You have the fishing rod from the start of the open world: hold L2/LT to aim, R2/RT to cast and reel. The best spots are in the Scarlet Forest, Kanya at the Base Camp pond hands out the fishing quests, and her first one unlocks Mizutsune at HR 21.
Every hunter needs a break from getting flattened by Rey Dau, and the Forbidden Lands are full of water. Fishing in Wilds is relaxed, surprisingly deep, and actually useful: it pays Guild Points, gives you materials, and one quick catch is the key to unlocking Mizutsune.
Getting the rod
No quest needed. The fishing rod is a fixed item you have from the start of the open world. Equip it from your item bar or radial menu, walk up to some water, and you’re fishing.
The person to know is Kanya, the fishing enthusiast standing by the small pond at the Scarlet Forest Base Camp. She gives out a chain of fishing side missions.
How fishing works
- Hold L2 / LT to aim.
- Press R2 / RT to cast.
- Steer the lure with the left stick. Fish react to how you move it.
- When a fish bites (the controller vibrates too), press R2 / RT to reel in.
Don’t cast right on top of a fish, it spooks them. Drop the lure nearby and jig it over. Keep clear of rocks and debris as well, they can cost you the catch.
With the rod out you can swap lures. Different fish like different lures, and you unlock more through Kanya’s missions and the story.
Whoppers
A Whopper isn’t a species, it’s any fish big enough to start a second reeling phase. When that kicks in, follow the fish’s movements left and right, press R2 to hold it down when it jumps, and once it tires out, reel fast with up and down stick motions. Gastronome Tuna, Goliath Squid, Gajau and Swordfish all count.
Fish worth knowing
| Fish | Where and how |
|---|---|
| Goldenfish | Scarlet Forest, Area 8 Underground Lake (a cave behind a waterfall). Use the Golden Bughead lure. |
| Platinumfish | Same Underground Lake. |
| Grand Escunite | Rare, shiny-shelled and tentacled. Caught with the Tentacle Jig at the Underground Lake, or at Area 17 at night. |
| Gravid Bowfin | A quest fish, caught with the Emerald Jitterbait. |
| Gastronome Tuna | The easiest Whopper to farm. Area 17 Great Lake, in the Morning during Plenty. |
| Goliath Squid | A Whopper at Area 17 at night. |
Wrong time or weather for the fish you want? From High Rank you can rest at a tent to change both. See how to change weather and time. You can also put up a Pop-up Camp inside the Underground Lake cave.
One more trick: the Capture Net catches fish too. Net the unwanted fish crowding around your target so they stop stealing your lure.
Kanya’s fishing missions
- Fishing: Life, in Microcosm. Catch any fish.
- Seeking the Goldenfish. Catch a Goldenfish.
- The Gravid Bowfin mission. Bring the Emerald Jitterbait.
- The Catch of a Lifetime! Land a Whopper at Area 17. Kanya supplies the bait.
- Razzle Dazzle. Catch a Grand Escunite with the Tentacle Jig.
The missions pay Guild Points and fish materials: The Catch of a Lifetime! pays 200 Guild Points and Razzle Dazzle pays 300. More ways to earn are in our zenny and Guild Points guide.
The Mizutsune connection
This is the big one. Mizutsune arrived in Title Update 1, and to unlock it you need HR 21 and Kanya’s first fishing mission done. Kanya then gives you the Mizutsune mission herself at the Scarlet Forest Base Camp. Five minutes with a rod, one new monster.
Fishing trophies
| Trophy | How |
|---|---|
| Angling for a Bite | Catch your first fish. |
| Monster (Squid) Hunter | Catch a giant squid. |
| A-fish-ionado | Reel in 30 Whoppers in total. |
Title Update 2 added a limited bounty type, Research Help: Fishing, and new ranking categories for fish.