Fishing

Fishing is a feature originally introduced in The Sims: Vacation, brought into The Sims 2 with The Sims 2: Seasons  expansion (and also featured in The Sims Castaway Stories), included in The Sims 3 and returned in The Sims 4. 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 and The Sims 4). With experience, Sims can use different baits and catch rarer fish.

The Sims: Vacation
Fishing is an object-based interaction in The Sims: Vacation, and differs significantly from the same activity in The Sims 2: Seasons and The Sims 3. In order to fish, Sims need to be standing on a fishing pier, and there needs to be a rental shack, so they can rent fishing poles. 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. If a fish is caught, it will be thrown back. 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: Seasons
Fishing is a talent badge introduced in The Sims 2: Seasons. It is also an activity that provides fun, although the boost to the fun meter only happens when a fish is actually caught. Fishing is possible for all Sims aged child or older, and Sims who fish alongside one another will gradually build their relationship scores as they pass the time.

Sims can fish in any pond that is deep enough and has unobstructed space around its shores (ponds can be created on both community and residential lots by using the water tool in build mode). Caught fish are placed in the inventory of the Sim who caught them, and they can be used in several ways. When placed in a refrigerator (by clicking on the refrigerator and selecting "Stock"), fish can be cooked to make new meals. Most of these meals require certain levels of Cooking skill to prepare, but no skill is required to cook Bass, which is the easiest fish to catch. If fish meals are cooked successfully (i.e. not burned), they take on a sparkly appearance and replenish a Sim's Hunger motive much faster than normal food does. (In fact, they are so filling that finishing a whole plate will often overfill a Sim's Hunger bar and cause him/her to lose fitness.)

Fish can also be mounted on walls as decorations or sold, either as part of a business (if the Open for Business expansion pack is installed) or simply by selling them in Buy mode. (Please note that once a fish is placed on the wall, it can't be taken down and cooked.) 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. Sims sometimes roll a Want to go fishing, earn a fishing talent badge, or catch a particular type of fish; some Sims even roll a Fear of catching a boot.

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

The small amounts of Simoleons fish sell for 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.

NPCs and other non-controllable Sims can be invited to fish by using "Ask to Join" while fishing; they will not build any talent badge points, but they will retain anything they catch in their inventories.

If FreeTime is installed, fishing builds enthusiasm for the Nature hobby.

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 (Size 11) as well.

Here is a list of the amount of money each fish can be sold for:
 * Boot: §15
 * Largemouth Bass: §33
 * Blue Catfish: §49
 * Jumbo Largemouth Bass: §61
 * Rainbow Trout: §87
 * Jumbo Blue Catfish: §124
 * Jumbo Rainbow Trout: §221
 * Golden Trout: §518

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


 * No badge
 * Bait: Worm Bait


 * Fish: Boots, Largemouth Bass


 * Bronze Badge [[File:Fishing bronze.png]]
 * Bait: Riverblossom Minnow


 * Fish: Blue Catfish


 * Silver Badge [[File:Fishing silver.png]]
 * Bait: Stink Ball Bait


 * Fish: Rainbow Trout


 * Gold Badge [[File:Fishing gold.png]]
 * Bait: Sparkle Spinner


 * Fish: Golden Trout

The Sims 3


Fishing is a skill in The Sims 3 that is gained by fishing in the ponds or ocean around the map. Sims will be able to catch more types of fish the better they get at the skill. Childish and Insane Sims as well as children may fish in a swimming pool.

Challenges

 * Amateur Ichthyologist
 * Amateur Ichthyologists have caught at least one of every fish type (21) or at least 20 out of 31 fish types with The Sims 3: World Adventures. Their deep understanding of aquatic 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.

All marine animals caught fishing can be kept as pets in an aquarium or they can be used to stock a pond.

The Sims 4
Fishing is a skill in The Sims 4 with a collection of fish to catch. Sims can develop this skill by fishing from fishing holes or signs. Some locations yield a better chance of obtaining rare objects, plants, or fish.

Trivia

 * In The Sims 3, there is a glitch where installing some expansion packs may cause Sims to be unable to fish at certain fishing spawners. Sims will simply walk up to the fishing area before the interaction is dropped automatically.