The Big Catch slot review

The Big Catch slot: Fishin’ Frenzy with a size chart

Blueprint’s game page lists Fishin’ Frenzy The Big Catch with a date of 21 May 2021. It keeps the frame of the original Fishin’ Frenzy: five reels, three rows, ten lines and a fisherman who reels in fish values during free spins. The new idea is size. Fish come in different sizes, worth different amounts, and the free spins include a trail that moves the smaller ones up the chart until, at the end, every fish becomes a Big Catch worth 50 times your stake.

That structure turns the free spins into a progression rather than a flat run. The early spins of a round play much like the original; later spins, if enough fishermen have landed, can be worth far more. It is one of several games Blueprint Gaming has spun out of its best-known title, and a natural entry in our fishing slots hub.

Fish of any kind: how line wins work in The Big Catch

Blueprint calls this the fish-win frenzy: three or more fish of any kind on a winning line pay a prize, regardless of fish size. In a normal slot, a line needs three of the same symbol. Here, a small fish on reel 1, a medium fish on reel 2 and a large fish on reel 3 still count as three fish. That makes fish line wins more common than they would be if each size were a separate symbol.

As with any 10-line game, your stake is spread across the ten paylines, so a 20p spin carries 2p a line. The paytable shows what a fish line pays, and the help screen confirms how mixed and matched fish are valued.

Fish line wins in the base game are separate from fish cash values in free spins. The values on the fish only matter when a fisherman is there to collect them.

Free spins and the fisherman wild

Three or more Bonus symbols in view start the free spins. During the round, every fisherman that lands is wild and pays a win for each fish in view on that spin, the cash collect idea that made Fishin’ Frenzy popular. A spin with several fish and no fisherman pays only line wins; a spin with a fisherman collects them all.

Blueprint’s page also says a fisherman can appear on any spin and may increase prizes, so the character is not confined to the feature. The exact base-game behaviour, including how often and what it adds, is described in the help screen.

The fisherman trail: upgrades, extra spins and the Big Catch

Every fisherman that lands in free spins also counts towards a trail. According to Blueprint, collecting four fishermen upgrades the smallest fish to the next size up and awards five extra spins. Collect enough fishermen along the trail, and every fish in view becomes the Big Catch, each worth 50x your stake. Blueprint’s page has some fun with the name of that top fish.

The number of upgrades needed to reach the Big Catch is shown in the game’s help screen. What matters for a player is the shape: the longer a round runs and the more fishermen it collects, the richer every later spin becomes, and the extra five spins per upgrade keep a successful round going. A round that collects few fishermen ends quickly and plays like the plain original.

A worked example in pounds

Suppose you stake 20p and a free spin late in a round, after the Big Catch stage is reached, shows four fish and one fisherman. Each fish is worth 50 × 20p = £10, so the fisherman collects 4 × £10 = £40, plus any line wins on that spin. At 50p a spin, the same screen pays 4 × £25 = £100.

This is the best part of a good round, not a typical spin. Many rounds never reach the Big Catch stage, and the early spins of any round are worth far less. Treat the example as a way to understand the maths, not a forecast.

The Big Catch RTP: 95.32% or 92%

Blueprint lists two versions: 95.32% and 92%. The top figure is already below the 96% benchmark and below the original Fishin’ Frenzy’s 96.12%, so it is worth checking which one your casino runs. The help screen shows the live RTP.

On the lower version the long-run cost is roughly 70% higher. Our RTP range entry explains why casinos can choose between versions.

How to play The Big Catch

1. Open the help screen and confirm whether the RTP reads 95.32% or 92%.
2. Set your stake across the ten lines; UK caps are £5 a spin at 25+ and £2 at 18 to 24, even though the developer lists up to £50 for other markets.
3. Spin: three or more fish of any size on a line pay, along with ordinary symbol wins.
4. Land three or more Bonus symbols to start the free spins.
5. Track the fisherman count: every four gives an upgrade and five extra spins.
6. When the round ends, compare the total with your stake and your net position on screen.

Medium volatility and UK rules

A slot database rates The Big Catch medium volatility. Mixed-fish line wins keep the base game ticking over, while the trail concentrates the upside in long free spins rounds. Losses are still the likely outcome over time.

• Stakes capped at £5 (25+) and £2 (18 to 24) at UK-licensed casinos.
• At least 2.5 seconds per spin, no autoplay, no turbo and no slam stop.
• No feature buy in Great Britain, so the free spins must be landed.
• Free demo play only after age verification; see free slots.

The Big Catch compared with other fishing slots

The original Fishin’ Frenzy has the better RTP; The Big Catch trades some of it for a free spins round that builds. Even Bigger Catch, released in 2023, takes the idea further with a 10,000x published maximum. The Fishin’ Frenzy vs Big Bass Bonanza page explains how Blueprint’s and Pragmatic Play’s collect systems differ.

Is The Big Catch worth playing?

It suits Fishin’ Frenzy fans who want free spins with a sense of progress. If RTP is your priority, the original or a higher-RTP fishing slot is the better pick; keep any session within the limits in our slot budget guide.

Where to play The Big Catch

Check the lobby and the help-screen RTP before depositing. Coral gives new players 100 free spins at 10p after depositing and betting £10 on slots (no wagering on winnings, 7 days to use), PlayOJO gives 80 free spins at 10p on Big Bass Bonanza with a £10+ first deposit and no wagering, and Ladbrokes gives up to 500 free spins at 10p over 10 days after a £10 slots stake. 18+, T&Cs apply.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.