This resource provides detailed explanations of all terminology used throughout our forecasts, helping you better understand and interpret the data in Fishing Points.
- Fish activity score - a daily rating which indicates the probability of catching fish in a certain location. It is generated by our own algorithm based on solunar theory, tides & other factors.
- Major Times - the best periods during the day to catch fish.
- Minor Times - the second-best periods during the day to catch fish. They are usually shorter than Major Times.
- Forecast location - The specific location for which fish activity forecast and other forecasts will be shown in the Fishing Points app.
- Tidal current - Indicates the rate at which water levels rise or fall in the next hour.
- High and low tide values - The maximum and minimum sea levels during a tidal cycle.
- Tide station - A site where sea levels are measured for tide predictions.
- Tidal datum - A reference point based on the average height of the sea at specific stages of the tide. It’s used as a baseline for measuring water depths and tide heights.
- Precipitation probability - The likelihood of precipitation occurring at a specific location over a given time period, usually expressed as a percentage.
- Precipitation intensity - The amount of precipitation falling in a specific area, often measured in millimeters or inches per hour, indicating how heavy the precipitation is.
- UV Index - A measure of the strength of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun indicating the potential for skin damage. It is typically reported on a scale from 0 (low) to 11+ (extreme).
- Wind speed - The average rate at which the air is moving over a specific period, typically measured in knots, meters per second (m/s) or miles per hour (mph).
- Wind gusts - Short bursts of high wind speed that occur briefly and are usually stronger than the average wind speed.
- Wind bearing - The direction from which the wind is blowing, expressed in degrees from 0° to 360°, and in compass directions (e.g., N, NE, E).
- Sea current - A continuous flow of seawater in a specific direction, driven by factors like wind, tides, and the Earth's rotation.
- Swell - Long, smooth waves that have traveled out of their area of origin, usually generated by distant storms.
- Wind waves - Short, choppy waves formed by the immediate local wind, often smaller and more chaotic than swells.
- Wave Period - The time it takes for two successive wave crests to pass a fixed point, indicating wave speed and energy.
- Wave Direction - The compass direction from which waves are coming, helping predict coastal conditions and surf quality.
- Moon phases - The different shapes of the moon visible from Earth as it orbits, ranging from new moon to full moon and back.
- New moon - The moon phase where the moon is between Earth and the Sun, making it invisible from Earth.
- First quarter - The moon phase where half of the moon’s surface is illuminated, and it’s visible in the sky as a "half-moon."
- Waxing/Waning Gibbous - Phases when the moon is more than half illuminated. "Waxing" means the illumination is increasing, while "waning" means it’s decreasing.
- Last Quarter - Also called the third quarter, it's when the opposite half of the moon from the first quarter is illuminated, again showing a "half-moon."
- Full moon - The moon phase when the entire moon is illuminated, appearing as a complete circle from Earth.
- Moon Illumination - The percentage of the moon’s surface lit by the Sun as seen from Earth.
- Moon Age - The number of days since the last new moon, helping determine the current moon phase.
- Solar Noon - The time of day when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.
- Water stations - Are monitoring points placed along rivers and streams. They collect real-time data about water conditions such as water level and flow.
- Water level - Refers to the height of the river’s surface, measured relative to a fixed point (usually at the water station). It helps indicate if a river is running normal, or at risk of flooding.
- Water flow - Also called discharge, measures how much water is moving through the river at a given point, usually in cubic meters or feet per second. It reflects the speed and volume of water, which can change due to rainfall, snowmelt, or dam activity.