Direct Answer
Fishing unlocks in Timesville after you help Matthew with his hide-and-seek game — he gives you a fishing license. Show it to the scuba captain at the aquarium near the town entrance, then use the fishing rod: left-click to cast, and when something bites, keep the reel in the green bar until you land it. Catching all 18 fish (3 per time cycle) unlocks the I Want To Be A Fisherman achievement and drops the Lost Key.
How to Unlock Fishing
Fishing is not available from the start. You need the fishing license first:
- In Timesville, find Matthew and complete his hide-and-seek game.
- Afterward he gives you his fishing license as thanks.
- Take it to the scuba captain at the aquarium, which is right next to the entrance of the town.
- The captain confirms the license, and the fishing rod becomes usable.
If you are unsure whether you have the license yet, check your inventory for the fishing license item before heading to the rod.
How Fishing Works
The mechanics are simple once the license is active:
- Left-click to cast the line. A worm is used as bait automatically.
- When something bites, the game enters a reel phase.
- Keep the cursor in the green bar while reeling — staying in the green area fills progress and lands the catch; leaving it drops the fish.
- The catch is placed in the bucket by the rod. Kathy, the aquarium keeper, picks it up later to fill the aquarium.
Fishing does not consume in-game time, so you can fish as much as you want without worrying about the day/night cycle advancing.
The 18 Fish Goal
The main fishing objective is collecting every fish:
- There are 18 fish total in the game.
- They are grouped as 3 exclusive fish for every hour cycle on the clock — different cycles have different fish.
- Some fish only appear during the day, others at night. If you keep catching the same species, change the time of day and try again.
- Catching all 18 unlocks the I Want To Be A Fisherman achievement.
- Completing the set also makes the Lost Key drop from the Fish Paper, which you can use in the secret room behind the waterfall in Timesville.
Day vs Night Tips
- Day sessions: focus on the daytime-only species first. You will quickly learn which cycles are still missing fish.
- Night sessions: night fishing can also produce odd non-fish catches (such as a skeleton fish). If you are only seeing repeats, switch to the other time of day.
- Because fishing does not advance the clock, you can freely alternate without ruining your route.
What the Lost Key Is For
The Lost Key from completing the fish collection opens the secret room behind the waterfall in Timesville. This is part of the hidden route connected to the game's deeper lore and the all-endings content, so keep the key after you earn it.
Quick Checklist
- Help Matthew in Timesville and get the fishing license.
- Show it to the scuba captain at the aquarium.
- Left-click to cast, keep the reel in the green bar.
- Catch fish in both day and night cycles.
- Collect all 18 fish for the I Want To Be A Fisherman achievement.
- Grab the Lost Key and use it at the waterfall room.