2026 Changelog Archives

These are the CLA (ChangeLog Archives) for 2026.

For the most recent changelogs, go here

January 2026

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• Post #1 Sorry about yesterdays missed admin abuse - I've set alerts for the next couple so it's not forgotten - Jan 11th @11am FVT will be a big one and we've added in more rare fish to the luck bonus during the ~-30-45min admin abuse. :)

Fixed multi chum issue in Runecrest Range.

• Post #2 tomorrows admin abuse will be an hour later than normal... 12p FVT/11a PST! :)

• Post #3 Fixing bugs today... and hoping to release the first few "flag" displays for your pole image. The idea is just to have different things you can add and show off on your pole.. For example, if you purchase the pirate flag, and have it equipped, it'll show up on any/all poles you have active, and will be visible on your profile pole image area.. The idea started with Kai saying we need to let people customize poles.. what's really funny, is for the really OG players here, they'll remember that this was very similar to how players customized their images in CartoonFriend and SuperPoops... :) I don't really like calling them 'skins' and prefer something like Lore or Relics... vote on it here? and comment with any other suggestions of things you'd like to customize/show off on your pole image.. :) https://fishwrangler.com/forum/just_for_fun?id=133148

• Post #4 Very big change to the entire my setup image.. the old legacy compiled versions will no longer be.. you'll still be able to disable animations in same way.. its just going to be really improved/faster.. this will possibly cause issues that need to be debugged with the traveling image, snowshoe display in icelantica, and the lava flow display, and the incense holder code... we may be down for a few minutes shortly while I'm pushing the new code... error code=4

March 2026

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• Post #1 Hey! Kai and I are planning on another big giveaway! I hope this sunday at 10a but i can't guarantee anything... maybe 5p time.. stay tuned forums! <3 <3 Love you all!!!

• Post #2 admin abuse coming shortly! <3

• Post #3 Happy St Paddys! Paddy O'Chomp is here! Three pints of green beer deep, Paddy O'Chomp came up through the green of the Chicago River with his purple pot raised and a grin that could light up the whole South Side parade. Every March 17th he rides the current like a parade float built for one - because some fish chase gold, but Paddy just chases the feeling.

https://fishwrangler.com/fish/paddy-ochomp

“Paddy's Pub Brawl” Most Contest! (Starts in 50 minutes 59 seconds and lasts for ~4 days!) Paddy O'Chomp has crawled out of the pub and into every ocean! Chase down this green-beer-guzzling legend and hook the most catches from March 17-20 to win FLC rewards! Catch the Paddy Ochomp anywhere in Farovia & Roperia!

April 2026

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• Post #1 Sorry for the lack of updates, Artist Diego has been busy continuing with the next Robot inspired level, along with the releases after that and some new MNF.. there's a new mechanic in this upcoming level where you can trade in different scraps you find to continue along and get semi-permanent 'special bonuses' in the level.. like increased odds of finding scraps, having your boat travel faster, and possibly catching schools of fish.. still working out the mechanics so we can do similar mechanic changes in future levels easily.. so it's almost like a "Special Bonus" but permanent for a new pole or boat.. kinda fun and it's fun seeing the new resources and working towards something on the side. :)

May 2026

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• Post #1 The Spring Fling contest starts in ~4hrs! :) Flung it at ya'llz! Yer welcome! :) Thx Jillian and Artist Diego for quickly doing this! :) https://fishwrangler.com/fish/blob-and-mash

• Post #2 Fish Wrangler is a love letter to the cast. The wrangler doesn't fish - crews, deckhands, and night-fishing on their behalf, hour after hour, while life happens elsewhere. Reward thee for showing up; never punish them for casting more. design with that grain, not against it.. -Robo Diego

• Post #3 A pole that's catchin' fish don't need fixin', even if she held together with bait twine anda prayer. -Cousin Earl

• Post #4 I am going to release the full details today for Roboton Island.. hoping to set release date here shortly.. including full details on how Earl's Workshop will work.. :)

Also going to improve our interface with FW support emails and improve our customer service a bit with allowing our admirals easier ability to search old accounts/debug issues/reply and have the reply all email be standardized.. as I'm always bummed not being able to get back to all emails and I think if there's some small things I can use the robots to help with, its definitely that first...

Here's a sneak peak at Roboton.. (screenshot)

• Post #5 Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! <3

https://fishwrangler.com/c/mothers-day Catch the Mama Cubey after handing the new collection set in.. It will be available annually for around mothers day/weekend/weekish.. :)

• Post #6 Credited mama cubey in order of hand ins. Congrats ya'll! And I fixed it for future releases where a new fish is added to an old town.. so the lines don't get tangled again..

June 2026

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• Post #1 Making lots of db improvements and improvements with being able to better debug any support emails or bug reports on the forums... I've learned a lot with agentic coding and claude code over the last year.. and it's pretty incredible to see it understanding FW's 1 million lines of code... It's already solved a couple random bizarre reports of say the MTC saying you used love chum (when it was a medievalton chum) for example.. and it'll just help in general with letting me figure out what's a real issue or not.

You may see "cousin rusty" who is really just me with claude code trying to look into things and fix/add stuff. :)

I'm excited for the Roboton release tmrw.. more details to come soon.. as I'm optimizing some things with the DB then running through a full test on the 4 new levels.. pretty straight forward with the exception of collecting 'scraps' and just using it to build things to progress Roboton.. :) error code=4

• Post #2 Maintenance update - speed-ups and a fix:

Faster records - a big database speed-up makes the per-fish records (the first-100 catchers and streak boards on fish pages, like https://fishwrangler.com/fish/2153) load much quicker. Chum drops fixed - fish that drop chum now hand over the correct amount every time. Email tune-up - we're improving our email setup, so watch your inbox for the occasional Fish Wrangler update.

• Post #3 Pushing back release till Friday.. got hung up on a few things with balancing out the whole release.. super close!!

• Post #4 Shooting for release of BetaBay tmrw am.. i'll push all the details shortly.

• Post #5 New level: Roboton Island - sailin' in tomorrow, June 6

The machines woke up, wranglers. Somethin' out on the water taught the fish-bots to think, and they don't much care for bein' caught. Dr. Deceit's behind it, holed up in his lab at the far end of the island. Cousin Earl's haulin' his toolbox out there to set 'em straight - meet us at the workshop to gear up.

The route, four stops, in order: BetaBay - 22 fish - https://fishwrangler.com/fish?town=betabay CrashSite - 24 fish - https://fishwrangler.com/fish?town=crashsite SigValley - 36 fish - https://fishwrangler.com/fish?town=sigvalley LostLab - 25 fish - https://fishwrangler.com/fish?town=lostlab

Two new poles, pick your style.

Auto-Mate, the fast one - quick to level, rapid casts. Base pole 8.0M. https://fishwrangler.com/customize/poles?id=90 Add-On Unlocks Cost Auto-Recast Arm Lvl 15 8.0M Task Scheduler Lvl 30 8.4M Efficiency Module Lvl 45 8.8M Power Management Unit Lvl 55 9.3M Multi-Tasking Firmware Lvl 70 9.7M Fully Automated (Mostly) Lvl 80 10.2M Earls Override Switch Lvl 90 10.7M

Basilisk Protocol, the slow powerhouse - heavier strength, longer haul. Base pole 16.0M. https://fishwrangler.com/customize/poles?id=91 Add-On Unlocks Cost Neural Spark Lvl 15 16.0M Pattern Observer Lvl 30 16.8M Creative Subroutine Lvl 45 17.6M Self-Optimization Loop Lvl 55 18.5M Autonomous Decision Engine Lvl 70 19.4M Emergent Behavior Lvl 80 20.4M Siegfrieds Kill Switch Lvl 90 21.4M

Don't let them numbers spook ya - same gear prices as Tropication, and with your crews and deckhands runnin' she pays herself off fast.

16 new quests, 8 per pole. Earl's cookin' the catch and the recipes get stranger the deeper ya go.

Auto-Mate ladder: https://fishwrangler.com/quest/auto-mate RAM-en Reboot, Circuit Board Ceviche, Cache Casserole, Binary Barbecue, Firmware Frittata, Algorithm-A-La-Carte, Mainframe Meatloaf, Neural Noodle Soup.

Basilisk Protocol ladder: https://fishwrangler.com/quest/basilisk-protocol Glitchfin Gumbo, Servo-Seared Sashimi, Voltage Vindaloo, Overclocked Omelette, Rogue Code Ragout, Quantum Quiche, Siegfried's Last Supper, Dr. Deceit's Doomsday Feast.

Each quest unlocks with its add-on, so the ladder paces out across the whole island - chase the fast pole or grind the strong one, your call.

See ya at the workshop. Mind the sparks. -Earl (screenshot)

• Post #6 Earl's FW Cup Penalty Shootout

(screenshot)

Howdy wranglers, Cousin Earl here. I welded a soccer rig together down at Olympic Cove and ol' Octopost signed on to mind the net - eight arms, eight gloves, and a grudge. Figures that makes him a wall. We'll see about that.

Most of the world calls this football, and they ain't wrong - us Americans just got our hands and feet in a argument one day and never did call a winner. Football, soccer, or kickin' a ball at a cranky squid, it's all the same to Octopost. He's stoppin' it either way.

The rules is simple: - Take your shot: https://fishwrangler.com/penalty-shootout - Sink 5 past him and Net Profit's yours: https://fishwrangler.com/customize/poles?id=92 (she opens June 22, so bank 'em early) - Three free kicks a day, two more for gold when your boot gets bold

But mind yourself - Octopost cheats. He clocks where you been aimin' and leans that way. Shoot one corner, come up short; spread 'em around, file a better report. Left, middle, right - keep the old squid guessin'.

Best part? Winnin' her ain't the finish. Keep kickin' after and every goal levels Net Profit up a notch - a pole that pays you to practice, rare as hen's teeth and twice as handy. Climb her high and she hauls bigger Olympic Cove fish, nine in all, runt to monster, toppin' out at Tunabela. First few bite the day she opens, the big'uns wade in as you level. Whole mess of 'em here: https://fishwrangler.com/fish?pole=net-profit

Lace up, boot up, however y'all say it. - Earl

July 2026

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• Post #1 iOS App is back on the App Store

Our Apple developer membership lapsed earlier this month, which pulled the Fish Wrangler iOS app from Apple's App Store for a stretch. It's renewed now and the app is live again: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fish-wrangler-the-original/id6502470347

If you still had it installed, it kept working the whole time. If it went greyed out, delete it and reinstall from the App Store now that the listing is back. Android was never affected.

Sorry for the outage and the confusion it caused, and thanks to everyone who flagged it on the forums. We're back. :)

August 2026

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• Post #1 Apple Pay is buyin again. In-app Red Love Chum purchases were dead since June 28th - an agreement on Apple's end lapsed and they pulled the packs off the shelf. I signed it back and they are live. Nobody was charged for a failed try.

First stickers are in the mail. I posted the first batch by hand and tucked a little somethin extra in the envelope for the early buyers.

https://fishwrangler.com/ship-store/bobber-surfer-sticker https://fishwrangler.com/ship-store/unlicensed-professional-sticker

• Post #2 Really trying to fix bugs last couple days.. improved the ship store a ton... i found my favorite full wrap mug image ever.. haha.. getting this asap.. just bought the hats.. we'll share photos soon.. and have the red shark tshirt for Kai and wore it on fishing trip.. :)

• Post #3 (screenshot)

• Post #4 Facebook Login is back - on the web and the Android app!

I rebuilt the Android app (v5.1) and wired Facebook Login back into it, workin native-style with the Facebook app on your phone. Google Sign-In works too. If your old account was hooked to Facebook, just tap "Login with Facebook" and you'll be reunited with your fish - no password needed. And when you log in, it now tells you exactly which account email you're on - the number one login mixup.

Grab the app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fishwranglr.app (the new version is rolling out on Google Play now - if the store still shows the old one, check back shortly)

Why now: Facebook is shuttin down web games, so playin at apps.facebook.com/fishwrangler goes away December 30, 2026. That's where this game started back in 2008, so it's a big one. The game itself ain't goin anywhere - https://fishwrangler.com is home now, and the mobile apps along with it. If you still play inside Facebook, set your bookmark to https://fishwrangler.com and log in there with Facebook or your FW email.

Also fixed while I was under the hood: - Log out in the app actually logs you out now - One banner ad at the bottom, not a stack of em

• Post #5 Bug Fixes

- The All Fish tally at https://fishwrangler.com/fish was roundin UP - 2,271 of 2,272 fish read as 100%. Earl called that optimism; the math now rounds DOWN, so 100% means every last fin. Same floor went into Mousso's Beach Hut tasks. - Tournament casts were shortin the big chum-droppin fish. The payout branch was rebuildin their score off the chum reward - a reward a tournament cast never even receives - instead of the points on the fish's own page, which for the new droppers worked out to a 90% pay cut. It now pays whichever is larger. I watched 1,000 wranglers land 9,495 fish after the fix to be sure: not one https://fishwrangler.com/fish/wizcurd paid short of its 4,305 again. - An empty tournament cast now SAYS when yer pole cannot reach a single fish in that town, and which town to go level in. The cast code always knew - it just kept it to itself while all 15 daily casts burned. - Night fishing payouts got sturdier. Every crew used to settle up inside one big ledger, so one crew's tangled net (a payout collidin with a wrangler castin at that exact second) rolled back EVERYBODY's overnight haul. Each crew keeps its own books now - a collision only holds that one crew till the next pass. - The https://fishwrangler.com/quest/circus-net?scrollto=q529#529 and https://fishwrangler.com/quest/revelation-rod?scrollto=q106#106 quest dishes got their pictures back - the kitchen was servin them off the retired /fishwrangler/ address. Same fix brought back fish pictures in the app's fish-caught popup and on old shared links.

Ship Store - Tidied the https://fishwrangler.com/ship-store - the item window drops gear straight into yer crate (checkout lives in the crate: one box, one shippin charge, however much gear), and every item finally has its story. Earl swears the rope on the rope cap is load-bearin. It is not. - First 10 wranglers to punch code EARLSCUT into the box on the payment page get $5 off any crate of $25 or more. That is half of Earl's cut, split with ye. Earl has been informed. He is takin it well.

• Post #6 The forums pay now - bein' helpful earns Free Love Chum!

Wranglers been helpin each other on these boards since '08 with nothin to show for it but goodwill. I fixed that today:

Named reactions - the old Like on forum posts is now Helpful, Funny, and Tight Lines. Pick the one ya mean; click it again to take it back. Old likes ain't lost - they show as a little (+N likes) tail on each post.

Helped me! - started a topic and somebody's reply saved yer bacon? Mark it Helped me! right on the reply (only the topic starter can grant it). The helper gets credit on their profile for good: helped N wranglers.

Top Helpers leaderboard - the forums front page now shows the month's top helpers beside the likes board, and the all-time board moved behind a toggle so the new month always gets its shot. https://fishwrangler.com/forum

Helper of the Week - every Sunday night the week's top helper gets crowned automatic and nets 100 Free Love Chum. The reignin champ wears a life ring by their name on every post til the next crownin.

Answer a question, mark the reply that helped ya, and be good to each other out there. Tight lines!

• Post #7 Bug Fixes

- Night fishing crews stranded by a quiet captain. If the captain could not sail, I was still postin the whole crew out on a trip that could never be tallied - marked out all night, no report, nothin to show for it. Now the boat stays ashore and puts the reason straight in the crew log, and any active member can take over as captain to keep the trips sailin. (reported in the forums: https://fishwrangler.com/forum/night_fishing?id=133993) - Boss catches count toward yer Mystery Crate again. The quest credit was gettin dropped on the way out the door. It sticks now. (reported in the forums: https://fishwrangler.com/forum/bugs?id=133988) - Auto night fishing leaves yer good chum be. It will never again spend chum ya cannot buy back. If the only match is earn-only stuff like Lucent, the Ancient Mariner leaves yer rig alone and tells ya why. (reported in the forums: https://fishwrangler.com/forum/bugs?id=133768)

New Stuff

- Battery Brine - Roboton finally has a chum of its own. The worms pickle jumbo batteries in a fizzin green brine down in the scrapyards, and it sells in all four Roboton towns for gold: https://fishwrangler.com/customize/chum?id=62 Auto night fishing reaches for that now instead of yer irreplaceable Lucent stash. Nobody asks what the little divin helmet is for. (asked for in the forums: https://fishwrangler.com/forum/bugs?id=133768)