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Can You Fish in Fallout 76? How to Start and Catch Fish

Fishing is available in Fallout 76 after you start “Casting Off.” Learn where to fish, how the minigame works, and which bait and weather suit your target.
WorldFallout 76? How to Start and Catch Fish Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Yes. Fishing was added to Fallout 76 in Bethesda’s free Gone Fission update on June 3, 2025. Start the “Casting Off” quest at Fisherman’s Rest in the Mire—or from the sign outside Vault 76—to get a fishing rod and bait. Then use the Fish prompt at suitable swimmable water. You cannot fish while wearing Power Armor.

How to start fishing

  1. Travel to Fisherman’s Rest in the Mire and follow the Pip-Boy signal for “Casting Off,” or start the quest at the sign outside Vault 76.
  2. Complete the quest to receive a fishing rod and bait. After you obtain the rod, Captain Raymond Clark at Fisherman’s Rest offers a daily fishing quest.
  3. Go to swimmable water, face it, and activate the Fish prompt. Shallow water and decorative pools may not be fishable; look for the prompt rather than assuming every body of water works.
  4. When the bobber disappears beneath the surface, press the displayed button to start the minigame. Keep the yellow triangular indicator over the fish icon as it moves. The fish moves toward the center of the circle while it stays in the triangle; if it escapes the triangle, it moves farther away and may get away. Reach the center to land the catch.

If a fish escapes, you can try again. Bethesda notes that some fish are very difficult to catch until you upgrade the rod.

Where fishing works—and what blocks it

Fishing is available where the Fish interaction appears, generally at water deep enough to swim in. If there is no prompt, try another shoreline or body of water. Bethesda Support says Power Armor prevents fishing, so exit it before trying.

The rod is a gameplay tool, not a weapon you equip from the Pip-Boy. To improve it, use a Tinkers Workbench. Fishing challenges and daily quests can award rod parts and upgrades, along with styles, bobbers, and reels.

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Choose bait, weather, and location for your target

There is no universally best setup: the useful combination depends on the fish you want. Bethesda’s fish guide describes catches as a sequence of checks: eligible rare fish such as Axolotls or Local Legends can be checked first when their location, month, or other conditions are met; bait and weather then affect checks for glowing or uncommon fish. If those checks do not produce a catch, the game can fall back to regional or generic fish, and sometimes junk.

Choice What it does Where to get it or when to use it
Common Bait Supports ordinary catches; Bethesda says no weather is best for generic fish when using Common Bait. Available from the Fisherman and Captain Raymond Clark at Fisherman’s Rest and through fishing quests. Bethesda’s guide also lists the “Big Fish in a Small Pond” daily, the “Casting Off” quest, coolers and broken fridges, and a chance from the C.A.M.P. Live Bait Barrel.
Improved Bait Offers better odds for uncommon or rare fish than Common Bait. Available from fishing quests, public events after completing “Casting Off,” lootable containers, and the Live Bait Barrel. The release notes also say players can trade it.
Superb Bait Offers a greater chance at rare fish than Improved Bait. A seasonal reward. It works with the base rod, though rod modifications help with difficult catches.
Rain Favors common or uncommon fish native to the region and Axolotls. Use when those regional catches or Axolotls are the goal.
Nuclear weather Provides the highest chance of catching Glowing Fish. Includes radstorms and nuke zones. A weather-control machine at an active C.A.M.P. takes priority over natural weather and nuke zones for spawn rates.
Location and timing Some rare fish have specific regional or fixed-location requirements; Axolotl availability also rotates by month. Check the fish’s conditions before choosing a spot. Local Legends have fixed locations, and an eligible rare catch may require the right month or a marked location.

What you can catch and do with fish

Bethesda says the game has more than 30 fish types, including common fish, regional species, and Local Legends with fixed locations. Its launch guide describes 12 Axolotls, with a different one available each month and each associated with two regions. Because the active Axolotl changes, check current in-game or official clues rather than relying on an old monthly list.

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You can eat fish directly from your inventory or turn them into Fish Bits at a Cooking Station. The Grilled Fish recipe, earned through the main fishing questline, temporarily reduces the time it takes to hook a fish. Fishing daily quests can also reward other Fish Bits recipes. Give Fish Bits to Linda-Lee at Fisherman’s Rest for a chance at a random Legendary item. Challenges and daily quests can award C.A.M.P. decorations, including displays for trophy catches.

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Official update details

Fishing arrived in Bethesda’s free Gone Fission update on June 3, 2025. The release notes identify the update as version 1.7.20.12. For the quest and mechanics, see Bethesda’s Gone Fission fishing guide, release notes, and fishing support article. Bethesda also published a feature announcement.

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