GTA 6 Fishing Will Be Catch-and-Release as Rockstar Reveals More Details About Gyms, Hunting and Fitness

Rockstar Games continues to reveal just how deep Grand Theft Auto VI‘s open world will be, with new details emerging about fishing, hunting, gyms, exercise, sleep and character stamina.

The information comes from GTA creator TGG, who was invited to Rockstar North in Edinburgh and watched approximately two and a half hours of additional GTA 6 gameplay beyond what was included in the public Extended Look presentation. During the session, Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson demonstrated the game and discussed several of its systems.

GTA 6 Fishing Is Surprisingly Detailed — But You Can’t Keep the Fish

One of the more unusual details involves fishing.

According to TGG’s account of his conversation with Nelson, fishing in GTA 6 is designed with a level of depth comparable to Red Dead Redemption 2. There is one major difference, however: players won’t be able to keep the fish they catch.

Instead, fishing operates as catch-and-release. Nelson reportedly explained that carrying caught fish around simply didn’t fit the type of game Rockstar is building with GTA 6. Fishing will therefore be primarily recreational, although it can also be connected to challenges, collectibles and some narrative content.

Hunting works differently.

Rather than being purely recreational, hunting can be used to make money and is reportedly introduced through a character who already knows Jason.

That distinction suggests Rockstar deliberately avoided simply transferring Red Dead Redemption 2‘s wilderness systems directly into GTA and instead adapted them to fit Leonida.

GTA 6’s Gym Is Much More Than a Simple Minigame

The Extended Look already showed Lucia using a bench press with L2 and R2 prompts, but TGG’s additional information provides a much better idea of how the complete system works.

Players can visit gyms and purchase a membership at the front desk before training. Jason and Lucia can also visit a gym together, with the character you aren’t controlling working out alongside you.

Different exercises affect the characters in different ways, and individual repetitions are tracked.

During weight training, players use L2 and R2 to control repetitions, while stamina decreases throughout a set. Consumables such as protein shakes and energy drinks can temporarily increase performance, allowing the character to complete more repetitions.

Completing three exercises is enough to finish a workout for the day. Strength-focused workouts can provide health-related benefits, while cardio improves stamina.

Importantly, the system remains optional. Nelson reportedly confirmed that players can complete the game without ever using a gym, meaning these activities provide additional benefits rather than becoming mandatory progression requirements.

Jason and Lucia’s Physical Condition Actually Matters

Rockstar is also tracking more than simply muscle and body weight.

Eating too much can cause Jason and Lucia to gain weight, while failing to maintain a muscular physique can eventually result in muscle loss. This expands on the body transformation system already discussed by Rockstar, where exercise and diet can visibly change both protagonists.

The game reportedly tracks whether Jason and Lucia are properly rested as well.

Sleep can affect how quickly certain attributes regenerate, meaning repeatedly keeping a character awake could have gameplay consequences rather than simply changing their appearance. A fitness-related application on the in-game phone is also reportedly capable of tracking this information.

Swimming Will Have Its Own Lung Capacity System

Exploring Leonida’s waters will also involve additional mechanics.

When swimming underwater, the stamina interface reportedly changes into a lung-capacity meter, tracking how long the character can remain underwater.

Scuba diving adds another layer, with oxygen equipment allowing players to remain submerged for longer periods. The Extended Look already showed underwater exploration alongside marine wildlife, reinforcing that Rockstar has built significant gameplay around Leonida’s oceans and waterways.

Combined with fishing, kayaking, jet skis, scuba diving and other water activities already shown or discussed, GTA 6 appears to be making Leonida’s water far more important than it was in GTA V.

Rockstar Is Turning GTA 6’s Side Activities Into Interconnected Systems

Perhaps the most interesting aspect isn’t any single activity, but how many of them interact with Jason and Lucia’s underlying attributes.

Going to the gym affects physical performance. Food and drinks can temporarily alter stats. Cardio affects stamina. Sleep influences regeneration. Swimming introduces lung capacity. Hunting generates money, while fishing serves a different recreational purpose.

It fits with something Nelson recently emphasized when discussing GTA 6: Rockstar has built numerous complicated systems designed to work together so naturally that players can eventually “forget it’s a game.”

None of these activities appear necessary for players who simply want to experience the campaign. But for those who want to live inside Leonida rather than rush from mission to mission, GTA 6 is increasingly looking like Rockstar’s deepest open-world simulation yet.

Grand Theft Auto VI launches November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.