Last updated: 18 September 2026
BitePattern is a fishing log. It records where and when you fished, what you caught, and the conditions at the time — so it can tell you when those conditions come round again.
This policy explains exactly what we collect, why, and what we will never do with it. It is written to be read, not to be survived.
Who we are
BitePattern is operated by [LEGAL ENTITY NAME], [REGISTRATION NUMBER], of [REGISTERED ADDRESS], South Africa.
For questions about this policy or your data, contact [SUPPORT EMAIL]. Our Information Officer for the purposes of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) is [INFORMATION OFFICER NAME], reachable at the same address.
The short version
- We collect your precise location, because a fishing log that does not know where you fished is useless.
- We store the photos you choose to take.
- Your marks are never sold, never published, and never shared with other users unless you explicitly choose to share them.
- We do not run advertising, and we do not sell data to anybody, ever.
- You can export everything to CSV at any time, and delete everything permanently.
What we collect
Account information
Your name, email address and a password. Passwords are stored only as a bcrypt hash — we cannot read them, and neither can anyone who obtains our database.
Precise location
When you log a trip or a fish, the app records the exact latitude and longitude of your device, along with the accuracy of that fix. Each individual catch carries its own position, not just the trip.
This is the core of the product. Every environmental variable — tide state, wind relative to the beach, swell, sea temperature, light, moon — is calculated from your exact position and the exact time. Without precise location there is nothing to calculate and no pattern to find.
Location is only read while the Catch and Trip screens are open. The app does not track you in the background, and does not request “always” location permission.
Catches, trips and marks
Species, sizes, times, bait, notes, and the names and positions of the marks you save. Trips where you caught nothing are recorded too — they are as important to the analysis as the successful ones.
Photos
Photos you choose to take of your catches. They are stored on our server, associated with your account, and served only to you. We do not scan, analyse or publish them.
Technical information
Your IP address, device type and browser, and basic request logs. Used to operate the service, diagnose faults and defend against abuse.
Payment information
We never see your card. Subscriptions are billed by Apple or Google, who tell us only whether your subscription is active.
Who else sees your data
We use a small number of third parties, and only where necessary:
| Who | What they receive | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Open-Meteo | Coordinates and timestamps only — never your identity, catches or photos | Weather, tide and marine data (CC-BY 4.0) |
| Cloudflare | Your IP address and request metadata | Security, DDoS protection and delivery of our website |
| Our hosting provider | Encrypted storage of the database and photos | Running the service |
| Apple / Google | Your subscription status | Billing |
That is the complete list. We do not use advertising networks, data brokers, or third-party analytics that profile you.
What we will never do
- Sell, rent or trade your personal information
- Publish or share your fishing marks without your explicit choice
- Use your catch data to build a public map or a “hot spots” feature
- Show you advertising
- Require an internet connection before you can log a fish
Where your data is held
Our servers are in [HOSTING LOCATION]. If you use BitePattern from outside South Africa, your information is transferred to and processed there. Where personal information leaves South Africa we rely on section 72 of POPIA, and for users in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, on appropriate safeguards under the UK/EU GDPR.
How long we keep it
Your records are kept for as long as your account exists — that is the point of a fishing log; a season you logged five years ago is what makes this year’s forecast work.
When you delete your account, your trips, catches, marks and photos are permanently deleted within 30 days. Billing records are retained for five years, because South African tax law requires it.
Your rights
You may ask us to:
- See what we hold about you
- Correct anything inaccurate
- Delete your account and all its contents
- Export your records — available immediately as CSV from inside the app, no request needed
- Object to processing, or withdraw consent
Email [SUPPORT EMAIL] and we will respond within 30 days. You may also complain to the South African Information Regulator, or to your local data protection authority if you are in the EEA or UK.
Security
Passwords are hashed with bcrypt. All traffic is encrypted in transit with TLS. Access to production systems is limited and authenticated. Each account is isolated from every other at the database level.
No system is perfect. If we ever suffer a breach affecting your personal information, we will notify you and the Information Regulator as POPIA requires.
Children
BitePattern is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their information. If you believe a child has created an account, contact us and we will remove it.
Changes
If we change this policy in a way that materially affects you, we will tell you in the app before it takes effect. The date at the top always reflects the current version.
Contact
[SUPPORT EMAIL] [LEGAL ENTITY NAME], [REGISTERED ADDRESS]