You’re on the river when you hook a nice fish, you get it to the net, fumble with a tape measure, get a semi-close estimate, and release the fish as quickly as possible. We’ve all been here before. If you’ve fished long enough, you know the struggle of trying to tape a fish that won’t hold still, all while trying to do as little harm to the fish as possible. But what if there was a better way to measure and weigh fish—no scale, no tape measure, just AI.
This is exactly what Fishtechy set out to do: an Idaho-based company trying to revolutionize how anglers measure fish. Fishtechy set out to create an AI that could accurately record the length and girth of fish, giving anglers accurate measurements and even calculating the estimated weight. This system works in tandem with a proof ball, enabling any angler to measure their fish with a quick picture in seconds. In theory, this means no more struggling with fish and no more rusty tape measures. So, how does it actually work? We set out to test Fishtechy’s product to see if AI is the future of safe fish handling.
Fishtechy Proof Ball
What You Get?
In every Fishtechy order, anglers receive two proof balls and a QR code to download the app. The proof balls are orange balls made to exact specifications, enabling the AI software to recognize and accurately measure fish.
The app is home to the AI software. Once you download the app, create a free account, and you’re ready to start measuring fish. The app consists of five landing pages: a “Catchfeed” of anglers’ catches, a map, a challenge tab, and your profile. In addition, the center button is used to upload and measure images of the fish you catch with the proof ball.
How it Works
Once you have your app set up, it is time to start recording fish. This process is straightforward, but a few tips will help you accurately measure fish. All you have to do is hold up a fish for a picture or video with the proof ball alongside the fish. The app does the rest. That said, the software measures based on the proof ball. To get the most accurate measurement of the fish, ensure the proof ball is on the same plane as the fish. The best way I’ve found is to hang the ball off your finger while holding the fish up for a quick picture. Then you can place the fish in the water and release it.
Like any AI software, Fishtechy’s is continually learning. This means that as anglers submit more fish and different species, the AI continually learns and gets better. Each species of fish also uses unique weight formulas to ensure your length and width measurements are accurately transposed to the proper weight for your catch.
Field Testing
As a South Florida resident, I was eager to get out and fish in the variety of lakes, ponds, and canals. Filled with both exotics and a variety of native species, these were the perfect testing grounds to see how accurate Fishtechy was. The first species target, a peacock bass, came within the first hours of fishing. I estimated it to be about 12 inches, and upon confirming with the proof ball, I was right on the money. Approximately 12.57″ and 0.82 pounds.
I continued fishing, catching largemouth bass, Mayan cichlids, and some bluegills before hooking into a decent snakehead. The fish was big, in the 5-6 pound range, and a perfect test for Fishtechy. Upon uploading the picture, I realized bullseye snakeheads were not yet in the app. This is where Fishtechy’s ability to learn and adapt comes into play. I requested the species be added, and the team on the back end went to work verifying the new species and creating an accurate weight formula for my fish and others uploaded in the future.
It worked great on warmwater species, but I still needed to test it on trout. So I headed to BC with the Fishtechy team in search of sea-run bull trout and coastal cutthroat—the ultimate test for accurately measuring and safely releasing these fragile fish. When I arrived in BC, we quickly loaded up into helicopters before heading to some of the most remote rivers I’ve ever seen. Swinging flies through the first run, it wasn’t long until we hooked the first fish. With such a remote river system and a fragile fishery, proper fish handling was the priority. Fishtechy’s AI software allows anglers to upload videos in addition to photos. This means we were able to film quick videos rather than holding the fish up for hero shots, ensuring they made it back to the water in seconds for healthy releases. Upon uploading the video, the app allows you to choose the clearest frame before measuring the fish for you.
Final Thoughts
After using Fishtechy for several months on various species, I’m a believer. Its ease of use and ability to accurately and quickly measure fish beats that of a tape measure and scale. Not to mention it’s much easier on fish you plan to release. A few seconds, a couple of images, or a video, and you have everything you need for Fishtechy to output accurate measurements.
The Fishtechy system retails for $36 and comes with two proof balls and a QR code to the app. Take into account the price of scales and new tape measures every so often when they rust out (especially in saltwater), and it’s a no-brainer. So, to answer the question of whether AI is the future of safe fish handling? The answer is yes, and it’s only going to get better as the AI continues to learn.
