Successfully filling out the Fields of Mistria Museum requires a keen understanding of its aquatic life, often necessitating a detailed guide for locating various fish species, including the elusive Legendary Fish. This guide covers the fundamentals of fishing, the strategic use of bait and traps, the benefits of Fishing Perks, and an exhaustive list of fish locations across the game's diverse environments.
Fishing Basics
Fishing in Fields of Mistria involves casting a line and reeling in fish based on shadow size and a "!" indicator. Fish appear in four sizes: small, medium, large, and giant. Schools of fish, dense clusters of small shadows, and dive spots—round, dark patches in the water—also signify potential catches. To fish, players need a Fishing Rod, with higher-tier rods offering increased casting range. The progression starts with a Worn Fishing Rod (range 6) and advances through Copper, Iron, Silver, and Gold rods, culminating in the Mistril Fishing Rod with a range of up to 16.
When fishing, players hold the default Tool button to charge their cast and release it to throw the line. After the fish nibbles and then bites, indicated by a "!" icon, the Tool button must be pressed again to reel in the catch. Missing the timing will result in the fish escaping. Various Fishing Perks can improve the attraction range of the hook, offer monetary rewards, and provide additional bonuses during fishing.
Legendary Fish and Bait
Legendary Fish can only be caught after unlocking the Legendary Skill. The game will announce when a "Legendary Fish is nearby," displaying a silhouette of the creature. Each Legendary Fish is tied to specific locations, seasons, and weather conditions. For example, the Cherry Fish appears in the Pond during Spring with Windy weather, while the Lightning Fish is found in the River during Summer storms. These unique fish are typically caught only once and are best donated to the museum, as they are not highly valuable as gifts or for sale.
Fish Bait is crafted in a Terrarium, an item unlocked through the "Apiaries And Terrariums" quest. The type of critter placed in the Terrarium determines the quality of the bait produced, ranging from Common to Rare. Bait can be used directly in the water to attract fish or placed inside Fish Traps to catch species overnight. Some fish, such as the Bait Thief, Blue Crab, and Copper Rockfish, require Common Bait, while others like the Hake and Iron Fish need Uncommon bait. Rare bait is necessary for catching the Amberjack and Golden Eel.
Fishing Perks
Increasing the Fishing Skill is done through practice, and players can unlock various Perks using Essence and Skill Points to enhance their fishing experience. The Tier One Perks include Weedline Watcher I (reduces junk) and Aquatic Antiquities (allows fishing up artifacts). Appealing Reeling I increases attraction range, and Catch Of The Day can refund used Stamina. The second tier introduces Lucky Haul I (chance for double fish) and Perfect Catch (increases uncommon and rare fish spawns). School Crasher allows players to gain half of a fish school's items without using Stamina by swimming into it, and Unexpected Haul increases the chance of finding Treasure Boxes.
Tier Three Perks feature Full Class I (fish schools contain an additional fish), the Legendary perk which enables Legendary fish spawns under correct conditions, and Treasure Trove (eliminates wooden treasure boxes in favor of higher tiers). Weedline Watcher II further reduces junk likelihood. Appealing Reeling II in Tier Four further extends the bobber's attraction range, while Frenzy can cause fish schools to spawn nearby after a catch. What A Catch offers a chance for fish to drop coins, and Lucky Haul II makes double fish drops even more likely.
Finally, Tier Five introduces Abyssal Ascendance, providing a chance to fish up an Abyssal Chest containing unique clothing or an Essence Stone from sunken ruins, offering rare relics as the ultimate reward.
Fish Locations
Different bodies of water yield distinct fish, with seasons and weather playing crucial roles. The River is home to species like Bluegill (Spring, all weather) and Leaf Fish (Legendary, Fall, Windy). The Pond offers species such as Angel Fish (Spring, all weather) and the Legendary Cherry Fish (Spring, Windy). The Ocean contains fish like Anchovy (Spring, all weather) and the Legendary Snow Fish (Winter, Blizzard). It is also possible to dive for certain fish, items, and relics by interacting with dive spots.
Specialized Fishing Zones
Beyond the main water bodies, specialized zones offer unique catches. The Deep Woods area includes Forest Perch and Lake Trout. The Ancient Ruins are a source for Coelacanth and Gazer. Lava Caves contain Armored Bass and Firesail Fish. The Deep Earth yields Earth Eel and Emerald Horned Charger. In the Tide Caverns, players can find Archer Fish and Mini-Whale Shark. Finally, the Upper Mines are inhabited by Cave Eel and Cave Shark. Any body of water on the map, excluding the central town fountain, can potentially contain fish.
