Help & FAQ

How do I subscribe to email alerts?
On any bar's detail page, click the "Get Email Alerts" button. Enter your email address and click Subscribe. You'll receive a verification email - click the link to confirm your subscription.

How do I manage my email preferences?
Every email alert includes a "Manage Preferences" link at the bottom. You can also access your preferences page directly from any verification or alert email. From there you can enable/disable alerts for specific bars, set schedules, or unsubscribe.

Can I set a schedule for alerts?
Yes! In your email preferences, you can choose which days of the week to receive alerts (great for weekend trips) and set date ranges (useful for planning specific fishing trips).

How do I unsubscribe?
Click the unsubscribe link in any email alert, or visit your email preferences page and click the X button next to any subscription you want to remove.

Power users can navigate PNW Bar Info quickly using keyboard shortcuts:

Shortcuts are disabled when typing in input fields or text areas.

How do I switch between light and dark mode?
Click the sun/moon icon in the header (desktop) or in the mobile menu. The icon indicates the current theme - sun for light mode, moon for dark mode.

Does it remember my preference?
Yes! Your theme preference is saved in your browser's local storage. If you haven't set a preference, the site respects your system's color scheme setting (prefers-color-scheme).

What is solunar theory?
Solunar theory predicts that fish and wildlife feeding activity increases during specific periods tied to the moon's position relative to your location. Major periods occur when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods occur at moonrise and moonset.

How do I access solunar data?
Visit the Tides page and select a station. The Solunar Fishing Periods section shows today's major and minor feeding windows with start/end times and ratings.

Major vs Minor periods:

• Major periods (about 2 hours) — highest predicted activity, when moon is overhead or underfoot
• Minor periods (about 1 hour) — moderate activity, at moonrise and moonset

Solunar data is calculated from astronomical ephemeris data and is theoretical. Combine it with tide and weather conditions for the best results.

PNW Bar Info is supported by local businesses and sponsors who help keep the service free. Visit our Partners page to see our current sponsors and learn about partnership opportunities.

How do I submit a catch photo?
Visit the catch submission page and fill out the form with your photo, name, email, and optional details (species, bar location, caption). You'll receive a verification email — click the link to confirm your submission.

What happens after I submit?
After email verification, your photo enters a moderation queue. Once approved by an administrator, it appears in the public gallery. You'll receive an email notification when your photo is approved or rejected.

Voting and Catch of the Week:
Approved photos can be voted on by the community. The photo with the most votes in the past 7 days is featured as "Catch of the Week" at the top of the gallery.

Reporting photos:
If you see inappropriate or spam content, click the report button on any photo. Reports are reviewed by administrators.

Managing your submission:
Your verification email includes a management link that lets you view your submission status or delete your photo at any time.

How do I list my charter business?
Visit the charter submission page and fill out your business details including name, captain, contact information, services offered, and home port(s). After email verification and admin review, your listing appears in the public directory.

Reporting issues:
If you notice a charter has permanently closed, you can report it from the charter's detail page. You can also suggest edits to correct outdated information.

Browse the species directory to find detailed information about PNW fish species. Filter by category (salmon, trout, bottomfish, shellfish) and search by common or alternative names.

Each species page includes identification tips, habitat information, fishing techniques, best bait, edibility ratings, state records, and links to official agency resources (WDFW, ODFW, CDFW, NOAA).

The season chart shows a month-by-month overview of when each species is available in the PNW. Dark-shaded months indicate peak season; lighter shading indicates the species is available but not at peak abundance.

Note: The season chart shows general availability patterns and is not a substitute for official fishing regulations. Always check current regulations before fishing.

Use the species comparison tool to compare two or more species side-by-side. This is helpful for identifying similar-looking species or comparing fishing characteristics like size, habitat, and season.

If you notice incorrect or outdated species information, you can suggest a correction from any species detail page using the "Suggest an Edit" button. You can report a specific field as incorrect or propose changes to multiple fields.

Accepted changes are logged in public change history on each species page for transparency.

PNW Bar Info checks for new data every 15 minutes. The source data from NOAA/Weather.gov is typically updated every 4 hours. The "Last Updated" timestamp on each bar shows when the Coast Guard last updated the conditions.

"No Restrictions" means there are no official limitations on bar crossings at this time. However, this does not mean conditions are safe for all vessels. Always assess the swell, wind, and visibility data along with your vessel's capabilities and your experience level.

Click the bell icon on any bar card on the dashboard. Your browser will ask for permission to send notifications. Once enabled, you'll receive alerts when that bar's status changes (e.g., from Open to Restricted or Closed).

The badge provides a quick go/no-go assessment based on current conditions. "Favorable" (green) indicates good conditions, "Use Caution" (yellow) suggests elevated risk, and "Not Advised" (red) means conditions are dangerous. The badge considers status, swell height, wind speed, and visibility.

Swell refers to long-period waves generated by distant storms, while waves (or wind waves) are shorter-period waves created by local wind. On a bar, both combine to create the conditions you'll experience. The reported swell height gives you the primary wave energy you'll encounter.

During ebb (outgoing) tide, water flows from the bay/river toward the ocean. When this outgoing current meets incoming ocean swells, waves become steeper, more powerful, and can break unpredictably. This opposing force creates the most hazardous bar conditions.

Yes! PNW Bar Info is a Progressive Web App (PWA) that works on any device. On mobile, you can add it to your home screen for app-like access. The site also works offline to show cached data when you don't have connectivity.

PNW Bar Info displays official data from NOAA and the US Coast Guard. However, conditions can change rapidly between updates. Always contact the Coast Guard bar station directly before attempting any crossing, especially in marginal conditions.

Go to Catches > Submit a Catch and upload your photo with your name, email, and optional details. After verifying your email, an administrator will review your submission. Approved photos appear in the public gallery.

Yes! On any species detail page, click the "Suggest an Edit" button to report incorrect data or propose changes. Administrators review all suggestions, and accepted changes are recorded in public change history for transparency.

Solunar periods are predicted times of increased fish and wildlife feeding activity based on the moon's position. Major periods (about 2 hours) occur when the moon is overhead or underfoot. Minor periods (about 1 hour) occur at moonrise and moonset. View solunar data on the Tides page for any station.