Project Zomboid Fishing Guide and Tips
Hook, Line, and Sinker: Mastering Fishing in Project Zomboid B41 & B42
Yes โ you can catch fish reliably in Project Zomboid and feed yourself indefinitely, but it requires knowing when to cast your line, where to fish, and what has changed in the newest updates. In Build 41, fishing was simpler (no mini-games, just timing); Build 42 completely overhauled the system with fish populations and an interactive reeling mechanic. This guide will walk you through everything โ from quick steps to get started to pro tips for multiplayer fishing.
๐ Guide Contents
๐ท๏ธ Build 41 Fishing
- Simple progress-bar mechanics
- Invisible zone-based fish populations
- Spear fishing allowed (simpler option)
- Fast-forward through fishing actions
- Fish respawn after ~6 in-game hours
- Rod is a single unified item
๐ท๏ธ Build 42 Fishing
- Interactive fishing mini-game
- Visible fish splashes show presence
- No spear fishing (rods only)
- Separate components (rod, line, hook)
- Fish can be depleted for days
- New chum system to attract fish
- Extremely large fish possible (20+ kg)
โก Quick-Start Fishing Steps (Survive Tonight)
For those who need an immediate fishing primer, here's a quick step-by-step for catching fish in Project Zomboid:
- Gear Up: Find or craft a Fishing Rod (B41: often in sheds; B42: can be crafted with a knife, plank, 2 twine, nail โ requires Carving skill). In Build 41 you could also use a crafted spear to fish, but in Build 42 rods are your only option. Grab some bait: dig for worms (right-click grassy dirt), forage for insects, or use a fishing tackle if you have one.
- Find Water: Head to a river, lake, or pond. In B42, look for splashes/ripples on the water surface โ those circles mean fish are present! If you don't see any movement, consider trying a different spot or using crafted chum to attract fish.
- Prime Time: Fish around dawn or dusk (roughly 04:00โ06:00 or 18:00โ20:00 in-game). These twilight hours give about a 10% boost to your catch chances. Avoid winter mid-day fishing if possible โ cold season can cut success by 20%.
- Cast & Wait: Right-click the water (or the fishing menu) and select Fishing. In B41, your character will automatically fish for a set time (you can fast-forward). In B42, aim your cast where the ripples are, then wait. Don't reel in immediately โ give it up to a minute for a fish to bite. You'll know you have a bite when the tension meter starts to move in Build 42's mini-game.
- Reel It In: Once you feel a tug, hold Right-Mouse-Button to pull in the line (B42). Keep the tension in the black zone โ if it goes into the red, release RMB to avoid snapping your line. Large fish will thrash; be patient and let them tire themselves. In B41, this step is just automatic โ the game will tell you if you caught something or if the line broke.
- Check the Catch: If successful, you'll have fresh fish in your inventory. Sometimes you'll catch "junk" (old shoes, socks) โ it happens, especially at low skill or if no fish were actually around. Don't be discouraged.
- Cook or Preserve: Raw fish can be filleted with any knife (right-click -> Fillet). Cook fillets in a pan or soup, or if it's a huge fish in B42, use an antique stove or build a campfire to cook whole, or use the new "Halve Fillet" recipe to split it into manageable pieces. Cooked fish is extremely nutritious โ a single big catch can keep you fed for days. For more cooking tips, see our comprehensive food guide.
โ Why Am I Not Catching Any Fish?
One of the most common frustrations: you've got your rod, you're spending hours by the lake, but all you reel in are old socksโฆ or nothing at all. Don't worry โ there are specific reasons this happens, and they're fixable.
๐ Timing Is Everything โ Fish Activity by Time & Season
Just like real fishing, when you drop your line in PZ greatly affects your success. Fish are most active at dawn and dusk. In-game, that translates to roughly 4:00โ7:00 AM and 6:00โ9:00 PM โ during these windows you get a 10% higher chance to attract a fish.
Why Winter Fishing Feels Broken (Temperature Effects)
In Build 42, there is evidence that temperature directly influences fishing success in addition to the calendar month. Extremely low temperatures (below -10 ยฐC) can reduce catch chances to near zero, regardless of time of day. This might even be a bug (the game doesn't check water temperature vs air temperature properly), but the takeaway is: if it's freezing cold, don't expect to catch much. You're better off waiting for a warmer day or finding an indoor source of food until the cold snap passes.
Skill Level also matters more than you might think. Every level of the Fishing skill boosts your base chance to catch by a small amount (around +1.5% per level with a rod). At level 0, you're almost coin-flip likely to catch something during peak times. By level 5 or 6, you'll notice a real uptick in success, and at level 10 you're a master angler who can even snag fish outside peak times.
๐ Are There Even Fish Here? (Location, Location, Location)
๐ท๏ธ Build 41: Invisible Zones
Every body of water has invisible "zones" with fish. When you catch enough, you'll see "(Fishing Abundance: 0%)" in the fishing UI, meaning you've fished it out. Fish replenish after about 6 in-game hours of not fishing that zone.
๐ท๏ธ Build 42: Visual Fish Indicators
Fish presence is visible with ripples/splashes on water. No splashes means no fish. Schools move or respawn on a scale of days, not hours. Always fish where you see ripples!
Water ripples (circular patterns) indicate where fish are in Build 42 - no ripples, no fish!
TL;DR: Always check for active fish presence. In B41, use the Fishing Abundance % in the UI as a guide. In B42, use your eyes โ no circles in the water, no catches to be had!
๐ฏ Right Tool, Right Bait โ and Avoiding Junk
| Bait Type | Build 41 Effectiveness | Build 42 Effectiveness | How to Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worms | Best option (+10% vs tackle) | Good all-purpose bait | Dig in soil, compost bins |
| Insects (crickets, etc.) | Nearly as good as worms | Similar to worms | Foraging in fields/forests |
| Bait Fish | Good for targeting pike | May attract larger fish | Net traps, occasional catches |
| Fishing Tackle (Lure) | -10% vs live bait until high skill | Reusable, attracts bigger fish | Find in sheds, sporting stores |
| Fish Fillets | Low effectiveness | Low effectiveness | From filleting other fish |
In Build 41, using live bait (worms, bugs) had about a 10% better chance than using tackle at low skill levels. Until you reached high skill, it was almost always better to use worms over tackle.
In Build 42, all baits have roughly equal catch chance, but certain lures can be reused multiple times and tend to attract bigger fish on average. Quality lures might not increase your bite rate, but could land you that trophy bass rather than a tiny sunfish.
โป๏ธ Keeping the Fish Coming: Preventing Overfishing & Famine
Many players hit a wall where fish seem to dry up completely. Either the lake "runs out" or the daily catches get smaller and smaller. Here's how to maintain sustainable fishing for the long term.
๐ Fish Abundance 101: Finite Fish in an Infinite Apocalypse
๐ท๏ธ Build 41: Quick Recovery
Each zone starts with "Fishing Abundance: 100%". Every catch reduces this percentage until it hits 0%. A depleted zone takes ~6 in-game hours to repopulate with fish.
๐ท๏ธ Build 42: Slower Regeneration
Fish populations are tied to visible splashes. When these disappear, that area is empty. It can take several in-game days for fish to return to a depleted area.
The main tip: rotate your fishing spots. Don't milk one tile until it's bone dry. Have a few favorite locations and cycle through them. For example, fish at the river on day 1, then hit the nearby pond on day 2 while the river recovers, etc.
๐งช Chum Chums and Fishy Comebacks (Build 42's Secret Weapon)
Build 42 introduced a brand new item that can turn an empty fishing spot into an angler's paradise: Chum. Chum is essentially ground-up bait mix you toss into the water to attract fish.
Crafting Chum Recipe
To use chum, simply right-click water and "Add Chum" or drop it in; within seconds, you'll notice fish splashes appearing around that area if none were there before. It basically creates a temporary fishing zone full of fish on demand.
๐ฝ๏ธ Don't Put All Your Fish in One Basket โ Diversify Food Sources
No matter how good fishing is, a wise survivor never relies on just one source of food. For true sustainability, diversify your food income:
๐ Gearing Up: Tools, Bait and the New Fishing Mechanics
What do you need to fish effectively, how do you get or craft those items, and what's new in Build 42's fishing toolkit compared to Build 41? Let's break it down.
๐ฃ Fishing Rods, Spears, and Nets โ Choosing Your Fishing Method
๐ฃ Fishing Rod
๐ฑ Fishing Spear
๐ธ๏ธ Fishing Net Trap
A passive fishing tool that works while you're away. Place in water and it catches small bait fish over time. Requires recipe (Herbalist/Fishing magazine). Made with wire and wood sticks.
Useful for getting bait fish to catch larger predatory fish like pike. Works the same in both B41 and B42.
๐ช Fishing Tackle (Lure)
Tackle or lures in PZ are artificial baits. They aren't consumed on each catch but have durability (catch ~10 fish before breaking). In B41, they were less effective at low skill levels. In B42, they're equally viable but tend to catch bigger fish. You can craft tackle with paperclips, wire, and twine (requires magazine).
- B41 Methods: Rod Fishing (best success), Spear Fishing (easy but lower success), Net Traps (passive).
- B42 Methods: Rod Fishing (only option), Net Traps (unchanged), Chum (enhancement, not a method).
๐ง Tackle Talk: Hooks, Lines, and Sinkers (Build 42 Highlights)
Build 42 introduced a more realistic system where the fishing rod has components โ fishing line and hooks โ which each have quality levels and can wear out.
๐งต Fishing Line
Available in tiers:
- Improvised line (twine/thread) โ weakest, likely to snap
- Basic factory line (green) โ moderate strength
- Premium line (yellow) โ strongest, best for trophy fish
Always carry spare lines! If a line snaps, you can re-line the rod on the spot rather than going home empty-handed.
๐ช Hooks
Multiple types available:
- Makeshift hooks โ bent paperclips, nails, etc.
- Common hooks โ from fishing stores
- High-quality hooks โ steel hooks, rare finds
Hook quality influences how likely it is to hold a fish without straightening/breaking under tension. Carry spares!
๐ฎ The Fishing Mini-Game (Build 42)
The B42 fishing mini-game with tension meter - stay in the black zone!
When you hook a fish in B42, you'll see a tension meter. Here are key tips to master it:
- Keep the indicator in the black zone in the middle. If it edges into yellow, caution โ if it spikes into red, stop reeling immediately.
- Small fish come in easy with little fight (steady tension). Large fish will yo-yo the tension wildly (big spikes and dips).
- "Play" the fish: reel when tension is low, then let it run when tension rises.
- For nearly-landed huge fish, consider a risky "go for broke" final pull.
- Rapidly oscillating tension indicates a very large fish; steady tension usually means debris.
๐ชฑ Bait Basics: Worms, Bugs, and Bait Fish โ Oh My!
๐ชฑ Worms
The bread-and-butter bait. Obtained by digging in soil with a trowel or shovel. Never expire. Always keep a stack in your fishing kit.
๐ฆ Insects
Includes crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, etc. Found by foraging in fields/forests. Maggots from corpses also make great bait.
๐ Bait Fish
Small fish caught with net traps. Good for targeting larger predatory fish like pike. Note: bait fish do rot fairly quickly if not refrigerated.
๐ฃ Other Options
In emergencies, fish fillets can be used as bait (even rotten ones), but with lower effectiveness. Human/zombie flesh cannot be used as bait.
๐ Case Study: Big Fish, Big Problems (Handling Whoppers)
Build 42 introduced some absolute whoppers: trophy-sized catfish, paddlefish, etc. that can weigh over 30 kilograms! If you land one of these monsters, here's what to do:
- Fillet It on Site: Don't try to haul a 30kg fish in your backpack. Drop it on the ground and use a knife to Fillet via the crafting menu (press B).
- Halve If Necessary: B42 added a "Halve Fillet" recipe when a single fillet piece is still too large. Cut fillets into manageable pieces.
- Cooking Big Fillets: Use an antique wood stove or fireplace for huge fillets that won't fit in regular ovens. For items too large for containers, try making fish soup.
- Preserve Extra: A 30kg fish yields tons of food. Consider preserving some โ salt, smoke, or cook and refrigerate the fillets.
Halve Fillet Recipe
Build 42 introduced massive fish species like paddlefish, which can exceed 30kg and 2m in length
๐ฅ Fishing with Friends: Multiplayer Strategies
In multiplayer, fishing can be a communal activity โ or a competitive one if supplies run low. When multiple survivors are trying to live off the same waters, new challenges (and opportunities) emerge.
โฑ๏ธ No Fast-Forward, No Problem โ Time in MP
The first big difference: time management. In single-player, you can fast-forward while fishing. In multiplayer, the world runs in real time. This has two implications:
- Fishing is a bit more of a commitment in MP. You'll be standing there focusing on the mini-game or the progress for a while, which can be nerve-wracking if you feel exposed.
- However, it also opens up the chance for camaraderie. While one player fishes, another might be cooking breakfast at the camp a few meters away, and another is on watch for zombies.
๐ค Sharing the Catch vs. Competing for Fish
Fish in an area are a shared finite resource. On a busy server, it's possible an inconsiderate player could overfish the one lake near spawn and leave nothing for others.
Cooperative Fishing Tips
- Have only one or two people do the actual fishing (preferably those with higher skill), while others focus on cooking or guarding.
- If multiple want to skill up, take turns rather than all fishing at once to avoid depleting zones simultaneously.
- Travel together to new fishing locations as a group activity, with different roles (fisher, forager, guard).
- Use fish as a trading commodity - smoked fish can be valuable bartering items on RP servers!
๐ก๏ธ Safety in Numbers โ and Dangers Too
Having dedicated guards while others fish improves survival chances
Having friends around should make fishing safer โ one can fish, others stand guard. A few key safety points:
- Nominate someone to patrol the area while others fish โ the fishing mini-game requires focus, making players vulnerable.
- Keep noise to a minimum โ loud noises scare fish away in Build 42. No generators or gunfire near fishing spots.
- Share skill books to maximize everyone's fishing abilities. A level 5-6 fisherman benefits the whole group.
- Consider the "Angler" role as a group specialty โ one player focuses on fishing as their main contribution to the settlement.
Remember, fishing in multiplayer is supposed to be fun. It's one of the more relaxing survival tasks when done right. It might just be the closest thing to a beach vacation your survivors ever get, sitting by the water, rods in hand, zombies groaning faintly in the distance.
๐ Patch-History (Fishing Changes in Recent Builds)
๐ Build 41 vs Build 42 Fishing โ Patch Highlights
- Build 41 (2019โ2022, stable) โ Introduced the basic fishing system with the new animation framework. Fishing had a simple progress-bar mechanic with Fishing Abundance zones. Spears could be used to fish (legacy from older builds), and the UI was updated in patch 41.69 to show bait count. Line breaks, bait loss, etc., were calculated invisibly based on skill. Fish types were limited but included bass, catfish, etc., with maximum sizes around ~100 hunger. Overall, fishing was somewhat underutilized due to ease of fast-forwarding other food sources.
- Build 42.0 (Unstable release โ Dec 17, 2024) โ Major Fishing Overhaul. Added interactive fishing mini-game with tension meter. Implemented fish school system: fish now localized in groups with visible water surface ripples. Added Chum item to attract fish groups. Reworked skills/professions: a post-apocalypse Angler/Fisher occupation was added (unlockable later in gameplay). Spear fishing removed (temporarily) to be reworked; currently only rods usable. New craftable items: fishing lines, hooks, crafted lures. Many new fish species added (e.g. Paddlefish, Alligator Gar), with some very large specimens possible. Seasonal fish activity tied more directly to temperature.
- Build 42.2 (Unstable โ early 2025) โ Tweaks and fixes: e.g. adjusted fish respawn times, fixed bugs where certain fish couldn't be filleted. Community discovered the "Halve Fillet" recipe in this period, addressing oversized fish issues. Minor UI improvements to fishing panel. Some rebalancing of bite times and junk catch chances based on player feedback.
- Build 42.5+ (Ongoing) โ Further iteration (in unstable branch) expected: possible re-introduction of spear fishing once balanced (not yet in 42.7 as of mid-2025). Fine-tuning of fish population dynamics (e.g. ensuring even winter has at least minimal chance). Integration of fishing with planned hunting system (e.g. using caught fish as bait for animals, or animals eating fish left out).
- Future (Build 43?) โ Rumored animal predators might compete for fish, and expanded water environments could come (rivers with currents?). These aren't confirmed, but dev blogs hint that Build 42 is a foundation for more complex ecology in Build 43 and beyond. For now, fishing stands as one of the primary food pillars in late-game PZ, second only to farming in reliability โ with the new systems making it deeper (pun intended) than ever.