Fishing is an incredibly useful and lucrative activity in Terraria. With the right gear and strategy, you can get powerful items and make lots of money from fishing. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to master fishing in Terraria.
Table of Contents
Getting Started
To start fishing, you first need to acquire some basic equipment:
- Fishing Pole – Craft a basic Wood Fishing Pole at a workbench using 8 wood. Upgrade to a Reinforced Fishing Pole using iron/lead bars later.
- Bait – Capture critters with a bug net to use as bait. Butterflies, worms, grasshoppers all work.
- Body of Water – You’ll need at least 300 connected water tiles, ideally more. Oceans work well, or you can make pools.
Once you have pole, bait, and water, stand near the water’s edge and equip the pole and bait. Then cast your line by pressing the attack button. Wait for the bobber to bob, then reel in your line!
Improving Your Gear
Better fishing poles, bait, and accessories will let you catch fish faster and rarer loot. Here’s what to aim for:
- Fiberglass Fishing Pole – 26% fishing power, sold by Angler NPC.
- Golden Fishing Rod – 50% fishing power, get by completing Angler quests.
- Lavaproof Fishing Hook – Lets you fish in lava. Sold by Angler.
- Enchanted Nightcrawlers – Excellent bait, crafted from fallen stars and worms.
- Fishing Potions – Grant +15% fishing power for 8 minutes.
There are also a variety of accessories that boost fishing power when equipped:
- Angler Earring (+10%)
- Angler Tackle Bag (+10%)
- Tackle Box (+5%)
Use these for maximum fishing power!
Completing Fishing Quests
Once the Angler NPC moves in, you can take on fishing quests from him. Completing these quests rewards you with useful loot and is the only way to get the best fishing pole.
To complete the Angler’s quests:
- Talk to him each day for a new quest for a specific fish
- Catch that fish in the appropriate biome and return to Angler before the next day
- You’ll get random rewards and progress towards the Golden Fishing Rod
Quest fish can be tricky, so use bait and fishing potions to improve your odds. Repeat for 50 quests to get the Golden Fishing Rod!
Finding Good Fishing Spots
Not all water spots are equal when it comes to fishing. Follow these tips to locate the best fishing areas:
- Fish in large ponds/oceans over 300 water tiles
- Create pools in various biomes to catch quest fish easily
- Use the Angler Tackle Bag in the Underworld to get Lavaproof bait
- Fishing in the rain boosts your catches substantially
With practice, you’ll learn the best fishing spots across your world’s biomes and events.
Making Money from Fishing
Fishing doesn’t just provide loot – it also makes you rich! Here are some tips:
- Sell spare fish and crates for money
- Open crates (or sell them) for rare items to sell
- Cook fish in a cooking pot to sell cooked fish dishes
- Save rare fish like Neon Tetras for extracting items
- Use the money to buy bait, poles, accessories etc.
In time you’ll have more gold than you know what to do with!
Preparing for Hardmode
Before activating Hardmode, be sure to:
- Stockpile lots of crates by mass fishing
- Only open crates once Hardmode begins
- You’ll catch Hardmode metals/loot instead of normal ones!
This lets you gear up much faster when faced with tougher enemies.
Final Tips
Follow these last tips to master fishing in Terraria:
- Use crate and fishing potions together for best results
- Build multiple fishing holes near your base in each biome
- Try fishing under different events like rain and the blood moon
- Get the full angler armor set for maximum fishing power
- Be patient – the best catches are rare, but keep at it!
With the right strategy, accessories, and locations – you’ll be a master fisherman starting from your first day! Catch all the fish and loot you can desire.
