Williams• 1992• WPC Fliptronics II• 4 players

Fish Tales

Lock three balls, light the jackpots, then decide how much danger you are willing to accept for a Super Jackpot. Fast flow, memorable callouts, a mechanical reel lock, and the famous flopping fish topper make this one of Williams' most recognizable early-90s games.

Fishing Dot Matrix 3-Ball Multiball Reel Ball Lock Captive Ball

Players

2 flippers · 2 ramps · 3 pop bumpers

Multiball

3-ball

Mechanical fishing-reel lock

Production

13,640

Units produced

Estimated value

$4,250–$4,950

Current Pinside estimate snapshot

The game at a glance

Catch fish. Lock balls. Cash the Super.

Fish Tales is built around a wonderfully readable risk/reward loop. Lock three balls by repeatedly shooting the right-side Caster’s Club into the mechanical fishing reel, play 3-ball multiball, collect the three jackpot levels, then attack the center captive ball when the Super Jackpot is ready.

Why it works

The rules are easy to explain, the ramps flow quickly, and scoring can swing hard in multiball. New players understand the objective quickly while experienced players still have meaningful decisions.

Signature personality

The rotating reel lock, crossover boat ramps, exaggerated fishing callouts, and animated fish topper give the machine a personality that is instantly recognizable across a room.

Main objective Start 3-ball multiball, collect jackpots to light the Super Jackpot, then cash it at the center captive ball.

New player guide

How to play in five steps

Lock ball 1 at Caster’s Club.
Shoot the Caster’s Club on the right side while its lock light is flashing. The upkicker sends the ball onto the wireform and into the mechanical fishing reel, where it is physically held.

Lock balls 2 and 3 the same way.
Keep returning to the flashing Caster’s Club. Each successful shot feeds another ball into the reel. When the third ball is locked, the reel releases the balls and 3-ball Caster’s Club Multiball starts automatically. Instant Multiball can also be awarded by certain Fish Finder or captive-ball awards.

Collect jackpots.
Make the lit jackpot shots during multiball to advance your Tackle Box and build toward the Super.

Cash the Super Jackpot.
When it lights, the center captive ball becomes the money shot — and one of the most dangerous shots on the game.

Use side modes for extra value.
Monster Fish, Rock the Boat, Stretch the Truth, and video mode can add useful points around the main multiball plan.

Rules & scoring

What actually matters

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Core loop

Build the reel lock: shoot the flashing Caster’s Club on the right side. The upkicker feeds the ball across the wireform and into the mechanical fishing reel.
Start multiball: repeat the Caster’s Club lock shot until three balls are physically in the reel. Locking the third ball automatically releases the reel and starts 3-ball Caster’s Club Multiball.
Collect jackpots: jackpot progress pushes you toward the larger Super Jackpot opportunity.
Cash the Super: attack the center captive ball once the Super Jackpot is lit.

Other scoring to know

Monster Fish: a hurry-up style scoring opportunity that can create a meaningful swing.
Rock the Boat: a timed shooting sequence built around the game's fast ramp flow.
Stretch the Truth: lets you push a value higher, adding a classic press-your-luck decision.
Video mode: gives the game another distinct scoring opportunity away from the main playfield loop.

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The shot that changes everything The captive ball is both your Super Jackpot collect and a potential instant drain generator. The best Fish Tales decisions are often about when to take that risk, not merely whether the Super is lit.

Competitive play

Tournament tips

Play for control

Learn the captive-ball return. Its rejection and rebound behavior can vary dramatically by setup.
Control first, goals second. Wild center shots and panic flips are exactly how Fish Tales punishes good balls.
Use the ramps. The boat ramps are fast, readable progress shots and often safer than forcing the middle.

Know when to gamble

Behind? Multiball and Super Jackpots offer the fastest way to create a large score swing.
Ahead? You may not need to repeatedly fire at the captive ball if safer scoring can protect the lead.
Do not tilt away the comeback. Short ball times mean another meaningful scoring chance may arrive quickly.

Personality & trivia

The stuff people remember

The fish topper

Fish Tales' molded topper is one of the game's defining visual features. The fish physically flops against the top of the backbox during play, making the machine easy to identify even from across an arcade.

The “river photo” legend

A famous set of hobby photos shows a Fish Tales machine being played outdoors in shallow water. The images became a long-running pinball-community joke because the stunt fits the fishing theme almost too perfectly.

Play it digitally

Digital versions

The Pinball Arcade

Fish Tales appeared in The Pinball Arcade during the period when Williams/Bally tables were licensed for that platform. Availability can change as digital licensing changes.

Zen / Williams Pinball

Fish Tales has also appeared in Zen Studios' Williams Pinball releases, making it a useful way to learn the basic shot layout and rules before playing a physical machine.

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