How to Fish in Palworld? Rods, Bait & Tips (July 2025)

Looking to master the new fishing mechanics in Palworld? I've spent hours casting lines and reeling in rare Water Pals since the Tides of Terraria update dropped, and I'm here to share everything you need to know. Whether you're hunting for that elusive Cecaelia or just want to stock up on aquatic companions, this comprehensive guide will turn you into a master angler in no time!
The new fishing mechanic allows you to catch both new and existing Pals in the game, plus salvage valuable resources from the ocean floor. Trust me, once you get the hang of it, fishing becomes one of the most rewarding activities in Palworld – and I'll show you exactly how to do it right.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview: What You Need to Start Fishing?
Before diving into the details, here's what you'll need to begin your fishing journey:
- Fishing Rod (unlocks at Technology Level 15)
- Bait (various types available)
- Fish Shadows in water bodies
- Patience and good timing!
Now, let's break down everything step by step.
How to Unlock Fishing in Palworld?
The Beginner Fishing Set is available at technology level 15 and costs 2 points to unlock. This is your gateway to the entire fishing system, so prioritize reaching this level if you're eager to start catching aquatic Pals.
Once unlocked, you'll gain access to:
- Your first fishing rod recipe
- Simple Bait crafting ability
- The knowledge to spot fishing locations
Crafting Your First Fishing Rod (Step-by-Step)
Where to Craft Fishing Rods
Here's something crucial that confused me initially: Despite being labeled as weapons, they cannot be crafted at Weapon Workbenches. Instead, you'll need:
- Beginner Fishing Rod: High Quality Workbench or higher
- Intermediate Fishing Rod: Production Assembly Line
- Advanced Fishing Rod: Production Assembly Line II
Fishing Rod Types & Requirements
I've broken down all three fishing rod tiers with their exact crafting requirements:
1. Beginner Fishing Set (Level 15)
Cost: 2 Technology Points
Materials:
- 10 Paldium Fragments
- 3 Pal Fluids
- 8 Ingots
- 8 Fiber
This basic rod gets the job done for early-game fishing. I used mine for weeks before upgrading!
2. Intermediate Fishing Rod - Cattiva Design (Level 29)
Cost: 2 Technology Points
Materials:
- 30 Paldium Fragments
- 10 High Quality Pal Oil
- 10 Cement
- 30 Fiber
The Cattiva design boasts improved performance to make catching a bit easier. The adorable design is just a bonus!
3. Advanced Fishing Rod - Pengullet Design (Level 45)
Cost: 3 Technology Points
Materials:
- 30 Paldium Fragments
- 20 High Quality Pal Oil
- 15 Pal Metal Ingots
- 30 Carbon Fiber
This premium rod makes the fishing minigame significantly easier – worth every resource!
All Bait Types Explained (Which One Should You Use?)
To fish, you must first craft bait, and choosing the right type can make a huge difference in your success rate. Here's my breakdown of each bait type:
Simple Bait (Unlocked with Beginner Set)
Materials:
- 2 Pal Fluids
- 4 Berries
- 2 Flour
My Take: Great for starting out, but upgrade ASAP. The catch rate is noticeably lower.
High Quality Bait (Level 22)
Cost: 1 Technology Point
Materials:
- 3 Pal Fluids
- 4 Tomatoes
- 3 Flour
My Take: The sweet spot for most fishing. Good balance of cost and effectiveness.
Deluxe Bait (Level 38)
Cost: 2 Technology Points
Materials:
- 4 High Quality Pal Oil
- 4 Onions
- 3 Carrots
- 4 Flour
My Take: This bait lures in Pals and also enlarges the size of the bar in the fishing minigame. Game-changer for difficult catches!
Alluring Bait (Level 52)
Cost: 2 Technology Points
Materials:
- 10 High Quality Pal Oil
- 1 Cavern Mushroom
- 3 Carrots
- 5 Flour
My Take: The ultimate bait! It lures in Pals, improves the minigame, and increases the number of items obtained. Save this for rare fish shadows.
Pro Tip: All bait types are crafted at the High Quality Workbench once unlocked.
How to Actually Fish in Palworld: The Complete Process
After fumbling through my first few attempts, I've perfected the fishing technique. Here's exactly how to do it:
Step 1: Find Fish Shadows
You can only obtain Pals when fishing in waterways with fish shadows. Look for dark silhouettes moving beneath the water's surface. They appear in:
- Rivers
- Lakes
- Ocean shores
- Ponds (including your base fishing ponds)
Step 2: Check for Special Shadows
Keep an eye out for these visual indicators:
- Purple Sparkles: Purple sparkles mean the Pal captured will be an Alpha Pal
- Green Sparkles: Green sparkles guarantee a Rainbow Passive
- Glowing Shadows: Indicate rarer Pals
Step 3: Cast Your Line
- Equip your fishing rod (it takes up a weapon slot)
- Select your bait from inventory
- Aim at the fish shadow
- PC: Right-click to ready, left-click to cast
- Xbox: LT to ready, RT to cast
- PlayStation: L2 to ready, R2 to cast
Step 4: Master the Minigame
When a fish bites, you'll see two exclamation marks. Click immediately to start the minigame!
The fishing minigame works like this:
- A fish icon moves left and right
- Keep it within the green bar by holding/releasing the action button
- Hold to move the bar right, release to move left
- Fill the progress circle to catch the Pal
My Secret: Start with gentle taps rather than holding – it gives you better control!
Best Fishing Locations & What You Can Catch
Through extensive testing, I've discovered that each fishing spot has a difficulty level attached to it. Here are the best spots I've found:
Beginner-Friendly Spots
- Plateau of Beginning: Calm waters, common Water Pals
- Flying Fish Coast: Great for Fuack and Pengullet
- River areas: Consistent Celaray spawns
Advanced Fishing Areas
- Ocean salvage spots: Rare items and stronger Pals
- Shipwreck Island waters: New Pals from Tides of Terraria
- Iceberg Island shores: Unique ice/water variants
Water Pals You Can Catch
Most Pals that can be obtained through fishing are Water element Pals, their variants, and Pals based on marine animals. Common catches include:
- Fuack (early game essential)
- Pengullet (great for cooling)
- Celaray (transport helper)
- Surfent (water mount)
- Azurobe (another excellent mount)
- New Cecaelia Pal (Tides of Terraria exclusive)
- Various fish-themed Pals
Fishing from Mounts (My Favorite Method!)
Here's a game-changer: If you spot fish shadows out of reach, you can ride a mountable Pal that can swim in the water. This opens up so many more fishing spots!
Best Water Mounts for Fishing:
- Surfent - Fast and agile
- Azurobe - Tanky with good speed
- Any water Pal with a saddle - Even slower ones work!
Simply mount up, swim to deeper waters, and cast away. You can fish while mounted – it's incredibly convenient!
Building Fishing Ponds at Your Base
Want to fish without leaving home? You can unlock the Fishing Pond from the Technology menu and have Pals do the fishing for you!
Small Fishing Pond (Level 31)
Cost: 3 Technology Points
Materials:
- 40 Wood
- 5 Cement
- 10 Pal Fluids
Features: You can choose the shadow size of the fish that will spawn
Large Fishing Pond (Level 55)
Cost: 4 Technology Points
Materials:
- 60 Wood
- 20 Stone
- 10 Plasteel
- 20 High Quality Pal Oil
Features: Catches larger Pals with better rewards
Important: You'll need to assign someone who can use their hands, which means you'll need a handiwork Pal like Anubis, Lyleen, or Katress. However, be warned – a Medium Fish Shadow takes over 18 minutes to catch!
Salvaging: The Secret to Getting Coralum Ore
Beyond catching Pals, fishing rods unlock a whole new resource gathering method! Salvage spots in the sea are marked by floating bits of wood and barrels.
How to Salvage:
- Ride a water mount
- Approach floating debris
- Equip fishing rod (no bait needed!)
- Interact to start a different minigame
- Stop a spinning marker inside a highlighted green area
What You Can Salvage:
- Coralum Ore (new metal for weapon upgrades)
- Pal Souls
- Gold coins
- Various gems
- Rare materials
Powerful Fishing Magnet (Level 61)
Cost: 3 Technology Points
Materials: 1 Hexolite
This high-powered magnet will pull the new metal type and other high-end items from the sea. Essential for late-game salvaging!
Pro Fishing Tips & Strategies
After countless hours of fishing, here are my top tips:
1. Weather Matters
Different weather conditions seem to affect spawn rates. I've noticed more rare shadows during storms!
2. Time Your Casts
Fish shadows have patterns. Watch them for a few seconds before casting for better positioning.
3. Bait Management
- Use Simple Bait for common shadows
- Save Deluxe/Alluring for glowing or large shadows
- Always carry multiple bait types
4. Efficient Farming Route
Create a circuit of fishing spots near fast travel points. I can hit 10+ locations in under 5 minutes!
5. Bring Jelliette
This pal "increases items obtained by fishing" – perfect for salvaging runs!
6. Shadow Sizes Matter
Larger shadows generally mean rarer Pals. Prioritize these when you spot them!
Common Fishing Problems & Solutions
"I can't find any fish shadows!"
Solution: Not all water has fish. Look for moving shadows, try different times of day, or explore new areas.
"The minigame is too hard!"
Solution: Start with Deluxe Bait to enlarge the bar. Practice with common fish before attempting rare ones.
"My fishing pond isn't working!"
Solution: Ensure you've assigned a Pal with Handiwork skills and added bait to the pond's inventory.
"I can't craft fishing rods!"
Solution: Remember, you need a High Quality Workbench minimum – not a Weapon Workbench!
Is Fishing Worth It in Palworld?
Absolutely! Here's why I fish daily:
- Exclusive Pals: Some Water Pals can only be obtained through fishing
- Passive Income: Fishing ponds generate resources while you're away
- Valuable Materials: Coralum Ore is essential for late-game weapon upgrades
- Relaxing Gameplay: A nice break from intense combat
- Completionist Goals: Gotta catch 'em all!
Fishing After Tides of Terraria: What's New?
The Tides of Terraria update added fishing as part of core activities, bringing:
- 6 new Water-type Pals
- Coralum Ore for weapon enhancement
- Three new islands with unique fishing spots
- Salvaging mechanics
- Fishing pond automation
This update transformed fishing from a wished-for feature into one of Palworld's most engaging systems!
Quick Reference: Fishing Checklist
Before you head out:
- Fishing rod equipped
- Multiple bait types crafted
- Water mount saddled (optional but recommended)
- Inventory space for catches
- Powerful Fishing Magnet (for salvaging)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fish without bait?
No, you need bait for catching Pals. However, salvaging doesn't require bait!
What's the best fishing rod?
The Advanced Fishing Rod (Pengullet design) offers the best performance, but the Intermediate rod is perfectly viable for most players.
Do different areas have different Pals?
Yes! Each region has its own pool of catchable Pals, with some exclusive to specific islands.
Can I fish in my base without a pond?
Unfortunately no – you need either natural water with fish shadows or a constructed fishing pond.
How do I get Alpha Pals through fishing?
Look for fish shadows with purple sparkles – these guarantee an Alpha variant!
Final Thoughts
Fishing in Palworld has quickly become one of my favorite activities. Whether I'm hunting for rare Pals, gathering resources through salvaging, or just relaxing at my base pond, the fishing system adds a whole new dimension to the game.
Remember, patience is key – not every cast will be successful, but when you finally reel in that rare Pal you've been hunting, it's incredibly satisfying. The system rewards dedication, and with the tips in this guide, you're well-equipped to become Palworld's premier angler.
So grab your rod, stock up on bait, and get out there! The waters of Palworld are teeming with incredible Pals just waiting to be caught. Who knows? Your next cast might land you the catch of a lifetime!