I'm currently working on a sea simulation/trade simulation and am starting the work on the fishing system. I need some ideas on a unqie challenging way to catch the fish. None of that click the fish verb and activate sleep for about 500 ticks then do a little rand(1,2) setup. That's way too simple and just easy! I want it to be a challenge. Here's my design that's glued into my noggin, maybe you can add something or think up a totally new design.

My design works like this. You cast your line out, your player is now holding a rod, is facing out the side of the boat or pier and in the water is your line. In the water (which is layered over the real fish that move, and have choices like real fish) the fish are moved around in a loop, and every now and then a proc is ran for the fish to check for any food. After this the fish is run into two choices depending on how hungry he is, and what he eats. He can go for the food, or fish away. Now let's say hes hungry and goes for the food, which is part of his normal everday grub. The fish would now swim toward the generated line next to the fisher man and stay there in a locked position unable to move. An alert comes up on the fishermen's screen. He is told to click the Set Hook button to set the hook in the fishes jaw and once that is done he is taken through stages of weather to reel in, add/subtract drag, cut the line, etc. During the act of reeling in their will be a tension meter. Every reel toward the fishermen will add tension depending on drag. If the drag is low, the tension will break the line. If the tension is medium, the fish and the fishermen have their share of tension, and if it's low the fish has plently of time to move. Once you reel in the fish has two choices, stay and be reeled in, or try to retreat. After his attempt it's back to the fishermen in a turnbased struggle. Once caught the fish is measured and if the right size you can release or keep him. If he is not then you are forced to realease him.

Thanks for any help. :)