- Noble Fates fishing relies on mods, as the base game has no fishing mechanic yet
- Fish breeding tanks need Cooking level 2 and are found under Work and Resources
- Trader luck: your first two fish must come from visiting traders, so check every caravan
- Breeding math: 2 fish become 10 fish after roughly 4-5 in-game days
- Key warning: stop your settlers from eating the first fish before breeding starts
Noble Fates Fishing: How It Works Today
Noble Fates does not include a native fishing system, so players who want a seafood economy turn to mods. The most popular approach is the fish breeding mod by Chris Virtus, which adds a breeding tank building and a fish multiplication workflow. Instead of casting lines into rivers, you manage tanks, protect your starter fish, and scale up into a self-sustaining food pipeline.
The core loop is simple: buy two fish from a trader, build breeding tanks, assign the task, and wait a few days for the fish to multiply. Because fish are a rare trade good early on, the hardest part of Noble Fates fishing is getting your first pair, not running the system itself.
Video Highlights:
- The breeding tank is a green tank found under Work and Resources
- Cooking level 2 is required to build and use the breeding tank
- Two fish produce ten fish after about 4-5 in-game days
- Fish currently come only from traders, since there is no fishing mechanic in the base game
- Cooked fish exists in debug menus but has no clear crafting path yet
Fish breeding is one of the most balanced food loops available through mods. A single pair of fish multiplies fivefold per cycle, and once you run several tanks in parallel your colony gains a food source that never runs out as long as you keep breeding pairs reserved.
Requirements and Setup Costs
Before you can breed fish, your colony needs to meet a few prerequisites. The breeding tank is classified as an early-game structure, but the fish themselves can be scarce depending on your traders' inventories.
| Requirement | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking level | Level 2 | Gates the breeding tank build |
| Building location | Work and Resources tab | Green tank structure |
| Starter fish | 2 fish minimum | Trader-only supply |
| Breeding time | 4-5 in-game days | Per breeding cycle |
| Output per cycle | 10 fish | From 2 input fish |
| Task assignment | Like any cooking station | Assign via work priorities |
Once fish enter your stockpile, settlers may cook and eat them. Before breeding begins, make sure your first two fish are routed into the breeding tank rather than the kitchen. Losing your starter pair means waiting for another lucky trader visit.
Step-by-Step Fish Breeding Walkthrough
Follow this sequence to get from zero fish to a full tank operation without wasting your rare starter pair.
Reach Cooking Level 2
Assign settlers to cooking tasks at your stove or campfire until your colony hits Cooking level 2, which unlocks the breeding tank structure.
Hunt for Trader Fish
Check every visiting trader's inventory for fish. There is no other reliable source in the base game, so this step is pure patience. Buy at least two fish as soon as you spot them.
Build Breeding Tanks
Construct the green breeding tank from the Work and Resources menu. Building several tanks at once prepares you for rapid scaling after the first successful cycle.
Start the Breeding Task
Assign the breeding task just like any cooking station job. Load two fish into a tank and let the cycle run for about 4-5 in-game days.
Scale Up
When the first cycle finishes and returns 10 fish, load breeding pairs into every empty tank. From here your fish population compounds quickly and surplus fish become food.
A practical benchmark: after your first successful cycle, fill five tanks with pairs. Each subsequent cycle returns 25 fish from 10, and the surplus feeds the colony while breeding continues.
Food Source Comparison
How does fish breeding stack up against other food strategies in a typical Noble Fates colony? Here is a practical comparison based on setup difficulty and long-term reliability.
| Food Source | Setup Difficulty | Time to Yield | Long-Term Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish breeding (mod) | Medium, trader-dependent | 4-5 days per cycle | ★★★★★ Self-sustaining |
| Ranching (milk, meat) | Medium | Days to weeks | ★★★★ Steady |
| Farming crops | Low | Days per harvest | ★★★★ Seasonal risk |
| Hunting | Low | Immediate | ★★ Map-dependent |
| Trading for food | Low | Immediate | ★★ Economy-dependent |
Early Game
- Focus: crops and hunting
- Watch every trader for fish
- Push Cooking to level 2
Mid Game
- Focus: first breeding tanks
- Guard your starter pair
- Begin scaling tank count
Late Game
- Focus: parallel tank cycles
- Surplus fish as daily food
- Free traders from food runs
You can add the fish breeding mod to an existing save mid-game, but you cannot remove it from that save afterward. Install it only when you are committed to keeping it in that playthrough.
Colony Milestones Checklist
Track your progress from first fish to a full seafood economy with these milestones.
Fish Economy Milestones:
- Reach Cooking level 2
- Buy two fish from a trader
- Build first breeding tank
- Complete first 4-5 day breeding cycle
- Run five or more tanks in parallel
A popular community refinement would move fish breeding under the Ranching job instead of Cooking, since breeding animals fits the ranching theme better. Until the mod changes, keep a settler with Cooking enabled assigned to tank duty.
FAQ
Q: Is there fishing in the base version of Noble Fates?
No. The base game has no fishing mechanic. All fish currently come from traders, and fish farming is only possible through community mods such as the fish breeding mod.
Q: How many fish do I need to start breeding?
You need exactly two fish to begin a breeding cycle. After roughly 4-5 in-game days, the cycle completes and produces ten fish, giving you a strong surplus to reinvest.
Q: What skill level is required for the fish breeding tank?
Cooking level 2 is required. The tank appears in the Work and Resources build menu once unlocked, and its task is assigned like any other cooking station job.
Q: Can I add the fish breeding mod to an existing save?
Yes, the mod can be added mid-game safely, but it cannot be removed from that save afterward. Only install it on playthroughs you intend to keep using it on.