To catch a Deathfish in The Sims 3, fish the pond at your town’s graveyard between midnight and 5 AM using Angelfish as bait, with a high Fishing skill. It is a base game fish, so no expansion is needed. Below we cover the skill you need, the bait chain from Cheese to Angelfish to Deathfish, the nightly limit at the graveyard, how to stock a Deathfish pond at home for all-day fishing, and what to do with your catch.
What You Need
- The base game. Deathfish ship with The Sims 3 itself. The game is no longer patched, so these rules are final.
- A graveyard with a pond. Deathfish are freshwater fish that live in the graveyard pond. In Sunset Valley that is the pond at the town graveyard; custom and later worlds vary, so use Inspect Water (Fishing level 1) on a graveyard pond to see what it holds.
- A high Fishing skill. The community wiki’s fish table places Deathfish at the very top of the skill, level 10. The same source notes that a Sim who already knows the correct bait, from reading the Deathfish fishing book or from an earlier catch, can land one from level 5. Level 10 is the reliable route.
- Angelfish for bait. Your Sim can choose bait from Fishing level 3 and use fish as live bait from level 5.
The Angler trait makes fishing easier across the board, so it is worth having on a dedicated fisher. Our general fishing guide covers the basics of casting, bait and skill.
The Bait Chain
Deathfish bite on Angelfish, which means you need Angelfish first, and those have their own bait.
- Catch Alley Catfish. They take Cheese as bait and can be caught from Fishing level 1 in fresh or salt water.
- Catch Angelfish. Use Alley Catfish as bait. Angelfish sit at Fishing level 8 in the fish table and live in both fresh and salt water.
- Catch Deathfish. Use Angelfish as bait at the graveyard pond during the night window.
Bring several Angelfish. Each cast uses one, and not every cast lands the fish you want.
How to Catch Deathfish Step by Step
- Stock up on Angelfish during the day, following the chain above.
- Travel to the graveyard a little before midnight. Click the pond and choose the fishing interaction.
- Pick Angelfish as bait when your Sim is asked what to use.
- Fish between 12 AM and 5 AM. Outside that window the graveyard pond will not give up a Deathfish.
- Stay put. Keep casting until you land one. Cancel only to top up needs, since your Sim will be up all night.
The graveyard pond has a nightly limit. According to the community wiki, it yields at most six Deathfish a night (sometimes five), after which it only gives Red Herring and Vampire Fish for the rest of the night. Plan for a few nights of fishing if you want enough for a pond.
Stock Your Own Deathfish Pond
Once your Sim holds 10 or more fish of one type in their inventory, they can stock a pond with that fish. That includes Deathfish, and it removes the time limit: a stocked pond gives Deathfish at any hour, with no nightly cap.
- Build a pond on your home lot (or pick any pond in town).
- Carry at least 10 Deathfish in one Sim’s inventory.
- Click the pond and use the stock option, then choose Deathfish.
Community players also stock Alley Catfish and Angelfish in the same pond to keep the whole bait chain at home, which is the fastest way to farm high quality Deathfish.
What to Do With Deathfish
- Cook Ambrosia. Ambrosia is the most famous use. It needs a Deathfish, a Life Fruit, the Ambrosia recipe book and Cooking level 10. Eating it resets a Sim’s age to the start of their current life stage, and a playable ghost who eats it comes back to life. Life Fruit comes from Special Seeds that need Gardening level 7; our gardening guide covers planting them.
- Sell it. Deathfish are among the most valuable base game fish, with the price rising with weight and quality.
- Mount it. Click the fish in your Sim’s inventory and send it to be mounted for a small fee. The trophy arrives in the mail.
- Keep it. Any caught fish can go in a fish bowl or an aquarium, as long as you feed it.
Want Fishing to level 10 faster? Our skill cheats guide shows how to set it directly. For more Sims 3 guides, see our Sims hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What bait catches Deathfish in The Sims 3? Angelfish. You catch Angelfish with Alley Catfish, and Alley Catfish with Cheese.
What time can you catch Deathfish? Between midnight and 5 AM at the graveyard pond. In a pond you have stocked with Deathfish, any time of day works.
What fishing level do you need for Deathfish? The fish table places it at level 10. Community sources report a Sim who already knows the bait can catch one from level 5, but level 10 is the dependable target.
Why did the graveyard stop giving Deathfish? The graveyard pond has a nightly limit of around six. After that it only gives other fish until the next night.
Do I need an expansion pack for Deathfish? No. Deathfish, the graveyard pond and Ambrosia are all in the base game.