SurfboardFishing.com ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you visit our website. We comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for users in the European Economic Area and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for California residents.
Contents
1. Information We Collect
We collect information in the following ways:
Information You Provide Directly
- Email address — when you subscribe to our newsletter via the signup forms on our site
- Contact information — when you fill out the contact form on our Contact page
- Partnership inquiries — business name, contact details, and proposal details submitted via our Partnerships page
Information Collected Automatically
- Usage data — pages visited, time spent, click patterns, scroll depth, and navigation paths (via Google Analytics 4, only with your consent)
- Device information — browser type, operating system, screen resolution, and device type
- IP address and location — general geographic location (city/region level, not precise GPS) derived from your IP address
- Referrer data — the website or search engine that referred you to our site
Information We Do NOT Collect
- Payment or financial information (we do not sell products directly)
- Social security numbers, government IDs, or sensitive personal data
- Precise GPS location data
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
To provide and improve our content
Understanding which guides, articles, and tools are most helpful allows us to create better resources for surfboard and SUP fishing beginners.
To analyze site performance
We use aggregated, anonymized usage data to identify technical issues, optimize page load times, and improve the overall user experience.
To communicate with you
If you subscribe to our newsletter, we use your email to send fishing tips, gear reviews, and site updates. You can unsubscribe at any time.
To respond to inquiries
When you contact us via our contact form or partnerships page, we use your information solely to respond to your message.
To ensure security
We monitor for suspicious activity and potential security threats to protect our site and visitors.
We do not: Sell your personal information to third parties, use your data for targeted advertising (unless you explicitly consent to marketing cookies), or share your email with partners without your permission.
4. Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services to operate our website. Each has its own privacy policy:
Readdy (Hosting Platform)
Website hosting, form handling, and AI assistant services
View Privacy Policy →YouTube (Embedded Videos)
Video content embedding in our video library and guides
View Privacy Policy →5. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We only share data in the following limited circumstances:
- Service providers: We share data with trusted third parties (like Google Analytics and our hosting platform) solely to operate the website. These providers are contractually bound to protect your data.
- Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.
- Business transfers: If SurfboardFishing.com is acquired or merged, user information may be transferred as part of that transaction. You would be notified before any change in data handling practices.
6. Data Retention
We retain your information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy:
Newsletter subscriptions
Until you unsubscribe — You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in every email
Contact form submissions
Up to 2 years — To maintain a record of our correspondence
Analytics data (GA4)
14 months maximum — Google Analytics 4 default retention period
Cookie consent records
1 year — To remember your preferences across visits
7. Your Rights (GDPR & CCPA)
Depending on your location, you have specific rights regarding your personal data:
GDPR Rights (European Users)
Right to Access
Request a copy of all personal data we hold about you
Right to Rectification
Correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information
Right to Erasure
Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
Right to Restrict Processing
Limit how we use your data in certain circumstances
Right to Data Portability
Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
Right to Object
Opt out of data processing, including analytics tracking
Right to Withdraw Consent
Change your cookie preferences at any time
Right to Lodge a Complaint
File a complaint with your local data protection authority
CCPA Rights (California Residents)
Right to Know
Request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you
Right to Delete
Request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions
Right to Opt-Out
Opt out of the "sale" of your personal information (we do not sell data, but you have this right regardless)
Right to Non-Discrimination
We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@surfboardfishing.com. We will respond within 30 days for GDPR requests and 45 days for CCPA requests. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.
8. Children's Privacy
Our website is not intended for children under 13 years of age (or 16 in the European Economic Area). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at privacy@surfboardfishing.com and we will promptly delete such information from our records.
9. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:
- All data transmission occurs over HTTPS (TLS 1.2 or higher)
- Our hosting platform (Readdy) maintains SOC 2 Type II compliance
- Access to personal data is restricted to authorized personnel only
- Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
- Incident response plan in place for potential data breaches
While we take reasonable precautions, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but commit to promptly notifying affected users in the unlikely event of a data breach.
10. International Transfers
SurfboardFishing.com is based in the United States. If you access our site from outside the US, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the US. We rely on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and Google's EU-US Data Privacy Framework certification for any data transfers involving European users. By using our site, you consent to this transfer.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or service offerings. When we make material changes, we will:
- Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
- Display a prominent notice on our homepage for 30 days
- Notify newsletter subscribers of significant changes
We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us:
We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 5 business days. For formal data subject requests under GDPR or CCPA, please allow up to 30 days for a complete response.
Manage Your Privacy
You can update your cookie preferences or review what data we collect at any time.