introducing Hooked! - where the fish come to you!
How to Play HOOKED!
Welcome to HOOKED!, the angler’s game that offers three exciting and engaging games in one deck of cards, each with its own unique twist on fishing fun. The deck contains game fish species plus action cards that add strategy and excitement to the gameplay.
Deck Composition - 63 Cards
Fish Cards: 3 each of 18 species = 54 cards. Each card is numbered corresponding to their their record catch weight.
Fish Guide Card: 1 card, not for game use
Action Cards: 2 each of 4 action cards = 8 cards
Empty Hook - Present this card when asked for a specific fish, or play it to cause
the next player to lose their turn. Your turn continues as usual. Discard after use.
Catch & Release - Depending on the game, use this card for an extra chance to
catch the fish you seek. See individual game rules for specifics. Discard after use.
Net Cast - Play this card at the start of your turn to receive cards from other
players. See specific game for exact card rules. Discard after use.
Current Shift - use this card to shift the direction of play once your turn is over.
Discard after use.
NOTES:
Record Catch records in this deck are North American records. World records may be different. Visit www.igfa.org for game fish world records.
You can shorten the duration of any of the games by using fewer sets of fish species.
You can simplify any game by removing one or more sets of action cards.
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GAME #1: GO FISH! ULTRA
OBJECTIVE
The goal is to collect complete sets of fish cards (3 cards per species) by asking players for the cards you need. The player with the most sets at the end of the game wins. It may sound like “Go Fish!” but there are a few new twists!
SETUP
Shuffle the Deck: Thoroughly shuffle all fish and action cards together.
Spread the shuffled cards face down between the players to form the “Lake.”
Select Cards:
For 2-3 players: Each player picks 7 cards from the Lake.
For 4-6 players: Each player picks 5 cards from the Lake.
GAMEPLAY
Turn Order: Select a player who will go first.
Players take turns in a clockwise direction.
On Your Turn: Ask for a Card: Choose a player and ask for a specific fish card.
You can ask for a card that you have in your hand, or bluff by asking for one you
do not have.
Empty Hook: If you ask for a card and are presented with an Empty Hook card,
your turn is over. You do not get to draw from the Lake.
Successful Request: If the player has the card, they must give all the cards in
their hand that match. You then continue your turn by asking any player for
another card.
Unsuccessful Request: If the player does not have the card you asked for, they
say Go Fish!, and you pick a card from the Lake. If you draw the card you asked
for, show it and take another turn. If not, your turn ends.
Match Limit: There is a limit of 2 successful matches (requests or draws) per
turn. After two matches, your turn ends and it is the next player’s turn.
Running Out of Cards: If a player runs out of cards, they draw 5 cards from the
Lake or as many as remain. If the Lake is empty after drawing, they finish their
turn and the game ends.
Winning the Game: The game ends when the Lake is empty of cards. The player
with the most complete sets at the end of the game wins.
TIEBREAKER: In a tie, the player with the most total points of their sets wins.
USING ACTION CARDS
Empty Hook: At the start of your turn, play the Empty Hook card causing the next player to lose their turn.Your turn then begins. You can also present the Empty Hook card at any time when asked for a fish card, even if you have the card. This includes a Net Cast. Their turn immediately ends and the asking player is not allowed to draw from the Lake.
Catch & Release: You can play the Catch & Release card at the start of your turn and gain an extra turn once your first turn is completed. Once used, the Catch & Release card is discarded.
Net Cast: Use at the start of your turn. Allows you to ask all other players at once for a specific fish card. Each player must give you one card of that type if they have it. Once the Net Cast card is used, it is discarded.
Current Shift: Play this card at the beginning of your turn to shift the direction of play after your turn is over. Continue your normal turn. Discard after use.
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GAME #2: HOOKED!
OBJECTIVE
Collect all the cards by being the fastest to slap matching pairs, or special combinations. The player who ends up with all the cards wins.
SETUP
Shuffle the Deck: Thoroughly shuffle all the cards.
Create the Lake: Spread the shuffled cards face down in the center of the table to form the "Lake.”
Initial Draw: Players take turns selecting cards from the Lake (face down - no peeking!) until the Lake is empty.
Place your face-down cards in a stack in front of you.
GAMEPLAY
1. Turn Order: Choose a player to go first and then take turns in a clockwise direction. On Your Turn: Take the top card of your stack, flip it over away from you and place it in the middle of the table (the Lake) face up.
SLAPS (the “Reel-In” Conditions)
Players must be quick to slap the face up cards on the following combinations:
“Fish Twins” (Two of a Kind): When two fish cards of the same species are placed consecutively in the Lake.
“Fish Sandwich”: When two fish cards of the same species are flipped but have one different card between them (e.g., Smallmouth Bass, Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass). Note: The two fish cards must be of the same species, not just the same type (e.g., not just any two Bass).
“Fishing Streak”: (Consecutive Numbers): When two cards with consecutive numbers appear in the Lake, whether ascending or descending (e.g., #8 Walleye followed by #9 Coho Salmon or vice versa - #9 followed by #8).
Action Cards: Whenever action cards Catch & Release, Net Cast, or Current Shift are flipped and placed in the Lake. But don’t slap the Empty Hook!
Winning a Slap: The first player to slap the pile when a valid combination appears wins all the cards in the Lake and adds them face down to the bottom of their personal stack.
Incorrect Slap: If a player slaps incorrectly (slaps without the right combination of cards), they must add the two cards from their stack to the bottom of the Lake.
Winning the Game: The game ends when one player has all the cards.
If there are cards still in the Lake but only one player has cards remaining in
their stack, that player is declared the winner.
USING ACTION CARDS
Empty Hook: No one can slap to win the pile when this card is played. The player who flipped it loses their chance to slap for the next two turns. Anyone who slaps an Empty Hook also loses their slap chance for two turns but still flips if their turn comes up.
Catch & Release: The first player to slap this card and say “HOOKED!” wins the Lake cards. Then, all other players must add one fish card face-down to the bottom of the Lake.
Net Cast: When the Net Cast card is flipped, the first player to slap the card and say “HOOKED!” wins not only the Lake cards but also an additional card from each other player’s stack.
Current Shift: When the Current Shift card is played, the first player to slap the card and say “HOOKED!” wins the Lake cards.Then, the direction of play reverses.
SPECIAL SITUATION: If a player runs out of cards, they can’t flip a card but can still attempt to win a slap to regain cards. However, an incorrect slap while cardless results in their elimination from the game.
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GAME #3: FISHING DERBY
OBJECTIVE
The goal of Fishing Derby is to be the first player to reach a total between 60 and 70 points using all 7 cards in your hand.
SETUP
Shuffle the Deck: Thoroughly shuffle all fish and action cards together.
Create the Lake: Spread the shuffled cards face down in the center of the table to form the “Lake.”
Select Cards: Each player takes turns picking 7 cards from the Lake.
NOTE: During play, players should always maintain 7 cards. If an action card is
played and reduces a player’s card count, they draw from the Lake to return to a
7-card hand.
GAMEPLAY
Turn Order: Choose a player to go first. Players then take turns in a clockwise direction.
On Your Turn: Draw a Card: Draw one card from the Lake.
Discard: Choose any card in your hand to discard and place it face down back into the Lake.
Winning the Game: The game ends when a player has between 60 and 70 points across all 7 of their cards. Action cards cannot be included in the 7 card winning hand.
USING ACTION CARDS
Empty Hook: Play this card at the start of your turn or when you draw it from the Lake to skip the next player’s turn. Draw a card to maintain 7 cards, then proceed with your turn. Discard after use.
Catch & Release: Play this card at the start of your turn or when you draw it from the Lake. The Catch & Release allows you a bonus draw from the Lake. Once presented, begin with drawing a card to maintain your 7 card hand. Then, take two turns drawing and placing cards back into the Lake. Discard after use.
Net Cast: You get to select one card (your choice) from two other players’ hands. Place two cards back into the Lake to maintain your 7 card hand. Those players who lost a card gets to draw a card from the Lake to maintain 7 cards. Discard after use.
Current Shift: Play this card at the beginning of your turn or when drawn to shift the direction of play after your turn is over. Once presented, begin with drawing a card to maintain your 7 card hand then continue your normal turn. Discard after use.