Community Rules & Regulations

These rules are effective upon account creation. Violations may result in immediate suspension or permanent ban.

Last updated: May 30, 2026·Questions? safety@myfishingbuds.com

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1. Account & Identity 2. Conduct & Respect 3. Safety Requirements 4. Legal Compliance 5. Conservation & Ethical Fishing 6. Trips & Agreements 7. Ratings & Reviews 8. AI Tools & Generated Content 9. Reporting & Enforcement 10. Privacy & Communication 11. Minors 12. Account Termination

1.Account & Identity

1.1You must be 18 years of age or older to create an account.
1.2Register with your real full name. Creating a false or misleading identity is grounds for immediate permanent ban.
1.3One account per person. Duplicate accounts will be removed without notice.
1.4We strongly encourage adding a valid fishing license to your profile. A current license is required by law when fishing and will be verified by authorities — not by MyFishingBuds.
1.5Keep your profile information accurate. Misrepresenting your skill level, experience, or equipment is a violation of these rules and harms other members.

2.Conduct & Respect

2.1Treat every member with respect. Harassment, bullying, hate speech, discrimination, or threatening language of any kind will result in immediate permanent ban.
2.2Sending unsolicited explicit messages, images, or sexual content of any kind will result in immediate permanent removal. Zero tolerance.
2.3Do not contact another member after they have blocked or ignored you. Continued contact is harassment and will result in suspension.
2.4Honor your commitments. If you confirm a trip, show up. Repeated no-shows or last-minute cancellations without valid reason will result in account suspension.
2.5Offensive, discriminatory, or vulgar language in your profile, photos, messages, or group chats is not permitted.

3.Safety Requirements

3.1Your first outing with any new fishing bud must begin at a public location — a boat ramp, marina, tackle shop, or other public access point. Meeting at private or remote locations before establishing trust is strictly prohibited.
3.2We strongly encourage filing a Float Plan in the app before every outing. Include your destination, expected return time, vessel description, and emergency contact. Your emergency contact will be automatically alerted if you don't check in on time.
3.3Carry and know how to use all legally required safety equipment for your fishing environment — life jackets, flares, fire extinguisher, and a VHF radio for offshore or coastal trips.
3.4Do not change a trip's agreed location without mutual confirmation from all parties through the app.
3.5If you are on the water and conditions deteriorate — severe weather, mechanical failure, or a medical emergency — call 911 or hail the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16 immediately. Use the SOS feature in the app to alert your emergency contact.

4.Legal Compliance

4.1You are solely responsible for knowing and complying with all applicable local, state, and federal fishing laws — including licensing requirements, bag limits, size limits, seasonal restrictions, and protected species rules. MyFishingBuds is not responsible for fines, citations, or legal consequences resulting from your failure to comply.
4.2Comply with all boating laws applicable to your state and waterway, including vessel registration, navigation rules, and laws against operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Boating under the influence is a criminal offense and grounds for immediate permanent ban.
4.3Any trip that involves illegal fishing activity — poaching, exceeding bag limits, fishing in prohibited areas, or taking protected species — must be reported immediately through the app. Participation in illegal activity results in a permanent ban and referral to wildlife authorities.
4.4AI-generated fishing regulations lookups provided through the app are for informational reference only. Always verify current regulations with your state wildlife agency before fishing. Regulations change — do not rely solely on AI summaries for legal compliance.

5.Conservation & Ethical Fishing

5.1Strictly observe all applicable bag limits, possession limits, and minimum or slot size limits for every species you target. Regulations vary by state, county, and body of water — verify with your state wildlife agency before every trip.
5.2When practicing catch and release, minimize air exposure, wet your hands before handling, support the fish horizontally, and release into the current. Use barbless hooks where practical.
5.3Do not target, retain, or harm any federally or state-listed threatened or endangered species. If a protected species is accidentally caught, handle it carefully and release it immediately. Photograph and report only if required by your state.
5.4Respect all closed seasons and no-take zones. Do not fish for out-of-season species. Check for no-take zones, marine protected areas, or spawning sanctuaries before fishing any new location.
5.5Do not transport live baitfish, aquatic plants, or water between unconnected bodies of water. Clean, drain, and dry your boat, trailer, and gear before moving to a new waterway. Preventing the spread of invasive species is everyone's responsibility.
5.6Pack out all trash, fishing line, hooks, and bait containers. Monofilament and braided line left in or near water is deadly to wildlife. Report illegal dumping or environmental damage through the app.
5.7If you witness a fishing or boating law violation during a MyFishingBuds trip, report it to your state wildlife agency tip line and flag it in the app.

6.Trips & Agreements

6.1All trip details — location, date, time, meeting point, and equipment responsibilities — must be confirmed within the app before the trip takes place.
6.2Shared costs such as fuel, bait, launch fees, and food must be agreed upon in the app before the trip departs.
6.3Any changes to agreed trip details must be communicated and confirmed by all parties through the app.
6.4MyFishingBuds does not mediate financial disputes between members. Agree on costs clearly before departure.
6.5Trip hosts are responsible for ensuring that all crew members are aware of and agree to applicable safety requirements before departure.

7.Ratings & Reviews

7.1Members are encouraged to submit a rating after completing a trip. Ratings help the community identify trustworthy anglers and improve the matching experience for everyone.
7.2Ratings must be honest and reflect your actual experience. Do not submit a rating you know to be inaccurate.
7.3Attempting to manipulate ratings — offering incentives for positive reviews or threatening negative ones — will result in permanent ban.
7.4False or defamatory reviews will be removed and may result in account suspension.
7.5Members with a rating below 3.0 stars after a minimum of 5 rated trips will have their account reviewed and may be suspended.

8.AI Tools & Generated Content

8.1The AI Trip Planner uses live NOAA, USGS, and weather data to generate trip recommendations. These are planning aids only — always exercise your own judgment about conditions, safety, and fish behavior.
8.2Fish ID results are AI-generated estimates based on photo analysis. Always confirm species identification before harvesting any fish, especially when regulations apply to specific species.
8.3Regulations information provided by the AI is sourced from available data and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify with your state wildlife agency before fishing.
8.4Do not use AI features to generate false, misleading, or harmful content. Misuse of AI tools is subject to account suspension.

9.Reporting & Enforcement

9.1Any member who witnesses a safety concern, illegal activity, harassment, or policy violation should report it immediately using the in-app Report button.
9.2MyFishingBuds will review all reports within 72 hours. Reports involving active safety threats will be escalated within 24 hours.
9.3MyFishingBuds reserves the right to suspend or permanently ban any account at its sole discretion for violations of these rules or conduct deemed harmful to the community.
9.4Banned members may not create new accounts. Circumventing a ban is a violation of our Terms of Service and will result in permanent removal of all associated accounts.
9.5MyFishingBuds may cooperate with law enforcement or wildlife authorities when a reported incident involves criminal activity.

10.Privacy & Communication

10.1Do not share another member's personal information — name, phone number, location, or any identifying detail — outside the platform without their explicit consent.
10.2All communication between members should remain within MyFishingBuds until both parties mutually agree to exchange personal contact details.
10.3Sharing screenshots of private messages or group chats publicly to defame or harm another member will result in permanent ban.
10.4MyFishingBuds does not sell your personal data to advertisers. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

11.Minors

11.1MyFishingBuds accounts are restricted to adults (18+). Minors may not create accounts or use the platform directly.
11.2Minors are permitted on trips arranged through MyFishingBuds provided that: (a) they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who is a registered member, (b) the trip host has explicitly approved the presence of minors on the vessel prior to departure, and (c) all applicable boating safety laws regarding minors — including life jacket requirements — are strictly followed.
11.3Trip hosts have the right to decline minors on their vessel. Any restriction must be communicated clearly in the trip details or through the app before confirmation.
11.4The accompanying adult is solely responsible for the safety, conduct, and supervision of any minor in their care throughout the trip.
11.5Any adult member who allows an unaccompanied minor to participate in a trip, or who misrepresents a minor's status to gain trip approval, will be permanently banned.

12.Account Termination

12.1You may delete your account at any time from your profile settings.
12.2MyFishingBuds reserves the right to terminate any account at any time for violation of these rules, our Terms of Service, or for conduct deemed harmful to the community.
12.3Upon termination, your connections, trip history, messages, and account data will be permanently deleted.

MyFishingBuds reserves the right to update these rules at any time. Members will be notified of material changes via email and in-app notification. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated rules.

Questions or safety concerns? safety@myfishingbuds.com

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