Fishing Games in PNG: How to Play and What to Know

Ol gem bilong sutim pis long PNG (Tok Pisin, under review)

How casino fishing games work: JILI, Joker and SCR888 titles on BigKina, cannon levels, auto fire, the maths behind bosses, and how to protect your balance.

What is a fishing game?

Fishing games are arcade-style casino games. Instead of spinning reels, you look down on a sea full of fish and monsters and fire a cannon at them. Each shot costs a small bet. When a target goes down, it pays a multiple of your bet. It feels more like a video game than a pokie, and that is why so many players in Papua New Guinea enjoy them.

They are also easy to misunderstand. Because you aim and fire, it feels as if skill decides the result. Skill helps a little with timing and targets, but chance and the house edge still run the game. This guide explains how fishing games work, which ones you can play on BigKina, how to keep your bullets from draining your balance, and what to avoid.

How to find fishing games

Open BigKina and turn your phone sideways.
Tap FISHING on the left. The HOT tab also shows a few.
Tap a studio tile such as JILI, Joker, JDB, Fa Chai, CQ9 or SCR888.
Pick a game. Many have rooms with different bet sizes, so start in the lowest one.

Fishing games on our list

The lobby holds many titles, and the list changes over time. Some to look for:

JILI. Royal Fishing, Jackpot Fishing, Mega Fishing, Happy Fishing, All-star Fishing, Ocean King Jackpot, Dinosaur Tycoon, Boom Legend and Crazy Hunter. Read more in our JILI guide.

Joker. Fish Hunter 2 EX, Fish Hunter Spongebob, Fish Hunting: Golden Toad, Fish Haiba and Bird Paradise.

SCR888. Fishing Star, Li Kui Pi Yu and Da Sheng Nao Hai.

JDB. Dragon of Demons and others.

2J. Fishing and Fishdom, listed in the 2J folder.

How the maths works

Each target has a hidden chance of being caught on any shot. Small fish pay a little and are caught often. Big bosses pay a lot and are caught rarely. The game is built so that, over many shots, it pays back less than you fire. So the more bullets you fire, the more the edge counts.

Many people believe a boss is about to go down because they have hit it many times. Damage does not always carry over like that. Each shot is usually a fresh chance, even if the screen shows the health bar or the target looks hurt. Other players' shots in the room do not help you either.

This does not make the games bad. It just means you should see the bullets you fire as the price of the fun, the same way you see a pokie bet.

Reading the controls

Most fishing games have the same set of controls.

Cannon level. Plus and minus change the cost of each shot. This is your bet. Watch it closely.
Lock. Taps a target and keeps firing at it, even if it swims behind others.
Auto fire. Fires by itself. It is the fastest way to use up a balance.
Rooms. Beginner and higher rooms change the cost of each shot.
Special weapons. Lasers, drills, bombs and similar items are often picked up by catching certain targets. Each game explains its own in the help menu.

Playing sensibly

These habits will not beat the house edge, but they will give you more play for the same Kina.

Start at the lowest cannon. Learn the targets first.
Fire in short bursts. Holding down fire or leaving auto on burns money fast.
Mind your cost per minute. A low cannon fired very fast can cost more than a pokie. Time a minute of play and see what your balance does.
Avoid chasing bosses. After you have fired a lot at one boss, it is easy to feel you must keep going. That is the sunk-cost trap.
Keep to one room. Moving up to a bigger room to win back losses makes things worse.
Stop when your time is up. Fishing games have no natural break, so it is easy to lose track of time.

Fishing or pokies?

Pokies give you a single result for each bet, then stop and wait for you. Fishing games keep moving, so there is more for your hands and eyes to do and less time to think. That makes them more exciting, and it can also make them more expensive. Many players use a mix: some fishing for fun and some low-bet pokies to wind down. Read how to pick a pokie if you want to compare.

Fishing on a PNG connection

Fishing games need a steady connection, since many shots go back and forth with the game. If your signal is weak, you may see targets jump or a shot fail to land. A short delay should not cost you much, but a dropped connection can leave you unsure what happened.

Play where your signal is strong, or use Wi-Fi.

Close other apps, particularly video or downloads.

Keep your phone cool. Long sessions make it warm and can slow the game.

Watch your data. Long sessions add up. Our guide to the BigKina app explains why the app itself is so light.

Bonuses and fishing games

Offers may treat fishing games differently from pokies. Some games may not count, or may count differently toward turnover. Read the card in PROMO before you use bonus money. If the rules are unclear, ask on CHAT. The rewards guide explains turnover and offers.

Set a limit before you fire

Decide how much you will spend before you enter a room, and leave when it is gone. A set time helps too, such as 20 minutes. Fishing games are for fun, not income, and you should expect to lose what you put in. If you are chasing or hiding your spending, stop and read our play safe guide. BigKina is for players 18 and over.

To get started, join BigKina, get the app and top up in Kina.

A simple session in a fishing room

If you are new, this routine gives you a feel for a game without spending much.

Choose a game and enter the lowest room.
Set the cannon to its lowest level.
Open the help menu and read which targets pay the most and what the special weapons do.
Fire single shots for a minute at small and medium targets. Do not use auto.
Check your balance and work out what that minute cost you.
Decide how many minutes your budget allows, and set an alarm.

This small test is worth doing. Many players are surprised by how much a minute of steady fire costs. Once you know the number, it is much easier to stick to a limit.

Reading what the targets pay

Each game has a payout screen, usually in its help menu. It lists every target and its multiple of your shot. Larger targets pay more, but they are designed to be harder to catch. Some bosses have a range, so the pay may vary, and some games add wheels or mini-games when a special target goes down.

A high number on the list may be attractive, but the chance of catching it is built around that number. Choosing small or large targets changes how bumpy your balance feels. It does not remove the edge.

Fishing game questions

Are fishing games skill or chance?

Mostly chance. Your choices change how fast you spend, but they do not beat the house edge.

Which fishing game pays best?

There is no sure answer. Results are random, so pick a game you enjoy at a bet that fits your budget.

Why did the boss not die after many hits?

Each shot is usually a separate chance, so past hits do not guarantee a catch.

Is auto fire a good idea?

Use it with care. It spends your balance quickly and makes it easy to lose track.