Fishing

Overview

Fishing is one of the five core professions in Starsand Island, mentored by Delphin at the AquaBlue Outpost in Half-Moon Bay. The game features over 100 catchable sea creatures spread across rivers, lakes, the open ocean, three deep-sea zones, and fishing spots inside the Moonlit Forest. Fishing is widely considered the best early-game money maker and remains profitable throughout the entire playthrough.

Fish can be sold raw at shops or at the Merchant Ship for premium prices, used in cooking recipes for powerful buffs, displayed in aquariums, bred in fish ponds, or processed at a Separator into Fish Fillets for cooking. The Islandpedia phone app tracks all discovered species under Bio Research > Aquatic Life, where you can also check each species' bait preference, time window, season, and weather conditions.

For a complete table of all 105 fish species with sell prices, spawn conditions, and bait types, see the All Fish article. For detailed Angler trial walkthroughs, see Angler Trial Walkthroughs.

Fishing Mechanics

The core fishing loop works as follows.

1. Equip a fishing rod from your toolbar and stand near any body of water (river, lake, ocean shore, or deep-sea zone).

2. Look for circular water ripples or fish-shaped shadows in the water. These indicate a catchable fish is present.

3. Click and hold the fishing icon to aim your cast. The landing indicator turns green when the spot is valid and red when something is blocking the cast (too shallow, obstacle, or land). Release to cast toward the green zone.

4. Wait for a bite. The bobber submerges and a splash animation plays when a fish takes the hook.

5. Hold the "use" button to reel in. Watch the tension indicator on screen while reeling.

6. When the line indicator is white or green, keep reeling. When it turns yellow, the fish is pulling hard and tension is rising. When the line turns red, release immediately or the line will snap and you lose the fish.

7. Successfully reeling in before the fish escapes adds it to your inventory.

Each cast costs 10 stamina. Better rods reduce the tension bar movement, making it significantly easier to land difficult fish. Endgame rods like the Titanium Rod and Solar Rod cause the bar to barely move at all, allowing you to hold the reel button without worrying about line breaks.

Unless you have leveled up fishing skills in the Workpedia (specifically the Hooked on Fate perk), you can only catch a fish when a visible shadow is present in the water. Without a shadow at your cast location, no fish will bite. Chumming bait into the water creates new fish shadows, so keep plenty of bait on hand.

Bait and Chumming

Bait in Starsand Island is not attached to your fishing rod. Instead, you throw bait directly into the water using the "use" button while holding bait. This process is called chumming. Each piece of bait tossed into the water creates a fish shadow of a species that prefers that bait type. You can hold the button to continuously chum, tossing multiple pieces in rapid succession.

All bait is crafted at Chopper stations. The Chopper blueprint is available at the AquaBlue Outpost. Higher-tier Choppers unlock more specialized bait types.

Each fish species has a specific bait preference listed in the Islandpedia, though some fish are omnivorous and accept any bait. A handful of species (like Lake Trout) require no bait at all and bite freely. Always carry all bait types when heading to a fishing location so you don't miss weather-dependent spawns that require a specific bait.

For a full breakdown of bait recipes and processing times, see the dedicated Bait Guide article.

Fishing Rod Progression

All rod blueprints are purchased from Delphin at the AquaBlue Outpost and crafted at Worktables. Several rods consume the previous tier as a crafting ingredient, forming an upgrade chain. The main upgrade chain runs: Wooden Rod > Chrono Rod > Noble Rod > Solar Rod > Titanium Rod. Other rods at the same tier (Silent, Cloud, Lost Angler's, Divine, Dawnbreak, Astra, Wanderer's) are standalone alternatives that do not feed into the next tier.

The Noble Rod is the minimum required rod for catching Kingfish (the legendary fish variants found in deep-sea zones). Attempting to catch a Kingfish with a lower-tier rod will fail. For the easiest Kingfish experience, aim for the Solar Rod or Titanium Rod, where the tension bar barely moves at all.

There is also a Fishing Net (Senior tier), which requires 10 Rubber, 30 Carbon Line, 10 Iron Sheet, and 5 Premium Wood Plank to craft. The Fishing Net is a separate tool that catches multiple fish in a single use rather than operating like a rod.

Fishing Locations

Starsand Island has eight distinct fishing zones, each with unique species. Some zones are available from the start while others unlock through Angler profession tiers or exploration progress.

Deep-Sea Fishing

Deep-sea zones unlock after building Starsand Port. To start the port construction quest, give Marston 15 Stone and 15 Softwood; the port opens the next in-game day. Once the port is operational, you can rent a yacht for 150 coins per hour to sail freely between the three deep-sea zones, or use the Parrot Ship for fast travel directly to a specific zone. Bring plenty of all bait types, stamina-restoring food, and empty inventory space before heading out.

The three deep-sea zones contain the game's legendary Kingfish. Each Kingfish has a specific time window:

Two of the three Kingfish are night-only catches. Plan deep-sea trips accordingly. The Celestwave and Luminwave zones reward evening expeditions, so bring extra food to keep your stamina up through the night.

Time, Season, and Weather

Every fish species has specific time, season, and weather requirements that must all match for it to spawn. Some fish appear only during rain (Lionfish in summer, Mackerel in autumn), others only on sunny days (Betta in summer, Red Porgy in autumn). Night-only species (Ribbon Eel, Anglerfish, Mandarinfish) require trips after 20:00.

To collect all species, fish across different times of day, seasons, and weather conditions. The Islandpedia entry for each fish lists its exact spawn parameters. Rain is particularly valuable for ocean fishing, as several of the highest-value species are rain-exclusive.

Fish Selling and Income

Fishing is one of the best early-game income sources. High-value species caught during the right conditions can generate hundreds of coins per catch. Below are the most commonly targeted money-making species.

The Merchant Ship at Half-Moon Bay docks buys certain items at double their normal value. Its stock refreshes every Monday, so save high-value fish for Merchant Ship sale days when possible. Processing fish into dishes before selling also increases their value significantly; a raw Lionfish sells for 176 coins, but cooking it into a dish can yield 300+ coins worth of food.

Cooking Buffs for Fishing

Several cooking recipes provide buffs that directly improve fishing performance. These buffs are earned through Angler profession trial rewards and can make a huge difference when targeting rare species or Kingfish.

The Never Skunked buff from Steamed Fish is especially useful when targeting rare species that normally test the bait multiple times before committing to a bite. With this buff active, every cast results in an immediate hook, saving substantial time during Kingfish hunts or rare Glowfish farming sessions.

The Flow Fishing buff from Braised Crab Pot eliminates the risk of line breaks entirely. While active, you can hold the reel button continuously without watching the tension indicator. This is particularly helpful for players still using mid-tier rods against large deep-sea fish.

The Underwater Treasure buff from Braised Fish adds a random chance to pull up a treasure chest while fishing. These chests contain coins, materials, and occasionally rare crafting components.

Workpedia Fishing Perks

The Workpedia skill tree contains several fishing-specific perks that unlock as you level the Angler profession. Spending Workpedia points on these perks provides permanent passive bonuses that stack with cooking buffs and rod upgrades.

It is recommended to invest Workpedia points into Rare Bites and Night Angler early, as these increase your odds of hooking rare fish needed for profession advancement. Hooked on Fate is most valuable once you unlock the deep-sea zones, where locating fish shadows from a yacht can be difficult.

Fish Ponds and Breeding

Fish ponds allow you to raise and breed fish on your farm. Pond blueprints become available from Delphin at the AquaBlue Outpost once you reach the Intermediate Angler tier. Three sizes of pond are available, each with different footprints and oxygen capacities.

Each fish species has an oxygen requirement listed in the Islandpedia. The pond's total oxygen capacity limits how many fish you can keep. For example, a Bighead Carp requires 5 oxygen, so a Small Fish Pond (12 oxygen) can hold two Bighead Carp with 2 oxygen to spare. The Medium Fish Pond's 40 oxygen allows for much larger populations or high-oxygen species.

Breeding Process

1. Place one or more caught fish of the same species into a pond. Having multiple fish of the same species increases egg production frequency, though even a single fish can produce eggs.

2. Add Fish Feed to the pond. Fish Feed is crafted at Chopper II. Each night, the fish consume the feed.

3. After 1 to 2 in-game days, check the pond for a morning notification about "something extra." This means an egg has been produced.

4. Collect the egg and switch to the Incubator tab in the pond interface (upper-right corner). Place the egg in the incubator to begin hatching.

5. The egg hatches into a fingerling over time. Once fully grown, it can be collected from the pond.

Without incubation, eggs will not hatch. The incubator is built from the pond's second tab and does not require a separate blueprint. Stone Ponds tend to be more reliable than Small Ponds for egg production. Some players have reported inconsistent egg production in wooden (Small) ponds, while Stone Ponds produce more reliably.

Low oxygen levels can hinder reproduction, so make sure all fish in the pond have enough oxygen. For the complete breeding guide, see the dedicated Fish Pond Breeding article.

Fish Traps

Fish traps provide passive income by catching fish and shrimp overnight without requiring active fishing. They unlock at the Intermediate Angler tier and the blueprint costs 5,000 coins from the AquaBlue Outpost.

Crafting and Materials

Fish traps are crafted at Worktable II. The required materials are:

Operating Fish Traps

1. Identify an active fishing area with visible fish spawns in the water.

2. Place the trap directly in the water within a fish-populated area.

3. Interact with the trap (press F) to access the bait menu. Insert Advanced Fish Food.

4. Leave the trap overnight. You must wait until the next in-game day to collect results; checking too early will show no fish.

5. Return the next day to collect your catches from the trap.

Advanced Fish Food is the required bait for fish traps (regular bait does not work). It is processed at Chopper III with a processing time of roughly 19 minutes. The recipe requires:

• 50 Vegetable Juice

• 1 Fruit Pulp

• 1 Flour

Traps placed in areas with consistent fish spawns produce better results than random shoreline placement. Space traps apart rather than clustering them to prevent inefficient overlap. Recommended placement areas include Starsand Waters, active fishing rivers near settlements, and ocean shoreline areas. Avoid placing traps in rivers where terrain-clipping bugs can cause them to fall through the ground.

When multiple traps are set up with a consistent bait production pipeline, they provide a steady passive fish supply that supplements active rod fishing. For the full trap guide, see the dedicated Fish Traps article.

Angler Profession Tiers

The Angler profession has five tiers, each requiring a trial to advance. Completing a trial unlocks new rods, fishing zones, and features. After completing each trial, visit Solara at the Community Center to claim a recruitment bonus.

The Expert Angler trial requires catching 2 Kingfish, one from each of two different deep-sea zones. You need at minimum a Noble Rod or better. The trial also requires Giant Barb Fish Eggs, which are produced by breeding Giant Barb in a fish pond. This takes 1 to 2 in-game days of pond breeding.

For step-by-step walkthroughs of each trial, including recommended loadouts and strategies, see the Angler Trial Walkthroughs article.

King Fish Tips

King fish are the six rarest and most valuable fish in Starsand Island. They require special preparation compared to regular fishing. See the All Fish article for the complete King fish table with locations, seasons, and time windows.

River King fish (Arapaima, Paddlefish) are the most accessible because they appear in standard river and Cloudrest Lake fishing spots. Ocean King fish (Swordfish, Megamouth Shark, Long-barbelled Dragonfish) require traveling to deep-sea zones. The Glowfish King in Spore Cascade is the most valuable at 1,607 coins but only appears in Autumn between midnight and 2:00 AM.

Tips and Strategies

• Rainy summer days are the most profitable for ocean fishing. Lionfish (176 coins) and Emperor Angelfish (152 coins) both spawn exclusively during summer rain.

• Carry all bait types on every fishing trip. You never know when weather conditions will shift and make a rare species available that requires a bait type you didn't bring.

• Use the Never Skunked buff for Kingfish. Cooking Steamed Fish (4 Fish Fillet, 2 Leek) before deep-sea trips saves significant time by eliminating the testing-bite phase.

• Invest in Hooked on Fate early. At Level 3, this Workpedia perk lets you catch fish without needing to spot shadows first. This is a game-changer for ocean Kingfish hunts where locating ripples from a yacht is difficult.

• Set up fish traps alongside active fishing. Place traps at ocean and beach locations, load them with Advanced Fish Food, and collect passive income the next day while you fish elsewhere.

• Start a Stone Fish Pond with Giant Barbs early. The Expert Angler trial requires Giant Barb Fish Eggs, which take 1 to 2 days to produce. Getting the pond running ahead of time prevents a bottleneck.

• Process fish at a Separator for cooking. Fish Fillets are used in numerous cooking recipes. Cooked dishes sell for significantly more than raw fish and provide powerful buffs.

• For the Senior Angler aquarium quest, combine rod fishing with fish trap catches to fill the collection faster. You need 20 different species with 3 of each.

• Save high-value fish for the Merchant Ship. The Merchant Ship at Half-Moon Bay buys certain items at double their normal value. Stock refreshes every Monday.

• Use the Parrot Ship for targeted deep-sea runs. The Parrot Ship takes you directly to a specific deep-sea zone instead of requiring you to sail around with the yacht. This saves time when you know exactly which zone you need.

• Night fishing is essential for full completion. Many species (Ribbon Eel, Anglerfish, Mandarinfish, both night-zone Kingfish) only appear between 20:00 and 02:00. Bring stamina food and plan for extended evening sessions.

• Bug Bait in Dreamfall Garden for Pearl Glowfish. Chumming Bug Bait into the Dreamfall Garden waters increases your chances of attracting the Pearl Glowfish, which is needed for the Intermediate Angler trial.

See Also

• All Fish - Complete table of all 105 fish species

• Fishing Rods - Detailed rod stats and comparisons

• Bait Guide - Full bait crafting recipes and usage

• Fish Traps - Comprehensive fish trap guide

• Fish Pond Breeding - Pond breeding walkthrough

• Angler Trial Walkthroughs - Step-by-step trial guides

• Cooking Recipes - All 110 recipes including fishing buffs

• Professions - Overview of all five professions

• Chopper - Bait and Fish Feed processing station