Privacy policy

Pocket Angler · Five Boroughs Apps · Last updated November 2026

Here at Five Boroughs Apps we are not interested in legal terms and fancy jargon, so we will keep this as simple as we can:

Pocket Angler has no accounts and no sign-up, and there is no Pocket Angler server. We do not collect your name, email address or any other contact details, and we do not use analytics, advertising or tracking of any kind.

What stays on your device

Your catches, photos, spots, flies, outings, notes and insights are stored only on your device. They are never sent to us. If you delete the app, they are deleted with it, so we recommend exporting a backup from time to time (Settings → Export data).

Your location

Location is optional and only used while the app is open. It is used to pick the spot you are fishing and to attach conditions to your catches, and the position where you logged a catch is saved with it on your device. If you turn location off, the app still works and you choose spots yourself.

Weather and river conditions

To add conditions to a catch, the app asks Apple Weather (WeatherKit) for the weather at that time and place, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for river flow and water temperature from a nearby gauge. These requests send a location rounded to about 1 km and a time — never the exact location of your spots — and are not linked to you. Gauge readings are requested by the gauge's public ID.

Maps and place search

Maps are shown using Apple Maps. When you search for a place by name, such as a river or lake, the words you type and the area shown on the map are sent to Apple Maps to find it. Your saved spots are not sent.

Photos and camera

The app only uses the camera or your photo library when you choose to add a photo. Photos are stored in the app on your device. When you export your data, location information is removed from the exported photos so a shared backup does not reveal your spots.

Notifications

Condition alerts are worked out and scheduled on your device. No notification service or server is involved, and nothing about you is sent to us.

Purchases

Subscriptions and purchases are handled by Apple through the App Store. We never see your payment details, and we keep no record of who has purchased.

Children

Pocket Angler is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect any information from anyone.

If you have any questions regarding this, please email privacy@fiveboroughsapps.com.