How to Fish Beginner Guide: First Catch in 10 Minutes
This guide walks you through the HowToFish.click fan-made browser game. All values are original for this game.
Minute 0-2: controls
You start on Sunny Beach with $25 and a basic rod. Learn four inputs and you can play the whole game:
- Move - ◀ ▶ buttons, drag the left half of the water, or arrow keys.
- Cast - press CAST, drag toward where you want to throw, release. The dotted preview shows the trajectory.
- Twitch - while the lure is in the water, tap TWITCH (or J) to make it dart. Active fish need this; calm fish hate it.
- Reel - hold the REEL button during a fight. Release when the fish runs or the tension bar gets high.
Minute 2-5: your first catch
- Steer toward open water where you see fish shadows moving.
- Cast near a fish - the lure lands, bobs, and ONE fish swims over alone. It tests the hook twice: calm fish (round with spots) bite if you leave the lure still; active fish (sleek with a stripe) need a TWITCH. No bite after two tests? It swims away - cast again.
- When the screen flashes HOOKED, the fish takes off on a run - let it go until it settles. Then hold REEL. Watch the LINE TENSION bar at the bottom.
- The bar rises while you reel. When it turns yellow-red or says TOO TIGHT, release for a moment, then reel again. Every time the fish runs, release again.
- After a few reel bursts the fish tires (a "tired" label appears), rises to the surface and slides in. CAUGHT!
That is the entire fight system. Every fish in the game is the same skill applied harder: reel in bursts, respect the tension bar, win.
Minute 5-8: sell and upgrade
Fish go into your hold automatically. Steer back to the island (left side) until the ⚓ DOCK button appears, open the dock and press Sell all. Early catches pay $12-$45 each; three or four catches fund your first purchase.
Buy in this order for the fastest start:
- Rod level 1 ($60) - more cast power reaches fish that spawn far from the boat.
- Reel level 1 ($50) - faster fights, less time for fish to escape.
- Line level 1 ($40) - more room for mistakes on the tension bar.
Minute 8-10: unlock Rocky Cove
Rocky Cove costs $150 and requires Rod level 1. Travel there from the dock's Travel map. It holds Copper Carp ($20), Mossy Catfish ($55), Ruby Puffer ($130), Volt Eel ($160), Sunset Bass ($320) and the legendary Golden Kingfish ($600) - plus the Reef Tyrant boss at the far end. Stay on the left half of the cove until you have a harpoon.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Holding REEL the whole fight - the line snaps and you lose the fish.
- Casting into the beach - the lure lands on land and auto-retrieves. Use the preview dots.
- Selling nothing - fish in the hold earn zero coins. Dock and sell regularly.
- Fighting the boss without a harpoon - it cannot be tired out. Come back armed.