Data Sources & Methodology

Data Sources & Forecast Architecture

Getfished was developed to provide reliable environmental forecasts, avoiding the assumptions and unfulfilled promises often found in other fishing forecast systems.

It combines lunar, solar, and seasonal calculations with weather data and signals from fishing activity to generate location-specific forecasts.

• No single data source determines the forecast outcome; each contributes to the overall result.
• Each component contributes to a comprehensive forecasting model.

Astronomical & Solunar Calculations

Getfished calculates solunar alignment based on the precise positions of the sun and moon.

A dedicated forecast engine, developed for Getfished, performs these calculations using a compiled systems language to deliver:

• Deterministic outputs
• Full interpretive control
• Speed and low overhead
• Independence from third-party rating services

All solunar percentages are calculated directly from lunar and solar alignment values. Getfished does not use external star ratings or replicate solunar scores from other sources.

The solunar percentage reflects feeding intensity for a given day. It does not indicate fish abundance, angler skill, or expected catch rates.

Weather, Marine & Warning Data

Forecasts use weather and marine data from trusted providers that comply with Australian regulations.

Where required, attribution to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is provided in accordance with their stated licensing requirements.

Weather and marine data may include:

• The wind direction and strength
• Marine swell, wave metrics and water temperature
• Tidal interaction from marine-specific data and tide tables.
• Severe weather and marine warnings are available when available

These datasets provide environmental context but do not solely determine fishing conditions. Nor do they form weather or tide advice and should not be relied upon for navigation or personal safety.

Fishing Report Activity Signals

Public fishing reports are analysed to identify general activity patterns and species references.

The Getfished reports engine identifies species, locations, bait, and lure patterns without reproducing full articles. Reports are not republished; instead, they are used to extract high-level signals, including:

• Species presence trends
• Report frequency
• Generalised bait or lure mentions

These fish activity signals complement the model but do not replace astronomical or weather data.

System Architecture: Getfished operates as a static publishing system with ongoing updates.

Forecast data is generated automatically every hour, with all calculations completed in the forecast engine before publication.

The public website is a static site and provides:

• Faster page loads across global zones
• No public database is used in order to improve speed.
• Code written to ensure rendering remains as deterministic as possible.
• No client-side rating or forecast calculations
• No external JS script dependencies for forecasts or scoring

All time-sensitive information, including solunar periods and environmental metrics, is calculated before publication rather than in the browser.

This approach ensures best-in-class reliability, transparency, and performance compared to websites that use dynamic browser-based updates.

Data Interpretation Philosophy

Getfished does not rely on a single source or offer definitive predictions.

Fishing outcomes depend on multiple factors, including tide, weather, location, species behaviour, and angler decisions.

Forecasts are generated by combining:

• The sun, and in particular, the moon and its orbit around the Earth
• Environmental conditions such as weather, flooding, and marine-specific data
• Observed activity signals from fishing report data and outputs from the forecast engine

The goal is to provide measurable guidance on feeding intensity, not guarantees.

Attribution & Transparency

Attribution is provided when required by data providers.

Getfished does not claim ownership of the meteorological datasets it uses.

Astronomical calculations and forecast logic are managed within the Getfished forecast engine.

For Frequently Asked Questions About Getfished see our FAQ page.