The short version
FishGrid has no accounts and never asks for your name, email, or phone number. It does not use your GPS location. We count how the app is used, anonymously, so we can make it better and show local businesses how many anglers use it.
What we collect
An anonymous app ID — a random code your browser creates the first time you open FishGrid. Before it is stored, we scramble it (a one-way “hash”), so the stored version can’t be traced back to you or your device.
Usage counts — the days you open the app, whether you’re using the installed (Home Screen) version, and your general device type (iPhone, Android, or computer).
What you look at — which species pages and which of our built-in fishing spots you open, and on what date. This tells us which fish and spots people care about.
Suggestions you send — your message, the category you picked, the time, your device type, and the contact info you choose to add (only if you want a reply).
What we don’t collect
No GPS or device location. No contacts, photos, or other apps’ data. No advertising IDs. We never save your IP address — our server holds it in memory for a few minutes only to stop abuse (too many requests), then forgets it.
If you drop a custom pin, its map coordinates are sent to our server only to look up conditions at that point. We don’t store or log them. Your saved pins and your favorite spot live only on your device.
Other services your device talks to
To show species photos and the map, your device loads them directly from Wikimedia Commons and OpenStreetMap. Like any website, those services receive your IP address when they send the images. FishGrid runs on Microsoft Azure. Weather, tide, and river data are fetched by our server from NOAA, the National Weather Service, and USGS — your device doesn’t contact them.
How we use it
To understand how many people use FishGrid and which features, fish, and spots matter most; to fix problems; and to share overall numbers (never individual activity) with potential local sponsors. We don’t sell data, and we don’t use it for advertising profiles.
Stored on your device
FishGrid saves a few things in your browser so the app works: your selected spot, any custom pins, the anonymous app ID, and small preferences (like whether you dismissed the install tip). Clearing your browser or app data removes them.
Children
FishGrid is a general-audience fishing app. It doesn’t knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
Changes and contact
If this policy changes, we’ll update this page and the date below. Questions or requests? Use “Send a suggestion” in the More menu.
Effective October 3, 2026