OK I see I need clarify this quickly.
Fishing:
1.) Mib's - sos's these take time and are not the only thing you get off a sea slug. They come in the Sea Serpent, Deep Sea Serpent. The latter is more tougher and has magery so dont write it off as easy to the beginner.
2.) Nets - Also on the Sea Serpents and Deep's. Green or colored.
3.) T maps - lvl 1 & 2's This might be a excelent way to get new small maps for the new areas. Also onthe Sea Serpents and Deep's.
4.) Scales, leather off the Sea Serpents and Deep's.
5.) Fish of weight can be caught while fishing Great for that home deco and can have the anglers name on it.
6.) Kracken - this is gotten if you toss in a green net(colored nets too but I dare say I wouldnt not toss one worth more to me for other venues).
7.) Leviathan -White nets - The only way to get the higher teir arties, Sea horse, anchor etc..
On the SoS's that you fish up the Level of the Chests are 1 ,2 ,3 and are very much simular to the t hunter's chests of the same lvl but do have the chance of containing a Net.
Fighting can be done ether by warrior,mage or archer,and I have even seen dragons used to fight off the Sea Serpents, and Deep Sea Serpents, along with the occasional Water Ele.
I could see them adding a rotation of creatures when the sos's are fished up. As it sits now when you fish up the chest your chancs of pulling up a Deep Sea Serpent is 50-50. So adding in perhaps a Squid, Whale, Octopuss, Leviathan, Kracken withthe chest might be good change and add a bit of spice. Though I wouldnt mind it being a rare change as I do love the relaxing fishing trips.
The Loot Table on the chests is what needs revamping, dont get me wrong I adore the scrolls, gems, regs that add to my stores at home. I do imbue the junk for the ingredents but as for getting anything usefull out of the chest IE: armor or weapon?? No. Yes you can get once in a while a good LRC piece (most times it's a piece of jewelry) The higher the lvl chest the mroe that is in it and the better the chances for something worth wile.
I have been fishing fron the time of Beta - infact its how I got hooked * into UO
It is peacefull and restfull outside of the small fights with the Slugs and I relish it greatly.
My mib/sos collection on Origin is a whole castle full and I still collect them when I see them sold in Luna vendors.
Oh before I forget one point I need to clarify you can recall to your boat off the key on all shards but Siege and Mugen, there you need to have the boat next to land to board it.
We use to be able to gate off the key too but that was eliminated by an early dev team for issues unknown to me.
Cal_Mythic if you need help in ideas just ask the fishers of our waters. We dont require much upkeep and we greatly enjoy fishing.