Fishing Guide - Akimtda

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== Guide Notes ==
Please note that I am leveling Fishing at this time and updates to this guide will occur as my progress continues based on my experiences
The main purpose of this guide is to give an guide to Fishing using the route that I take in a format that is easy to follow. The route that I recommend is in no way the best route for everyone to take, as different people will have different goals they want to achieve whether that's mainly going for skillups, Moat Carp for the Lu Shang's Fishing Rod or a mixture of both.
My main goal within this guide is to make a format that is extremely easy to follow and read. I greatly appreciate constructive criticism and invite anyone who has any suggestions on better achieving this goal to leave their comments on the Talk page.
== Introduction to Fishing in Vana'diel ==
Fishing in Vana'diel consists of a mini-game using the directional keys to drain the stamina from your hooked fish down to zero so that you can successfully catch it. This is done most commonly whilst the camera is either directly behind the character or in first-person view.
First though, you'll want to sign up to the Fishing if you haven't already. The Guild is located in Port Windurst at (C-8). Talking to Thubu Parohren will give you the option to sign up. You'll now need a Fishing Rod and some Fishing Tackle to get started.
== Fishing Rods ==
There are two types of Fishing Rod to chose from, Wooden or Synthetic. Each have their pros and cons. Fishing Rods also differ in whether they specialise in catching small or large fish. Some state this in the item description whilst others don't.
Whether you use a Wooden Fishing Rod or a Synthetic Fishing Rod is really down to player preference, though certain types will excel in some areas. I will give suggestions for both Wooden and Synthetic Fishing Rods throughout the guide.
=== Wooden Fishing Rods ===
Wooden Fishing Rods drain stamina faster but are more fragile and don't keep fish on the line as long.
{| width="55%" 	
Name 	Type
Bamboo Fishing Rod 	Wooden
Clothespole 	Wooden
Fastwater Fishing Rod	Wooden
Hume Fishing Rod 	Wooden
Mithran Fishing Rod 	Wooden
Tarutaru Fishing Rod 	Wooden
Willow Fishing Rod 	Wooden
Yew Fishing Rod 	Wooden
=== Synthetic Fishing Rods ===
Synthetic Fishing Rods drain stamina slower but are more robust and keep fish on the line for longer.
{| width="55%" 	
Name 	Type
Carbon Fishing Rod 	Synthetic
Composite Fishing Rod 	Synthetic
Glass Fiber Fishing Rod	Synthetic
Halcyon Rod 	Synthetic
Single Hook Fishing Rod	Synthetic
=== Special Fishing Rods ===
Although strictly both of these rods are Wooden rods, they are in a category of their own. Lu Shang's Fishing Rod is obtained through trading 10,000 Moat Carp for the quest The Rivalry/The Competition and Ebisu Fishing Rod is obtained through the quest Indomitable Spirit. Both of these rods take time and dedication to obtain and are much stronger than the other Fishing Rods found in the game, with the Ebisu Fishing Rod being unbreakable.
{| width="55%" 	
Name 	Type
Lu Shang's Fishing Rod	Wooden
Ebisu Fishing Rod 	Wooden
=== Starting Recommendation ===
To start, I'd recommend buying a Halcyon Rod from the Auction House as it serves as a great rod that is very hard to break and will catch a lot of the fish you'll be targeting for quite a while.
== Fishing Tackle ==
Fishing Tackle comes in the form of bait or lures, and you'll likely use both kinds during your Fishing career.
=== Bait ===
Bait is available in stacks of 99, but one is used on each bite. Because of this, its often much easier if you are able to craft the bait for the large quantities needed cheaply. There are 19 different types of bait available, some of which are crafted from Fish that you may fish up yourself. Bait is good at being used to target specific fish.
{| width="100%"	
Name 	Stacks
Crayfish Ball 	99
Drill Calamary 	99
Dwarf Pugil 	99
Giant Shell Bug	99
Insect Ball 	99
Little Worm 	99
Lufaise Fly 	99
Lugworm 	99
Meatball 	99
Peeled Crayfish	99
=== Lures ===
Lures aren't consumed like Bait is, but are more expensive upfront. A Lure can be lost in the event of a line snap or rod break so more than one lure may be held as a backup. There are 10 Lures available, one of which is a Guild Point item. Lures are good at being used for targeting specific families of fish.
{| width="100%"	
Name 	Stacks
Fly Lure 	No
Frog Lure 	No
Lizard Lure 	No
Minnow 	No
Robber Rig 	No
Rogue Rig 	No
Sabiki Rig 	No
Shrimp Lure 	No
Sinking Minnow	No
Worm Lure 	No
=== Starting Recommendation ===
You'll mainly be using Bait rather than Lures at first. You can find Little Worms cheap from the NPC Lusiane opposite Raimbroy's Grocery in Southern San d'Oria.
== Equipment ==
There are various pieces of equipment available for Fishing that enhances Fishing Skill and other effects. Unlike other crafts, Fishing has equipment available from the start that doesn't require Guild Points.
=== Fisherman's Tunica Set ===
The first equipment you can get for Fishing is from the Fisherman's Tunica Set. This is available from the Auction House, usually costing around 30-40k for the whole set. Alternatively you can craft it yourself if you have the appropriate levels in Clothcraft and Leatherworking. This set provides you with some support in stabilising your rod and draining stamina a little faster and is well worth the cost.
=== Trainee's Spectacles ===
Another item easily available to you from the start comes from a quest brought with the Wings of the Goddess expansion, Trainee's Spectacles. This item has a Latent effect of Fishing Skill+1 which activates when your Fishing Skill is under level 40 and you don't have Synthesis Image Support active. Although the item is useless after your Fishing Skill reaches level 40, it's a handy item to have that essentially gives you the free Synthesis Image Support everywhere. Trainee's Spectacles can be obtained from completing the Son and Father quest in Southern San d'Oria (S).
=== Albatross Ring and Penguin Ring ===
Albatross Ring and Penguin Ring are obtained by trading Bhefhel Marlin for the quest Inside the Belly to obtain the Pirate's Chart and the Brigand's Chart respectively then completing the associated quests. The Albatross Ring adds time to how long you can keep a fish on the line whilst the Penguin Ring enhances the rate at which stamina is drained.
=== Pelican Ring ===
The Pelican Ring enhances the rate at which you can skillup whilst Fishing. The ring can be hard to obtain, however, requiring you to rank 20th or higher in Fish Ranking, a contest held over a two week period twelve times a year.
=== Waders ===
The first Guild Point item that gives Fishing Skill, an upgrade from your Fisherman's Boots adding another +1 Fishing Skill. These cost 70,000 Guild Points and require a minimum rank of Journeyman in Fishing.
=== Fisherman's Apron ===
This Guild Point item doesn't actually give any Fishing Skill but instead reduces the amount of items that are hooked. These cost 100,000 Guild Points and require a minimum rank of Artisan in Fishing.
== The Route ==
This is the route that I have taken in my Fishing. Each new target/location will be split into a sub-section for ease of navigation. The general format will follow the example table below:
Target 	Location 	Location 	Skill Cap
Fish Name 	Location(s) 	Location(s) 	#
Rod Type 	Rod 	Bait/Lure 	Bait/Lure
Wooden 	Recommended Wooden Rod 	Recommended Bait for Wooden Rod 	Recommended Bait for Wooden Rod
Synthetic 	Recommended Synthetic Rod 	Recommended Bait for Synthetic Rod 	Recommended Bait for Synthetic Rod
Notes 	Notes 	Notes 	Notes
Here I will write some comments and helpful tips for this particular target and location.	Here I will write some comments and helpful tips for this particular target and location.	Here I will write some comments and helpful tips for this particular target and location.	Here I will write some comments and helpful tips for this particular target and location.
Although I plan on giving suggestions for both Wooden and Synthetic rods to use for each target and location, I will bold and likely mention/explain in the Notes a recommended choice of the two, though this is partly personal preference and either suggestion should work fine.
Lu Shang's Fishing Rod and Ebisu Fishing Rod will not be mentioned until I have obtained them myself but needless to say, if you are in possession of one, that is the rod you'll be using instead of my suggestion. Once I have obtained one or both of the rods I will attempt to give suggestions for other rods for players that don't possess one unless Lu Shang's Fishing Rod or Ebisu Fishing Rod are definitely needed.
Now, onto the start of your Fishing Adventure!
=== Starting Point ===
Target 	Location 	Location 	Skill Cap
Crayfish 	Northern San d'Oria	Northern San d'Oria	7
Rod Type 	Rod 	Bait/Lure 	Bait/Lure
Wooden 	Hume Fishing Rod 	Little Worm 	Little Worm
Synthetic	Halcyon Rod 	Little Worm 	Little Worm
Notes 	Notes 	Notes 	Notes
This is a good starting point to get used to the Fishing mini-game. You'll get bites from Crayfish, Moat Carp, Tricolored Carp and Gold Carp here. You'll start to get familiar with the rod behaviours of the different fish too. Tricolored Carp and especially Gold Carp will be slow to drain at this level as their caps are quite a bit higher at 27 and 56 respectively. For this reason, I recommend the Halcyon Rod as this will give you more time to reel in the fish.
The Crayfish can be used to start Cooking with Peeled Crayfish and later Boiled Crayfish, the Moat Carp can be turned in for Lu Shang's Fishing Rod or sold on the AH for profit. The Tricolored Carp and Gold Carp should be sold to a vendor. Tricolored Carp sell for very little (around 50g/each) whilst Gold Carp sell for a nice amount (around 300g/each).
Once you've gotten used to the different rod behaviours, move on to the next stage or alternatively take this to the 7 cap then move on.	This is a good starting point to get used to the Fishing mini-game. You'll get bites from Crayfish, Moat Carp, Tricolored Carp and Gold Carp here. You'll start to get familiar with the rod behaviours of the different fish too. Tricolored Carp and especially Gold Carp will be slow to drain at this level as their caps are quite a bit higher at 27 and 56 respectively. For this reason, I recommend the Halcyon Rod as this will give you more time to reel in the fish.
The Crayfish can be used to start Cooking with Peeled Crayfish and later Boiled Crayfish, the Moat Carp can be turned in for Lu Shang's Fishing Rod or sold on the AH for profit. The Tricolored Carp and Gold Carp should be sold to a vendor. Tricolored Carp sell for very little (around 50g/each) whilst Gold Carp sell for a nice amount (around 300g/each).
Once you've gotten used to the different rod behaviours, move on to the next stage or alternatively take this to the 7 cap then move on.	This is a good starting point to get used to the Fishing mini-game. You'll get bites from Crayfish, Moat Carp, Tricolored Carp and Gold Carp here. You'll start to get familiar with the rod behaviours of the different fish too. Tricolored Carp and especially Gold Carp will be slow to drain at this level as their caps are quite a bit higher at 27 and 56 respectively. For this reason, I recommend the Halcyon Rod as this will give you more time to reel in the fish.
The Crayfish can be used to start Cooking with Peeled Crayfish and later Boiled Crayfish, the Moat Carp can be turned in for Lu Shang's Fishing Rod or sold on the AH for profit. The Tricolored Carp and Gold Carp should be sold to a vendor. Tricolored Carp sell for very little (around 50g/each) whilst Gold Carp sell for a nice amount (around 300g/each).
Once you've gotten used to the different rod behaviours, move on to the next stage or alternatively take this to the 7 cap then move on.	This is a good starting point to get used to the Fishing mini-game. You'll get bites from Crayfish, Moat Carp, Tricolored Carp and Gold Carp here. You'll start to get familiar with the rod behaviours of the different fish too. Tricolored Carp and especially Gold Carp will be slow to drain at this level as their caps are quite a bit higher at 27 and 56 respectively. For this reason, I recommend the Halcyon Rod as this will give you more time to reel in the fish.
The Crayfish can be used to start Cooking with Peeled Crayfish and later Boiled Crayfish, the Moat Carp can be turned in for Lu Shang's Fishing Rod or sold on the AH for profit. The Tricolored Carp and Gold Carp should be sold to a vendor. Tricolored Carp sell for very little (around 50g/each) whilst Gold Carp sell for a nice amount (around 300g/each).
Once you've gotten used to the different rod behaviours, move on to the next stage or alternatively take this to the 7 cap then move on.
=== Carpwell ===
Target 	Location 	Location 	Skill Cap
Moat Carp	Knightwell, West Ronfaure	Knightwell, West Ronfaure	11
Rod Type 	Rod 	Bait/Lure 	Bait/Lure
Wooden 	Hume Fishing Rod 	Insect Ball 	Insect Ball
Synthetic	Halcyon Rod 	Insect Ball 	Insect Ball
Notes 	Notes 	Notes 	Notes
This is a nice way to get to Fishing Skill 11 with plenty of Moat Carp to boot. The Insect Balls will isolate Moat Carp, which is great if you are going for Lu Shang's Fishing Rod, but the downside to this is once you hit 11 Fishing Skill cap, you won't get any skillups here. I recommend using Hume Fishing Rod as it drains the stamina of Moat Carp much faster than Halcyon Rod. 
Once you hit the 11 cap, you can either stay here to get more Moat Carp for Lu Shang's Fishing Rod as the isolation helps bring larger quantities or you can move on to the next stage to carry on getting skillups whilst still getting some Moat Carp along the way.
Extra Tip: Having Cooking at 29 helps greatly as you can make your own Insect Balls very cheap.	This is a nice way to get to Fishing Skill 11 with plenty of Moat Carp to boot. The Insect Balls will isolate Moat Carp, which is great if you are going for Lu Shang's Fishing Rod, but the downside to this is once you hit 11 Fishing Skill cap, you won't get any skillups here. I recommend using Hume Fishing Rod as it drains the stamina of Moat Carp much faster than Halcyon Rod. 
Once you hit the 11 cap, you can either stay here to get more Moat Carp for Lu Shang's Fishing Rod as the isolation helps bring larger quantities or you can move on to the next stage to carry on getting skillups whilst still getting some Moat Carp along the way.
Extra Tip: Having Cooking at 29 helps greatly as you can make your own Insect Balls very cheap.	This is a nice way to get to Fishing Skill 11 with plenty of Moat Carp to boot. The Insect Balls will isolate Moat Carp, which is great if you are going for Lu Shang's Fishing Rod, but the downside to this is once you hit 11 Fishing Skill cap, you won't get any skillups here. I recommend using Hume Fishing Rod as it drains the stamina of Moat Carp much faster than Halcyon Rod. 
Once you hit the 11 cap, you can either stay here to get more Moat Carp for Lu Shang's Fishing Rod as the isolation helps bring larger quantities or you can move on to the next stage to carry on getting skillups whilst still getting some Moat Carp along the way.
Extra Tip: Having Cooking at 29 helps greatly as you can make your own Insect Balls very cheap.	This is a nice way to get to Fishing Skill 11 with plenty of Moat Carp to boot. The Insect Balls will isolate Moat Carp, which is great if you are going for Lu Shang's Fishing Rod, but the downside to this is once you hit 11 Fishing Skill cap, you won't get any skillups here. I recommend using Hume Fishing Rod as it drains the stamina of Moat Carp much faster than Halcyon Rod. 
Once you hit the 11 cap, you can either stay here to get more Moat Carp for Lu Shang's Fishing Rod as the isolation helps bring larger quantities or you can move on to the next stage to carry on getting skillups whilst still getting some Moat Carp along the way.
Extra Tip: Having Cooking at 29 helps greatly as you can make your own Insect Balls very cheap.