Verified Fishing Sessions
3 min read
What Is a Verified Fishing Session?
A Verified Fishing Session (VFS) is a GPS-tracked, evidence-collected fishing outing where every catch goes through the full DerbyFish verification pipeline. VFS is what separates casual fishing from competitive, trustworthy fishing.
During a VFS, three verification layers work together:
- Cryptographic sealing -- Your session data is timestamped and sealed on-chain. No one can alter it after the fact.
- AI species identification -- Computer vision analyzes your catch photos for species match, measurement clarity, and submission quality.
- Captain review -- Licensed captains review flagged or borderline submissions with human judgment.
How to Start a VFS
- Open the DerbyFish app
- Tap "Start Session"
- Choose "Verified Fishing Session" (requires BAIT balance)
- Confirm your location and device
- Fish. Submit catches using the BHRV process (Bump, Hero, Release, Verify)
- End your session when done
The app tracks your GPS, manages evidence collection, and guides you through each catch submission.
VFS vs Free Session (FS)
| Feature | VFS | FS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 1 BAIT/hr | Free |
| GPS tracking | Yes | No |
| AI verification | Yes | No |
| Captain review | Yes | No |
| Blockchain proof | Yes | No |
| Derby eligible | Yes | No |
| Leaderboard eligible | Yes | No |
| Season progression | Yes | No |
| DerbyFish Index | Yes | No |
| Catch logging | Yes | Yes |
| Social sharing | Yes | Yes |
Session Billing
VFS costs 1 BAIT per hour, billed in 15-minute increments. A 45-minute session costs 0.75 BAIT. A 2-hour session costs 2 BAIT.
Billing begins when you start the session and ends when you tap "End Session." If your BAIT balance hits zero, the session continues and your balance goes negative. You can always finish your current session.
What Happens to Your Catches
Every catch submitted during a VFS receives:
- A verification score (0-100) based on five weighted factors
- A verification tier (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum)
- A blockchain record that cannot be altered
- Eligibility for derby leaderboards, season progression, and the DerbyFish Index
Catches from Free Sessions are logged in your profile but do not receive verification scores and cannot enter competitions.
When to Use VFS
- During any active derby
- When you want catches on your permanent verified record
- When climbing leaderboards matters
- When building your FishDex with verified entries
When to Use FS
- Scouting a new lake
- Fishing casually with friends or family
- Teaching someone to fish
- Testing gear or techniques without the verification overhead