This complete fishing minigame guide for Item Shop Simulator breaks down exactly how to catch the game's four unique fish—the Glumfish, Golden Glumfish, Chomper, and Skeletal Chomper—and explains how to use them to earn money, complete the Fisherman's Request, and unlock achievements. Fishing is a simple but essential part of building your shop's fortune, and mastering it early will give you a significant financial advantage.
The entire minigame takes place in one location and uses a straightforward timing mechanic. There are no different rods, baits, or times of day to worry about. Your success comes down to pure timing and knowing what to do with your catch.
How Does the Fishing Minigame Work?
Before you can start fishing, you need to acquire the fishing rod. It becomes available early in the game as a standard item you can craft or purchase. Once you have the rod, there's only one place you need to go.
Finding the Fishing Spot
Head out of your shop and go towards the main town square. Continue past the central fountain, and you'll find a wooden pier extending over a small lake. This is the designated fishing area. You cannot fish anywhere else. Walk to the end of the pier and interact with it to begin the minigame.
Mastering the Minigame
The mechanics are simple and based on a single click.
- Cast Your Line: Press and hold the action button. A power meter will appear and begin to fill. Release the button to cast your line; the fuller the meter, the farther your cast. While distance doesn't seem to affect which fish you can catch, a perfect cast can feel satisfying.
- Wait for a Bite: An exclamation point (!) will appear above your character's head when a fish is on the line.
- Reel It In: A new UI element will appear—a vertical bar with a fish icon moving up and down and a highlighted green “sweet spot.” Your goal is to click the action button when the moving fish icon is inside the green zone. If you click too early or too late, the fish will get away. If you succeed, you'll catch the fish and see what you've reeled in.
The key is to anticipate the fish icon's movement. It can speed up or slow down unpredictably, so focus on the bar and be ready to click. There is no penalty for failing other than the lost time.
Item Shop Simulator in-game screenshot
All Four Fish Types and How to Catch Them
There are four distinct fish you can catch from the pier. Three are available from the start, while one requires a specific prerequisite. Their appearance rate is random, so persistence is the only strategy.
Here’s a breakdown of each fish, its value, and its rarity.
| Fish | Sell Price | Rarity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glumfish | 10 Gold | Common | Your bread-and-butter catch. You'll reel in dozens of these. |
| Golden Glumfish | 100 Gold | Uncommon | The primary money-maker. Visibly golden, its high price makes it worth grinding for. |
| Chomper | 25 Gold | Uncommon | A piranha-like fish. More valuable than a Glumfish but less so than its golden cousin. |
| Skeletal Chomper | 50 Gold | Rare | An undead version of the Chomper. This is the rarest catch in the game. |
Glumfish
The most common fish in the lake. You will catch this fish more than any other. While its individual sell price is low, catching them in bulk can provide a steady, if slow, stream of income in the early game.
Golden Glumfish
This is the fish you're hoping for on every cast. At 10 times the value of a regular Glumfish, a single Golden Glumfish can be worth more than a dozen other catches. There is no special trick to catching it; its appearance is purely based on random chance. The best strategy is simply to fish repeatedly until you get lucky. A good fishing session can yield several, significantly boosting your daily profits.
Chomper
The Chomper is a mid-tier fish that serves as a nice bonus when it appears. It's more common than the Golden Glumfish but much rarer than the standard Glumfish. Don't rely on it for income, but appreciate the extra 25 Gold when it shows up.
Item Shop Simulator in-game screenshot
Skeletal Chomper
The Skeletal Chomper is the rarest fish in Item Shop Simulator. It has a very low appearance rate and is not required for any quests, making it more of a trophy catch for completionists. Its 50 Gold sell price is good, but its rarity means you cannot reliably farm it for profit. Catching one is a matter of luck and persistence.
What Are the Fish Used For?
Your hard-earned fish have three primary purposes in the game: generating income, fulfilling a key quest, and unlocking achievements for bragging rights.
Selling for Profit
The most obvious use for fish is to sell them in your shop. Place them on display tables or shelves just like any other item. Adventurers and townsfolk will purchase them, providing a reliable source of early-game income. Farming Golden Glumfish is one of the most effective ways to make money before you unlock more complex crafting recipes. A dedicated hour of fishing can easily net you several hundred Gold.
The Fisherman's Request Quest
As you progress, an NPC known simply as the "Fisherman" will appear in town, often near the pier. He will give you a quest called "Fisherman's Request." To complete it, you must bring him one of each of the three living fish types:
- 1x Glumfish
- 1x Golden Glumfish
- 1x Chomper
He does not require the Skeletal Chomper. Once you have all three in your inventory, speak to him again to turn them in. The reward is typically a lump sum of Gold and a unique shop decoration item that can't be obtained anywhere else. Completing this quest is essential for 100% completion.
Item Shop Simulator in-game screenshot
Unlocking Achievements
Item Shop Simulator has several Steam achievements tied to the fishing minigame. These are awarded for milestones like catching your first fish, catching a certain number of total fish, and, most importantly, catching one of every type.
- First Catch: Catch your first fish of any kind.
- Amateur Angler: Catch 50 total fish.
- Professional Angler: Catch 200 total fish.
- Master Angler: Catch one of all four fish types (Glumfish, Golden Glumfish, Chomper, and Skeletal Chomper).
That last achievement, Master Angler, is the most difficult due to the rarity of the Skeletal Chomper. Unlocking it is a true testament to your patience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I start fishing in Item Shop Simulator? First, acquire the fishing rod through crafting or by purchasing it. Then, head to the wooden pier by the lake in the main town area. Interact with the end of the pier to begin the minigame.
What is the rarest fish and what is it for? The Skeletal Chomper is the rarest fish. It has a very low catch rate and is primarily used to sell for 50 Gold and to unlock the "Master Angler" achievement. It is not needed for any quests.
Is there a better fishing rod or bait? No. As of the current version, there is only one type of fishing rod, and there is no bait mechanic. Success is entirely dependent on your timing in the minigame, not your gear.
Is fishing the best way to make money? In the early game, fishing is one of the best and most consistent ways to make money, especially if you get lucky with Golden Glumfish. Later in the game, selling high-level crafted items like potions and enchanted gear will become far more profitable, but fishing remains a simple, no-cost way to supplement your income at any stage.
Final Cast
The fishing minigame in Item Shop Simulator is a simple yet rewarding system that provides a solid foundation for your shop's economy. While it lacks the complexity of fishing systems in other games, its strength is in its directness. Focus on mastering the timing, spend some time grinding for those valuable Golden Glumfish, and be sure to complete the Fisherman's Request. With a little patience, you'll have the funds you need to turn your humble item shop into a legendary emporium.