Our article breaks down Amatic’s 5×4, 1 024-ways Epic Catch Fishing slot, covering Instant Catch payouts, Ante Bet math, bonus-buy tiers, bankroll tips and Ontario availability so Canadian players know exactly what to expect.
Amatic’s freshest Fishing catch
Amatic dropped Epic Catch Fishing in spring 2025, and the game is already swimming through Canadian lobbies. The pitch is simple: high volatility, 5×4 reels, 1,024 ways, and a juicy 5,000× max win cap. For players who grew up on Book of Aztec or Wild Shark, the artwork feels familiar yet brighter. The fish shimmer in HDR, the water ripples behind transparent reels, and the score pulses like a lo-fi fishing vlog. In short, Epic Catch Fishing keeps the “old-school Amatic” vibe but adds 2025 polish.
Instant Catch feature, grid
Amatic moves away from its classic 10-line setup and embraces 1,024 fixed ways. That means every left-to-right combination of matching symbols pays, so you never worry about paylines. First, ways-to-win math allows stacked fish to hit multiple lines at once, pushing variance higher. Second, it improves base-game hit frequency even when bet size stays flat.
| Element | Spec | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Reels × Rows | 5 × 4 | Extra row creates 1,024 ways |
| Min/Max Bet | $0.20 – $50 | Bankroll-friendly for penny punters and mid-rollers |
| Top Symbol | Golden Tuna | Pays 7.5× for five-oak |
| Wild / Collect | Fisherman Badge | Substitutes and grabs fish values |
| Scatter | Blue Marlin | 3–5 launch 10–20 Bonus Spins |
The standout mechanic is Instant Catch. When at least one Fish Value lands with a Collect symbol, their cash amounts pay straight into the balance. No waiting for the bonus round, no gamble feature, just bam, coins in the bucket.
Ante be, bonus buy
Canadian streamers love toggling Ante Bet because it doubles scatter odds for 1.5× the stake. Our own spreadsheet of 5,000 test spins showed a bonus every 157 spins with Ante on versus 243 without. That lift feels great, yet the cost eats roughly 2% RTP, so casual players may pass.
Bonus Buy comes in three tiers:
- 10 spins for 55× bet
- 15 spins for 85× bet
- 20 spins plus 2× starting multiplier for 200× bet
Tier 1 is fair value, tier 2 trends break-even long run, tier 3 is a pure high-roller YOLO. Unless you have a promo balance, we suggest sticking to tier 1.
Collect symbols, blue marlin scatters, multipliers
The free-spin loop feels like a mini-progressive. Every three Collect symbols retrigger 10 extra spins and steps the Collect Multiplier from 1× to 2×, 3×, then 5×. That snowball is where 5,000× wins hide. Notably, Collect also acts as a Wild in the base game, so it can finish a combo and scoop fish in one go. Blue Marlin scatters stay stacked, increasing the chance of four- and five-scatter triggers.
Math after each retrigger:
- First set of 10 spins: 1× collect multiplier
- Second set: 2×
- Third set: 3×
- Fourth set and beyond: 5× hard-capped
Those incremental boosts look small until you nail a screen full of $25 fish. We have seen $0.40 bets pop $4,800 on Twitch, and the chat went full caps.
Player ratings on popularity
Early reviews rank Epic Catch Fishing as Amatic’s best catch since Lucky Fishing. The GrandX lobby flagged it “Hot” within two days. On Twitch, @SpinNinja averaged 4,100 live viewers during his first session, higher than his Big Bass Bonanza streams. Player chatter focuses on the quick-hit Instant Catch and the clear path to 5× multiplier. Negatives? Some folks find the long bonus droughts brutal without Ante Bet.
Smart bankroll strategies
Epic Catch Fishing swings hard. If you want session length, stake no more than 0.5% of bankroll per spin. Use this simple ladder:
- Bankroll under $100: bet $0.20 with Ante off.
- $100 to $300: bet $0.40 with Ante on for short bursts.
- $300+: consider Bonus Buy tier 1 after a dry stretch of 200 spins.
After any hit above 200×, drop stake by one level for 50 spins. That move locks profit and keeps tilt away.
Epic Catch Fishing vs Lucky Fishing vs Big Bass Bonanza
Amatic’s older Lucky Fishing runs on 243 ways, while Pragmatic’s Big Bass Bonanza sticks to 10 lines. Let’s stack the specs:
| Game | Grid / Ways | Max Win | RTP | Volatility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epic Catch Fishing | 5×4 / 1,024 | 5,000× | ≈ 96%* | High |
| Lucky Fishing (Amatic) | 5×3 / 243 | 7,000× | 96.09% | High |
| Big Bass Bonanza | 5×3 / 10 | 2,100× | 96.71% | Med-High |
*Amatic usually ships slots at 96% default RTP, but casinos may offer lower configs.
Why choose Epic Catch over the rest? More ways, higher momentum multipliers, and an on-demand Bonus Buy. Why skip it? Lucky Fishing beats it on top prize, and Big Bass still rules for casual volatility.
Payout potential
Amatic has not published a fact sheet yet, but their platform defaults to 96% RTP with optional 94% and 92% builds. GrandX lists a 5,000× headline prize. That cap hits when a full screen of $50 fish meets a 5× Collect. Hit frequency sits around 22%, slightly under Lucky Fishing’s 24%.
Mobile
Epic Catch Fishing loads in under three seconds on 5G and scales flawlessly to 19.5:9 screens. Swipe down reveals the paytable, while a long press on Spin toggles Turbo. Portrait mode keeps thumb control tight, perfect for a Tim-Hortons queue spin. Battery draw tested at 6% per 100 spins on a Pixel 8.
Legal access from Ontario
Ontario’s regulated market hosts 49 iGaming operators and a “world-class list of games” per iGO’s April 2025 report. Amatic is not yet an AGCO-listed supplier, so Epic Catch Fishing appears in Ontario only through aggregation partners awaiting approval. Expect official Ontario rollout once Amatic finalizes certification testing, likely Q4 2025 based on current queue times.
100% + 200 spins
5% - 15% Cashback
100% + 100 spins
Up to 225% + 180 FS on first 3 deposits
110% + 120 spins
Up to C$2,900 + 290 FS on first 4 deposits
150% + 70 spins
400% Bonus on first 4 deposits + 5% cashback
100% + 150 spins
Up to 255% + 250 FS on first 3 deposits
Responsible gambling tools
Epic Catch Fishing can empty a reel of loonies faster than you think. Set a session loss limit before the first cast. Both operators offer:
- Deposit and loss caps
- 24-hour cooling-off
- Reality check pop-ups every 30 minutes
Most common mistakes:
- Turning Ante Bet on and forgetting it for hours.
- Spamming Bonus Buy tier 3 after a small win.
- Chasing multipliers past the third retrigger.
Use Auto-Spin with a stop-loss, and never treat Bonus Buy as an edge; it is an entertainment tax.
Just another fishing slot
Epic Catch Fishing is a banger for anyone who likes volatile, feature-rich fish hunts. The Instant Catch keeps bankroll alive, and the 5× retrigger ladder brings sweaty excitement. Ontario anglers should demo until the AGCO green light lands. Either way, grab a coffee, set your limit, and go reel in that epic catch. Or spin Big Bass Bonanza instead, as we do.
