind maps show you exactly what is happening across the UK in real time, and the pressure isobars help you understand weather systems at a glance. For sea anglers planning a trip around wind direction and swell, these are invaluable.
Both apps are free with premium tiers. Windy has better granularity for UK locations, while Ventusky has a slightly cleaner interface. Neither is fishing-specific, so you will not get bite-time predictions or moon phase data. But if you want to understand what the weather is actually doing (rather than a simplified forecast), these are the best options.
Met Office and BBC Weather: The UK Forecasting Standards
The Met Office app provides the most accurate UK weather forecasts, and it is free. Hourly forecasts for specific locations, 5-day outlooks, and weather warnings are all included. For planning a fishing session 2-3 days ahead, the Met Office is hard to beat for reliability. The BBC Weather app uses Met Office data and presents it in a cleaner interface.
The limitation for anglers is that these are general-purpose weather apps. They do not show barometric pressure trends (crucial for fishing), moon phases, or tidal data. You will need to supplement them with a fishing-specific app or a pressure tracker. Many anglers use the Met Office for the forecast and GilledIt for the fishing-specific conditions data.
Tidal Apps for Sea Anglers
If you fish the coast, tide times are non-negotiable. My Tide Times and Tides Near Me are both reliable free apps that show tide charts for every UK port and beach. They show high and low tide times, tidal coefficients, and sunrise/sunset, all essential for planning a sea fishing session.
GilledIt logs your sea catches with the weather captured automatically, but tide times aren't in the app yet. For now, pairing a dedicated tide app with your catch log is the strongest coastal setup. The key is finding a setup that works for you, whether that is one app that does everything or a combination of specialist tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
For fishing-specific weather, GilledIt automatically records conditions with every catch and provides pre-session forecasts. For detailed forecasts, the Met Office app is the most accurate UK weather source. Windy is best for visual wind and pressure maps. Most anglers use a combination.
Yes. Barometric pressure significantly affects fish feeding behaviour. Rising pressure and stable high pressure generally produce better fishing. Falling pressure before a storm can trigger a feeding frenzy, while very low pressure often results in poor fishing. Tracking pressure with your catches helps you identify patterns.
Yes. GilledIt is a free fishing app that includes weather data, barometric pressure, moon phases, and tidal information alongside catch logging. The Met Office app and Windy are both free for general weather forecasts with fishing-relevant data.
Many experienced anglers believe moon phase influences fish activity, with new moons and full moons often producing better sport. The theory is that gravitational pull affects fish feeding patterns. GilledIt tracks moon phase with every catch so you can test this for yourself over time.