Why is there a new website?

The last version of San Diego Fish Online was created in September of 2002, and has remained relatively unchanged for the last five years. In that time frame, several factors have worked against the functionality of the website. The actual technology used to create the website is extremely out dated, and there are many better options available now that were not available back in 2002. By making this upgrade to a Content Management System (will be referred to as CMS) we are better able to keep up with this modern technology. The forum software itself, which is arguably the backbone of the entire website is also outdated, and is becoming increasingly more unstable. Support for the software used is no longer available, and updates to the forum software have not been provided since 2004. In the event of a "crash" it would be extremely difficult to recover the old forums. And probably the most significant reason for the switch is that it will make it much easier to update content on this website, and we will be able to provide you information in a much more timely and accurate manner.

What happened to the old website?

The old website itself has been taken "offline" and is not available for viewing. Information that was on the old site has been moved over to the new website. So everything you were able to find on the old site is here on the new site.

What happened to the old message board? Can I still read and post?

The old message forum has been moved to the new website as an archive, meaning you will still be able to access the forum to read all of the posts and threads. However you will not be able to post anything additional. There is still the possibility that the old forum will crash, at which time we will make our best effort to restore it but that may not be feasible. We understand that the old message forum is extremely valuable, and contains an almost never ending amount of information that we'll never be able to replace. We will do everything we can do to protect this resource.

Do I have to re-register for an account, or does my old account work on the new website?

You will have to create a new account for the website. We made the decision to require users to re-register and start fresh based on creating a "cleaner" user database and to avoid bugs and glitches that might arise from importing old data into this new website technology. In the event of a dispute between two users over the ownership over a prior username we will still be able to access the old user information to be able to determine who the rightful owner is of a particular username.

How do I register for an account?

On the main page (http://www.sdfish.com) and throughout many portions of the website on the right side of the page you will see a place to enter your login information. Directly below that will be a link for new members to register. When you click that link, a new page will open with fields asking for information to create your account. We ask that you please fill out this form accurately. You will also be prompted to sign up for whichever available newsletters you would like to receive. After registering, you will receive an email to verify that you used a correct email address to create your account, follow the instructions in the email to activate your account.

What do you do with my information? 

Your privacy is important to us, and we will not sell or give away your information to anyone. The information we collect is used solely for the purpose of creating and maintaining your account on sdfish.com, and for delivering newsletters and other content that you sign up for. Occassionally we may email you with important site news, without you opting into any newsletters.

What is my profile? What can I do with it?

Each user is assigned a profile page, which among other things, you can manager your newsletter subscriptions, photo gallery, and classified ads through. You can also add "connections" which are other users that you would like to keep in contact with. Those users will be displayed in your user profile under the appropriate tab. There is also a tab displaying forum topics you have participated in.

What can I do with my photo gallery?

You can use your photo gallery for a personal collection of fishing related photos that you'd like to show off to other site visitors. You can also upload an image to use as your avatar. In order to maintain the performance of the website, there are certain size restrictions on all photos that you upload to the website. You will find that information when you upload the photos. Your photo gallery is also limited to the amount of photos, and overall size of your photo gallery. If you feel that you need more space for your photos, you can use the Contact Us link to request that allowance. We will grant additional space on a case by case basis. You can also delete old images, and keep only your top photos in your gallery.

How do I "rate" or give props to other users on the website?

On the old forum, the user ratings were controlled through the forum software. On the new website, all user information, including ratings are controlled through the user's profile. When viewing a person's profile, click the Rating tab to view their previous ratings, and to give them a rating of their own. Please be careful when submitting a rating for a user, as it cannot always be undone. You are also only allowed to post one rating per user, so if you have a problem with a user try to work things out before posting a negative rating. DO NOT BASH OTHER USERS THROUGH THEIR RATING. If you have a legitimate complaint about a user, and have made an attempt to work things out with them then you can submit a negative rating for that person. But try to avoid that unless it is really justified.

How do I contact other users?

When viewing their profile, hover your mouse over the "Messages" button, and select to either Private Message or Email the user. If you receive a private message, you will be notified when you login that you have a new message waiting for you. You can click that link to access your inbox.

I have a problem or concern that is not covered in this FAQ

A list of new features is available here, if you are not able to find the information you need there, then please navigate to the About Us menu item and select Contact Us to notify the appropriate person in the directory to handle your concern.