A catch is a fight. Clicks deal damage. A fatigue meter under the health bar fills while you fight, and a full meter lets the fish go. Skills both burst health and keep that meter from ending the attempt.
Cast
Hold the left mouse button. A bar moves. Release inside the green zone for a perfect cast. A tap does not cast. Have the rod on key 1 before you hold the button.
First hit
When the fish bites, a small meter with a fast cursor appears. Click while the cursor is near the top. That bonus applies to the first hit only. Later clicks use the normal attack.
During the fight
| Action | PC control |
|---|---|
| Move | W A S D |
| Jump | Space |
| Interact | E |
| Equip rod | 1 |
| Satchel | 2 |
| Quests | 3 |
| Stats | 4 |
| Cast and attack | Left mouse |
| Skills | Z X C V |
Press W, A, or D when the prompt shows. Missing prompts adds risk to the line. Keep clicking between prompts.
The white line
Creator footage shows basic clicks stopping at a white line on the health bar. Past that line, only a skill lands the fish. A written beginner guide describes the same fight as taking the health bar to zero and does not mention the line. If your bar stops moving under clicks, fire an equipped skill instead of buying another rod.
Hold the skill until the bar is near that line. Opening with it leaves you at the line while the cooldown runs. Two skills let you alternate so one is ready. If you have only the tutorial skill, fish smaller targets until it is back.
If the line breaks
Check the fatigue meter first, then the skill slot, then the rod attack. A stronger rod raises the attack that skills scale from. The formula is not published. Changing rod, skill, and cast timing in the same attempt hides which one fixed the catch.