Skyrim Fishing: How to Unlock Fishing in Anniversary Edition

With the introduction of the Anniversary Edition, fishing has come to Skyrim, and there are new missions and rewards to be found. Fishing is included in a free content update for all Skyrim owners, including those who don't upgrade to the Anniversary Edition. Fishing is unfortunately not as extensive as it is in other games. You won't be able to cast your line just anywhere. Still, there is plenty of fish to catch, and a new questline focusing on the activity has been added. Here's how to make fishing available in Skyrim.

How to Unlock Fishing in Skyrim

To begin fishing in Skyrim, you must first install the Creation Club's Fishing add-on. Even if you don't own the Anniversary Edition, this is a free add-on. Simply go to the main menu and pick Creation Club, then install the Fishing add-on from there.

You can begin fishing at predefined fishing places throughout Skyrim once it's been loaded. "Fishing Supplies" is the name of these locations. You'll also need a fishing pole, which you can easily find at most fishing spots. Most vendors, such as Belethor in Whiterun or Lucan Valerius in Riverwood, sell them as well.

Fishing Supplies can be found all over the map, but one can be found in Riverwood at the start of the game. Just keep driving toward Whiterun, and you'll see it along the riverbed just before the stone bridge. Look for the salmon rack.

How to Fish

Simply equip a fishing rod and interact with it to begin fishing once you've found some Fishing Supplies. You can't move around when fishing because it's done from a fixed place. To cast your line, press the interact button. To reel in the fish, hit the interact button once more when you feel a strong bite.

The ripples in the water indicate the presence of fish. There are no more fish at that spot if you don't observe any waves. Also, don't immediately reel in your line if you sense something. Because the fish like to nibble, it may take some time before you can safely reel them in. It's time to reel in when you feel a strong tug.

You'll catch the fish if you reel in at the appropriate time. There isn't much else to say about it. In Skyrim, fishing is really simple. The difficult part is finding the fish, which is where the fishing questline comes in.

Starting the Fishing Quest in Skyrim

You'll receive a new quest called Angler Acquaintances after capturing your first fish, instructing you to attend the Riften Fishery to learn more about fishing. It can be found immediately outside Riften's main gate. Simply enter and speak with Swims-In-Deep-Water when you arrive.

He'll give you a list of fish to capture, and it'll be up to you to locate every one of them. All you have to do now is explore Skyrim and catch as many fish as possible. Before leaving the Riften Fishery, speak with Viriya outside to receive another mission, In A Pinch, which requires you to locate a young mud crab in order to complete a bounty.

On PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition is now available.