Overview
If you have a fishing pole equipped, you will get special noncombat encounters (or special options in choice encounters) in certain zones that yield fish, treasure and miscellaneous objects.
Fishing Equipment and Modifiers
You must have a fishing pole equipped in order to fish.
Various stats affect fishing, in addition to your fishing skill:
Modifer | Yield | Deep | Surface | Fish | Objects | |
Weapons | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
new fishing pole | 2 | |||||
old composite rod | 1 | |||||
heavy fishing pole | 1 | |||||
Offhand Items | ||||||
anniversary pocket mirror (with any fishing pole equipped) | 2 | |||||
inky sapphire | 2 | |||||
detached fish charm | 1 | |||||
sea sapphire | 1 | 1 | ||||
water sapphire | 1 | |||||
Gadgets | ||||||
PDA w/Extreme Bass Player | 2 | |||||
PDA w/Extreme Bass XIII Player | 2 | |||||
Extreme Tackle Box | 1 | |||||
Effects | ||||||
Fish Empathy | 2 | |||||
Ocean Voice | 1 | |||||
Effects (Lines) | ||||||
High Test | 1 | 1 | ||||
Silk Line | 1 | 1 | ||||
Extended Line | -1 | 2 | ||||
Effects (Lures) | ||||||
Floating Lure | 1 | 2 | ||||
Reinforced Hook | 1 | 2 | ||||
Sinking Lure | 1 | 2 | ||||
Swimming Worm Bait | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
Tempting Hook | 1 | 2 | ||||
Jagged Hook | -1 | 1 | ||||
Toxic Worm | 1 | 1 | ||||
Training Hook2 | -2 |
You may only have one lures and fishing lines active at a time.
Mechanics
WARNING - Most of this is speculation! This stuff is mysterious! There was a bug fix on 6 May 2019 which may also have changed things.
- Most fishing encounters are noncombat encounters, so chance of noncombat encounters will help you find opportunities to fish more frequently. (Some exceptions, like fishing in the Primeval Pit in Oldtown are from choice encounters.)
- Each catch is flagged with one more more attributes, e.g. "fish" or "deep object".* A given fishing noncombat has a base mix of possible catches* For each level of increase to the chance of getting a given type of catch, one extra chance for getting a catch of that type gets added to the pool. So if you've got a slight increase to deep fishing and a slight increase to the chance of fishing up objects, two extra copies of each deep object would get put into the pool.
- Chance of Surface Fishing seems to cancel out Chance of Deep Fishing
- Your fishing modifier, in addition to your base fishing skill (beginner, solid, professional, etc.) likely influences the quality of your catches, while fishing yield likely influences quantity.
- After some fishing encounters, you receive a message about getting better at fishing. This indicates that your Fishing Skill is improving. This is not fully understood. There is some evidence that fishing encounters that give more XP for deep fishing are also more challenging and hence more rewarding for your Fishing Skill.
WARNING OVER
Fishing Spots and Catches
Note: Some areas have special fishing encounters that will only occur if the effect High Test is active.
In addition High Test fishing encounters tend to give strength XP:2 XP at the Docks, 3 XP at Tainted Shoreline, 4 XP at Massive Oil Slick, or 5 XP at Ghost Ship.
Dockside Sewers
Encounter: And They'd Be Right | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifiers | ||||
Possible Catches1 | Fish | Object | Surface | Deep |
lake bluegill | Y | - | ? | ? |
eyeless eel2 | Y | - | ? | ? |
brass knuckles | - | Y | ? | ? |
crude ganger map | - | Y | ? | ? |
dirty old trenchcoat | - | Y | ? | ? |
disgusting paper | - | Y | ? | ? |
filthy pistol | - | Y | ? | ? |
frayed cable | - | Y | ? | ? |
glimmering crystal chip2 | - | Y | ? | ? |
headless doll | - | Y | ? | ? |
lead pipe | - | Y | ? | ? |
old kitchen knife | - | Y | ? | ? |
riot baton | - | Y | ? | ? |
smelly old pants | - | Y | ? | ? |
soaked newspaper | - | Y | ? | ? |
wriggling worm | - | Y | ? | ? |
High Test Results | ||||
Area Bonus of 2 Strength XP | ||||
crumbling masonry | Gives 4 Strength XP. (Double the area bonus.) | |||
manhole cover | Gives 4 Strength XP. (Double the area bonus.) | |||
Fight a rat king | Gives standard Sewers drops. (Requires Etheric.) |
Area Notes: | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 Without a line effect active you will sometimes receive filthy fishing line in addition to your catch. | ||||
2 Both the eyeless eel and glimmering crystal chip will only occur while you are Etheric. |
Waterfront
Encounter: Docks Fishing | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifiers | ||||
Possible Catches | Fish | Object | Surface | Deep |
bait bluegill | Y | - | ? | ? |
dock pike | Y | - | ? | ? |
lake bluegill | Y | - | ? | ? |
empty can | - | Y | ? | ? |
filthy pistol | - | Y | ? | ? |
high test fishing line | - | Y | ? | ? |
kid's flippers | - | Y | ? | ? |
knit cap | - | Y | ? | ? |
pitted thermos | - | Y | ? | ? |
smelly old pants | - | Y | ? | ? |
soaked newspaper | - | Y | ? | ? |
waterlogged PDA | - | Y | ? | ? |
old composite rod1 | - | Y | - | - |
giant pike2 | Y | - | ? | ? |
mud eel2 | Y | - | ? | ? |
High Test Results | ||||
Area Bonus of 2 Strength XP | ||||
lakebottom rock | Chance of receiving 2-3 fresh mollusk. | |||
waterlogged crate | Chance of receiving 2-3 fresh mollusk. | |||
Fight a lake serpent | Drops can include coin fish, 1 High Test result, and regular fishing results. (May require Etheric, High Test, and your daily coin flip.) |
Area Notes: | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 Can only be received once per reset. Does not count toward your fishing yield limit. | ||||
2 Can occur on the fishing trip after flipping an unearthly coin while at the Waterfront. This can only be done once per day. |
Encounter: Hidden Fishing Spot1 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifiers | ||||
Possible Catches | Fish | Object | Surface | Deep |
dock pike | Y | - | ? | ? |
lake bluegill | Y | - | ? | ? |
empty can | - | Y | ? | ? |
filthy pistol | - | Y | ? | ? |
high test fishing line2,3 | - | Y | ? | ? |
kid's flippers | - | Y | ? | ? |
knit cap | - | Y | ? | ? |
pitted thermos | - | Y | ? | ? |
smelly old pants | - | Y | ? | ? |
soaked newspaper | - | Y | ? | ? |
waterlogged PDA | - | Y | ? | ? |
lost hook2,3 | - | Y | - | - |
new fishing pole2 | - | Y | - | - |
High Test Results | ||||
Area Bonus of 2 Strength XP | ||||
lakebottom rock | Chance of receiving 2-3 fresh mollusk. | |||
waterlogged crate | Chance of receiving 2-3 fresh mollusk. |
Area Notes: | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 While there appears to be a greater chance of receiving fish they are not guaranteed. | ||||
2 You may receive 1 of the following each fishing trip: new fishing pole, lost hook, or high test fishing line | ||||
3 It is possible you may receive both a lost hook and high test fishing line on the same trip. |
Tainted Shoreline
Encounter: Shoreline Fishing | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifiers | ||||
Possible Catches | Fish | Object | Surface | Deep |
lake bluegill | Y | - | ? | ? |
lake perch | Y | - | ? | ? |
lake squid | Y | - | ? | ? |
damp seaweed | - | Y | ? | ? |
empty can | - | Y | ? | ? |
partially digested fish | - | Y | ? | ? |
waterlogged shirt | - | Y | ? | ? |
withered tendrils | - | Y | ? | ? |
High Test Results | ||||
Area Bonus of 3 Strength XP | ||||
lakebottom rock | Chance of receiving 2-3 fresh mollusk. | |||
Fight a terrible serpent | Receive a scarred fishing pole or high test fishing line in addition to its normal drops. (Requires Etheric.) |
Encounter: Wrinkled Fisherman | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifiers | ||||
Possible Catches | Fish | Object | Surface | Deep |
??? | ||||
High Test Results | ||||
Area Bonus of ? Strength XP |
Encounter: Massive Oil Slick (Where the corpse was.) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifiers | ||||
Possible Catches | Fish | Object | Surface | Deep |
freshwater eel | Y | - | ? | ? |
lake bluegill | Y | - | ? | ? |
lake perch | Y | - | ? | ? |
lake squid | Y | - | ? | ? |
damp seaweed | - | Y | ? | ? |
empty can | - | Y | ? | ? |
partially digested fish | - | Y | ? | ? |
petrol sludge | - | Y | ? | ? |
silverware remnants | - | Y | ? | ? |
waterlogged shorts | - | Y | ? | ? |
withered tendrils | - | Y | ? | ? |
High Test Results | ||||
Area Bonus of 4 Strength XP | ||||
ancient treasure chest | Chance of receiving 2-3 fresh mollusk. | |||
Fight a living sludge | Receive 3-5 lake squid in addition to its normal drops. |
|||
Fight a terrible serpent | Receive a scarred fishing pole or high test fishing line in addition to its normal drops. |
Encounter: Massive Oil Slick (Where the Ghost Ship was.) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifiers | ||||
Possible Catches | Fish | Object | Surface | Deep |
freshwater eel | Y | - | ? | ? |
lake bluegill | Y | - | ? | ? |
lake perch | Y | - | ? | ? |
lake squid | Y | - | ? | ? |
damp seaweed | - | Y | ? | ? |
empty can | - | Y | ? | ? |
partially digested fish | - | Y | ? | ? |
petrol sludge | - | Y | ? | ? |
silverware remnants | - | Y | ? | ? |
waterlogged shorts | - | Y | ? | ? |
withered tendrils | - | Y | ? | ? |
High Test Results | ||||
Area Bonus of 4 Strength XP | ||||
ancient treasure chest | Chance of receiving 2-3 fresh mollusk. | |||
Fight a living sludge | Receive 3-5 lake squid in addition to its normal drops. |
|||
Fight a terrible serpent | Receive a scarred fishing pole or high test fishing line in addition to its normal drops. |
Ghost Ship
Encounter: Ghost Ship Fishing | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifiers | ||||
Possible Catches | Fish | Object | Surface | Deep |
skullfish | Y | - | ? | ? |
damp seaweed | - | Y | ? | ? |
lake pearl | - | Y | ? | ? |
partially digested fish | - | Y | ? | ? |
silverware remnants | - | Y | ? | ? |
waterlogged sack | - | Y | ? | ? |
withered tendrils | - | Y | ? | ? |
High Test Results | ||||
Area Bonus of 5 Strength XP | ||||
ancient treasure chest | Chance of receiving 2-3 fresh mollusk. | |||
heavy fishing pole | ||||
3-4 waterlogged sacks | ||||
Fight a terrible serpent | Receive a scarred fishing pole or high test fishing line in addition to its normal drops. |
Construction Site
Encounter: Primeval Pit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifiers | ||||
Possible Catches | Fish | Object | Surface | Deep |
bait bluegill | Y | - | ? | ? |
puddle fish | Y | - | ? | ? |
battered hammer | - | Y | ? | ? |
construction mushroom | - | Y | ? | ? |
frayed cable | - | Y | ? | ? |
hefty wrench | - | Y | ? | ? |
lead pipe | - | Y | ? | ? |
OmniTech hardhat | - | Y | ? | ? |
soaked newspaper | - | Y | ? | ? |
High Test Results | ||||
Area Bonus of 3 Strength XP | ||||
filled toolbox |
Parking Garage
Encounter: Mushroom Forest Of The Garage | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifiers | ||||
Possible Catches | Fish | Object | Surface | Deep |
deactivated ID | ? | ? | ? | ? |
fountain trout | ? | ? | ? | ? |
mop | ? | ? | ? | ? |
soaked newspaper | ? | ? | ? | ? |
washed coins | ? | ? | ? | ? |
water worm | ? | ? | ? | ? |
wormeaten mushroom | ? | ? | ? | ? |
High Test Results | ||||
Area Bonus of 5 Strength XP | ||||
fused clay | Chance of receiving 2-3 washed coins. |
Using Metallic Oil on the Waterfront or Tainted Shoreline
Encounter: Oily Lake Exploration (Head out fishing.) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifiers | ||||
Possible Catches | Fish | Object | Surface | Deep |
lake bluegill | Y | - | ? | ? |
lake perch | Y | - | ? | ? |
lake squid | Y | - | ? | ? |
silver darter | Y | - | ? | ? |
damp seaweed | - | Y | ? | ? |
empty can | - | Y | ? | ? |
partially digested fish | - | Y | ? | ? |
waterlogged shirt | - | Y | ? | ? |
withered tendrils | - | Y | ? | ? |
High Test Results | ||||
Area Bonus of 2 Strength XP | ||||
chunk of a sunken boat | Receive 2-3 polysteel, 1-2 damp seaweed, and 1-3 fresh mollusk |
Scuffed mining helmet
Encounter: Flooded Mine Shaft | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifiers | ||||
Possible Catches | Fish | Object | Surface | Deep |
fungal tendrils | ? | ? | ? | ? |
eyeless fish | Y? | - | ? | ? |
cave salamander | ? | ? | ? | ? |
High Test Results | ||||
Area Bonus of 4 or 5 Strength XP? | ||||
rock | 5 XP? | |||
manhole | manhole cover, 4 XP? |