The fishing loop, step by step
- Find a spot. Look for disturbed water: bubbles, a visible fish school or a splash zone. Quest targets show a marker. Mutated schools have their own visual effect.
- Pick bait for the fish you want. Normal bait for ordinary fish, special bait for peaceful fish, lures for predators → bait & crafting.
- Cast and wait for the bite.
- Fight the stamina. Drag the mouse (or press A/D) against the direction the fish swims. That drains its stamina; while it’s fresh, reeling only builds tension.
- Reel while it’s tired. When stamina runs out you get a window to reel. The fish recovers stamina as you reel, so expect several rounds.
- Watch line tension. If the bar fills, the line snaps and the fish escapes. Back off before the limit.
- Land it. When the fish is close, use Land Fish. If you release a fish instead you can’t hand it in or process it.
There are also quick-time moments at key points in a fight (developer FAQ).
Three kinds of fishing in the demo
| Fish | Type | Bait | Where (demo) | First contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snapper | Ordinary | Earthworm (no crafting) | Under the Trading Post pier | Catch 5 |
| Softgrazer | Peaceful | Wind-Up Tin | The “Catch Peaceful Fish” marker | Catch 3 |
| Harpooner | Predator | Rainbow Fin lure | A splash zone | Catch 3 |
⚠️ Demo data from one guide (Whisper of the House) plus the official screenshot of the Predatory Fish — Catch Harpooner quest. The demo’s starter Simple Rod handles all three. Early Access adds many more species → fish list.
Predator fishing
- Predators are smarter and rarer and need a lure, not bait.
- Throw the lure into the splash zone and reel at a speed the fish can follow. Too fast or pausing too long and you lose it.
- Dream Dock: some catches “see you as the prey” — the bigger predators test your gear, so upgrade rods and tackle before chasing them.
Where and when matters
- Safe waters near settlements are fished out — you only get the “bare minimum” there, so you have to travel.
- Some species only appear in certain places or at certain times of day or night.
- Night is a different place: more creatures, worse visibility, but mutated schools show up a bit more often → night guide.
What to do with your catch
- Sell / trade at the trading post; the more dangerous the fish, the better the price (store page).
- Process it: the Grinder turns fish into Fish Meat; the Thresher gets Chromatic Scales from peaceful fish. Fish Meat also feeds the Fuel Larva that makes your boat fuel → bait & crafting.
- Watch your hold: the store page warns that sea creatures eat each other in storage — sort your catch.
- The glossary logs each species with a rarity of up to 3 stars, peaceful or violent, weight and your personal best (preview build ⚠️).