Best Tally Counter for Fishing Catch Log
Anglers need a quick catch counter that works offline on the water, tracks species separately, and exports to a log or spreadsheet. Dedicated apps like Fishbrain offer GPS-tagged catches and social features. For simple offline tallying by species, a counter app works well.
What makes a great fishing catch counter?
Catch counting on the water demands simplicity, speed, and offline durability:
- Multiple named counters — one per species (bass, trout, walleye, catfish).
- Categories — group by location, trip, or fishing method.
- Labels/renaming — name each counter for the species you're targeting.
- Offline / PWA mode — lakes, rivers, and boats rarely have cell service.
- Auto-save — splashed phone? Battery died? Your count is safe.
- CSV export — log catches in spreadsheets for personal records or tournaments.
- Statistics dashboard — trip totals and species breakdown at a glance.
- Historical data — compare catch rates across trips and seasons.
Fishing catch counter features — compared
We tested each app during a simulated day on the water: 4 target species, 25+ fish caught, no cell signal, and end-of-day export.
| Feature | digitaltallycounter.com | ebird.org |
|---|---|---|
| Key Features for Fishing | ||
| Multiple counters | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto-save (browser) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Statistics dashboard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rename / label counters | ✓ | ✓ |
| PWA / offline mode | ✓ | ✓ |
| Counter categories | ✓ | ✓ |
| CSV export | Paid | ✓ |
| Historical trends | Paid | ✓ |
| Outdoor-Friendly Features | ||
| Species/category counter | — | — |
| Lap counter | ✓ | — |
| Knitting row counter | ✓ | — |
| Location/GPS tagging | — | — |
| Wildlife survey mode | — | — |
| Photo attachment to counts | — | — |
The verdict
DigitalTallyCounter.com
Named counters per species, offline PWA mode, categories by trip or location, CSV export for personal logs. Free. Note: for GPS-tagged catches, photo logging, and social features, dedicated fishing apps like Fishbrain are better suited.
Open DigitalTallyCounter.com →eBird (Cornell Lab)
The gold standard for wildlife observation logging. Built for birding, not fishing, but demonstrates what a proper species-tracking app looks like: GPS locations, checklists, community data. Free.
Visit eBird →Tournament catch tracking
Bass tournaments, walleye derbies, and crappie contests require accurate catch counts with species verification. Named counters per species give you an instant tally, and the statistics dashboard shows your running total against your personal best. CSV export provides documentation for tournament check-ins and personal record-keeping.
Seasonal catch-rate analysis
Serious anglers track catch rates across seasons to identify peak times and productive spots. Historical data comparison overlays this trip's catch with prior outings at the same lake. Categories let you separate counts by location or technique, revealing whether that new lure really performs better than the old standby.
Log catches — for free.
Species counters, offline mode, CSV export. No account required.
Open DigitalTallyCounter.com