Fallout 76 is experimenting with the ultimate game enhancement: fishing” “Fishing, the feature every game needs, is now being tested in Fallout 76” “Fallout 76 trials the ultimate game-changer: fishing” “The addition every game craves—fishing—is in testing for Fallout 76” “Fallout 76 explores the classic game upgrade: fishing mechanics

Fishing! It’s a feature that’s been included in many games over the years, one that varies in quality from game to game. Sega Bass Fishing? Probably top of the line, as long as you have that unique fishing rod controller. Stardew Valley? I like it, but I know plenty of people that hate it. Personally I normally find it quite a relaxing thing to do, particularly in games that are otherwise combat focused. Fallout 76 is one such game that’s more about shooting rather than chilling out, but over on the public test server you can now try out its version of fishing.

Those of you on the PTS (I hear that’s what the cool kids call it) can now head to a new area in the boggy Mire region called Fisherman’s Rest. There’s three new characters here, Captain Raymond Clark, someone literally just called The Fisherman, and Linda-Lee, a giant hermit crab. A likely bunch in a world like Fallout’s.

To get your probably not brand-spanking-new fishing rod you need to start the Casting Off quest. You’ll find that by following a signal on your Pip-Boy in the Mire. A blog post detailing the fishing patch notes that the way you know if you can fish somewhere is a simple mantra: “If I can swim, then I can fish.”

When you actually get to fish, you’ll need to use different kinds of bait, take weather conditions into consideration – Radstorms will help you find a glowing fish – though I can’t tell you how the fishing part actually works other than the fact a fish command comes up in deep bodies of water. Sounds like it might be pretty automatic, which is a bit of a shame.

There’s lots of different fish to catch, which you can eat to restore some health, but you can also turn them into fish bits (awful name), which lets you cook a new grilled fish recipe. This one “provides you with an effect that reduces the time to hook a fish for 20 minutes,” something that feels quite messed up when you consider you’re using the life of a fish to help you catch more fish. You’ll also find daily fishing quests where you can unlock more recipes too.

Currently Bethesda is targeting a June release for those that don’t play on the PTS, so you don’t exactly have to wait that long if you want some bugs ironed out first.