Fish identifier app · iOS · Free daily ID

Know your fish.
Know if it's a keeper.

CatchScan is the AI fish identifier that names any fish from a photo — then reads where that photo was taken, matches the fishing jurisdiction against NOAA water boundaries, and shows the size limits, bag limits and seasons that actually apply there. No more guessing. No more risking a fine.

U.S. waters checked with NOAA data

Download on the App Store FREE DOWNLOAD · 1 FREE ID A DAY · iOS 17+ · NO ADS
OpenAI GPTidentification engine
2,536+anglers & enthusiasts
CatchScan fish identifier app camera framing an angler's Chinook salmon catch on a boat

Download

Every "what fish is this?" answered — one free, every day.

Fish Identifier: CatchScan is free to download for iPhone and iPad. Every day you get one full identification at no cost — species, field marks and the local rules included — and it keeps a running record of every species you land. Premium lifts the daily limit and unlocks follow-up questions.

Download on the App Store 2,536+ ANGLERS · REFERENCE & EDUCATION · AGES 4+

What you get

From "no idea" to a keeper-or-release call

Three things every other fish app makes you choose between — the species, the rules, and a record of what you've caught.

CatchScan identifying a red grouper from a photo, showing a high confidence rating, catch difficulty gauge and field marks

01 · Identify

Name any fish — and see how sure the AI is

Point the camera at your catch or pick a photo from your library. OpenAI GPT reads the fins, body shape and markings, then returns the species, the scientific name, and the field marks that justify the match.

Every result carries a confidence rating, so a firm identification never looks the same as a tentative one. When a species has close relatives, a "Don't confuse with" section names them and gives the one visible feature that tells them apart.

confidence ratingfield markslook-alike checkcatch difficulty
CatchScan showing local fishing regulations for red grouper in Florida state waters with a Keepable verdict, size limit, bag limit and season

02 · Keep or release

Know if it's a keeper, where you actually caught it

U.S. waters checked with NOAA data

CatchScan reads the location saved inside the photo — not wherever your phone is right now — and works out which jurisdiction that water belongs to, including whether you were in state or federal waters, checked against NOAA boundary data.

Then it shows the rules that apply there: minimum size, bag limit, season status, and a plain Keepable or release verdict. Identify a photo from last weekend's trip and you still get the right state's rules.

size limitsbag limitsseasonsstate vs federal
CatchScan Collection screen showing five species collected including largemouth bass, rainbow trout, tripletail, peacock bass and red grouper with milestone badges

03 · Collect

Build a lifetime field guide of what you've caught

Every confirmed identification joins your Collection — your own field guide, built only from fish you personally landed. Each species keeps its cover photo, scientific name and a running catch count.

Milestones unlock at 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 species, so there is always a next one to chase. Records survive even after you clear old chats, and the whole collection stays on your device and reviewable offline.

species milestonescatch countsstored on deviceworks offline

How it works

Identify the fish. Check the rules. Ask anything.

Three steps between "what is that?" and a confident decision — keep it or release it.

Snap a photo

Point the smart camera at your catch — on the boat, the bank or the pier. The optimised viewfinder guides you to the best angle, or pick a photo you already took: CatchScan reads the location out of the photo itself, so older shots still get the right rules.

saltwaterfreshwaterjuveniles

Get species + local rules

OpenAI GPT reads the fins, markings and body shape, names the species with a confidence rating, and flags look-alike species you might be confusing it with. Then it pairs the result with regulations for the water in your photo: minimum size, bag limit, season status, keeper or release.

confidence ratingsize limitsbag limitsseasons

Ask follow-up questions Premium

Unlike simple ID apps, CatchScan chats. Ask if it's safe to eat, how to tell it from a lookalike, its conservation status, or the best way to catch another one.

"Is it safe to eat?""Size limit here?"

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I identify a fish from a photo?

Open CatchScan, point the camera at your fish (or pick a photo from your library), and tap. OpenAI GPT reads body shape, fins, markings and coloration, then returns the species name, scientific name, the field marks behind the match and how confident it is — in seconds. It works for saltwater, freshwater, tropical and cold-water fish. Learn more →

What fish did I just catch?

Snap a photo of your catch and CatchScan names the species on the spot, then shows a confidence rating so you know how firm the match is. You also get habitat, typical size, the field marks that identify it, and a “Don't confuse with” section naming look-alike species and the one feature that separates each. Learn more →

How do I know if I can legally keep the fish I caught?

CatchScan reads the location saved in your photo, matches it to the fishing jurisdiction — including whether you were in state or federal waters, checked against NOAA boundary data — and shows the rules that apply there: minimum size limits, bag limits, open or closed seasons, and a clear keeper-or-release verdict. Learn more →

Does CatchScan work on photos I took earlier?

Yes, and it still gets the regulations right. CatchScan uses the location stored in the photo itself, not wherever your phone happens to be now, so you can identify last weekend's catch from your couch and still see the rules for the water you were actually fishing.

Does CatchScan keep track of the species I've caught?

Yes. Every confirmed identification is added to your Collection — a lifetime field guide of the species you personally caught, each with its cover photo, scientific name and a running catch count. Milestones unlock at 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 species, so there's always a next one to chase.

Is the fish I caught safe to eat?

Every identification includes the species profile and its conservation status. To go further, tap the suggested question “Is it safe to eat?” and CatchScan explains the species' edibility and what to watch for before it goes in the cooler — follow-up questions are a Premium feature. Learn more →

Can CatchScan identify saltwater fish?

Yes. CatchScan identifies saltwater game fish and commercial species — from red grouper and cobia to tuna and Chinook salmon — along with tropical reef fish, and pairs each with the saltwater regulations for the water it was caught in. Learn more →

Can CatchScan identify freshwater fish like bass and trout?

Yes. CatchScan recognises largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout, salmon, panfish, catfish and other freshwater species, including tricky juveniles, and explains the field marks behind each identification. Learn more →

Does CatchScan work for aquarium fish?

Yes. Point the camera at a tank — at home, in a shop or at a public aquarium — and CatchScan identifies the species along with its natural habitat, adult size and conservation status. Care tips, tank-mate compatibility and feeding guidance come from follow-up questions, which are a Premium feature. Learn more →

How do I tell apart fish that look alike, such as Chinook and coho salmon?

Every identification, free ones included, has a “Don't confuse with” section that names the species most often mistaken for yours and gives the visible field mark that separates each — a Chinook's black gums and fully spotted tail versus a coho's white gums, for example. With Premium you can also ask “how is this different from a coho?” in the chat. Learn more →

Is CatchScan free?

CatchScan is free to download, and you get one full identification every day at no cost — species, confidence rating, field marks, look-alike check and the local regulations all included. Premium lifts the daily limit and unlocks follow-up questions, and starts with a free trial. Requires iOS 17 or later. Download it here →

Does CatchScan work offline?

New identifications need an internet connection, but everything you've already identified — your Collection, species profiles, chats and photos — is stored on your device and can be reviewed offline, even with no signal on the water.

Fish Identifier: CatchScan app icon

Never wonder "can I keep this?" again

Join the anglers who identify every catch and fish within the rules. Free to download, with a full identification every day at no cost.

FREE DOWNLOAD · IPHONE & IPAD · IOS 17+