Fishing Strategy

Prime Locations

The quality of fish rises the farther the line is cast from any walk-able area. In addition to the following spots, its generally known that darker parts of the water or water with a log in it (the Mines Lake, Cindersap forest lake) tend to produce quality fish. For example: in the river in the southwest part of Pelican town, you can hit the dark water area and come up with gold fish most if not all of the time.

Examples of prime locations:

The southern tip of the island near the hat shop in the forest, and from the northern shore, just at the top of the angle on the right of the bridge to the right.

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The southern tip of the second island in the mountain lake, also accessible from just below the big broken bridge on the right.

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The eastern pier in the ocean. (past the bridge that you repair), casting both down and left from the left of the end section.

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In the middle of the river mouth triangle, in the darkest blue. Cast at an angle from either side.

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From the westernmost pier, casting into or just below the rock.

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Below and six tiles to the left of Leah's door.

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At the south-western edge of the fence past Robin's house.

Directly below the path on the right of Jodi's house.

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Some of these locations are also the exact locations for the legendary fish.

Time and Locations

According to the game file, a fishing spot is not divided by ocean, lake and river, but by the maps. For instance, the river south of Leah's house is not the same as the river in town.

Note that special fish are not included in the below tables. These special fish are the 5 Legendary fish and the 4 Mine fish.

The following tables are based off the Locations.yaml file:

Pelican Town

	Time
Spring	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Sunfish	Sunny day only
Catfish	Rainy day only
Green Algae
Smallmouth Bass
Shad				Rainy day only
Bream
Summer	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Rainbow Trout	Sunny day only
Sunfish	Sunny day only
Green Algae
Pike
Shad				Rainy day only
Bream
Fall	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Salmon
Tiger Trout
Catfish	Rainy day only
Green Algae
Smallmouth Bass
Shad				Rainy day only
Walleye							Rainy day only
Bream
Winter	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Tiger Trout
Green Algae
Lingcod
Perch
Pike
Bream

The Beach

	Time
Spring	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Sardine
Flounder
Anchovy
Herring
Seaweed
Halibut
Eel											Rainy day only
Summer	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Octopus
Tilapia
Red Mullet
Red Snapper	Rainy day only
Tuna
Flounder
Seaweed
Halibut
Pufferfish							Sunny day only
Super Cucumber
Fall	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Tilapia
Red Snapper	Rainy day only
Sardine
Sea Cucumber
Anchovy
Seaweed
Albacore
Eel											Rainy day only
Super Cucumber
Winter	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Red Mullet
Sardine
Sea Cucumber
Tuna
Herring
Red Snapper	Rainy day only
Seaweed
Albacore
Halibut
Squid

Cindersap Forest

Note that there are two fishing spots in the forest, the pond in the middle and the river to the south.

		Time
Spring		6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Sunfish	River	Sunny day only
Catfish	River	Rainy day only
Chub	River
Green Algae	Both
Smallmouth Bass	Pond
Shad	River				Rainy day only
Bream	River
Summer		6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Dorado	River
Rainbow Trout	River	Sunny day only
Sunfish	River	Sunny day only
Chub	River
Green Algae	Both
Pike	Both
Shad	River				Rainy day only
Bream	River
Fall		6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Salmon	River
Tiger Trout	River
Catfish	River	Rainy day only
Chub	River
Midnight Carp	Pond
Green Algae	Both
Smallmouth Bass	Pond
Shad	River				Rainy day only
Walleye	Both							Rainy day only
Bream	River
Winter		6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Tiger Trout	River
Chub	River
Midnight Carp	Pond
Green Algae	Both
Lingcod	River
Perch	Both
Pike	Both
Bream	River

The Mountain

Note that this refers to the lake outside of The Mines.

	Time
Spring	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Largemouth Bass
Bullhead
Carp
Chub
Green Algae
Summer	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Largemouth Bass
Rainbow Trout	Sunny day only
Sturgeon
Bullhead
Carp
Chub
Green Algae
Fall	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Largemouth Bass
Bullhead
Carp
Chub
Green Algae
Walleye							Rainy day only
Midnight Carp
Winter	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Largemouth Bass
Sturgeon
Bullhead
Chub
Green Algae
Lingcod
Perch
Midnight Carp

Secret Locations

Underground Mine

		Time
All		6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Ghostfish	Floors 20, 60
Stonefish	Floor 20
Green Algae	All
White Algae	All
Ice Pip	Floor 60
Lava Eel	Floor 100

Desert

	Time
All	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Sandfish
Scorpion Carp
Green Algae

Woods

Also known as the Secret Woods, northwest of Cindersap Forest. (Note Catfish can't be found here in winter)

	Time
All	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1
Carp
Woodskip
Catfish	Rainy day only

Sewers

The Sewers are an easy and productive fishing location, especially to level up the fishing skill or farm treasure. Carp is the least difficult fish to catch in the game and it is the only fish in the sewers (except for a single Legendary Fish, the Mutant Carp). Therefore, every cast of the line results in either an immediate item reward or a quick Carp catch. This makes the Sewers an ideal place to fish for treasure since Carp are unlikely to escape. Since carp and algae are the only possible non-treasure catches, your inventory will not become clogged with other fish, unlike at locations with more diverse fish stocks.