A Guide to Fishing

NOTE: There are SPOILERS ahead for AQUATIC LIFE and LOCATIONS IN GAME
There is also a DESPERATE attempt not to SPOIL any monsters. If you'd rather have map images, please comment. I'll find a way, lol.

Despite having the fishing rod from the get go, the game doesn't tell you how to fish unless you go through the side quests. Extra baits and learning opportunities are gated by the side quests given by Kanya, the fisher found in the Scarlet Forest Base Camp.

There are several things that you need to pay attention to while fishing.

• The time of day
  
• The weather
  
• Your bait
  
• How you Lure a fish

In Wilds, the correct time of day and the correct weather are imperative to catching the fish you want. By default, this information will be shown in the bottom left of the HUD.

Fish gather and create splashing pools during the Morning and the Evening. These have a better chance of spawning rarer whoppers such as the Speartuna and Gastronome Tuna. You can disperse the splashing by firing a slinger shot into it such as the throwing knife. This can also kill the fish you're trying to catch, though!

If you aren't in the time of day or weather that you need to be in, you can go into any campsite and Rest; Resting lets you spend Guild Points to manipulate your environment.

Certain fish only turn up at certain times of day. For example, the Goliath Squid only appears during the Night.

There are also fish that only turn up during specific weather cycles. For example, the Speartuna are specifically absent during the Plenty.

First, let's get things straight. Every fish type can be caught by the basic bait, the Common Wood Minnow.

But, if you're trying to catch a specific fish, there's two things you need to know.


While the Common Wood Minnow can catch anything, that's also it's biggest weakness. It will lure anything. If you want a specific fish, the right bait will make your life easier. Not only that, it expands the luring methods that can be used to tempt a fish.


In Monster Hunter Wilds, there are three different methods of luring a fish to your bait.

1. Jig Line: Pulling back on the left stick quickly
   
2. Slow Reel: Wiggling the stick up and down slowly. Use your ears, you should hear your reel squeaking.
   
3. Fast Reel: Wiggling the stick up and down quickly. Use your ears, you should hear your reel rattle.

Fish react to certain luring methods more favorably.

When using the Common Wood Minnow:

• Gajau will be tempted by Slow Reeling but will be scared off by Fast Reeling.
  
• Goldenfish and Platinum fish can only be lured with Fast Reeling.
  
• Squids generally favor Jigging the Line.

If a fish isn't biting, switch up the method of how you lure it.

Whoppers are the minigame within the minigame. Big fish can't be pulled up with just a tug of the trigger, you need to fight them in a classic fishing bout.

While this is explained pretty thoroughly when going through the side quest, I figured I'd mention some things to help make your first tussle a success.



First, the basic mechanic in any fishing system. Too much tension and the line will snap. The tension on the line will reduce as long as you are inputting the correct controls. In Wilds, there are a number of ways to build tension that you want to avoid.

When a big fish is hooked, it will swim left and right. Reeling while it is banking left or right will build tension. Lead the fish to prevent tension on your line. I.E. If it's swimming right, point right.

When a fish jumps, angle the stick in the direction of the jump and pull down on the trigger. It might not be immediately apparent which direction you need to point the stick. Be patient and watch the fish carefully. The fish will tilt towards the right direction about halfway through the jump. Failing to input the correct direction will create tension.

When the fish swims past an obstacle and the line is intercepted, tension is maxed and the line will immediately break. The only way to deal with this is to pull the fish in the opposite direction before it gets close to the obstacle. You will build some tension for this, but eventually the fish will turn around.

When the fish is tired, your hunter will change their stance by lifting the rod up. This is your chance to reel. Reel until the fish regains its strength, then repeat. When reeling, the rod will make a rattling sound effect of a certain duration, as if playing some soundeffect.mp3 on loop. Reeling for two cycles then pointing the rod left or right will minimize tension.

Personally, I reel until the fish tugs at my hunter. It does generate tension, but there is usually enough time to mitigate the tension generated like this when the fish is swimming. That said, this is technically riskier. If you are unsure of your line tension, reel for two (two and a half if you're feeling spicy) cycles of the soundeffect.mp3 then angle your rod left or right.


There is a way to cheese whoppers. It's not always reliable, so it's best to get a handle on the whopper minigame, but you can reel before the whopper bites. As soon as the whopper's interested in the bait, reel as fast as you can to draw it near the shore. The whopper will swim after the bait and won't be able to bite down until the bait stops moving. Some fish will just bite instantly, but this can cut down on the amount of time you spend in the whopper minigame.

Now you're a master fisher! Here are some fishing locations to use your new information. If you don't see any fish, wait a little bit. This game doesn't have fish immediately in locations, you generally have to spend a little time in the area before the fish appear.

I didn't take screenshots because it was REALLY DIFFICULT not to accidentally spoil a monster. I hope this information is enough to get you to a fishing spot.


Area 13: Oasis

Area 14: Groundwater Vein



Area 1: Base Camp

Area 2: Shallows. Turn right out of base camp.

Area 3: Outside of the Nest at Area 4.

Area 6: Flowering Rocks

Area 10: In the Fork of the River (Leading to Area 13 and 15)

Area 8: Underground Lake

Area 13: Beneath the Hideout

Area 15: Base of the Waterfall

Area 16: Ruin Interior

Area 17: Great Lake Shore

Area 19: Past that funny swimming spot



Area 12: Crimson Rivulet

Area 14: End of the Glowing River



Area 1: Icy Shore

Area 20: Ancient Room



Area 6: Pond at the Base of the Tree. Location is at the slope between Area 6 & 7.

Area 8: Gap in Rubble

Area 13: Hidden Cave



Near the Exit of Barrel Bowling

Please note that luring was done with the Common Wood Minnow. When using a fish's preferred bait, the luring methods may expand.

There may be some inaccuracies here, but this should be a general guide to get the fish you want to look at your line.