For the scientist or the fishing thing, do we have to have generations,  ambitions, or any other ep besides pets???

Hey I have sims 3 and  sims 3 late night exspansion pack can I do that mermaid catching ocean fishing skill and scientest thing???? I just love mermaids and I'm just wondering

Look out for mermaids in the sea or have a high fishing skill and catch one, then release it you may be lucky because this happened to my sim. Another thing befriend or be a scientist and create a potion I aint lying this does work! LOL Lil1

Get higher fishing skill points to have a better chance of hooking a mermaid.