The secret to running a successful fishery (besides having a great stock of fish, of course) is efficiency. Between maintaining the venue, managing payments and other fishery admin, such tasks often take up valuable time that could be spent on the bank.
Luckily, one simple change can make a real difference: introducing card payments.
Here’s how giving your anglers more ways to pay will help your fishery operate more smoothly, reduce hassle, and allow you to spend more time fishing.
Less Time on Admin, More Time Fishing
Whether it’s cashing up at the end of the week, paying cash in at the bank, or chasing unpaid fees, handling cash transactions takes up valuable time. Offering card payments speeds up transactions and reduces the need for bank visits, giving you more time to focus on more important tasks like maintaining the venue and managing stocks.
Plus, if you’ve ever had an angler claim to have forgotten their wallet and promise they’ll pay next time, only for them to (conveniently 
) forget again, you’ll appreciate how frustrating chasing payments can be. With card payments, every transaction is recorded, making financial tracking and reporting more straightforward. This helps with tax returns, planning, and understanding angler spending habits.
Make More Money
Card payments ensure that anglers can make purchases 24/7. That means you’re no longer limited to selling tickets when your fishery is open, and there’s no need to wait by the phone in case an angler wants to buy a ticket.
On top of that, easy payment methods make it easier for anglers to spend more money with you, for example, extending their session, or upgrading to a membership. Over time, you’ll notice an increase in revenue and be able to reinvest that extra money into expanding fish stocks or investing more in marketing your fishery.
Reducing Barriers to Fishing
While a small percentage of anglers might still prefer to pay with cash, a greater proportion will expect the convenience of card payments. Providing both options ensures that everyone can pay in the way that suits them best, keeping your fishery accessible to all generations. More flexibility also means a better experience for everyone, whether they’ve planned ahead or made a last-minute decision to come down for a session.
“I started to see a rise in anglers wanting to pay by card… so I knew I had to modernise our approach. Clubmate automatically matches up the ticket payment to the member because it essentially does my accounts for me. It’s saved me so much time and it’s a relief to know that anglers can book their tickets 24/7 and aren’t limited to when the tackle shop is open,” Jamie Clayton, GJ Fisheries Manchester.
Offering card payments is about giving anglers choice and making the fishery easier to manage. Allowing anglers to pay however they prefer reduces barriers to the sport, increases revenue, and creates a smoother, more efficient operation behind the scenes. If your fishery hasn’t explored card payments yet, now is a great time to look into how it can benefit both your fishery and your anglers.
Clubmate is the go-to fishery management software trusted by over 100,000 anglers and 1500+ fishing club committee members and bailiffs. We’ll help you remove unnecessary paperwork, increase revenue and take back your spare time with our simple-to-use, cloud-based system designed specifically for fishing clubs and fisheries. Book a 1-2-1 demo with one of our fishing club experts or see what people have to say about working with us.
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