Plain-language draft for legal review
These guidelines describe the standards Hookwise expects from participants. They are not attorney-approved legal advice and do not promise that every post will be reviewed or that every report will receive a particular outcome.
A useful, welcoming dock
Treat the person on the other side of the screen like a fishing partner you have not met yet. Share what you know, say when you are unsure, and leave room for different experience levels, fishing styles, locations, and traditions.
1. Be respectful
Disagree with an idea without attacking the person. Harassment, repeated unwanted contact, personal insults, humiliation, stalking, and attempts to drive someone out of the community are not welcome. Give beginners room to learn and experienced anglers room to explain their reasoning.
2. No hate, threats, or intimidation
Do not target people with hateful slurs, dehumanizing language, threats of violence, encouragement of self-harm, or identity-based abuse. Do not publish someone's private details to frighten, expose, or punish them. If there is an immediate threat to someone's safety, contact local emergency services first, then tell us when it is safe to do so.
3. Keep activity legal and safe
Do not use Hookwise to plan or encourage poaching, trespass, fraud, theft, violence, trafficking, or other illegal activity. Do not encourage people to ignore closures, bag limits, size limits, license rules, boating requirements, or posted property restrictions. Advice that could put a person, wildlife, or a waterway at unreasonable risk may be removed.
4. Protect privacy and secret spots
Share only information you are comfortable making public. Avoid phone numbers, home addresses, license numbers, private messages, children's information, and exact coordinates for a spot that should remain quiet. A location field can help other anglers learn, but a vague description is often the safer choice.
5. Post content you have the right to share
Upload your own photos, writing, recipes, and fishing reports, or get permission before sharing someone else's work. Do not remove watermarks, copy articles, or repost a photographer's catch photo as your own. If people appear in a photo, consider whether you have permission to publish it.
6. Keep promotion and spam out
Do not flood discussions, manipulate likes, impersonate a brand or angler, distribute malware, or send repetitive unsolicited promotions. A useful gear experience or local tip is welcome when it answers the conversation. Commercial promotion that does not help the community may be removed.
7. Give fishing advice with care
Explain what worked for you without presenting a guess as a guarantee. Conditions, species behavior, equipment, local rules, and safe access vary by waterway. Do not diagnose a fish, tell someone to ignore a hazard, or present AI output as a substitute for official information. The Fishing and AI Disclaimer explains the limits of Hookwise guidance.
How moderation works
Ira Spicer may review reports and may remove content, limit visibility, ask for changes, restrict features, suspend an account, or terminate access when content or behavior conflicts with these guidelines, the Terms of Service, or the safety of the community. The response may depend on context, severity, repetition, available information, and legal obligations.
Hookwise does not promise to review every post, catch every violation, or explain every moderation decision. We may preserve relevant records and share information when needed to respond to a lawful request or serious safety concern.
Report a problem
Email hello@hookwisehq.com with the page or post link, a short description of what happened, and any context that helps us find it. You can ask us to keep your report private, but email cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality. Do not include more personal information than necessary.