Fishing

Fishing is a feature originally introduced in The Sims: Vacation, and brought into The Sims 2 with The Sims 2: Seasons expansion. In Seasons, if a pond is deep enough, fish will appear in it throughout the seasons. These fish, and slightly less appetizing specimens, can be caught by selecting a Sim and clicking on the pond in question.

As a Sim gains experience by fishing, they can earn talent badges (in The Sims 2) or skill points (in The Sims 3). With experience, Sims can use different baits and catch rarer fish.

Fishing is very useful for meals also. If you cook fish the food will fill up your hunger bar faster.

The Sims
Fishing is an object-based interaction in The Sims, and differs significantly from the same activity in the sequal games - for example, unlike in the sequels, a body of water on its own is not sufficient to allow Sims to fish, as they also need to be standing in a fishing pier (introduced in The Sims: Vacation). Fishing in The Sims is not tied to any skills or talent badges - whether the catch is 'good' or 'bad' seems to be random. In most cases, the catch will not even be a fish, but instead a humorous item that will slightly disappoint the Sim - such as an old, worn-out boot. The only default lots with fishing piers in The Sims are to be found on Vacation Island (namely at Bear Essentials Lodge and Ranger's Ranch Campground in the "forest" themed area of the island, and at Sunset Beach and Reclaimed Public Beach in the "seaside" themed area).

The Sims 2
Fishing is a talent badge in The Sims 2.

Caught fish can be cooked to make new meals, hung up or sold as part of a business.

Additionally, fish can be sold without using Open For Business. Once placed on the wall or floor, they can be deleted like any other item and net plenty of money. Fishing and selling fish is a good career for a parent Sim who needs to stay home with babies or toddlers, a good hobby to get extra cash, or a way child Sims can help with the bills.

The golden trout, actually, isn't too rare: as long as you have the Gold talent badge for fishing and your Sim is fishing for a long period of time, these can be caught.

These small amounts of Simoleons may not seem like much, but keep in mind that one Jumbo Rainbow Trout is equal in value to an entire day of work for most beginning jobs, and two Golden Trouts are an average day of work for a level 9 or 10 career.

Fish
Fish types include: Boot, Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, Rainbow Trout and the elusive Golden Trout. All have "Jumbo" varieties as well; however, Golden Trout does not possess a 'small' size, and there is only one size of Boot as well.

Here is a list of the amount of money each fish can be sold for:


 * Boot: §15
 * Largemouth Bass: §33
 * Jumbo Largemouth Bass: §61
 * Blue Catfish: §49
 * Rainbow Trout: §87
 * Jumbo Blue Catfish: §124
 * Jumbo Rainbow Trout: §221
 * Golden Trout: §518

Badges
Sims gained fishing talent badges with experience in The Sims 2.


 * No badge
 * Bait: Worm Bait


 * Fish: Boots, Largemouth Bass


 * Bronze Badge
 * Bait: Riverblossom Minnow


 * Fish: Blue Catfish


 * Silver Badge
 * Bait: Stink Ball Bait


 * Fish: Rainbow Trout


 * Gold Badge
 * Bait: Sparkle Spinner


 * Fish: Golden Trout

The Sims 3
Fishing is a skill in The Sims 3.

The Sims 3 incorporates a fishing skill that is gained by Sims fishing in the ponds or ocean around the map. The higher their skill, the more types of fish they can catch.

Challenges

 * Amateur Ichthyologist
 * Amateur Ichthyologists have caught at least one of every fish type (21). Their deep understanding of marine life helps them catch bigger fish than normal Sims.


 * Commercial Fisherman
 * Commercial Fishermen have caught at least 350 fish. They often catch more fish in less time than normal Sims.

Abilities
Every two levels the game announces the Sim can catch more fish and to check the bookstore.

The Sim can learn the bait type for a specific fish species by buying and reading the fishing books from the bookstore or just by successfully catching a particular species once using the right bait type. Fishing books are not available in the community public library.