DayZ Fishing Guide: Gear, Spots, Fish & Preparation

In DayZ you need to secure a safe, consistently available source of food over the long term. You can keep looting and eating tinned food, go hunting in the forests, or plant your own garden with pumpkins or courgettes. But you shouldn’t underestimate fishing either, as fish is one of your best chances of survival. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll hardly ever go hungry again. We’ll take a closer look at fishing, the mechanics behind it, and the best spots for a relaxed fishing trip in DayZ.

DayZ fishing gear: fishing rod, hooks, bait and crafting

To fish, you’ll first need a fishing rod. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a modern rod with high durability – it most commonly spawns on the coast, in boathouses or harbour areas. It usually yields the best catches but is relatively rare.

If you haven’t found a rod yet or don’t want to spend long searching, you can craft an improvised fishing rod. You’ll need: a long stick, a rope, a hook and a worm. Get sticks from bushes – be sure to wear gloves! Ropes can be found all over the world of DayZ or crafted from two stacks of 6 torn rags; alternatively, you can use a knife to turn guts into a rope. Fishing hooks come in three variants: modern hooks (loot), hooks crafted from bones, and simple wooden hooks (the latter are significantly worse).

This improvised rod is ideal early on, but it’s usually a little slower and less productive than a proper rod, and it takes up more inventory space. If you fish often, it’s worth searching for a high-quality fishing rod.

Finally, you’ll need bait to attract fish. Use a tool to dig for earthworms and attach them to your hook.

DayZ fish traps: a passive alternative to fishing

You don’t always have to fish actively to get food. In DayZ there are two traps you place in the water that work passively while you move away.

• A fishnet trap is crafted from a fishnet and metal wire. Place it in a body of water and add bait. Move about 25 metres away and wait 15–30 minutes for a good chance of a catch. You’ll usually catch carp and mackerel. The caught fish is visible in the trap. After around 8 hours, the trap will disappear if you don’t pick it up.
• A small fish trap is made from a plastic bottle and a knife. Place it in the water and add bait to increase your chances. You’ll catch small species such as shrimps, sardines or bitterling. You’ll know it has a catch when the bottle stands upright instead of lying flat.

DayZ fish and marine life: locations, freshwater and saltwater

Whether with traps or a rod, the lakes, rivers and coasts in DayZ are rich in marine life. What you catch depends on the water (fresh or salt) and your method. All provide reliable food – rotate spots to keep catches consistent.

You can find:

• Carp: Freshwater on all maps
• Sardines: Saltwater on all maps (traps only)
• Bitterling: Freshwater on all maps (traps only)
• Mackerel: Saltwater on all maps
• Pollock: Saltwater on Sakhal
• Trout: Saltwater on Sakhal
• Shrimps: Saltwater on Sakhal (traps only)

Freshwater covers all inland bodies: rivers, lakes, ponds and dams – across maps like Chernarus or Livonia. The best spots are secluded locations deep in the forest where you’re undisturbed. When fishing you stand still and can quickly become a target for other survivors.

Saltwater is found along the coast and on Sakhal. You can start fishing right after your spawn, but you’re also an easy target for other players there.

DayZ fishing: tips and tricks for more bites

• Hold the mouse button while waiting until a fish bites. Release it when the matching animation plays and you hear a gurgling sound.
• Keep an eye on your gear’s durability – cheap hooks, lines or improvised rods often last only a few catches.
• Best times: 05:00–09:00 in the morning and 18:00–22:00 in the evening.
• Rain or overcast weather often increases bite rates.
• Occasionally change your spot or the water depth if nothing bites for a while.

DayZ fish preparation: baking, boiling or drying

Fish and other marine life are an excellent food source in DayZ. Carry a knife to gut them. Do not eat the fillets raw, or you may get food poisoning.

While shrimps, sardines and bitterling can be cooked without gutting, you must first cut fillets from all other fish. You usually get two fillets per fish, which you then process further. Avoid burnt or spoiled fish.

You can:

• Bake: Lots of calories, less hydration, adequately filling.
• Boil: Fewer calories, very hydrating, adequately filling.
• Dry: Fewest calories and very dry, but very filling and stores well.

Conclusion: fishing in DayZ as a safe food source

Fishing is one of the best methods to secure continuous access to good food – with a fun mini-game and manageable effort. It’s often less risky than hunting or scavenging for tins and, thanks to traps, even passive. Rent your own DayZ server with us and fish together with your friends. The mechanics are surprisingly varied, with diverse marine life and preparation methods.