If you’re aiming to catch all 25 fish to unlock that sweet Ocean Maid outfit and nab the Lonely Fisherman trophy, you’re in the right place. Fishing in this game is a chill side activity, but it takes some know-how to track down every fish. This guide breaks it all down—where to fish, what bait to use, and how to tackle those key side quests—without any fluff. Whether you’re a completionist or just want that fancy outfit, let’s dive in and get you reeling in those fish!

Steps to Unlock Fishing and Catch All Fish

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1. Unlock Fishing

  • Play through the main story until you hit the Great Desert, about halfway through Stellar Blade.
  • Head to the Oasis in the middle of the desert and chat with Clyde at his hut by the water.
  • Knock out the "Looking Glass" side quest by catching one fish at the Oasis. Clyde hooks you up with a fishing rod and Small Shrimp bait, and you’re ready to fish.

2. Understand Fishing Mechanics

  • Equip your fishing rod by holding Down on the D-pad and picking it from the item wheel.
  • At a fishing spot, press Down to select bait, pull back the left analog stick, and push forward to cast your line.
  • When a fish bites, hit R2 to hook it. Wear down its stamina by moving the left analog stick opposite its direction while mashing Square to overpower it.
  • When the game prompts you, press R2 to keep the arrow in the blue part of the reel-in circle. Do this until the fish is close, then hit Triangle to reel it in.
  • Pro tip: Turn on Fishing Controls Replacement in accessibility settings to hold buttons instead of mashing them. Makes things way easier.

3. Obtain Necessary Baits

  • You buy baits from Clyde’s shop at the Oasis using Fishing Points you earn from catching fish. Some baits drop from enemies, but buying is the way to go.
  • Fish come in different sizes, and each needs a specific bait:
    • Small Fish: Small Shrimp (6 Fishing Points)
    • Medium Fish: Wriggling Insect (12 Fishing Points)
    • Large Fish: Fish Slice (24 Fishing Points)
    • Gigantic Fish: Special Bait
    • Jumbo Fish: Fantastic Bait (unlocked through side quests, and you can use it forever once you get it)
  • Fantastic Bait is a must for Jumbo fish, and you’ll need to do some side quests to unlock it (check below).

4. Complete Fishing Side Quests

To grab Fantastic Bait and catch every fish, tackle these Bulletin Board quests in Xion:

  • Stubbornness: Sell three fish to Barry in Xion to open his shop.
  • Fish Research: Catch a Halibut at the Eidos 7 Clock Tower pond using Fish Slice bait.
  • A Gift for a Fishing Maniac: Find a chest in the Wasteland’s hidden cave (north of Solar Tower) with passcode 0508 to get Best Fishing Data.
  • Where Is the Fantastic Bait?: Catch 20 different fish, talk to Clyde about Fantastic Bait, then buy Information: Fantastic Bait from Roxanne’s shop in Xion for 300 gold. Dive into the water at The Plant (southeast Wasteland), swim through the tunnel, and open the chest with passcode 0-0-0-B-B-B to snag Fantastic Bait.
  • The Fish of Legends: Use Fantastic Bait at the Oasis to catch a Whale Shark. You’ll get 7,000 gold and the Legendary Fish Badge.
  • These quests unlock Fantastic Bait, give you Fishing Points for better baits, and boost your fishing skills with Fishing Data upgrades.

5. Visit Key Fishing Spots

You can catch all 25 fish at the Oasis in the Great Desert if you’ve got the right bait, but other spots can make certain fish easier. Here’s where to fish:

  • Oasis (Great Desert): Great for Small, Gigantic, and Jumbo fish. Use Small Shrimp for Small fish, Special Bait for Gigantic fish, and Fantastic Bait for Jumbo fish (Whale Shark, Pirarucu).
  • Xion Exit Pond: Near the Wasteland exit, good for Medium fish (like Channel Catfish for “An Unforgettable Fish Dish”) and some Large fish (like Red Seabream).
  • Eidos 7 Clock Tower Pond: Perfect for Medium fish (Mackerel, Koi, Channel Catfish) and Large fish (Halibut, Mahi-Mahi). Fast travel to Plaza Entryway and head to the Clock Tower.
  • Wasteland Hidden Cave (North of Solar Tower): Solid for Large fish (Sailfish, Red Seabream) and some Medium fish. Advanced Fishing Data helps here.
  • The Plant (Southeast Wasteland): Good for Large and Medium fish (like Lobster). Also where you grab Fantastic Bait.
  • Eidos 9 Atelier (Missable): Unlock by maxing Lily’s progress bar to 100% before Spire 4 (point of no return). Best for Gigantic fish (Dunkleosteus, Arowana, Great White Shark).
  • Heads-up: Eidos 9 is missable, so fill Lily’s progress bar with Data Entries before hitting Spire 4.

6. Catch All 25 Fish

6 Hours Of Fishing Later I Finally Got It I Hate R

Here’s the full list of fish, their sizes, best bait, and where to catch them (though the Oasis works for all with the right bait):

  • Small Fish (Small Shrimp bait):
    • Triggerfish, Mudskipper, Betta, Butterflyfish, Porcupinefish – Oasis
  • Medium Fish (Wriggling Insect bait):
    • Mackerel, Koi, Channel Catfish, Goldfish, Red Seabream – Eidos 7 Clock Tower Pond or Xion Exit Pond
  • Large Fish (Fish Slice bait):
    • Halibut, Mahi-Mahi, Sailfish, Pacific Bluefin Tuna, Ocean Sunfish – Eidos 7 Clock Tower Pond or Wasteland Hidden Cave (Ocean Sunfish best in Wasteland northwest lake)
  • Gigantic Fish (Special Bait):
    • Dunkleosteus, Arowana, Great White Shark – Eidos 9 Atelier (missable) or Oasis
  • Jumbo Fish (Fantastic Bait):
    • Whale Shark, Pirarucu – Oasis
  • Tip: Check your Data Bank to see which fish you’ve caught and what bait they need. If a fish isn’t biting, try a different bait or spot—it’s a bit of a luck game.

7. Claim Rewards

  • Catch all 25 fish, then head back to Clyde at the Oasis for a cutscene and the Ocean Maid outfit.
  • Catching 20 fish gets you the Lonely Fisherman trophy (Silver).
  • Spend Fishing Points at Clyde’s shop for more bait, Fishing Data upgrades, or stuff like Nano Suit materials.

Tips for Success

  • Grab Fishing Data: Buy all Fishing Data from Clyde to level up your fishing game, especially for bigger fish.
  • Stock Up on Bait: Make sure you’ve got plenty of each bait, especially Special and Fantastic Bait for Gigantic and Jumbo fish.
  • Do Side Quests Early: Finish fishing quests before Spire 4 to get Fantastic Bait and avoid missing out.
  • Don’t Skip Eidos 9: Max Lily’s progress bar to unlock this spot—it’s the best for Gigantic fish.
  • Stay Patient: Fishing can be random, so keep at it if rare fish like Dunkleosteus or Whale Shark aren’t biting.
  • Save Before Spire 4: Quests lock after this point, but you can still fish and finish your collection post-game for the Ocean Maid outfit.
  • The Oasis is your go-to spot since you can catch all 25 fish there with the right bait, saving you some running around.
  • If you miss Eidos 9, you can still catch Gigantic fish at the Oasis, but it’ll take more tries.