The DMs  Guide

toFishing
 The DMs  Guide
toFishing
Credits
Writer & Producer: Zeke Gonzalez
Table of Contents
Layout: Anja Svare
Introduction 3
Tips for the DM 4
Cover Art © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission.
All rights reserved.
Interior Art provided by the DMs Guild Creator DMs Guide to Fishing 4
Resources Magical Equipment sidebar 5

2 Fishing Proficiency sidebar 6

Cover
A lizardfolk barbarian spearfishes
Appendix A: Fish Tables
General Fishing Table
Terrain-Specific Fishing Tables
6
6
7
for colorful trout.
Arctic 7
Cave/Underground 7
Coast/Ocean 7

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Dungeon/Ruins/Urban
7
8
Get a FREE Forest 8
Adventure Boon of the Deep sidebar 8
& Bestiary Grassland 8
Mountain 9
Click Here! Planar 9
Swamp 9

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The DMs Guide to Fishing

 ye ar s I h av e in ve st ig at ed th e m ysteries of
For thirty t th e re al m . I’ ve tr ac ke d
underwater habitats th ro ug h ou
nd s an d sa lt w at er m yt hs in so m e of
down freshwater lege ld . Pa ck ed w it hin these
the remote ki ng do m s of th e w or
m y no te s on ev er yt hi ng yo u ne ed to become a
pages are th e h id de n la nd be ne at h
master angler and an ex pe rt in
h et he r se ar ch in g th e m ur ky po ol s
the water’s surface. W re ef s of H averton,
of the Mem or ia l M ir e, th e de ad ly
sn ar ed ri ve rs of th e M is tw oo d, th ese pages
or the fog-
contain the knowledge you seek... Konezegel’s
-A.Z.Z.
Field Guide to Fishes of the Realm

The DMs Guide to Fishing is a rules supplement
containing fishing mechanics and an abundance of fish
to use in your games. Among these fish are real fish
reimagined for D&D 5th Edition and new, completely
original fantasy fish. This supplement uses rules, spells,
and concepts from Wizards of the Coast’s D&D 5th
Edition and are intended to supplement your campaigns.
Tips for the DM
3
As with any supplement, The DMs Guide to Fishing
should be adapted to work for your group. If you don’t
like the way a mechanic works, please feel free to change
it. Adjust the descriptions, lore, details, and effects to
suit your games and your players. For example, if you
want to include fishing in your games but don’t like
some of the fish in the Appendix, replace them with fish
appropriate to your world or setting! If you want to make
fishing a crunchier mechanical system, use these rules
as a foundation to create a new system of your own. Use
these rules however they can best be utilized at your
table and in your games. I hope you have as much fun
with these rules as I have!

The DMs Guide to Fishing

 The DMs Guide to Fishing
Beneath the surface of every pond, river, and lake is a
world teeming with life. In this supplement, you will find
a set of simple and easy-to-use mechanics for fishing as
well as tables describing some of the fish (both mundane
and magical) that can be caught. The rules described
herein allow players to enjoy the leisurely (or sometimes
thrilling) sport of fishing. Whether it's a downtime activity
between adventures or integrated into an adventure,
fishing has the potential to enrich any setting and create
wonderful roleplaying moments for the entire table!
Bait
Bait comes in many forms, depending on the intended
catch or the terrain. While nightcrawlers are the most
commonly used bait, some use chicken necks, pellets of
raw meat, or even fake fish. Sometimes special hooks
act as both the hook and the bait. Bait differs from
region to region, but simple worms will often perform
admirably in attracting fish of all kinds to someone's rod.
Nightcrawlers or another region-appropriate worm can
be scavenged from around a body of water in 15 minutes
with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Survival) check.

Equipment
All that players require to go fishing is three pieces of
equipment: a fishing rod, fishing tackle, and bait.
Fishing Rods
Fishing rods are as diverse and interesting as the
cultures from which they are created. Perhaps a
character discovers an elegant rod of wrought silver
in a dwarven ruin or inherited a sturdy wooden pole
worn from use by their mother. These details are up to
Considering how locally-sourced bait differs from place
to place is a great touch of worldbuilding that makes a
world feel real and lived-in. For example, the worms of
a sylvan forest may emit a light bioluminescence or the
small snails of the coastline may have intricate, spiny
shells. Alternatively, bait can be purchased from general
stores for 5 cp per pound, which is typically plenty of bait
for a fishing excursion.
Variant Rule: Some DMs may find it unrealistic that so
many different fish would be attracted to such simple
bait as worms. In such cases, DMs may dictate that
players obtain or utilize specific bait in order to attract

4
the DM & the players. A fishing rod can be carved from
certain species of fish. For example, jewelfish may only
wood with a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Survival) check
be attracted to golden fish hooks or jewelry; perhaps the
or purchased from any general store for 1 gp. If your
questing beast Saracen can only be captured by a cold
characters purchase a fishing pole from a store, ask them
iron fishhook baited with golden fruit!
to describe one interesting detail about the fishing rod
they chose that caught their eye. Once players have their equipment (all of which can be
rented for a day from a general store for just 1 gp), all
they need to do is find a local body of water to get fishing!
Fishing Tackle
Fishing tackle is a small box containing many lengths of
fishing line, a myriad of fishing hooks, and small boxes to
keep bait. Fishing tackle is generally built to be practical,
but is just as much a product of society as a fishing rod:
gnomish tackle boxes have clockwork mechanisms
and secret compartments, while halfling tackle are
surprisingly large with special compartments for putting
fish on ice and holding midday snacks. Fishing tackle can
be purchased from any general store for 1 gp. Fishing
line and hooks can be replaced or replenished for 5 sp or
less. When your characters set up their line, ask them to
describe an interesting feature of a hook that comes with
their fishing tackle.

The DMs Guide to Fishing

 Fishing Mechanics 
& Storytelling
First, describe the body of water. After the players cast
their line, ask them questions about their demeanor and
fishing style. Are they impatient? Calm and whistling?
Fishing is often a leisurely sport: describe the length of
time which passes before the players feel a tug on their
line. At this, have the players roll a d100 on the General
Fishing Table or the appropriate Regional Fishing Table
(Appendix A) to determine what fish is on the line.
Once the quarry is determined, describe how this
particular fish jumps or moves in a way that allows the
character to glean some information as to its appearance
or identity. Now each player rolls a contested Strength
(Athletics) check against their quarry, which rolls using
their STR bonus found in the tables in Appendix A. If

Magical Equipment
If fishing becomes an impor
tant part
the fish wins the contested check, it escapes. If the fish
wins the contested check by 5 or more, it snaps the line,
requiring the player to reel the line back in and replace
r’s story, it before casting their line again. If the fish wins the
of a campaign or a characte contested check by 15 or more, it snaps their fishing rod
ter
players may want to find bet and renders it useless. If the player wins the contested
er
fishing equipment which conf check, the quarry is successfully hooked!
hing. In
mechanical benefits while fis Most fish are caught after being hooked. However, a
quest
this case, a player may buy or handful of fish or other aquatic creatures may require
for a +1, +2, or +3 fishing ro
confers its respective nume
d, which
rical
checks
additional checks. If the quarry is Medium or larger (or
at the DM’s discretion), an additional Strength (Athletics)
check may be necessary to reel the fish in successfully
5
bonus to Strength (Athletics) or a DC 12 Wisdom (Animal Handling) check may be
hing. A
made with the item while fis necessary to bank the fish properly. During this process,
y that
magical rod may have a histor be sure to describe the battle between the angler and the
operties.
gives it additional magical pr fish. Emphasize the drama and tension during close calls
rod is when characters are nearly pulled into the water and the
For example, the boatsinker victory when they finally reel in a big fish or a wondrous
ed by a
a magical fishing pole craft catch!
for
wizard who fished obsessively Fish and the other aquatic creatures described in
led Big
an oversized catfish she cal Appendix A can be identified with a DC 10 Intelligence
allows its
Bertha. The boatsinker rod (Nature) check, though terrain-specific fish may require
ure on an
angler to cast locate creat a successful DC 12 Intelligence (Nature) check to
. identify. Some fish have “hidden” information in their
underwater target once a day
description which is in parentheses. This is less well-
magical
Fishing tackle and bait can be known information that characters who succeed on their
the check by 5 or more discern, or that can be passed along
too! In the world of Theros, by experienced local anglers.
be used
spider silk of an arachnir can
g line
to fashion unbreakable fishin
Strength
which confers advantage to
fishing.
(Athletics) checks made while
that
An old fisherman’s tale tells
mph,
using the hair of a water ny
ntees a
willingly given, as bait guara
(if you
catch of extraordinary size
can reel it in)!
The DMs Guide to Fishing
 Fishing Proficiency
Characters with proficiency in
fishing may add their proficien
cy bonus twice to any
) checks
hle tic s), Int ell ige nce (Na tur e), or Wisdom (Animal Handling
Strength (At wealth of fishing
fis hin g. In add itio n, on ce per day they can draw on their
made wh ile mory of
a ch ara cte r doe s so, the pla yer or character describes a me
expertise. When on a Strength
nt exp eri enc e on a pri or fis hin g trip in order to gain advantage
a releva
ture) check made while fishing.
(Athletics) or Intelligence (Na

Appendix A: Fish Tables
General Fishing Table
d100 Size (STR bonus) Description Name
1-20 Roll on Appropriate Terrain-Specific Table below!
21-35 Tiny (+0) An elongated, snake-like fish that thrashes about. Eel

6
36-40 Tiny (+1) A thick-bodied, steel-blue fish with whiskers. Blue Catfish
A huge, thick-bodied, steel-blue fish with whiskers that is covered in
41-47 Small (+3) Blue Catfish
slime.
48-52 Tiny (+1) An olive-green fish with a prominent dorsal fin. Smallmouth Bass
53-58 Small (+2) An olive-green fish with a prominent dorsal fin. Largemouth Bass
59-63 Tiny (+0) An iridescent and faintly translucent fish. Rainbow Fish
64-66 Tiny (+1) A long fish with a prominent jaw, pink scales, and shiny white underbelly. Salmon
67-63 Small (+2) A dull grey fish with rough skin and sharp teeth. Juvenile Shark
74-79 Tiny (-1) A silver fish that reflects sunlight beautifully. Silverside
80-81 Tiny (+1) An oily-scaled, gray-black fish. Carp
82-84 Small (+1) A slick yellow worm covered in sharp barbs. Daggerworm
85-87 Small (+3) A greenish-grey fish with tusks jutting from its mouth. Orcfish
88-89 Tiny (+1) A creature with a smooth grey carapace and claws. Stone Crab
Metriaclima
90-92 Tiny (+2) A vibrant blue fish which turns glassy white when handled.
Benetos
93-6 Medium (+2) A pink amphibian wearing a soft and delicate shell. Salamander Turtle
A small, fearsome fish with large eyes and sharp teeth. (It lunges at
97-98 Tiny (+3) Quipper
anglers with a +5 to hit, dealing 1 piercing damage on a hit).
A person with a long, scaly tail and fins emerging from their back and
99 Medium (+1) Merfolk
arms.
A lumpy, golden fish with various gems (worth 4d100 gp) growing from
100 Small (+1) Jewelfish
its body.

The DMs Guide to Fishing

Terrain-Specific Fishing Tables
Arctic
d100 Size (STR bonus) Description Name
1-25 Tiny (+2) A long, thick-bodied fish with a vibrant green and brown-patterned body. Knucklehead Trout
26-50 Small (+3) A long, thick-bodied fish with a vibrant green and brown-patterned body. Knucklehead Trout
An elongated fish with a long rostrum trailing whiskers and thick plates
51-75 Tiny (+1) Sturgeon Poacher
on its body.
An elongated black-and-white striped fish with nearly translucent fins.
76-100 Medium (+3) Icefish
(Its blood has the property of a potion of cold resistance).

Cave/Underground
d100 Size (STR bonus) Description Name
1-25 Tiny (+0) A eyeless fish with translucent skin. Its organs pulse within its body. Glass Fish
26-50 Tiny (-1) A pale centipede-like creature with a myriad of fins instead of legs. Remipod
A fish-like humanoid with large glassy eyes and slimy skin. (These are a
51-75 Medium (+1) Kuo-Toa
sentient race of Underdark-dwelling people).
A long, jet black fish with a yawning mouth filled with fangs. (These are
76-100 Small (+2) vicious and territorial fish. They lunge at anglers with a +5 to hit, dealing Viperfish
1d6 +2 piercing damage on a hit).

Coast/Ocean
d100 Size (STR bonus) Description Name 7
1-25 Tiny (-2) A soft, pulsating translucent creature with long tendrils. Jellyfish
A large creature with stalked eyes, a wide barnacle-encrusted carapace,
26-50 Medium (+2) Giant Crab
eight jointed legs, and one large claw.
51-75 Large (+1) An extremely long fish with beautiful silvery scales and long red fins. Oarfish
A cat-like creature with vibrant red fins and blue scales and fur. (Wizards
76-100 Small (+1) Meowfish
can make their familiar take this shape).

Desert
d100 Size (STR bonus) Description Name
Razorback Sucker
1-25 Tiny (+0) This humpback fish has a yellow belly and a small, circular mouth.
or Aurochfish
This small silver fish has a downturned mouth which gives it a mournful
26-50 Tiny (-2) Longfin Dace
appearance.
This plump brown fish has small and stubby fins which flap wildly.
51-75 Small (+1) (These fish can be emptied by squeezing them to get up to 2 gallons of Desert Pupfish
clean water).
This sleek, rough-skinned fish has a prominent dorsal fin which is
76-100 Medium (+3) Sand Shark
obvious as it “swims” through either sand or water.

The DMs Guide to Fishing

 Dungeon/Ruins/Urban
d100 Size (STR bonus) Description Name
This plump fish has a rounded, colorful body and long, beautiful fins.
1-25 Small (+1) Koi
(These are easy fish to keep and breed in outdoor water features).
This round-bellied purple fish has eight thrashing spider-like legs. (When
Crawfish or
26-50 Large (+2) eaten raw, these cause spellcasters to regain the use of their highest-
Wizard’s Dinner
level spell slot as if they took a long rest).
51-75 Tiny (-1) This bright blue fish has moving patterns on its yellow and red fins. Kaleidofish
76-100 Medium (+0) This rock is encrusted with 2d8 grey bivalve shells. Oysters

Forest
d100 Size (STR bonus) Description Name
This long, thin fish has an elongated snout and flowing pink fins. (It can
1-25 Small (+0) Enchanting Gar
cast charm person (spell save DC 11) on an angler to set it free).
This muddy fish is blotched with green and brown patterns and has
26-50 Tiny (+1) small roots emerging from its body. (If planted in soil, it guarantees a Rootfish
successful harvest that year).
This fish is covered in fine brown fur with white spots and bears a small
51-75 Tiny (-2) Fawnfish
pair of antlers.
This large grey and silver fish has thick plates on its body instead of Saracen, the
76-100 Small (+4) scales. A broken chain tangles around its body and fins. (If captured, Aquatic Questing
Saracen will grant the individual who frees her the boon of the deep). Beast

8
Boon of the Deep
You may use your
action to cast th
water walk or w e
ater breathing sp
Once this boon el l.
is used three tim
power is lost. es, its

Grassland
d100 Size (STR bonus) Description Name
1-25 Tiny (-1) This black fish has red racing stripes and big eyes. Red-Striped Dace
The fins of this large, round fish look like brown feathers. (Bandages
Nursefish or
26-50 Large (+2) made from the fins of this fish have the effect of casting lesser
Turkeyfish
restoration once).
This black, elongated fish has a body covered in spines and bears the
Medium (equal to Cuckoo Fish or
51-75 face of the angler who fishes it out of the water. (Said to bring bad luck
that of the angler) Mirrorfish
to those who harm them).
This fish has pronounced fins and an olive-and-gold patterned body with Walleye or Yellow
76-89 Tiny (+1)
a row of black spots. Pike or Pickerel
This fish has pronounced fins and an olive-and-gold patterned body with Walleye or Yellow
90-100 Small (+2)
a row of black spots. Pike or Pickerel

The DMs Guide to Fishing

Mountain
d100 Size (STR bonus) Description Name
1-25 Tiny (+1) This yellow and green fish has fierce spines and ridges on its body. Copperfin
This fish is black and brown with a “beard” of ruddy red scales around its
26-50 Medium (+1) mouth. (When released into a new body of water, it immediately swims Dwarvenfriend
towards the most valuable thing in the lake).
This large egg has a stone-like texture and color. (Can be sold to a
51-75 Small (+0) Roc’s Egg
restaurant for 50 gp).
This insect wears a case woven together with pebbles, reeds, and a tiny,
76-100 Tiny (-3) Caddisfly
perfect diamond (worth 300 gp).

Planar
d100 Size (STR bonus) Description Name
This ferocious brown and black-striped fish has no fins and bears cracks
across its otherwise smooth body which glow like magma. (If this fish is Hellslug or
1-25 Small (+3)
burned alive, it transports up to 7 creatures around the fire to the Nine Asmodeus’ Catch
Hells as if by the plane shift spell).
This pale fish has long, flowing fins of gold which give it the appearance
26-50 Tiny (+1) of having wings. (These fish are said to carry the voice of minor gods Penitent Bass
throughout the Material Plane).
This green fish has a vibrant orange belly and a mouthful of human teeth.
Toothfish or
51-75 Tiny (+2) (Small fey such as pixies and sprites cannot resist one of these teeth as a
Faerie Lure
gift or offering).

76-100 Medium (-1)

This heavy fish is eyeless, slow-moving, and leached of color, but a
bright red tongue protrudes from its mouth. (This fish is a psychopomp
that carries souls between the Material Plane and the River Styx).
Rotfeeder
9
Swamp
d100 Size (STR bonus) Description Name
This incredibly long fish’s bones are visible through its warty skin. (These
1-25 Medium (-1) fish can eject their rib bones to pierce unwary handlers for 1d6 piercing Skeletonfish
damage).
This snake-like fish has deep-set black eyes and emits a crackling sound.
Lightningbrand or
26-50 Small (+2) (This fish casts shocking grasp with a +6 spell attack bonus on an
Giant Electric Eel
unwary angler).
This thick-bodied fish has a wide mouth and its scales form a gradation
51-75 Medium (+2) Arapaima
from green to bright red at its caudal fin.
This silver fish has bright yellow fins. (When cooked to perfection with a
76-100 Tiny (+0) DC 14 Wisdom (Survival) check, a meal made of this fish has the effects Swamp Goby
of a potion of greater healing).

The DMs Guide to Fishing