Fishing Guide
Fishing is one of the most relaxing and rewarding activities in inZOI. Whether you are fishing in the base game's city parks and riversides or casting a line off the shores of Cahaya Island, the fishing system offers a surprising amount of depth. This guide covers everything you need to know: how to start fishing, the different rods and bait, every fish species and where to catch them, rare fish strategies, and how to make the most of your catches.
Getting Started with Fishing
Fishing works differently depending on whether you are in the base game or on Cahaya Island. Both systems share the same core mechanic (your Zoi casts a line and waits for a catch), but the requirements and progression differ.
Base Game Fishing
In the base game, fishing is straightforward. Your Zoi needs to find a cooler bag near a fishing spot. These are placed at designated fishing locations around the city, typically near rivers, ponds, and lakesides. Walk up to the cooler bag and select Go Fishing to start. The base game provides an automatic rod and standard bait at no cost. You can also choose Advanced Bait for 5 Meow per use, which increases your chances of catching rarer fish.
Base game fishing does not have a dedicated fishing skill. Your Zoi simply casts, waits, and automatically catches whatever bites. The type of fish depends on the location, time of day, and whether you use standard or advanced bait.
Cahaya Island Fishing
Fishing on Cahaya Island (part of the Island Getaway DLC) is a more developed system. Unlike the base game, you need to purchase a fishing rod from the island's shop before you can fish. The DLC introduced a proper Fishing skill in the v0.3.0 update, which levels up as you catch more fish. Higher fishing skill levels unlock the ability to use better rods and catch rarer species.
Cahaya offers multiple fishing spots across the island: freshwater ponds and rivers inland, saltwater beaches along the coast, and deep-sea boat fishing from the pier. Each location type has its own unique set of catchable fish.
Fishing Rods
On Cahaya Island, fishing rods come in six tiers. Better rods allow you to catch higher-tier fish that are impossible to land with lower-grade equipment. You can purchase rods from the island shop, and some become available only after reaching certain fishing skill levels.
Rod Tier | Material | Notable Catches |
|---|---|---|
Tier 1 | Wooden Rod | Basic freshwater fish. The starter rod available from the beginning. |
Tier 2 | Iron Rod | Slightly better catch variety. Unlocks access to some mid-tier saltwater fish. |
Tier 3 | Copper Rod | Access to a wider range of both freshwater and saltwater species. |
Tier 4 | Silver Rod | Needed for larger saltwater fish and some rare species. |
Tier 5 | Gold Rod | Required for catching the Whale Shark and other large rare fish. |
Tier 6 | Jewel Rod | The highest tier. Required for catching the Orca and Great White Shark. |
Invest in rod upgrades as soon as they become available. Better rods do not just unlock new fish; they also reduce the time between bites for all fish, making your fishing sessions more efficient overall.
Bait
Two bait types are available for fishing:
Bait Type | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
Standard Bait | Free | Default bait. Catches common and uncommon fish at normal rates. |
Advanced Bait | 5 Meow per use | Increases the chance of hooking rare and higher-value fish. Worth using when targeting specific rare catches. |
Standard bait works fine for everyday fishing and filling out your Collection Log with common species. Save your Advanced Bait for targeted fishing sessions when you are after specific rare fish or trying to complete your collection.
How Fishing Works
Fishing in inZOI is automatic rather than a minigame. When you select a fishing spot and cast your line, your Zoi will wait until a fish bites, then automatically reel it in. There is no button-mashing or timing mechanic. This makes fishing a more relaxed activity that you can do while multitasking.
The wait time between bites varies based on your rod quality, bait type, and the rarity of fish in the area. Using a better rod and advanced bait generally shortens wait times and shifts the loot table toward rarer catches.
The time of day has a significant impact on what you catch. Many species are only available during specific hours. Night fishing opens up an entirely different catch pool, including ghost fish that cannot be caught during the day.
Freshwater Fish
Freshwater fish are found in rivers, ponds, and lakes. In the base game, these are the primary fishing spots. On Cahaya Island, freshwater locations are found inland.
Fish | Time | Rod Required | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|
Goldfish | Day | Wooden+ | Common |
Crucian Carp | Day | Wooden+ | Common |
Koi | Day | Wooden+ | Common |
Catfish | Day/Night | Iron+ | Common |
Rainbow Trout | Day | Iron+ | Uncommon |
Largemouth Bass | Day | Copper+ | Uncommon |
Eel | Night | Copper+ | Uncommon |
Arowana | Day | Silver+ | Rare |
Red Arowana | Day | Silver+ | Rare (Protected) |
Piranha | Day/Night | Gold+ | Rare |
Giant Snakehead | Night | Gold+ | Rare |
Ghost Koi | Night only | Silver+ | Very Rare |
The Red Arowana is a protected species in inZOI. If you catch one, you must release it. Keeping a Red Arowana results in a penalty. This is one of the few fish with legal restrictions, so pay attention when you reel one in.
Saltwater Beach Fish
Saltwater beach fishing is available along the coastlines of Cahaya Island. These spots are easily accessible and offer a mix of common and moderately rare species.
Fish | Time | Rod Required | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|
Clownfish | Day | Wooden+ | Common |
Sea Bass | Day/Night | Wooden+ | Common |
Pufferfish | Day | Iron+ | Common |
Flatfish | Day | Iron+ | Uncommon |
Blue Tang | Day | Copper+ | Uncommon |
Surgeonfish | Day | Copper+ | Uncommon |
Red Snapper | Day/Night | Silver+ | Uncommon |
Barracuda | Day | Silver+ | Rare |
Moray Eel | Night | Gold+ | Rare |
Ghost Jellyfish | Night only | Copper+ | Very Rare |
Saltwater Deep-Sea Fish
Deep-sea boat fishing is available from the pier on Cahaya Island. You board a boat that takes you to offshore fishing grounds. This is where you will find the largest and rarest catches in the game.
Fish | Time | Rod Required | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|
Tuna | Day | Iron+ | Common |
Swordfish | Day | Copper+ | Uncommon |
Mahi-Mahi | Day | Copper+ | Uncommon |
Marlin | Day | Silver+ | Rare |
Manta Ray | Day/Night | Silver+ | Rare |
Hammerhead Shark | Day/Night | Gold+ | Rare |
Whale Shark | Day | Gold+ | Very Rare |
Great White Shark | Day/Night | Jewel | Legendary |
Orca | Day | Jewel | Legendary |
Ghost Ray | Night only | Gold+ | Very Rare |
Ghost Fish
Ghost fish are a special category added in the v0.4.0 update. These spectral fish only appear at night and cannot be caught during daytime hours under any circumstances. They have a distinctive translucent appearance and are some of the most sought-after entries in the Collection Log.
Ghost Koi (freshwater, night only, Silver+ rod)
Ghost Jellyfish (saltwater beach, night only, Copper+ rod)
Ghost Ray (deep-sea, night only, Gold+ rod)
To target ghost fish specifically, head out after sunset with Advanced Bait and the appropriate rod tier. Ghost fish have lower catch rates than their living counterparts, so expect to spend several in-game hours fishing before landing one.
Rare Fish Strategies
Catching the rarest fish in the game requires preparation and patience. Here are strategies for landing the most coveted catches:
Great White Shark
The Great White Shark requires a Jewel Rod (the highest tier) and is caught through deep-sea boat fishing. It can appear during both day and night. Use Advanced Bait to improve your odds. The Great White is one of the two legendary-tier fish and is a prized Collection Log entry.
Orca
Like the Great White, the Orca requires a Jewel Rod and deep-sea fishing. It tends to appear more frequently during daytime hours. The Orca is the other legendary-tier fish and is often the last entry players complete in their collection.
Whale Shark
The Whale Shark requires at least a Gold Rod and appears in deep-sea waters during the day. While not legendary tier, it is still very rare. Advanced Bait significantly improves the chance of hooking one.
Fish Tanks
Caught fish can be displayed in fish tanks that you place in your Zoi's home through Build Mode. Fish tanks come in four sizes, and the tank size must be appropriate for the fish you want to display:
Tank Size | Capacity | Suitable Fish |
|---|---|---|
Small Tank | 1 to 3 small fish | Goldfish, Clownfish, Blue Tang, and other small species |
Medium Tank | 1 to 3 medium fish | Bass, Trout, Flatfish, Pufferfish, and similar mid-sized species |
Large Tank | 1 to 2 large fish | Tuna, Swordfish, Barracuda, and other large catches |
Jumbo Tank | 1 very large fish | Sharks, Orca, Whale Shark, and the biggest catches in the game |
Fish tanks are a great way to show off rare catches and add life to your Zoi's living space. They function as decorative furniture items and can be placed in any room.
Filleting and Cooking
Some fish can be filleted at a kitchen counter to produce Fish Fillet. Unlike raw fish, Fish Fillet does not expire, making it a useful ingredient to keep in stock. Filleting is straightforward: interact with a kitchen counter while you have fish in your inventory and select the fillet option.
The main recipe that uses fish is Flatfish Sushi, which is currently the only fish-based cooking recipe in the game. It requires Flatfish specifically, so if you enjoy cooking, keep some Flatfish on hand. Fish Fillet can also be used as a generic ingredient in some other recipes.
Selling Fish
Fish can be sold for Meow. The sale price depends on the rarity and size of the fish. Legendary and very rare fish fetch the highest prices, making targeted deep-sea fishing one of the more lucrative activities in the game.
If you are looking to make money from fishing, focus on deep-sea species with a high-tier rod and Advanced Bait. While common freshwater fish sell for modest amounts, rare saltwater catches can bring in thousands of Meow each.
The Collection Log
Every fish you catch is recorded in the Collection Log. The log tracks which species you have caught, how many of each, and their sizes. Completing the fish section of the Collection Log is one of the game's long-term goals and a satisfying achievement for completionists.
The Collection Log separates fish by location type (freshwater, saltwater beach, deep-sea), making it easy to see which areas you still need to fish in. Ghost fish have their own subsection within each location category.
Tips for Efficient Fishing
Check the time of day before heading to a fishing spot. If you are after night-only species, wait until after sunset.
Upgrade your rod as soon as possible. Better rods are a straight upgrade with no downside. They catch everything lower-tier rods can, plus more.
Use Advanced Bait strategically. At 5 Meow per use, Advanced Bait adds up. Save it for targeted sessions rather than casual fishing.
Fish at every new spot you find. Different locations have different catch pools, even within the same category (freshwater, saltwater).
Display rare catches in fish tanks rather than selling them, unless you need the Meow urgently. Rare fish are hard to re-catch.
Check the Collection Log regularly to see which species you are missing and plan your next fishing trip accordingly.
Fishing is fully automatic, so you can multitask. Let your Zoi fish while you manage other aspects of their life through the phone.
For a full breakdown of earning potential, see the Money Making Guide.