Bighead Carp

Overview

Bighead Carp is a large freshwater fish with a characteristically oversized head, found in the Lake zones of Starsand Island. It inhabits Cloudrest Lake and the other freshwater lakes on the island during Spring and Summer. At 65 Coins, Bighead Carp is a modest earner, sitting close in value to the Green Sunfish (70 Coins). Its long daily catch window makes it a convenient species to target alongside other lake fish.

How to Catch

Visit any Lake fishing spot during Spring or Summer. Bighead Carp has a long catch window from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, covering most of the day. It bites in Sunny and Rainy weather, so weather is rarely an obstacle. Use Veggie Bait or Meat Bait, both of which are equally effective. Craft bait at the Chopper station. Check the Bait Guide for ingredient details.

Catch Details

Uses

• Cooking: Process Bighead Carp into Fish Fillet at the Separator. Use the fillet in cooking recipes like Fish Head Tofu Soup (which thematically pairs well with this large-headed species).

• Bait Production: Convert into Minced Fish Bait at the Chopper for deep-sea fishing zones.

• Fish Pond: Place Bighead Carp in a Fish Pond for breeding and display.

• Gifting: Some NPCs accept fish as gifts.

• Islandpedia: First catch adds to your Islandpedia stamp collection.

Tips

• Bighead Carp and Green Sunfish share the Lake zone and the same Spring/Summer season. Fish for both in a single trip to Cloudrest Lake.

• Its catch window (6 AM to 10 PM) starts earlier than Green Sunfish (which starts at noon), so arrive at the lake early if you want to catch Bighead Carp first.

• At 65 Coins raw, Bighead Carp is better used as cooking material or bait rather than sold directly. The Merchant Ship price of 130 Coins is still modest.

• The large head on this fish is a visual reference to the real-world bighead carp, an Asian freshwater species. It is a purely cosmetic distinction in-game.

• Check the All Fish guide for the complete list of fish across all zones.