Regarding the BoF series: The 1st game had no fishing. You just used the pole to get treasure from wells. I did like the hunting aspect, though. In the 2nd game, there was actual fishing, but it was rather simplistic. The hunting improved greatly, though (I was annoyed that I lost my party's archer so early, and for so long). In the 3rd game, hunting was done away with, but the fishing got much better. The fish acted as a variety of healing items and, could also be traded with the merchants of the fish people (I forget what they're called), for weapons & armor that couldn't be normally attained, or wouldn't show up in shops, until later.