Every fish gives you XP to raise your fishing level, from 1 to 1000. Your rod upgrades by itself with your total XP: it multiplies the XP you earn and makes the minigame's green zone bigger.
The 10 rods
Rod
Total XP
Fishing level
XP multiplier
1
0
1
×1.00
2
20,000
11
×1.05
3
100,000
19
×1.10
4
300,000
27
×1.15
5
700,000
37
×1.20
6
1,500,000
48
×1.25
7
3,000,000
62
×1.30
8
5,000,000
74
×1.35
9
8,000,000
87
×1.40
10
11,000,000
98
×1.45
How XP is counted
XP per fish = the fish's XP × your rod's multiplier (no decimals).
Perfect catch: double that XP.
Tokens are never doubled: each fish always gives the same.