Catching Fish
Catching fish
is a nice way to relax after a long day of crop'n and ranching. Wilbur will visit your farmhouse
on Spring 7 of year 1 to give you a beginner-level Fishing Rod. To use the pole, head to any
body of water and then use the tool towards the direction of the water. Then you wait for a bit. The
alert that appears indicates what you're reeling in:
- A red exclamation point (!): A fish, either small, medium, or large
- Some iridescent sparkles: Something non-fishy, such as a Medal, treasure, or recyclable item
- A red fish icon Whoooaa, you've snagged a whopper of a Guardian Fish!
To reel in the fish, use the directional controls to match the direction of the yellow arrows. If the arrow is pointing up, for example, press Up to match the direction. Each success will reduce the number of icons representing the fish's stamina on the side of the rod's power bar. Clear all the fish icons to pull up the snagged item.
Note: As of the 1.2.0 update (November 13, 2025), a successful yellow arrow hit while using an Orichalcum fishing pole will clear 2 fish stamina icons. The Ultimate fishing pole will clear 3 fish stamina icons per hit.
If you're having a problem not clearing the icons in time, upgrade your Fishing Rod. The upgrades to Copper, Copper+, and Silver are at the red windmill, the upgrade to Silver+,Gold, and Gold+ are at the blue windmill, and the highest level Orichalcum and Ultimate are at the yellow windmill.
If you need a bigger boost, purchase the Reel Power Technique from Felix's stall at the bazaar for 50,000 G. Once activated, a pop-up to press the Use button will randomly appear while reeling in a fish. When activated, the technique will reduce the number of fish stamina icons by 5.
You do not have to activate the Reel In action once you see see the
bite indicator if you aren't using bait. You can stand there and wait for the next indicator to see if something
better comes along. For example, if you're trying to catch a guardian fish, toss in your line
and then do nothing until you see the red fish icon pop up. I've had success using this
technique to concentrate on guardians and sparkly items, while ignoring the other fish. This has also
worked for fish that have an availability period (e.g., 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm). As long as your
line is in the water, there is a possibility that the fish will bite even after the time to catch
is no longer active.
If you are using fish bait, a bite trigger will use 1 bait.
Fish Bait
There are four types of bait: Small Fish Bait, Medium Fish Bait, Large Fish Bait, and Guardian Fish Bait. Using bait will lure the type of fish to your line until you run out of bait.
To equip fish bait, select it as your active item in the Item Bar and press the Attach Bait command that appears in the commands menu on the lower-right corner of the screen. Do the same thing to remove attached bait.
Bait will only be useful at attracting that type of fish if that fish is available at that location and during that season. For example, attaching Large Fish Bait to your fishing rod while fishing at the Mountain Bridge area during Summer will exclusively attract Basa, Nile Perch, and Yellow Perch. But, if you attached Guardian Bait and fished at the same location, you would catch normal items and other random fish because there are no Guardian Fish at that location during the Summer.
Avoid using bait if you're trying to catch recyclables (e.g., boots, bottles, etc.)
Bait can be crafted using the blue windmill. Fish Bait Stock is for sale at Miguel's town plaza shop for 70 G each.
- Small Fish Bait: Fish Bait Stock + 4 Weed
- Medium Fish Bait: 1 Fish Bait Stock + 4 Weed + 1 Rice
- Large Fish Bait: 1 Fish Bait Stock + 4 Weed + 1 Corn
- Guardian Bait: 1 Fish Bait Stock + 4 Weed + 1 Fish Bones
Manufacturing Guardian Bait requires the Purple Wonderstone inserted into the blue windmill.
You can also acquire Guardian Bait by exchanging 5 recyclables (bottles, cans, boots) at the Treasureland stall, which unlocks after reaching Rank 4 (City Bazaar). Note that Fish Bones are not part of the recyclables category.
Titles
Completing fish-related achievements will unlock angler-themed titles. These can be found in your farmer's Profile screen in the main menu. Once unlocked, Felix will send a reward to your mailbox.
Tools
- Caster: Hook something with your fishing rod 100 times. You don't have to successfully reel it in. Reward is 10 Medium Fish Bait.
- Fly Fisher: Hook something with your fishing rod 300 times. Reward is 10 Large Fish Bait.
- Fishing Rod Crafter: Upgrade your fishing rod (i.e., Fishing Rod > Copper Fishing Rod). Reward is 1 Copper (1-Star).
- Fishing Rod Forger: Upgrade your fishing rod 5 times (i.e., up to Gold Fishing Rod). Reward is 1 Gold (2-Star).
- Fishing Rod Architech Upgrade your fishing rod 8 times (i.e., up to Ultimate Fishing Rod)
Fishing
- Angler: Catch anything using your fishing rod 100 times. Reward is Fish Signboard small bazaar decor.
- Alluring Angler: Catch anything using your fishing rod 500 times. Reward is 10 Large Fish Bait.
- Fishing Fanatic: Catch 20 things during a single day. Reward is 10 Fish Bait Stock.
- Fish Enthusiast: Catch 10 different types of fish. Reward is 20 Fish Bait Stock.
- Ichthyologist: Catch 30 different types of fish. Reward is Light Fish Windsock bazaar decor
- Guardian Angler: Catch a Guardian Fish for the first time. Reward is 3 Guardian Bait.
- Legendary Angler: Catch all 8 types of Guardian Fish
- Golden Angler: Catch a fish of 5-Star quality
- Big-Catcher: Catch 3 types of fish at their maximum size. Reward is 5 Gold Medals.
Star Rank
Increasing star rank with the fish is possible by donating the aquatic creatures to Nature Sprite Finley. You'll find him "going with the flow" on the opposite bank from the yellow windmill, just south of your farm.
Before you can donate fish to Finley, your bazaar needs to be Rank 2 (Village Bazaar), you have received the Glider, and you've visited the Nature Sprite's house per their instructions.
At first, all fish have a Star Rank of 0.5. Raise the rank by giving caught fish to Finley. Every 4 donation levels will increase the Star Rank of the reeled-in fish by half a star. The higher your Quality Boost level, the more offerings it takes to reach the next level.
Fishing Spots
Different fish will appear based on the current season, weather, time of day, and location. There are eight fishing areas:
- Yellow Windmill: An area just to the south of your farm, including the waterfall above the area. Nature Sprite Finley hangs out in this space. The pond next to Mayor Felix's house is also in this area.
- Zephyr Town: This river is the largest area, starting from the west side fishing dock by Lloyd's house and ending at the bridge by the blue windmill.
- Gabriel's House: The area is east of the blue windmill bridge, with the pier attached to Gabriel's workshop, including the area with the jump barrel island.
- Equestrian Park: While there are two small ponds in the middle of the park, both spots contain the same fish.
- Bazaar: There is a small fishing pond in the northwest corner where the Nature Sprites set up their weekly Happy Energy shop.
- Mountain Bridge: The water that runs under the bridge when you first enter the mountainous area.
- Mountain Stream: This is the waterway that runs past the Mushroom Log area and past Arata's lean-to hut where he works out. The pond by Kagetsu's shrine is also included in this area.
- Mountain Hilltop: Lastly, this pond is at the top of the hill, along the path that leads to the mountain summit lookout point. There is an island in the middle you can double-jump to access, though it's all the same fish whether you cast from the island or from the shoreline.
Fish Encyclopedia
There are a total of 45 fish species to catch in Grand Bazaar. The larger the fish, the more it can sell for at the bazaar.
Small Fish
There are 17 small fish. These fish will have a green bag/border around their icon in the encyclopedia.
| Name | Rod Lvl | Season/ Weather | Location | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Pale Chub |
All | All Seasons All weather |
Equestrian Park Mountain Bridge Gabriel's House Zephyr Town |
42 G |
 Bluegill |
Copper | All Seasons Not Sunny |
Gabriel's House Zephyr Town |
90 G |
 Bitterling |
All | All Season All weather |
Mountain Hilltop | 54 G |
 Tamoroko |
All | Spring All weather |
Gabriel's House Yellow Windmill Zephyr Town |
60 G |
 Mugitsuku |
Silver | Spring All weather |
Bazaar Zephyr Town |
150 G |
 Dark Chub |
All | Spring Summer All weather |
Gabriel's House Yellow Windmill Zephyr Town |
50 G |
 Loach |
All | Spring Summer All weather |
Mountain Bridge Mountain Hilltop Mountain Stream |
66 G |
 Stone Moroko |
Copper | Spring Autumn Winter All weather |
Bazaar Equestrian Park Zephyr Town |
105 G |
 Amur Minnow |
All | Spring Autumn Winter Not Cloudy |
Mountain Bridge Mountain Hilltop Mountain Stream Yellow Windmill |
40 G |
 Goldfish |
Copper | Spring Winter All weather |
Gabriel's House Yellow Windmill |
122 G |
 Icefish |
Gold | Spring Winter All weather |
Bazaar Gabriel's House |
180 G |
 Sweetfish |
Copper | Summer Autumn All weather |
Mountain Bridge Mountain Hilltop Mountain Stream Yellow Windmill Zephyr Town |
120 G |
 Killifish |
Copper | Summer Autumn Sunny Cloudy |
Bazaar Mountain Bridge Gabriel's House |
102 G |
 Sculpin |
All | Summer Autumn Winter All weather |
Equestrian Park Mountain Hilltop Yellow Windmill Zephyr Town |
45 G |
 Dark Sleeper |
All | Autumn Winter All weather |
Bazaar Equestrian Park Zephyr Town |
70 G |
 Pond Smelt |
Copper | Winter All weather |
Gabriel's House Zephyr Town |
110 G |
 Willow Shiner |
Copper | Winter Not Sunny |
Mountain Hilltop | 96 G |
Medium Fish
There are 13 medium-sized fish. These guys will have a blue bag/border around their icon.
| Name | Rod Lvl | Season/ Weather | Location | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cherry Salmon |
Gold | Spring Summer All weather |
Yellow Windmill | 336 G |
 Brown Trout |
Silver | Spring Summer Autumn All weather |
Mountain Bridge Mountain Hilltop Mountain Stream |
265 G |
 Rainbow Trout |
All | Spring Summer Autumn All weather |
Mountain Stream Yellow Windmill |
120 G |
 Snakehead |
Gold | Spring Autumn Winter Sunny Cloudy |
Zephyr Town | 300 G |
 Dace |
All | All Seasons All weather |
Yellow Windmill Zephyr Town |
100 G |
 Crucian Carp |
Copper | Spring Summer Winter All weather |
Equestrian Park | 240 G |
 Masu Trout |
Gold | Spring Summer Rainy Stormy |
Bazaar Yellow Windmill |
310 G |
 Char |
Gold | Spring Summer Autumn Not Sunny |
Mountain Bridge Mountain Hilltop Mountain Stream Yellow Windmill |
330 G |
 Black Bass |
Silver | Spring Summer Winter Not Sunny |
Equestrian Park Mountain Bridge Mountain Hilltop Mountain Stream Yellow Windmill Zephyr Town |
280 G |
 Grayling |
Silver | Spring Summer Not Stormy Not Heavy Rain |
Mountain Bridge Mountain Hilltop Mountain Stream |
255 G |
 Three-Lips Carp |
Silver | Summer All weather |
Yellow Windmill Zephyr Town |
260 G |
 Eel |
Copper | Autumn Winter Not Sunny Not Cloudy |
Gabriel's House Zephyr Town |
180 G |
 Barbel Steed |
Silver | Autumn Winter Not Sunny Not Cloudy |
Gabriel's House Zephyr Town |
258 G |
Large Fish
There are 7 large-size fish with having a brown bag/border icon.
| Name | Rod Lvl | Season/ Weather | Location | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bighead Carp |
Silver | All Seasons All weather |
Bazaar Yellow Windmill Zephyr Town |
350 G |
 Silver Carp |
All | All Seasons All weather |
Mountain Stream Yellow Windmill Zephyr Town |
200 G |
 Basa |
All | All Seasons All weather |
Mountain Bridge | 250 G |
 Yellow Perch |
Gold | Summer Autumn All weather |
Mountain Bridge Mountain Hilltop Mountain Stream |
450 G |
 Nile Perch |
Silver | Summer Autumn All weather |
Mountain Bridge Mountain Hilltop Mountain Stream |
380 G |
 Salmon |
Gold | Autumn Winter All weather |
Mountain Hilltop | 460 G |
 Marbled Eel |
Copper+ | Autumn Winter Heavy Rain Stormy |
Zephyr Town | 360 G |
Guardian Fish
The last group has 8 total fish. Each has a yellow bag/border icon. Guardian Fish are not a one-time-only catch. These fish are simply uncommon, have a lot of fish reel icons, and require high-level equipment.
| Name | Rod Lvl | Season/ Weather | Location | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wels Catfish |
Orichalcum | Spring Any weather |
Mountain Bridge | 2500 G |
 Catfish |
Gold | Spring Summer Rainy Stormy |
Zephyr Town | 1600 G |
 Black Carp |
Gold | Spring Autumn Any weather |
Yellow Windmill Zephyr Town |
1680 G |
 Grass Carp |
Gold | Summer Autumn Any weather |
Gabriel's House Zephyr Town |
1720 G |
 Northern Pike |
Orichalcum | Autumn Any weather |
Gabriel's House | 2700 G |
 Shining Fish |
Orichalcum | Autumn Sunny weather No Wind |
Mountain Hilltop (12:00 pm to 5:00 pm only) |
3300 G |
 Peacock Bass |
Orichalcum | Winter Any weather |
Equestrian Park | 2200 G |
 Koi |
Gold | Winter Sunny Cloudy |
Yellow Windmill | 1500 G |