Quick Links
- How To Unlock Ocean Fishing
- The Ferry Docks, Bait, And Understanding The Seven Locations
- Where To Use Every Bait
- Spectral Currents
- The Dolphin And Seagull Abilities
- Minions, Mounts, And Scripts
Final Fantasy XIV can certainly be overwhelming to someone who is new to the series. Even returning gamers are thrown into this vast world with new mechanics combined with old knowledge. One of these things was brought into the game in the 5.2 patch.
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Fishing in this title includes strategy with a little bit of luck. There is no telling what can happen in the ocean, and this makes every fishing experience unique. Ocean fishing is vast, and there are a few different rules to learn when getting started. Some of these rules might even help out with getting certain rewards on your first fishing trip.
How To Unlock Ocean Fishing
A common fear to have when thinking about any minigame is how high of a level you have to be in order to unlock it. Well, fear not! Ocean fishing can be done at a measly level one, if you so choose. The only prerequisite that needs to be taken care of are the quests beforehand.
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The fishing guild has a quest entitled, “Way of the Fisher.” When completed, a new quest will appear called, “My First Fishing Rod.” The latter of these two quests is a simple tutorial of sorts, designed to help you get used to fishing. After a small task of finding anchovies, you are free to head to the docks and begin your ocean fishing journey.
The Ferry Docks, Bait, And Understanding The Seven Locations
Once the Ferry Docks are located, it is time to learn about the bait. There is a Merchant and Mender NPC available at the docks. Make use of this character, since they will sell you all the bait you will need. The rule of thumb for understanding the different types of bait is remembering the three main types: krill, ragworm, and plump worm. It is wise to stock up on all three of these. Depending on the location the boat sails to, one bait will be more powerful than the others.
There are seven locations the ship can sail to when you board it for ocean fishing, but it will only stop at three per round. To see the boat’s schedule, talk to the NPC named Dryskthota. He will give you the schedule for the next three days. This way, you can plan on which fish you are aiming to catch in each round, and what bait should be used in which order.
Where To Use Every Bait
Below is a table of the seven different locations the boat takes you to. For each location, these baits should be used in order to yield the best catches.
Krill
Ragworm
Plump Worm
Bloodbrine
X
Cieldalaes
X
Galadion
X
Northern Straight of Merlthor
X
Rhotano
X
Rothlyt
X
Southern Straight of Merlthor
X
Using the assigned bait for each location will trigger a spectral current.
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Spectral Currents
When the right fish is caught and with luck on your side, a spectral current will appear. This is when the water turns a mystical rainbow color. Now, all the fish that can be caught has a higher chance of being rare. These occasions are helped by the use of the assigned bait above, but it also has a lot to do with chance. Luck plays a role in ocean fishing, and it is possible to follow all the rules and not get a single spectral current.
If all the members in your boat decide to help out with a trigger, the bigger the chance you have of getting a spectral current going.
During spectral currents, you can switch to certain baits in order to yield better game. Once a current is active, switch to the special bait listed above. The bait that triggers a spectral current is the same one you should use during a spectral event.
The Dolphin And Seagull Abilities
Both dolphins and seagulls will grant you certain abilities when caught. Dolphins have two enhancements to your fishing, the first of which is called, “Auroral Flipper.” This heightens the rate of spectral currents occurring, and can be helpful when trying to activate a spectral current. The second ability is, “Cetaceous Speed.” It simply increases GP regeneration.
Seagulls only grant one power-up, but it’s an important one if you want to gather high-quality fish. “Gullstorm” increases the HQ of fish caught, which can also be very useful in a spectral current.
Minions, Mounts, And Scripts
There is one minion and a mount that can be unlocked fairly easily if you decide to fish with a handful of other people. Fishing with others on your ship can increase the chances of activating a spectral current, thus rewarding you with more points for the trip. The little shark minion known as “Major-General Minion,” can be unlocked by getting 5,000 points in one trip. Points are attained by catching fish, which is why spectral currents are important for a larger point yield.
The mount is called, “Hybodus” and can be unlocked by surfacing 10,000 points. Golden scripts can be reeled in with every fish you catch as well. They can be collected by playing the minigame itself. They act as an extra add-on, kind of like how points are attained. The only thing you need to know about scripts is that you need to be at least level 50 and have them unlocked. Otherwise, you’ll be fishing for points and other rewards!