Step one: get the rod from Croc
Fishing starts with a rod, and the rod comes from an NPC named Croc. Two independent demo playthroughs, from November 2025 and September 2026, both receive fishing equipment from him. In the September 2026 build, Nancy's introductory mail-delivery task leads the player to Croc.
The exact quest route differs between older and newer builds, so follow your quest journal. Our dedicated fishing rod guide walks through the observed routes and their dates. Once Croc hands over the rod, the rest of this guide applies. Until then, keep running your restaurant shifts and checking the journal for new town tasks.
Step two: equip the rod from the tool wheel
Having the rod is not the same as holding it. In LadyShelab's session, the rod is selected through the tool wheel at around 06:22 and again at 31:19. Open the wheel, choose the rod and confirm it is in your character's hands before heading to the water.
The tool wheel also holds other equipment, such as the watering can for farming. If you were just tending crops, the wrong tool may still be selected. Checking the wheel first saves you from wondering why fishing will not start. It takes a second and rules out the most common simple mistake.
Step three: find a recognized fishing spot
You can only fish at spots the game recognizes. The October 1, 2026 patch specifically improved fishing hints and fishing-spot detection. That change suggests some players had trouble getting the game to register a spot in earlier builds.
In an older January 2026 build, LadiesGamers placed fishing access around the shore and docks. A full map of fishing spots has not been verified, so look for the on-screen hint as you approach the water. If the hint does not appear, move along the shoreline and try again. Moving a short distance and checking for the hint again is the simplest test.
Step four: start fishing and follow the prompt
With the rod equipped at a valid spot, you can begin. In February 2025, a developer reply on the Steam forum said fishing starts with the left mouse button or the right bumper on a controller. Those controls are historical, so always follow the button prompt shown in your current build.
Inputs can also differ by device, and the game shows its own prompts for keyboard and controller. NAC Games shows a fishing interaction and a successful catch between about 54:23 and 55:07 in a September 2026 session. Compare what you see there with your own prompts rather than copying keys from older guides.
How the fishing minigame works
Catching a fish involves a short minigame rather than a single button press. LadiesGamers' older controller account describes keeping the fish within an indicated area until the catch succeeds. That description confirms the general idea of the minigame, not a precise input sequence for the current version.
The minigame itself was changed in the May 2025 demo update. As a result, instructions written before that update may describe a different system entirely. Watch the on-screen indicator closely and react to what it shows you.
Why older fishing guides disagree
PAO PAO's fishing has been reworked more than once during the demo period. The May 2025 update changed the minigame, and the October 2026 patch improved hints and spot detection. Any guide recorded between those dates may show controls or behavior that no longer match.
This is why this page focuses on the steps that stay constant: get the rod, equip it, find a spot and follow the prompts. Specific key timings are left to the game, which always displays the current controls. When something feels different from a video, assume the build changed rather than that you are doing it wrong.
Troubleshooting: spot or minigame?
When fishing fails, there are two different causes to separate. The first is an unrecognized spot, where the game never starts the minigame at all. The second is a minigame failure, where the fish escapes after the attempt begins.
For the first, move to a different part of the shore or dock and look for the fishing hint. For the second, practice keeping the fish inside the indicated area and follow the prompts more closely. Also confirm the rod is still equipped, since another tool can stay selected after farming.
Cooking with your catch
Fish are restaurant ingredients, which is the main reason to fish early. Catfish sashimi is a confirmed simple dish: slice the fish, place it on a plate and serve it with no extra ingredients. A developer confirmed those steps in October 2026, and they match September gameplay footage.
Catching your own fish means you do not have to buy it at the market. The market in recent footage sells catfish, so fishing becomes an alternative supply rather than the only one. See the recipes guide and the ingredient locations guide for more.
Selling surplus fish
Not every fish has to go into the kitchen. NAC Games shows a fish-selling interaction at around 1:28:27 in the September 2026 session. That makes selling surplus catches a demonstrated way to earn a little extra money.
Sale values were not independently checked, so this guide does not list prices or the most valuable fish. Restaurant service remains the clearest verified income route. Read how to make money in PAO PAO for how selling fits alongside serving customers.
Fishing in co-op
Fishing is an easy task to hand off when friends join. PAO PAO supports online co-op for up to four players, so one player can fish while others run the kitchen. The catch then goes straight into the shared restaurant workflow.
Agree on how many fish the menu needs before someone heads to the water. That avoids running out mid-service or catching far more than you can cook. The co-op guide covers the player limit and recent online fixes.
What is not confirmed yet
Several fishing details that players ask about have not been verified. There is no confirmed complete table of species, locations or bait, and no published catch probabilities. A schedule for rare fish has not been documented either.
This page does not invent those numbers or turn a single catch into a guaranteed spawn. When the Early Access version is documented, verified details will be added with their sources and dates. Until then, focus on the basic loop and the prompts in your current build.
Sources and further reading
- Just a Cozy Lil Guy Running a Chaotic Restaurant! — NAC Games
- Farming, Fishing, Questing, and Running a Restaurant In this Adorable Town!! — LadyShelab
- Pao Pao Second Patch is Live!
- PAO PAO Demo Impressions — LadiesGamers
- cannot fishing — Steam developer reply
- PAO PAO Demo Update #2
- New Player — Steam developer reply
- Pao Pao free demo is now available to play! — Dreland
- PAO PAO — Steam store