Tips & strategy
Reel in bursts, not continuously. Tapping steadily and then pausing lets the tension fall back into the safe range, whereas holding on relentlessly pushes it into the red and snaps the line.
Watch the tension bar, not the fish. The bar is the only thing that tells you whether you are about to lose the catch, and players who stare at the fish miss the warning entirely.
Expect big fish to fight harder. The most valuable catches take the longest and are the easiest to lose, so slow down rather than speeding up when you hook something large.
Cast again quickly when you miss. There is a clock running, so a missed bite costs you time rather than points. Getting the line back in the water immediately is better than dwelling on it.