Messaging
Message Fellow Anglers
Nobody wants to fish alone forever. GilledIt's messaging connects you with fellow anglers. Plan trips, share catches, negotiate tackle deals, and find new fishing buddies. All from the app. Real-time DMs with read receipts, @mentions, and user search.
Stop Fishing Alone. Find Your Fishing Buddies
Hard to find buddies who'll actually get up at 5am on a Saturday. GilledIt helps you discover local anglers who fish the same waters and target the same species. Follow them on the feed, comment on their catches, drop them a DM, arrange a trip. Two messages. One fishing buddy. No annual fees.
Discover anglers on the feed →Better Than Forums: The Modern Fishing Chat
Forums were great in 2010. But waiting 3 days for someone to reply to your "anyone fishing Lake Fork this weekend?" post is not great in 2026. GilledIt messaging is instant, mobile-first, and fishing-only. No memes, no off-topic chat, no algorithm burying your post. Just direct messages between anglers who actually fish.
Join the community →Negotiate Marketplace Offers via Chat
When a buyer makes an offer on your listing, negotiate via in-app messaging. Counter-offer, haggle, agree on shipping, all without leaving the app. Messages are linked directly to marketplace listings, so there's no confusion about which item you're discussing. No need to swap phone numbers. Everything stays in one place.
Browse the tackle marketplace →How it works
Connect with Anglers in 3 Steps
From download to first message in under a minute.
Find an Angler
Browse the feed, check the map for local catches, or use the search to find anglers by username. Discover people who fish your waters.
Send a Message
Tap to open a DM. Send text, photos, or catch shares. Read receipts show when they've seen your message.
Plan & Fish Together
Coordinate timing, location, and tackle. Share map pins, agree on the spot, and head out. Fishing buddy sorted.
Feature highlights
Messaging Built for the Fishing Community
Real-time DMs, @mentions, user search, and marketplace negotiation, all in one app.
Real-Time DMs
Instant direct messages to any GilledIt user. Text, photos, and catch shares. No more waiting 3 days for a forum reply.
Read Receipts
Know if your buddy's seen the 'want to fish Saturday?' message or is ghosting you. Blue ticks don't lie.
@Mentions
Tag your buddy in a catch photo. Rub it in properly. They get a notification and can tap to reply or DM.
User Search
Find anglers by username. Search the community to find people who fish your local waters.
Marketplace Chat
Negotiate tackle offers without swapping phone numbers. Message threads linked directly to listings.
Find Fishing Buddies
Moved to a new town? Search for anglers near you. Two messages, one fishing buddy, no annual fees.
Plan Trips
Coordinate who's bringing the tackle box, share a map pin, agree on timing. Trip planning sorted.
Push Notifications
Never miss a message. Get notified instantly when someone replies, mentions you, or sends an offer.
Messaging: Frequently Asked Questions
Download GilledIt and browse the social feed to see anglers catching fish near you. Check the interactive map for active anglers at your local waters. Send a direct message to anyone on the platform. You can also use @mentions in comments to start conversations.
Yes. GilledIt combines a social feed, real-time messaging, @mentions, and a follow system in a fishing-specific app. Features include direct messages with read receipts, catch sharing, marketplace offer negotiation, and user search. Available free on iOS and Android.
Yes. GilledIt has built-in real-time direct messaging. Send text messages and photos to any user. Read receipts show when your message has been read. You can also use @mentions in comments and posts. Messaging is used to negotiate marketplace offers too.
Traditional US fishing forums include Bass Fishing Forum, The Hull Truth, and state-specific forums. However, many anglers are switching to app-based communities like GilledIt for faster, real-time communication with instant DMs, read receipts, @mentions, and integrated catch sharing.
Many states maintain directories of fishing clubs. For a modern approach, GilledIt's messaging lets you connect with local anglers directly. Browse the map for anglers fishing your local waters and send them a message.
When a buyer makes an offer on your listing, tap to open a direct message thread linked to the listing. Counter the offer, discuss shipping, and agree a price within the messaging system. Once agreed, the buyer completes checkout via secure Stripe payment.
Find a Fishing Buddy. Download GilledIt Free
Not a dating app for anglers. Not a professional networking tool. Just a way to message people who fish. Free on iOS and Android.