Fishing

Fishing is a side-view fishing game set on a quiet lake. You cast from a wooden dock, wait for a bite, strike at the right moment and then reel the fish in without snapping your line. Twelve species live at different depths and hours, and every catch earns coins for better gear. You can play this fishing game online free in your browser with no download, on a keyboard, a mouse or a phone’s touch screen.

How to play

• Cast: hold Space, the mouse button or a finger on the lake to charge the power meter, then let go to throw. The meter climbs to full and then falls back, so let go at the top for your longest cast. A marker shows where the bobber will land.
• Pick your depth: the lake bed slopes away from the dock. Short casts land in the Shallows (under 12 m), then come Midwater (12 to 24 m), the Deep (24 to 36 m) and the Trench (beyond 36 m). Your first rod reaches 28 m, so you need a better rod for the Trench.
• Wait and strike: small twitches of the bobber are only nibbles. When the bobber dips under and a ! appears, press straight away. You have less than a second. Strike during a nibble and you spook the fish; wait too long and it steals the bait.
• Reel: hold to reel and release to ease off. Reeling raises the tension, and the fish pulls in bursts. Keep the marker in the green. If it reaches the end of the red, the line snaps. If the line stays slack in the gray for about two seconds, the fish throws the hook.

Fish, depths and the day cycle

The game runs through day, dusk and night, and the clock is shown in the corner. Each species has its own zones and hours. Pebble Minnows and Sunfin Perch fill the Shallows by day, Reed Pike come out at dusk, and Lantern Eels bite in the Deep at night. The Trench holds the biggest fish in the lake, including the Stone Sturgeon, and the rare Ghost Koi appears there only after dark.

Bigger fish fight harder and pay more. Your catch log lists each species you have landed, how many and your biggest one, with a hint about where and when to find the rest.

Tackle shop and bait

Open the shop with the Shop button or the B key between casts. Coins buy three upgrades:

• Rod: longer casts, from 28 m up to 46 m. The Carbon rod is the first one that reaches the Trench.
• Reel: winds line in faster.
• Line: stronger line builds tension more slowly, giving you more time to react.

Bait changes which fish bite. Worms are free and suit carp, perch and catfish. A live minnow attracts predators like pike and sturgeon, a spinner lure suits shad, trout and bass, and glow bait draws the night fish of the deep. Bait makes its favorite species about three times more likely, but never brings a fish outside its zone or hours. Your coins, gear, bait and log are saved in your browser.

Tournament mode

Press Tournament for a two-minute contest. The clock starts at dawn, so you get the day, dusk and the start of the night. Every fish you land adds its coin value to your score. The shop and log are closed during a tournament, and your best score is saved.

Tips

• Pulse the reel. Short holds keep the tension in the middle of the green.
• Ease off during a run. When the fish surges, tension climbs much faster, so let go early.
• Upgrade the line before the Trench. Trench fish are the strongest in the lake.
• Fish the clock. If the log hint says dusk or night, wait for that part of the day and switch to the right bait.

FAQ

Is this fishing game free?

Yes. It is free to play with no account and nothing to install.

Does it work on phones and Chromebooks?

Yes. On a phone or tablet, hold a finger on the lake to cast and reel; the game area won’t scroll the page. On a Chromebook or laptop, use Space or the mouse.

How many fish are there?

Twelve species, from the small Pebble Minnow to the Stone Sturgeon, which can grow past two meters.

Can I pause?

Press P or Esc, or use the Pause button. The game also pauses if you switch tabs, and time stops while the shop or log is open.

Like slow, skillful games with an upgrade loop? Try Mini Golf for careful aim and power, or Cookie Clicker for an upgrade loop of a different kind. For more on the genre, see the best browser fishing games.