Effective date: May 30, 2026 · Questions: privacy@myfishingbuds.com
We collect information you provide directly (name, email, profile details, fishing preferences, location, license number), information generated by your use of the platform (posts, messages, trips, ratings, float plans), and technical data (device type, IP address, browser). We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
We use your information to operate and improve the platform, match you with compatible fishing partners, send safety alerts (float plan overdue notifications), process payments via Stripe, send service emails, and comply with legal obligations.
Location data is used to calculate match distances and show nearby trips. We store your city and state on your profile (visible to other users if your profile is public). Precise GPS coordinates are used for matching only and are not shared publicly. You can use the platform without GPS by entering your city manually.
Your profile information (name, bio, fishing preferences, location, ratings) is visible to other MyFishingBuds users when your profile is set to public. Messages are private between connected users. We share data with Stripe for payment processing and with Google Analytics for usage analytics (see "Cookies & Analytics" below), and may share with law enforcement if required by law or to protect safety.
We retain your data while your account is active. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time from your profile settings. Some data may be retained in anonymized form for safety and fraud prevention purposes.
Float plan data (destination, departure time, emergency contact) is stored to enable our safety alert system. Emergency contacts provided are contacted only when a float plan becomes overdue. This data is not used for marketing.
We use essential cookies for authentication and session management. We also use Google Analytics, a third-party service provided by Google, to understand how the platform is used. Google Analytics sets cookies and collects data such as your IP address (anonymized where supported), device and browser details, and on-site activity; this information is shared with and processed by Google under Google’s Privacy Policy (policies.google.com/privacy). We do not use third-party advertising cookies. You can opt out of Google Analytics using Google’s browser add-on (tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout) or by declining analytics cookies where a consent banner is shown. Where required by law (including for EU/UK and California users), we request consent before setting non-essential analytics cookies.
Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or export your personal data. To exercise these rights, contact privacy@myfishingbuds.com. We will respond within 30 days.
MyFishingBuds is strictly for users 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 18.
We will notify you of material changes via email and in-app notification. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance.