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Terms of Use

Last Updated: November 28, 2024

Introduction

Welcome to Record.Fish (“we,” “us,” or “our”). By accessing or using our website at https://record.fish (the “Site”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use (“Terms”). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Site.

In Plain English: Using our site means you agree to these rules. We’ve tried to make them as clear and fair as possible.

Description of Service

Record.Fish is an educational and informational platform that aggregates and presents current state fishing records from all 50 United States. Our services include:

  • A searchable database of state fishing records
  • News and updates about fishing records
  • Data visualization and comparison tools
  • Public data access via structured data formats
  • Community features for submitting corrections and information

Important: Record.Fish is an independent, non-governmental resource. We are not an official state agency or the authoritative source for fishing records. Official records are maintained by individual state wildlife agencies. We aggregate publicly available information to make it more accessible.

Acceptance and Modifications

Acceptance of Terms

By using the Site, you represent that:

  • You are at least 13 years of age
  • You have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms
  • You will comply with these Terms and all applicable laws

Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make changes:

  • We will update the “Last Updated” date above
  • Significant changes will be noted on the Site
  • Your continued use of the Site constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms

We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

Use of Data and Content

What You Can Do

Personal Use: You may:

  • Browse and search fishing records for personal, non-commercial purposes
  • Share links to individual records on social media
  • Reference specific records with proper attribution
  • Export data for personal research or analysis
  • Print pages for personal use

Educational & Research Use: You may:

  • Use data for academic research with proper citation
  • Include records in educational materials with attribution
  • Reference data in published research with citation

Media & Publication Use: You may:

  • Reference records in articles, blogs, or videos with attribution
  • Use data for journalism with proper citation
  • Create content based on the data

Proper Attribution and Sourcing

Important: Individual fishing records are maintained and certified by state wildlife agencies. When referencing specific records, proper attribution should be given to the certifying state agency.

Example:

"According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 
the current Georgia largemouth bass record is 22.25 pounds."

Referencing Record.Fish:

We appreciate acknowledgment when our site helps you find information.

Optional Courtesy:

If our site was helpful in your research, we appreciate (but don’t require) a mention or link. It helps others discover the resource.

What You Cannot Do

You may NOT:

  • Scrape or crawl the Site excessively or in ways that harm our servers
  • Copy our website design, code, or original content
  • Impersonate Record.Fish or suggest official affiliation with us or state agencies
  • Use data for spam or deceptive purposes
  • Overwhelm our servers with excessive requests (use reasonable rate limits)
  • Misrepresent the source of information (always cite state agencies for their data)

Public Data Access & API

Current Access Methods:

We provide public access to our data in JSON format via API. When accessing data programmatically:

Free Use Allowed:

  • Reasonable automated access for non-commercial purposes
  • Integration with non-commercial apps or websites
  • Research and educational projects
  • Personal projects

Requirements:

  • Respect rate limits (no more than 60 requests per minute)
  • Include proper User-Agent identification
  • Provide attribution as described above
  • Do not create excessive server load

Commercial Use:

  • Contact [email protected] for commercial API access
  • We’re supportive of partnerships
  • We may establish formal API terms for high-volume use

We Reserve the Right To:

  • Implement rate limiting or access controls
  • Block abusive or excessive usage
  • Require API keys for programmatic access
  • Establish formal API terms in the future

User Submissions

Types of Submissions

You may submit content to Record.Fish, including:

  • Record corrections or updates
  • Photos of record fish
  • News articles or links about records
  • General feedback or suggestions

License Grant

By submitting content to Record.Fish, you grant us:

  • A worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license
  • To use, display, modify, and distribute your submission
  • On the Site and in related promotional materials
  • With or without attribution (at our discretion)

In Plain English: If you send us a photo or correction, we can use it on the site. We won’t pay you for it, but we appreciate it!

Your Representations

By submitting content, you represent that:

  • You own the content or have permission to submit it
  • The content is accurate to the best of your knowledge
  • The content does not violate any laws or third-party rights
  • You have the right to grant the license above

No Obligation

We are not obligated to:

  • Use or display submitted content
  • Respond to every submission
  • Provide compensation for submissions
  • Maintain submissions indefinitely

Corrections and Takedowns

If you believe we have used your content without permission or displayed inaccurate information:

  • Contact us at [email protected]
  • We will investigate and respond promptly
  • We will remove or correct content as appropriate

Third-Party Relationships and Integrations

Partnerships

We may partner with third-party services, publications, and platforms to:

  • Provide enhanced features
  • Offer wider access to our data
  • Integrate with other fishing-related services
  • Collaborate on content

Such partnerships are subject to separate agreements and these Terms of Use.

Embedded Content and Widgets

We may offer embed codes or widgets that allow third parties to display our data on their websites. By using these features:

  • You agree to provide proper attribution
  • You acknowledge that we may update or discontinue embeds at any time

Third-Party Websites

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, including:

  • Official state wildlife agency sites
  • News articles about records
  • Related fishing resources

We are not responsible for:

  • The content, accuracy, or practices of third-party sites
  • Your use of third-party sites
  • Any transactions you conduct with third parties

Your use of third-party sites is at your own risk and subject to their terms.

Data Sharing

We may share aggregated, anonymized data with:

  • Research institutions
  • Conservation organizations
  • State wildlife agencies
  • Publications and media

We will not share personally identifiable information without consent (see our Privacy Policy for details).

Intellectual Property Rights

Our Rights

Site Content: All content on the Site is owned by Record.Fish or its licensors, including:

  • Website design, layout, and graphics
  • Text, descriptions, and commentary
  • Database structure and organization
  • Software and code
  • Logos and trademarks

Database Compilation: While individual fishing records are public facts, our compilation, organization, and presentation of this data is protected by copyright and database rights.

Facts vs. Presentation

Important Distinction:

  • Individual record facts (species, weight, date, location) are public information maintained by state agencies and not copyrightable
  • Our website design and code is our intellectual property
  • Any original analysis and commentary is our intellectual property

Branding

You may use our name/logo:

  • When linking to or referencing our site
  • In articles or content about fishing records (fair use)
  • When properly attributing information you found via our site

User Submissions

You retain ownership of content you submit, but you grant us a license as described in Section 4.

Third-Party Content

Some content on the Site (photos, articles, state data) is owned by third parties and used with permission or under fair use principles. Such content is subject to the original owner’s rights.

Disclaimers

Data Accuracy

We make great efforts to ensure data is current and accurate, but:

  • Data is sourced from public sources and may contain errors
  • State agencies may update records without our knowledge
  • Information may be incomplete or outdated
  • We rely on third-party sources that may be inaccurate

WE PROVIDE DATA “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND.

If you discover an error, please contact [email protected].

Not an Official Authority

Record.Fish is not:

  • An official state agency
  • The authoritative source for fishing records
  • Qualified to certify or verify record claims
  • Responsible for official record-keeping

For official records:

  • Contact your state wildlife agency
  • Follow official verification procedures
  • Refer to state government websites

We are an aggregator and educational resource, not an official authority.

No Professional Advice

Content on the Site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute:

  • Professional fishing advice
  • Legal advice about fishing regulations
  • Scientific or expert opinion
  • Recommendations for specific fishing activities

Always follow local fishing regulations and safety guidelines.

Use at Your Own Risk

You use the Site at your own risk. We are not liable for:

  • Decisions made based on our data
  • Consequences of using information from the Site
  • Any damages resulting from errors or omissions in our data

Limitation of Liability

Disclaimer of Warranties

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, RECORD.FISH IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

  • Warranties of merchantability
  • Fitness for a particular purpose
  • Non-infringement
  • Accuracy, reliability, or completeness of content
  • Uninterrupted or error-free operation

Limitation of Damages

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, RECORD.FISH SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

  • Indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages
  • Loss of profits, data, or use
  • Damages resulting from errors or omissions in data
  • Damages resulting from use or inability to use the Site
  • Damages resulting from third-party content or websites

Exceptions

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitation of liability. In such jurisdictions, our liability will be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Record.Fish and its owners, operators, employees, and partners from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

  • Your use of the Site
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of any rights of third parties
  • Content you submit to the Site
  • Your violation of applicable laws

In Plain English: If your use of the site causes us legal trouble, you’re responsible for it.

Termination and Suspension

Our Right to Terminate

We reserve the right to:

  • Suspend or terminate your access to the Site
  • Remove or disable content at our discretion
  • Refuse service to anyone for any reason

Reasons for termination may include:

  • Violation of these Terms
  • Abusive or excessive use
  • Fraudulent or deceptive activity
  • Legal or regulatory requirements

Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

  • Your right to use the Site ceases immediately
  • Provisions that should survive (disclaimers, limitations) remain in effect
  • We are not liable for any consequences of termination

Your Right to Stop Using

You may stop using the Site at any time without notice.

General Provisions

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of [Your State], United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution: Before pursuing formal action, please contact us at [email protected] to resolve disputes informally.

Jurisdiction: Any legal action must be brought in the courts of [Your State/County], and you consent to the jurisdiction of such courts.

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Record.Fish regarding use of the Site.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.

Waiver

Our failure to enforce any provision does not waive our right to enforce it later.

Assignment

You may not assign these Terms. We may assign these Terms without notice.

No Agency

These Terms do not create any agency, partnership, or joint venture between you and Record.Fish.

Special Provisions for Minors

The Site is appropriate for users of all ages, but:

  • Users under 13: Must have parental consent to use the Site
  • Users under 18: Must have parental consent to submit content
  • We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent

See our Privacy Policy for more information about children’s privacy.

Accessibility

We strive to make our Site accessible to all users. If you encounter accessibility issues, please contact us at [email protected].

Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact us:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://record.fish

Mail: [Your mailing address if you want to include it]

For data corrections or submissions: Use the contact form on the Site or email [email protected]

Acknowledgments

Record.Fish aggregates data from public sources, including:

  • State wildlife agency websites
  • News publications
  • Official records databases
  • Community contributions

We acknowledge and respect the rights of original data sources and comply with applicable data usage laws.

We are grateful to state wildlife agencies for maintaining official records and making them publicly available.

Summary (TL;DR)

You can:

  • Use the site for personal, educational, or media purposes
  • Share links and reference individual records freely
  • Submit corrections, photos, and information
  • Access data reasonably via exports or programmatic access

You cannot:

  • Scrape our site excessively or harm our servers
  • Copy our website design or code
  • Impersonate us or claim official affiliation
  • Misrepresent data sources

Key points:

  • Individual records belong to state agencies – cite them properly
  • We’re not an official authority – we’re an aggregator/educator
  • We support partnerships, integrations, and reasonable use
  • Normal legal disclaimers apply – use at your own risk
  • We appreciate (but don’t require) credit when we help you

Questions? Contact [email protected]

By using Record.Fish, you agree to these Terms. Thank you for being part of the fishing records community!

*Last Updated: November 28, 2024*