Fishbrain: The "spot burner" app?

Hi, we’re Fishbrain, and we’re the creators behind the world’s best fishing app...also referred to as “that spot burning app” in some circles. We would like to take a moment to address this misconception and highlight the useful features of the app, which exist to protect your privacy, fishing spots, and more.

So…is Fishbrain a spot burning app?

No way! You can always choose to keep your spots private. Sharing any spots is entirely up to you. If you’re into keeping your spots a secret…there is a way to do that! Everyone using the app can choose to add a location to mark where they caught their fish. This feature is intended to remind you of the best spots to fish in the future. It’s also incredibly useful for new anglers getting into the sport of fishing. It helps them easily find places to fish. But again, it’s entirely your decision to share your spots or keep them secret. 

Why is Fishbrain called a spot burning app then?

Part of human nature is repeating what you hear. Some people have incorrectly dubbed us as a spot burning app because when Fishbrain first launched, many many years ago, it didn’t have privacy options.  We have made a lot of updates since then to put privacy first, and improve the user experience.

Sharing spots is a choice. But it’s a great choice because it encourages more new anglers to fish. If fishing were to die out as a sport, this would impact us all. 

Many anglers and Fishbrain users realize that fishing helps us all. The more anglers buying fishing licenses, the better for everyone. 

Did you know that a great many anglers are passionate about the environment? By buying fishing licenses, and promoting fishing, those funds help wildlife conservation programs. Depending on the state you live in, that money also goes to purchasing acres of land and water areas for recreational activities. This helps ensure there is clean water and healthy fish for years to come.

Fishing also helps boost your local economy! Buying fishing licenses, paying park fees, buying gear, and more all contribute to improving your local economy. This helps support thousands of jobs locally.

So now let’s get down to the real question…

How do I keep my fishing spots private on Fishbrain?

It’s easy! Every time you log a catch, you have the option to choose your privacy level. You are always in control and have three levels to choose from, based on how much you want to share.

Public: This will share the name of the fishing water and your exact catch position.

Competitive: This will share the name of the water you caught the fish, but keep your exact catch position private.

Private: This will allow you to keep all catch location data private.

How to access these privacy options

1. When you are logging your catch you will be taken to a map screen to choose your location. At the bottom of the screen, you will see: Privacy Level and its current setting.

2. Click on the current setting to access a list of privacy options:

3. Choose the option you want and continue to upload your catch as normal.

Pro tip: Your privacy level from the last time you log a catch will be remembered for next time.

Fish Better, Together

We aim to help everyone improve their fishing skills through knowledge sharing. Remember, we are all in this together and you can choose your desired level of information sharing. Whether its uploading catches or participating in fishing discussions and groups, there are many ways we as anglers can improve together.