Fishing
- For a list of fish and their locations, see the Fish page.
- For an index to the completed fish collection, see Collections.
- For the guide to catch all fish, see Fishing Strategy.
- See also: Tackle, Bait
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Fishing is a skill associated with catching fish, using a fishing rod or crab pots.
A fishing rod is used to cast a fishing line into a body of water. To cast, start by holding down the left mouse button. A meter appears, indicating how far the line will go. Release to cast. You can cast further with a higher skill level and better fishing rods. It is possible to slightly alter the line's placement mid-cast with the arrow keys or WASD, allowing you better control over aiming the cast. The distance your bobber lands away from any dry land determines what kinds of fish you'll hook.
Sometimes a pool of bubbles appears in the water. Cast into these pools to get a quicker bite. You will know you cast correctly when the pool starts to sparkle. When a fish bites, the game displays "HIT!" and gives a metallic sound cue. Click the left mouse button to start the mini-game.
The mini-game display consists of two larger rectangles: a blue water-depth indicator at the left and a progress bar at the right. There is a smaller, movable green rectangle inside the depth meter that indicates the area of effect for your fishing line. The goal of the fishing mini-game is to keep the small fish icon within the green rectangle until the progress bar to the right is completely filled. If the fish's icon moves above or below the green rectangle, the progress bar decreases; the fish escapes if it dwindles to nothing. The game declares a "perfect" catch when the fish never leaves the green rectangle.
You can slowly raise the green rectangle by rapidly clicking the left mouse button. Slower clicking holds the green in place when it is not on the bottom. Stopping the clicking allows it to descend. Hold the left mouse button to raise it at increasing speed. Be careful moving it, though, for it gathers momentum quickly and takes time to reverse, making it easy to overshoot the fish and drain the progress bar.
The green rectangle increases in size with higher fishing skill level and better fishing rods. The erratic movement of fish also decreases with higher fishing skill level and better fishing rods, improving your control by means of gentler motions of the rectangle.
It can be useful to keep the fish near the top of the rectangle area, as clicking to raise it produces instant response, but you need to become inactive to get it to drop, which means a slight delay.
Xbox Controls
When using an Xbox controller, first equip your fishing rod. Tap and hold the button and release when you are ready to cast your line. Once your line is cast, immediately tap and hold the
button again. Once you're alerted that something has bit (an ! icon pops up with a sound effect) then release the X button to load the mini-game. Tap/hold/release or quickly tap the
button to play the mini-game.
Fishing Rods
Used to catch fish.
Image | Name | Cost | Improvements | Location | Requirements |
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Bamboo Pole | ![]() |
Given to you by Willy Buy from Willy's Fish Shop |
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Fiberglass Rod | ![]() |
Able to use bait. | Buy from Willy's Fish Shop | ![]() (You receive a letter the day after it becomes available) | |
Iridium Rod | ![]() |
Able to use bait & tackle. | Buy from Willy's Fish Shop | ![]() (You receive a letter the day after it becomes available) |
Fishing Skill
Fishing Skill is increased by catching Fish or Trash with a Fishing Rod/Pole or by harvesting Crab Pots.
Each level grants +1 Fishing Rod Proficiency, increases the minimum fish size (in/cm) and bobber bar height, and decreases the max amount of time before fish bite. Fishing skill also increases the chance to find quality (silver or gold star) fish.
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | |
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Crafting Recipes: | Crafting Recipes: | Crafting / Cooking Recipes: | Crafting Recipes: | Choose a Profession: | |
Casting distance increased by one tile | ![]()
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Level 6 | Level 7 | Level 8 | Level 9 | Level 10 | |
Crafting Recipes: | Crafting Recipes: | Crafting Recipes: | Crafting / Cooking Recipes: | Fisher: | Trapper: |
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Experience Points
The amount of experience earned for each caught fish is as follows:
(Quality of fish (stars) + 1) * 3 + (Fish Difficulty (a value from 5-110 depending on the fish) / 3)
This number is multiplied by 2.2 if you also have a treasure, 2.4 if it was perfect and 5 if it was a Legendary fish. For example, a regular quality sardine (difficulty 30) would net you (0+1)*3 + (30/3) = 13 xp.
Crab pots net you 5 xp each time you collect from them (no matter what is collected).
Fishing trash with the fishing pole gives 3 xp. Algae and seaweed also give 3 xp.
The xp required for leveling up is the same as for all skills:
Lvl | Total Experience |
Total Sardines (No stars) |
Total Gold Star Legend Fish (Highest xp fish) |
Total Crab Pot |
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1 | 100 | 8 | 1 | 20* |
2 | 380 | 30 | 2 | 76 |
3 | 770 | 60 | 4 | 154 |
4 | 1300 | 100 | 6 | 260 |
5 | 2150 | 166 | 10 | 430 |
6 | 3300 | 254 | 15 | 660 |
7 | 4800 | 370 | 22 | 960 |
8 | 6900 | 531 | 31 | 1380 |
9 | 10000 | 770 | 44 | 2000 |
10 | 15000 | 1154 | 66 | 3000 |
*Note: The first level of fishing cannot normally be completed with crab pots, because the player does not have access to bait until level 2. If, however, the player befriends Linus, his four heart cutscene will give the recipe for Wild Bait, which can be used to bait crab pots at any Fishing Skill level.
In addition, three crab pots can be earned at any Fishing Level by completing the Crab Pot Bundle in the Fish Tank. Completing the bundle without playing the fishing mini-game (or using crab pots) requires 4 fish foraged from the beach and 1 crab obtained by killing crabs in the mines.
Food
Certain cooked dishes will temporarily increase fishing level.
Image | Name | Description | Ingredients | Energy / Health | Buff(s) | Buff Duration | Recipe Source(s) | Sell Price | |||
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Chowder | A perfect way to warm yourself after a cold night at sea. | ![]() ![]() |
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Dish O' The Sea | This'll keep you warm in the cold sea air. | ![]() ![]() |
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Escargot | Butter-soaked snails cooked to perfection. | ![]() ![]() |
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Fish Stew | It smells a lot like the sea. Tastes better, though. | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Fish Taco | It smells delicious. | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Lobster Bisque | This delicate soup is a secret family recipe of Willy's. | ![]() ![]() |
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Maple Bar | It's a sweet doughnut topped with a rich maple glaze. | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Trout Soup | Pretty salty. | ![]() ![]() |
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Treasure Chests
During the fishing mini-game, a treasure chest will occasionally appear inside the vertical bar. Treasure chests have their own progression bar, fillable by keeping the green bobber bar behind the treasure chest icon . If obtained, the player is awarded a random bonus loot after catching the fish. Losing the fish also loses the treasure chest.
The base chance of finding a chest is 15%. The probability can be increased with the Magnet (+15%), the Treasure Hunter (+5%) and the Pirate profession (+15%) for a total of a 45% chance with the Magnet and Pirate profession. It is further increased by daily Luck (+Luck/2).
The following is a list of all items that can be found inside Treasure Chests.
Item | Number in Chest | Fishing Level Required | Other Requirements |
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1 | 2+ | |
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1-2 | Must cast Max Distance | |
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1-24 | Must cast Max Distance or one tile less than Max Distance | |
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1-24 | ||
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1-24 | ||
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1-24 | ||
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1-24 | ||
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1-24 | ||
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1 | 6+ | Must cast Max Distance or one tile less than Max Distance |
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1-15 | ||
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1 | Only if you've already found 1+ Lost Books, and the Museum's Library collection is not complete | |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1-2 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts |
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1 | 2+ | |
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1 | 2+ | |
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1-6 | ||
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1-6 | ||
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1-6 | Must cast Max Distance or one tile less than Max Distance | |
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1-4 | 2+ | Must cast Max Distance or one tile less than Max Distance |
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1-4 | 2+ | Must cast Max Distance or one tile less than Max Distance |
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1-4 | 2+ | Must cast Max Distance or one tile less than Max Distance |
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1-4 | 2+ | |
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1-4 | 2+ | |
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1-4 | 2+ | |
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1-4 | 2+ | |
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1-4 | 2+ | |
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1-4 | 2+ | |
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1-2 | 2+ | |
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1 | 6+ | |
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1-3 | ||
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1 | 2+ | |
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1 | 2+ | |
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1 | 2+ | |
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1 | 2+ | |
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1 | 2+ | |
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1 | 2+ | |
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1 | 2+ | |
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1 | 2+ | |
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1 | 2+ | |
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1 | 2+ | |
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1 | 2+ | |
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1 pair | 2+ | |
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1 pair | 2+ | |
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1 pair | 2+ | |
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1 pair | 2+ | |
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1 pair | 2+ | |
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1 pair | 2+ | |
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1 pair | 2+ | |
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1 pair | 2+ | |
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1 pair | 2+ | |
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1 pair | 2+ |
Achievements
There are 4 Achievements related to Fishing. Note that catching Green Algae, White Algae, or Seaweed counts towards these achievements.
- Fisherman (Catch 10 different fish)
- Ol' Mariner (Catch 24 different fish)
- Master Angler (Catch every fish)
- Mother Catch (Catch 100 fish)
Exploit
You can pause time while fishing by clicking on the journal icon. Fish will still bite while the journal is displayed; simply click on the screen (outside the journal) when a fish bites to close the journal and begin reeling the fish in. This exploit does not work by hitting the "F" key.
Note that pausing time in this way also pauses the countdown timer of fishing buffs gained from eating food.
Skills & Stats | |
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Skills | Farming • Mining • Foraging • Fishing • Combat |
Stats | Attack • Crit. Chance • Crit. Power • Defense • Immunity • Luck • Magnetism • Speed • Weight |