Fishing
Fishing is one of the most relaxing ways to make a living on the island. Grab a rod, find some water and cast your line. Anyone can do it, no gang and no risky routes required, which makes it a perfect earner for newcomers and a solid passive income for veterans who have leveled up their fishing skill. Just you, the water and the wait for that next bite.
Getting started
Head to the fisher located next to Walter's Vehicle Dealership and buy a fishing rod for 2.500$. The same dealer is where you later sell everything you reel in, so it is worth remembering the spot.
Once you have a rod, walk up to any body of water, aim at it and start casting. From there it is all about timing and patience.
Casting and catching
After you cast, your line sits in the water until a fish takes an interest. When you get a bite, you have to react quickly, roughly ten seconds before the fish loses interest and swims off. Higher fishing levels give you a little more reaction time.
Strike in time and a short reel-in minigame begins. Win it and the fish is yours; the fight gets easier the higher your fishing level. Miss the bite or lose the minigame three times and you will scare the fish away, ending the session. So stay focused when that line twitches.
A couple of things to keep in mind:
- Stay near your rod. Wander too far from where you cast and the line reels in on its own.
- Not everything is edible. Every now and then you will haul up an old boot (5$) or a message in a bottle (40$). More of a fun surprise than a payday.
Where to fish
You can fish almost anywhere there is water, but where you drop your line matters:
- Rivers bite the fastest, but mostly hold the smaller, cheaper fish.
- Lakes are a middle ground.
- The sea makes you wait the longest, but it is where the rare, high-value fish are most common.
Keep an eye out for marked hotspots. At a hotspot the fish bite noticeably faster and the rarer species show up more often, making them the best place to grind once you can catch the good stuff.
Fishing is also better together. The more anglers casting near each other, the faster everyone gets bites, so grab a friend and share a good spot.
Fish and prices
Which fish you can catch depends on your fishing level. As you level up, new species start appearing on your line. Fish sell at fixed prices, so unlike most goods they are not affected by the dynamic market and never drop in value.
| Fish | Unlocks at | Sold raw | Smoked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bream | Level 1 | 450$ | sold raw |
| Carp | Level 3 | 800$ | 1.800$ |
| Bass | Level 6 | 1.700$ | 3.800$ |
| Rainbow Trout | Level 9 | 2.800$ | 6.200$ |
| Trophy Bass | Level 12 | 8.500$ | sold raw |
The Trophy Bass is the big prize: rare, sea-loving and worth a small fortune. Landing one is always a moment worth celebrating.
Smoking your catch
You do not have to sell your fish raw. Light a campfire, stand next to it with fish in your inventory and start smoking them. Smoking turns Carp, Bass and Rainbow Trout into far more valuable smoked versions, so it is well worth the extra step for those three.
Each fish takes about six seconds to smoke, and the session keeps going on its own until you run out of fish, the fire goes out or you walk away. Bream and the Trophy Bass are best sold raw. The smoker always starts with your cheapest fish first.
Skill and profession
Every catch and every smoked fish raises your fishing skill. As covered above, leveling up unlocks new species, gives you more reaction time on a bite and makes the reel-in easier.
If you plan to fish seriously, pick up the Fisher profession. It grants a +25% bonus to the experience you earn from fishing, so you climb the levels and unlock the pricier fish much faster.
Tips
- New to the island? Fishing is a safe, low-cost way to earn your first money. See the Beginner's Guide to get going.
- Save up for the sea. Rivers are fine early on, but the real money is in the deeper water once you can catch Bass and above.
- Smoke before you sell (Carp, Bass, Trout). It roughly doubles their value.
- Bring a buddy. Fishing side by side speeds up bites for both of you.