Fishing

Fishing is the very first hobby every player unlocks in Heartopia, becoming available automatically when you reach D.G. Level 1 and meet Vanya at the riverside dock. What starts as a simple tutorial with a basic rod quickly expands into one of the game's deepest and most rewarding systems, spanning 94+ species across 14 distinct fishing zones that cover rivers, lakes, and oceans throughout every region of the map.

How Fishing Works

Each fishing zone contains a specific roster of species, and which fish appear depends on three key variables: your fishing level (1 through 10), the current time of day (Dawn, Morning, Afternoon, or Dusk), and the weather (Sunny, Rainy, or Rainbow). When you cast your line, a shadow appears in the water indicating the size category of the approaching fish: Small shadows yield common catches, Medium shadows offer mid-tier species, and Large or XL shadows signal rare and valuable fish. Learning to read shadows is essential for targeting specific species.

Star Quality and Profit

Every fish you catch receives a star rating from 1 to 5, which dramatically affects its sell value. The multipliers are significant: a 2-star fish sells for 1.5x base price, 3-star for 2x, 4-star for 4x, and 5-star for a whopping 5x the base price. For a Bluefin Tuna with an 850G base price, a 5-star catch is worth 4,250G. Higher fishing skill levels and upgraded equipment improve your chances of landing higher-star catches, making skill progression directly tied to earning potential.

Special Mechanics

Three fish species (Edible Frog, Tilapia, and Rabbit Fish) require the Mermaid Attractor bait to catch, adding a resource management layer to the hobby. Rainbow weather is the most coveted condition for serious anglers, as it unlocks exclusive catches like Bluefin Tuna, Swordfish, Golden King Crab, and Arctic Char. The Sea Fishing Party is a multiplayer event accessible from the Fishing Village where players cooperate to catch exclusive deep-sea species like the Giant Oarfish and Ocean Sunfish. Fish can be sold to Albert Jr. for Gold, used as cooking ingredients, gifted to NPCs, or donated to the Fish Observation collection.