A Fishing Boat working in Age of Empires III
Fishing is another means of gaining food in the Age of Empires series. It requires the player to build a Dock and train Fishing Boats or Fishing Ships, depending on the game. Fishing is available in every game in the Age of Empires series.
Age of Empires 
Edit
In Age of Empires, Villagers and Fishing Boats can gather both fish and Whales. However, Villagers can only fish from the shore, that features Shore Fish, while Fishing Boats have access to fish anywhere on the map.
Unfortunately, fish supplies are limited and run out soon, especially shore fish.
Age of Empires II Edit
As with Age of Empires, both Villagers (who can only fish Shore Fish) and Fishing Ships can fish in Age of Empires II. Additionally, players can build Fish Traps.
Fish Traps are built by Fishing Ships. They are otherwise similar to Farms in that once all the food they provide has been used up, they are depleted. A new Fish Trap will then have to be built, yet, unlike with building Farms, it is not possible to queue Fish Traps at the Docks. This makes them unpopular as Food sources.
However, with The Forgotten's Gillnets technology, Fishing Ships' gather rate is increased by 25%. Furthermore, with the Malay civilization's inclusion in Rise of the Rajas, Fish Traps provide unlimited food and are cheaper, often making them a decent alternative to Farms. Although still costing more than a Farm (100 wood rather than 60), such a Fish Trap provides more food than a Farm, even one with Crop Rotation researched (715 food).
Usually, fishing is preferred by civilizations who have a distinct advantage in fishing, or by those that lack Crop Rotation. Civilizations that are much better at fishing over farming include the:
Age of Mythology Edit
In Age of Mythology, Fishing Ships are used to catch fish. Unlike in the previous games, fish shoals are inexhaustible. Furthermore, once the two fishing technologies, Purse Seine and Salt Amphora, are researched, fishing is often superior to farming. However, Fishing Ships are more vulnerable to attack than Farms and may need defending.
None of the five cultures in Age of Mythology has any technologies or other advantages that make them better at fishing. Each is as good as the other.
Age of Empires III Edit
In Age of Empires III, the Fishing Boat can not only gather food from fish, but coin from Whales as well. Also, many warships can fish, though they are less cost-efficient than fishing boats when doing so.
The following warships can gather from fish:
Trivia Edit
- Originally, Villagers in Age of Mythology were able to fish. The feature was dropped, most likely due to issues of how far away fishing spots spawned in random maps, and due to the fish's large obstruction radius.
- At one point, sharks could be fished as well, as they have a selection ring. The feature was most likely removed to avoid controversy.
- Settlers were also allowed to fish in Age of Empires III but the feature was also removed.
