Fishing Trade Skill Guide for New World

Fishing in New World: Aeternum is a releaxing and rewarding trade skill that allows players to catch a wide range of fish, which can be utilized for Cooking, crafting, Arcana, and of course, trading. This guide will cover everything you need to know about fishing in New World: Aeternum, including how to get started, tips and tricks to boost your luck while fishing, the best spots to fish, the most effective fishing perks and gear, the best bait (and where to get it), and much, much more.

To start fishing, the first step is to obtain a fishing pole. Luckily, you can easily craft a Wooden Fishing Pole at any camp or workshop. The wooden fishing pole uses basic materials that you can easily find on the ground throughout Aeternum, including Green Wood (from trees and bushes) and Fibers (from hemp). As you level up your Engineering, you'll be able to crafter higher-quality poles. If you're not a fan of crafting, you always have the other option of exploring the Trading Post to see if you can buy one directly from other players.

Once you have your fishing pole, you're ready to get started. The first step is to identify a body of water that you wish to fish in with your fishing pole equipped. Once you're standing over the water, you will see a pop-up appear of which button you need to click to cast your line. These buttons differ based on whether or not you're playing on PC or Console (XBox Series or Playstation 5).

Once you cast your line, you will eventually have a a fish on your hook (indicated by a "Hook!" notification above your character). At that point, click the button indicated on your screen, and begin to hold down to slowly reel your line in with the fish. By mindful of the tension on the line, indicated by the green-to-red coloring in the circle above your character. If the tension is too high (when the circle is pure red and complete), the line will break, leading to the fish getting away.

It's important to note that maximizing the distance on each of your casts will provide you with more fishing experience, as well as making the reeling in process slightly easier for you. You will also have the ability to add certain types of baits to increase the liklihood that a rarer fish is on the end of your line (more info on this below).

The fishing trade skill scales directly with Focus, so we highly recommended that you aim to maximize the Focus attributes you gain through your gear and overall attribute selection. The goal is to try to hit 350 Focus while fishing to gain the most amount of fishing buffs. Keep in mind, this will be unobtainable until your character levels up a bit. Be sure to use attribute-focused consumables to help you increase your Focus, such as Armadillo Jocon, which increases your Focus attribute by 40 for 40 minutes. Below is a list of additional fishing perks gained from reaching a certain amount of Focus.

• 25 Focus: +5% chance to catch larger fish
• 50 Focus: +3% fishing cast distance
• 100 Focus: +50 encumbrance (allowing you to hold more fish while fishing)
• 150 Focus: -10% in carry weight for fish
• 200 Focus: +15% chance to catch larger fish
• 250 Focus: +20% chance to catch larger fish
• 350 Focus: +10% chance at finding rare items while fishing

There are A LOT of different fish species throughout Aeternum, with each fish holding a unique purpose, making some more valuable than others. Certain fish can only be found in specific areas of the map, and specific types of water (either freshwater or saltwater).

Below is a complete list that highlights every fish in Aeternum, the type of water they can be found in, and which zone they are most commonly found.

Fish	Water Type	Commonly Found In
Bass: Small Bass Medium Bass Large Bass	Freshwater	First Light, Cutlass Keys, Monarchs Bluffs, Windsward
Bluefish: Small Bluefish Medium Bluefish Large Bluefish	Saltwater	First Light, Monarchs Bluffs, Weavers Fen, Mourningdale, Restless Shore, Reekwater, Ebonscale Reach
Flounder: Small Flounder Medium Flounder Large Flounder	Saltwater	First Light, Cutlass Keys, Windsward, Weavers Fen, Mourningdale, Restless Shore, Reekwater, Ebonscale Reach
Hake: Small Hake Medium Hake Large Hake	Saltwater	Windsward, Mourningdale, Restless Shore
Mackerel: Small Mackerel Medium Mackerel Large Mackerel	Saltwater	Cutlass Keys, Monarchs Bluffs, Windsward
Snapper: Small Snapper Medium Snapper Large Snapper	Saltwater	First Light, Cutlass Keys, Monarchs Bluffs, Weavers Fen, Reekwater, Ebonscale Reach
Salmon: Small Salmon Medium Salmon Large Salmon	Freshwater and Saltwater	All Regions
Perch: Small Perch Medium Perch Large Perch	Freshwater	First Light, Cutlass Keys, Monarchs Bluffs, Windsward, Everfall, Brightwood, Weavers Fen, Reekwater, Ebonscale Reach
Pike: Small Pike Medium Pike Large Pike	Freshwater	First Light, Cutlass Keys, Windsward, Brightwood, Weavers Fen, Restless Shore, Reekwater, Ebonscale Reach, Great Cleave, Edengrove, Shattered Mountain
Trout: Small Trout Medium Trout Large Trout	Freshwater	Everfall, Brightwood, Weavers Fen, Mourningdale, Restless Shore, Reekwater, Ebonscale Reach, Great Cleave, Edengrove, Shattered Mountain
Sunfish: Small Sunfish Medium Sunfish Large Sunfish	Freshwater	Mourningdale, Restless Shore, Great Cleave, Edengrove, Shattered Mountain
Aquatic Snail	Freshwater	First Light, Monarchs Bluffs, Everfall, Brightwood, Restless Shore, Edengrove
Catfish: Small Catfish Medium Catfish Large Catfish	Freshwater	Cutlass Keys, Windsward, Weavers Fen, Restless Shore, Reekwater, Ebonscale Reach, Edengrove, Shattered Mountain
Clam	Saltwater	First Light, Monarchs Bluffs, Ebonscale Reach, Weavers Fen, Mourningdale, Everfall
Cod: Small Cod Medium Cod Large Cod	Saltwater	Cutlass Keys, Windsward, Weavers Fen, Mourningdale, Ebonscale Reach
Halibut: Small Halibut Medium Halibut Large Halibut	Saltwater	First Light, Windsward, Restless Shore, Reekwater
Squid: Small Squid Medium Squid Large Squid	Saltwater	Cutlass Keys, Monarchs Bluffs, Restless Shore, Reekwater
Sturgeon: Small Sturgeon Medium Sturgeon Large Sturgeon	Freshwater	First Light, Monarchs Bluffs, Brightwood, Mourningdale, Reekwater, Great Cleave
Tadpole	Freshwater	Cutlass Keys, Windsward, Everfall, Weavers Fen, Mourningdale, Ebonscale Reach, Great Cleave, Shattered Mountain
Dragon Fish: Small Dragon Fish Medium Dragon Fish Large Dragon Fish	Freshwater and Saltwater	Windsward, Weavers Fen, Everfall, Edengrove, Shattered Mountain
Electric Eel: Small Electric Eel Medium Electric Eel Large Electric Eel	Freshwater	First Light, Everfall, Brightwood, Restless Shore, Shattered Mountain
Frogfish: Small Frogfish Medium Frogfish Large Frogfish	Freshwater and Saltwater	First Light, Mourningdale, Reekwater, Brightwood, Great Cleave
Madtom: Small Madtom Medium Madtom Large Madtom	Freshwater	Monarchs Bluffs, Weavers Fen, Ebonscale Reach, Edengrove
Oyster	Saltwater	First Light, Reekwater, Restless Shore
Paddlefish: Small Paddlefish Medium Paddlefish Large Paddlefish	Freshwater	Cutlass Keys, Monarchs Bluffs, Restless Shore, Ebonscale Reach, Great Cleave
Piranha: Small Piranha Medium Piranha Large Piranha	Freshwater	Windsward, Restless Shore, Reekwater, Great Cleave, Edengrove
Sculpin: Small Sculpin Medium Sculpin Large Sculpin	Saltwater	Windsward, Restless Shore, Reekwater, Ebonscale Reach
SpeartoothShark: Small Speartooth Shark Medium Speartooth Shark Large Speartooth Shark	Freshwater	Cutlass Keys, Mourningdale, Reekwater, Ebonscale Reach, Shattered Mountain
Stingray: Small Stingray Medium Stingray Large Stingray	Saltwater	Cutlass Keys, Monarchs Bluffs, Mourningdale, Ebonscale Reach
Starfish	Saltwater	Monarchs Bluffs, Weavers Fen, Restless Shore, Ebonscale Reach
Swordfish: Small Swordfish Medium Swordfish Large Swordfish	Saltwater	Cutlass Keys, Weavers Fen, Mourningdale
Sunken Treasure Chest	Freshwater and Saltwater	Anywhere, higher chance in Hotspots
Abaia Serpe	Freshwater and Saltwater	Windsward
Albenaja	Freshwater and Saltwater	First Light
Aquanaja	Freshwater and Saltwater	Mourningdale
Blue-blooded Barb	Freshwater and Saltwater	Reekwater
Blue-Winged Serpe	Freshwater and Saltwater	Great Cleave
Daemonaja	Freshwater and Saltwater	Ebonscale Reach
Egede Serpe	Freshwater and Saltwater	Brightwood
Glowing Guardfish	Freshwater and Saltwater	Restless Shore
Glowing Gnufish	Freshwater and Saltwater	Cutlass Keys
Horned-Tooth Mandje	Freshwater and Saltwater	Edengrove
Lava Barb	Freshwater and Saltwater	Shattered Mountain
Mandje Mandje	Freshwater and Saltwater	Everfall
Ray-Finned Barb	Freshwater and Saltwater	Monarchs Bluffs
Varanus Mandje	Freshwater and Saltwater	Weavers Fen

Luck greatly increases your chance at getting rare fish from Fishing. Stacking as much luck as possible on all of your gear and fishing pole is the key to finding those legendary fish. Additionally, fishing with certain trophies in your houses directly at fishing hotspots will provide you with a higher chance of catching rare fish (more information on those below).

You are able to have a total of three houses currently in New World Aeternum, and in each of those houses you can place up to five trophies. By placing a Major Fishing Gathering Trophy, you will be able to increase your fishing luck by 5,000, greatly increasing your odds of catching legendary fish. These trophies can be crafted by using the Furnishing trade skill.

Additionally, every Summer there is a limited-time event known as the "Summer Medleyfaire", where you are given the opportunity to obtain up to three Special Aeternum Sturgeon Fishing Trophy items. Each of these trophies will provide you with a +10% fishing experience buff, allowing you to max your fishing tradeskill even faster - taking you one step closer to maximizing your fishing strategy and effectiveness.

1. Minor Fishing Trophy = +2,500 Luck
2. Basic Fishing Trophy = +3,500 Luck
3. Major Fishing Trophy = +5,000 Luck

There are a handful of unique fishing-related perks that you can acquire on your fishing pole, and some of these are dependant on the time you are actually fishing (day or night). For example, if you prefer to go fishing during daytime, you will want to consider using the Lucky Day I perk, which grants and increased chance at catching rare fish in the daytime. However if you prefer fishing at night, you'll want to consider using the Lucky Night I perk. At level 250 Fishing, we recommend that you eventually have a few different Fishing Poles to better suit the fish you are looking to catch.

The list below showcases all of the available perks that you can add to your fishing pole.

• Time of Day Luck eg: Lucky Day I
• Fresh/Salt water Luck eg: Freshwater Colossus I
• Fish Size Chance eg: Daytime Colossus I
• Line Strength eg: Freshwaters Brawn I
• Cast Distance eg: Suns Reach I

Within New World Aeternum, there is a unique set of quests that are entirely focused on fishing. By completing these quests, you'll be awarded specific gear that provides unique fishing buffs, such as the Sleek Fisherman's Hat. By completing the full quest line, you will receive a random legendary fishing pole reward box that will contain one of four legendary fishing poles, such as the Corrupted Fishing Pole. This quest chain is relatively short and easy to follow, and can be started within Windsward.

As you venture throughout Aeternum, you will have the chance of receiving unique fishing gear that may drop from enemies, or picked up from chests. Below is a closer look at some of the most sought-after fishing gear. Click on each to get a closer look on where you need to go in order to farm these.

Fishing Equipment	Drop Source
Fisherman's Hat	Open World
Fisherman's Smock	Open World
Fisherman's Gloves	Open World
Fisherman's Trousers	Open World
Fisherman's Boots	Open World

Using bait in New World Aeternum is entirely optional, however, bait does provide you with very useful buffs, so it's highly recommended to use bait when you can while fishing. Based on what type of bait you're using, and where you are using it (freshwater or salt water), you will receive a specific boosted chance at catching larger or rarer fish.

Below is a complete list of the different types of baits you can use while fishing in New World Aeternum, and what benefits each provide.

• Oyster Bait — Large boost to catch larger fish in Freshwater
• Clam Bait — Medium boost to catch larger fish in Freshwater
• Meat Bait — Small boost to catch larger fish in Freshwater
• Firefly Bait — Large boost to catch rare fish in Freshwater
• Woodlouse Bait — Medium boost to catch rare fish in Freshwater
• Bread Bait — Small boost to catch rare fish in Freshwater
• Electric Eel Bait — Large boost to catch larger fish in Saltwater
• Snail Bait — Medium boost to catch larger fish in Saltwater
• Fish Bait — Small boost to catch larger fish in Saltwater
• Glowworm Bait — Large boost to catch rare fish in Saltwater
• Nightcrawler Bait — Medium boost to catch rare fish in Saltwater
• Cheese Bait — Small boost to catch rare fish in Saltwater

As mentioned above, there are a range of different strategies you can use to quickly level up your fishing, including utilizing the Special Aeternum Sturgeon Fishing trophies, and all of the other tactics shared above to maximize your chances at catching legenary fish. The rarer the fish you catch, the more experience you gain. With that logic, if you maximize your overall luck by using the tips and tricks share above, you will be able to quickly and efficiently max out your fishing trade skill (especially if you're fishing in hotspots).

Hotspots are unique locations that can be found throughout Aeternum that are small pools of jumping fish. These pools of fish provide a major increase in your probability of catching legendary fish. Hotspots can be found throughout the map, and as your fishing level progresses, so does your visiblity towards rarer hotspot.

Click here to find the spawn points of every hotspot within Aeternum.