How to Fish: Money Guide

Money in How to Fish isn't just "sell fish" — it's a multiplier game. Here's how the economy actually works and the fastest ways to get rich.

Last updated: Aug 22, 2026 · compiled from top-rated Steam community guides

Killscore: style pays

A fish's payout is kill score + sell price. Kill score comes from stacking medals while the fish is airborne:

Airborne + headshot + no-scope + 360 + one-shot stack together — the top combo ("Impressive") is a 5x multiplier on a single kill.
A mid fish with 5x sells like a late fish with 1x. Chase multipliers before you chase rare species.
Solo combo: reel hard to launch the fish, swap to your gun mid-air, spin, shoot.
Co-op combo: one player launches, the other flicks the airborne shot.

Dynamite fishing

The launch-week community "Money Guide" boils down to one line: throw bombs in the water and collect the fish that float up — just don't blow yourself up.

The catchCommunity comments note bombs are faster but make each fish worth less than lure-caught fish. Use dynamite for speed/volume when you need quick cash; use lures and multipliers when you need value.

Dynamite also shines against clustered fish and the seagulls (the "Everyone's dream" trick).
Throw it — don't hold it. Holding dynamite is how team kills happen in co-op.

The casino

The casino is for skins and achievements, not for getting rich:

Slots: "GOLD GOLD GOLD" is a legendary skin pull, not a jackpot number.
Roulette: the "All in" achievement needs an all-in bet on green — and a win. Small bets until it hits.
Rule of thumb: gamble only after the story wallet exists. If you're doing the Bean speedrun, don't touch the casino at all.

The 100,000 sell

The Rich!/Millionaire achievement needs one single sale of 100,000 — not a lifetime total. The recipes that work:

A late-island rare fish (drip) with a stacked killscore.
A boss corpse sold in one piece.
Cook the right catch — the grill mini-boss is "cook, don't sell," but other big fish sell best raw.

Weapons & gear quick reference

Tool	Role
Crab Fishing Rod	Starter rod for crabs and shrimp at the Lighthouse
Fishing Rod	Standard rod from Island 2 onward — the launch platform for airborne kills
Net	Scoops catches the old-fashioned way
Bare Hands	Required for the Handyman achievement (final boss with empty hands)
Knife	Melee option — anything that lands the fish counts as fishing
Pistol	First gun; enough for the beer-thief boss early on
Rifle	Best boss weapon once fully attached — park every attachment on one gun
Dynamite	Area fishing for volume, and seagull revenge. Faster but lower value per fish

Community-reported, compiled from launch-week guides.

What to buy first

Something that shoots — the gun is the money maker; the rod is just the launch platform.
The first boat engine — you're not swimming between islands.
Attachments on that one gun — fill every slot on a single weapon (this is also the "Fully equipped" achievement).
The best engine — more map, more bosses, and boat flight.

FAQ

What's the fastest way to make money?

Dynamite into water for volume, then sell stacked 5x kills for value.

Are bombs or lures better?

Bombs are faster but lower value per fish; lures + multipliers are better money over time.

Should I gamble?

Only for skins and achievements, and only after you have a story wallet. Skip it entirely for Bean.

What's the single best purchase?

The first gun slot — before a prettier rod, before cosmetics.