How to Fish in Red Dead Redemption 2

If you enjoyed fishing in a game like Far Cry 5, then you’re in luck, because there’s plenty of fishing to be had in Red Dead Redemption 2. Fishing isn’t one of the first skills you learn in the game–you’ll need to get acclimated to the controls first–but eventually you should try to make fishing a part of your regular routine. Not only is fishing a great source of food, it can also be quite a relaxing pastime, even in a video game. If you’re eager to reel in a fresh catch, continue reading below to find out what you need to do to learn how to fish in Red Dead Redemption 2.

How to Fish in Red Dead Redemption 2

In order to be able to fish in Red Dead Redemption 2, players must complete a specific quest to gain access to fishing. You will need to sink a few hours into the game before the fishing quest becomes available, so don’t expect to fish early on in your journey. You will learn how to fish during the quest called A Fisher of Men, where you will be tasked with taking Abigail Roberts’s son, Jack, on a brief fishing trip. 

Head to the river with Jack to begin the fishing tutorial. To bring out your fishing pole, press and hold LB (Xbox) or L1 (PS4) to display the item wheel and press RB/R1 and the right analog stick to navigate to the Hunting subsection in the Items category. From here, use the left and right trigger buttons to look through the hunting items and find the fishing pole. 

Before you throw out a line, you’ll need to put on some bait first. Now that the fishing pole is equipped, bring up the item wheel again and this time select the Fishing category. Browse through the bait and select one that seems suitable for the occasion. If you are looking to catch something specific, then you will need to consider the type of bait you’ll need as well as the location you’re fishing at, as these factors will impact the types of fish you can catch in Red Dead Redemption 2.

The initial fishing quest, however, is quite simple. All you need to do is catch two fish, so don’t worry too much about the bait you’re using. Once you have a couple fish in tow, return to camp with Jack to finish the quest. After completing the fishing quest, you will be able to fish at any lake, pond, or watering hole that you come across in the game. 

While you may understand the basics of how to fish in the game, you’ve really just began to scratch the surface. If you want a deeper understanding of the game’s mechanics, then head over to our Red Dead Redemption 2 Guide to learn more about the ins and outs of catching certain fish, hunting legendary animals, and other useful skills in Red Dead Redemption 2.