// POSTED BY Roisin ON Aug 7, 2026, 6:56 PM
How to Fish in RimWorld
Fishing is one of the best renewable food sources available in RimWorld: Odyssey. Whether your colony is built beside a river, lake or coastline, fishing provides a reliable way to feed your colonists without relying entirely on farming or hunting.
Here’s everything you need to know about fishing in the current version of RimWorld.
Can You Fish in RimWorld?
Yes, but fishing is only available if you own the Odyssey DLC.
Once unlocked, you can create Fishing Zones in suitable bodies of water and assign colonists to catch fish automatically. Fishing can also occasionally reward rare catches beyond ordinary fish.
How to Unlock Fishing
Most colonies need to complete the Fishing research project before they can create Fishing Zones.
However, if you begin as a Tribal colony, Fishing is already researched, allowing you to start fishing immediately.
How to Start Fishing
After completing the Fishing research, you can set up dedicated fishing zones to begin gathering food for your colony.
- 1 Open the Zones menu.
- 2 Select Fishing Zone.
- 3 Place the zone over shallow, non-toxic water that contains fish.
- 4 Assign a colonist to fishing in the Work tab.
- 5 Ensure the colonist has time scheduled for work.
Once everything is set up, assigned colonists will automatically travel to the Fishing Zone and begin catching fish during their scheduled work hours.
How to Assign Colonists to Fish
Simply enable the Hunt work type for the colonist you want to fish. If you use manual priorities, you can also increase its priority so they spend more time fishing than on other jobs.
Which Colonists Are Best at Fishing?
Fishing uses the Animals skill.
Colonists with a higher Animals skill benefit from improved:
- Fishing Speed
- Fishing Yield
Choosing a pawn with a passion for Animals is ideal, as they’ll improve more quickly and catch fish more efficiently.
Where Can You Fish?
Fishing Zones can only be placed on:
- Shallow water
- Non-toxic water
- Water that contains a fish population
Larger lakes, rivers and coastal areas generally support larger fish populations, making them better long-term fishing locations.
Can Fish Run Out?
Yes.
Every body of water has its own fish population. As your colonists continue fishing, that population decreases.
Fortunately, fish naturally repopulate over time, provided there isn’t a Gill Rot event affecting the water. Fish populations regenerate at approximately 2.5% of their maximum size each day, so avoiding overfishing will improve your long-term yields.
Can You Catch Anything Besides Fish?
Yes.
Fishing isn’t limited to ordinary fish. Depending on the circumstances, your colonists may also reel in:
- Rare fish
- Valuable treasures
- Drugs
- Toxfish in polluted waters
- Other special catches
There is also a small chance of negative fishing events depending on the species living in the water.
Is Fishing Better Than Hunting?
Fishing and hunting each offer distinct advantages depending on your colony’s resources, safety needs, and labor setup.
- Renewable food source
- Doesn’t require ammunition
- Safer than hunting dangerous wildlife
- Can be largely automated
- Produces leather as well as meat
- Can provide larger meat yields
- Helps remove dangerous animals around your colony
Many successful colonies combine fishing, farming, and hunting to create a resilient, year-round food supply.
Tips for Fishing in RimWorld
- Research early: Unlock Fishing as early as possible in your playthrough.
- Base location: Build near rivers or lakes if you plan to rely on fishing.
- Colonist skills: Assign colonists with a high Animals skill for better efficiency.
- Conservation: Don’t overfish a single body of water to maintain sustainable yields.
- Food preservation: Freeze your catch immediately to prevent spoilage.
Combine fishing with farming to build a resilient, multi-source food supply that buffers against bad harvests, seasonal changes, and toxic fallout.
Is Fishing Worth It?
Absolutely.
Fishing is one of the most dependable renewable food sources in RimWorld, particularly for colonies with easy access to water.
While it may not completely replace farming for very large colonies, it provides an excellent supplementary food source and can be invaluable during poor growing seasons or harsh weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fish in RimWorld?
Yes. Fishing is available with the Odyssey DLC.
Do you need to research Fishing?
Yes. Most starts require the Fishing research project before Fishing Zones become available. Tribal starts begin with it already researched.
Which skill affects fishing?
Fishing uses the Animals skill, increasing both Fishing Speed and Fishing Yield.
Can fish populations run out?
Yes. Overfishing reduces the fish population, although it naturally regenerates over time unless affected by Gill Rot.
Is fishing a good source of food?
Yes. Fishing is one of the best renewable food sources in RimWorld and works especially well alongside farming and hunting.