Fishing is a decent side activity in Escape From Duckov, where you get to collect resources for quests, upgrades, and trading. You’ll notice fishing spots and docks when you’re exploring the Ground Zero map, but the game doesn’t permit you to fish. You’ll need to unlock and create the appropriate tools first.
This guide has it all, from unlocking the Fishing Rod and obtaining bait to finishing the fishing mini-game, best fishing spots, and useful upgrades.
How to Unlock Fishing and Create a Rod
You won’t be able to throw your line until you have upgraded your Workbench and created a Fishing Rod.
Start by opening Advanced Processing II from your Workbench. This ability gives you access to the recipe for the Fishing Rod.
After opening:
- Collect 2x Wood and 1x Steel.
- Go to your Workbench that’s upgraded.
- Open Crafting Menu, and choose Fishing Rod.
- Craft it and assign it to your melee slot within your inventory.
- With the rod on, you’re prepared to collect the bait and look for a good spot to fish.
How to Acquire Bait in Escape From Duckov
You can’t fish without bait, and there are two primary methods for obtaining it:
- Purchase from Vogo: Obtain the Bait recipe from him after he’s unlocked. Handy but pricey, not something you’ll want early on if your finances are tight.
- Find it in digging locations: The affordable option. Craft a shovel and randomly search for digging locations on the map. These will reward you with free bait.
Occasionally, hidden loot containers will drop bait as well. As you progress through the game, you’ll discover special types of bait that are not worms, such as batteries, which lure in rarer fish.
Once you’ve got bait, open your inventory, interact with your Fishing Rod, and attach the bait before heading to a fishing location.
Types of Baits in the Game
Escape from Duckov features many fishing baits that you need to catch fish, and many of them may seem unorthodox. Certain fish require you to use specific baits to get them. Here are all the Fishing Baits in Escape from Duckov:
- Toilet Cleaner (obtained from dismantling Polyethylene Sheet or as a random drop): -15% Fishing Ability | -90% Fishing Luck
- R6 Battery (obtained from dismantling Electrified MP7, PP3 Battery, and Pressure Sensor and as a random drop): -15% Fishing Ability | -90% Fishing Luck
- Artichoke Petal (obtained from merchants): +100% Fishing Luck
- Corn Kernel (obtained from merchants): +100% Fishing Luck
- Mango Cube (obtained from merchants): +100% Fishing Luck
- Earthworm (bought or found): no bonuses
- Grape Berry (obtained from merchants): +100% Fishing Luck
- Cippo (obtained from dismantling Metal Plate or as a random drop): -15% Fishing Ability | -90% Fishing Luck
- Bait (obtained from crafting 2 Earthworm and 3 Soda Crackers): +0.42 Fishing Luck
How to Fish in Escape From Duckov
Fishing in Escape From Duckov uses a simple timing-based mini-game that tests your reflexes. Here’s how it works:
- Arm your Fishing Rod and lure, then go to a fishing area.
- Press F to cast your line into the water.
- Wait for the big circle to constrict and overlap completely with the small one.
- Once they cross, press Space to pull in your catch.
- If you press too early or too late, the line is broken or the bait is lost. Timing is everything; expect to miss a few to get a feel before the rhythm.
Types of Fish in the Game
Fish in Duckov are obtained on different maps using different baits. Some of them require you to use better rods or increase your fishing level. Here is the complete list for all Fishes in Escape from Duckov.
| Fish | Bait Type | When to Catch | Where to Catch |
| Bighead Goldfish | Cippo | Anytime | Ground Zero / Warehouse Area / Farm Town |
| Blue Mackerel | Worm / Bait | Anytime | Ground Zero / Warehouse Area |
| Brown Sardine | Worms, R6 Battery, or Lighter | Anytime | Ground Zero (Northwestern part) |
| Green Porcupinefish | Toilet Cleaner | Anytime | Ground Zero |
| Pink Goldfish | R6 Batteries | Nighttime Only | Warehouse Area |
| Red Goldfish | R9 Battery | Daytime Only | Warehouse Area |
| Azure Galaxias | R6 Batteries | Rainy Days | Farm Town |
| Blue Damselfish | Worm / Bait | Nighttime Only | Ground Zero |
| Blue Tang | Cippo | Anytime | Ground Zero |
| Brown Mullet | R6 Batteries | Daytime while Raining | Ground Zero |
| Green Snapper | R9 Battery | Daytime while Sunny | Warehouse Area |
| Purple Damselfish | Worm / Bait | Nighttime Only | Ground Zero / Warehouse Area / Farm Town |
| Red Banded Fish | Worm / Bait | Daytime Only | Ground Zero |
| Red Bigeye Fish | Lighter (Cippo) | Sunny Days | Warehouse Area |
| Redfin Snapper | Worm / Bait | Anytime | Farm Town |
| White Angelfish | Worm / Bait | Nighttime while Sunny | Warehouse Area / Farm Town |
| White Flatfish | Lighter (Cippo) | Rainy Days | Farm Town |
| Brown-white Grunt | Worm / Bait | Anytime | Warehouse Area |
| Green Fathead Fish | Worm / Bait | Nighttime Only | Ground Zero |
| Green-yellow Porcupinefish | Worm / Bait | Nighttime while Raining | Ground Zero (Northwest) |
| Greenback Bighead Carp | Toilet Cleaner | Nighttime while Raining | Farm Town |
| Blue Marlin | R9 Battery | Daytime while Sunny | Farm Town |
| Blue Sailfish | Cippo | Nighttime During Storm | Farm Town |
| Orange Greenfin Fish | R6 Batteries | Daytime During Storm | Warehouse Area |
| Orange Squirrelfish | R9 Battery | Anytime | Ground Zero |
| Pinkfin Flamefish | Worm / Bait | Nighttime while Raining | Farm Town |
| Yellow-green Snapper | Worm / Bait | Nighttime on a Sunny Day | Ground Zero |
| Blue Catshark | Toilet Cleaner | Daytime During Storm | Warehouse Area |
| Red Spotted Grouper | Worm / Bait | Nighttime During Storm | Ground Zero / Warehouse Area |
| Golden Fish | Toilet Cleaner | Daytime During Storm | Farm Town |
All Fishing Spots in Escape From Duckov
Fishing spots can be located here and there throughout the world, but two are especially reliable early on:
- South of North Mountain – A quiet, low-risk zone perfect for beginners. You can fish here in peace without being constantly interrupted.
- By Road Camp – Danger lurks, greater reward. The enemy camps here regularly, so travel with powerful gear and be prepared to fight while fishing.
You catch different kinds of fish by using different kinds of bait, so try between the two places to do quests and get materials.
Upgrading Fishing Skills and Expanding Storage
Once you’ve caught a few fish, visit Vogo again after unlocking the Kitchen. He offers fishing skill upgrades that improve your catch rate and quality. Each tier requires both credits and specific fish types to unlock.
Upgrades include:
- Faster catch times.
- Higher quality (rarer) fish.
- Better bait efficiency.
As your fishing haul grows, you’ll also need more storage. Craft barrels at the Workbench to expand capacity:
- Blue Barrel: Basic capacity.
- Red Barrel: Medium capacity.
- Yellow Barrel: High capacity.
Barrels enable you to store fish in your warehouse or backpack without using much space for more catches. You can proceed and sell fish for profit or utilise them in recipes as you open up cooking possibilities later on in the game.
