Fishing — Cooking

Overview

Fishing and cooking are the most reliable ways to maintain high energy and hydration levels without risking food poisoning from rotten items. Mastering these mechanics allows you to sustain yourself indefinitely near any body of water, making it a critical skill for long-term survival in DayZ.

How It Works

Fishing requires a crafted or found rod to catch fish, which are then processed into fillets and cooked over a fire. Cooking involves using a heat source—such as a fireplace kit, gas stove, or house fireplace—to heat the food until the visual texture changes to a cooked state. You must balance the heat source and the item's proximity to ensure it cooks through without burning.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Craft a fishing rod using a long wooden stick and rope.
2. Combine a knife with garden dirt to dig up a Worm.
3. Attach the Worm to a hook (Woodenhook or metal fishing hook) and attach the hook to the rod.
4. Equip the rod, face the water, and hold the left mouse button to cast.
5. Wait for the rod to jerk or the line to splash, then hold the left mouse button to reel the fish in.
6. Use a knife to skin and quarter the fish to obtain fish fillets.
7. Prepare a fire using small sticks and rags or bark, then place it in a fireplace kit or a dedicated indoor stove.
8. Attach the fillets to a long wooden stick or place them directly on a cooking tripod/grill.
9. Hold the stick over the fire or place the grill inside the fireplace and ignite the fire.
10. Monitor the food; once the texture turns golden-brown, remove it from the heat to avoid burning.

Tips

• Always carry a knife, as you need it to dig worms, skin fish, and sharpen sticks for cooking.
• Fishing during the rain increases your catch rate, but be mindful of your temperature and illness risk.
• If you lack a grill or tripod, you can "attach" raw meat to a sharpened long wooden stick to roast it over any open flame.
• Fat is the most calorie-dense food in the game; always save and cook animal fat found during skinning.
• You can store cooked food in a Waterproofbag Green or Orange to keep it dry and protected in your inventory.

Common Mistakes

• Eating raw fish or handling food with bloody hands will cause salmonella; always wash your hands before eating.
• Leaving meat on the fire too long turns it into "burnt" charcoal, which provides significantly less nutrition and can make you sick.
• Fishing without a secondary food source early on; if you fail to catch a fish quickly, you may starve before finding your first meal.
• Forgetting to use a fireplace kit inside buildings; never start a fire directly on a wooden floor, as it will not work unless you have a designated fireplace or stove.

Related Items

• Worm
• Woodenhook
• Waterproofbag Green
• Waterproofbag Orange
• Walleyepollockfilletmeat

Related Guides

• Skinning
• Fire Starting
• Hunting