> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://sunfish-studios.gitbook.io/main/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://sunfish-studios.gitbook.io/main/main-components/fish-catcher.md).

# Fish Catcher

Manages caught fish: spawns, hides, and tracks them using object pooling. Designed to work with animation events and fishing state machines.

> ✅ **Requires**: A parent `MAnimal` (from Malbers Animations) — it uses the left hand bone to hold fish.

***

#### 🔧 Inspector Settings

* **Fish Count**\
  Reference to an `IntReference` that tracks total fish caught. Automatically incremented when a fish is despawned (e.g., after presentation).
* **Fishing End Presentation Event**\
  Triggered when fishing ends *and* a fish is being presented. Useful for cleanup or UI updates.
* **On Fish Presented**\
  Unity event fired when `FishPresentation()` is called. Hook animations, sounds, or UI here.

***

#### 📈 Public Methods

* `HandleFishCatched(FishData fishData)`\
  Caches or instantiates the fish prefab from the given `FishData` and prepares it for display (inactive by default).
* `SpawnFish()`\
  Activates the current fish in the left hand.
* `DespawnFish()`\
  Hides the fish and increments the fish count. Called automatically at the end of a fishing sequence if a fish was presented.
* `FishPresentation()`\
  Marks that a fish is being shown (e.g., during a victory pose). Triggers `OnFishPresented`.
* `HandleFishingEnd()`\
  Called externally (e.g., by a state machine) when fishing ends. If a fish was presented, it fires the `FishingEndPresentationEvent` and despawns the fish.
* `ClearFishPool()`\
  Destroys all pooled fish objects. Called automatically on destroy


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