My main issue is the core of the gameplay loop, RNG on top of RNG, on top of RNG. To me, that's not fun, it's tedious. And if it's not fun, what's the point?

Have to have the right bait (which does nothing but bloat the inventory)

The right timeframe (which might not be conducive to your RL schedule)

The right weather (which combined with the above makes for some sh!tty windows)

RNG on the catch

RNG on the inevitable mooch

Compounded on more RNG if it's a mooch chain which most of the higher level fish are.

My stupid simple solution would be to make the fisher off hand a tackle box that functions as your bait (i.e. remove bait completely) so you don't have to manually select one every single fish.

Personal gripe: The fact we haven't gotten a new ilvl gig since lvl 60. Last expansion's Gatherer Relic would have been the perfect time to introduce it. Same with this expansion.