Fishing Derby

About

Fishing Derby drops you and a rival on opposite sides of a digital lake, battling to reel in 99 pounds of fish before they swim away or get devoured. Use a joystick to move your fishing line vertically and horizontally, hooking fish in six submerged rows. Lighter catches sit near the surface, while heavier ones lurk in deeper, riskier waters. Timing matters: pressing the fire button speeds up reeling, but if both players have a fish hooked, only the first to grab their prize gets to pull it in. A lurking shark adds chaos, ready to snatch any fish still below the surface. The game’s simplicity hides sharp competitive angles. Every decision balances risk and reward, go for big fish and you’ll face longer waits and higher shark danger, while smaller catches net points slower. Released in 1980 as Activision’s first two-player title, it’s a relic of early arcade-style rivalry. The shark’s random path and the tension of shared resources keep matches unpredictable, even after decades. Short, frantic, and built for couch co-op, it’s a minimalist match of skill and luck that still feels brisk.