Fishing answer: start in Scarlet Forest, then clear the regional exceptions
There are 20 aquatic species in the current base-game field guide. Scarlet Forest Areas 12, 13 and 17 cover most specialist catches. Use Rest to set the required environment and time, clear those pools, then visit Windward Plains 13–14, Iceshard Cliffs 1 or 20 and Wyveria 8 or 13 for the remaining species.
Complete aquatic life checklist
Area numbers are in-game map coordinates. “Wyveria” means Ruins of Wyveria. The table lists reliable, repeatable pools rather than every possible spawn.
| # | Species | Reliable location | Weather | Time | Preferred lure | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blind Perch | Iceshard Cliffs 1, 20 · Wyveria 8, 13 | Any | Anytime | Emerald Jitterbait | Yes |
| 2 | Bomb Arowana | Scarlet Forest 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17 · Oilwell Basin 12, 14 | Any | Anytime | Emerald Jitterbait | Yes |
| 3 | Burst Arowana | Scarlet Forest 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17 · Oilwell Basin 12, 14 | Any | Anytime | Emerald Jitterbait | Yes |
| 4 | Escunite | Scarlet Forest 8, 12, 17 | Plenty | Night | Tentacle Jig | Yes |
| 5 | Gajau | Scarlet Forest 12, 13, 17 | Plenty | Anytime | Duster Rig | Rod only |
| 6 | Gastronome Tuna | Scarlet Forest 12, 17 | Plenty | Night | Tuff Joint Bait | Rod only |
| 7 | Glass Parexus | Iceshard Cliffs 1, 20 · Wyveria 8, 13 | Any | Anytime | Any lure | Yes |
| 8 | Goldenfish | Windward Plains 14 · Scarlet Forest 2, 8, 12, 16 | Any | Anytime | Golden Bughead | Yes |
| 9 | Goldenfry | Scarlet Forest 1, 6, 12, 16, 17 · Iceshard Cliffs 1, 20 · Wyveria 8, 13 | Any | Anytime | Golden Bughead | Yes |
| 10 | Goliath Squid | Scarlet Forest 17 | Plenty | Night | Tentacle Jig | Rod only |
| 11 | Grand Escunite | Scarlet Forest 8, 12, 17 | Plenty | Night | Tentacle Jig | Rod only |
| 12 | Gravid Bowfin | Windward Plains 13 · Scarlet Forest 1, 3, 4, 12 · Oilwell Basin 14 · Iceshard Cliffs 1 · Wyveria 8, 13 | Plenty | Dawn or dusk | Emerald Jitterbait | Yes |
| 13 | Great Trevally | Scarlet Forest 10, 13, 17 | Plenty | Daytime | Tuff Joint Bait | Rod only |
| 14 | Gunpowderfish | Scarlet Forest 2, 16 · Iceshard Cliffs 1 · Wyveria 8, 13 | Any | Anytime | Emerald Jitterbait | Yes |
| 15 | Petricanths | Scarlet Forest 16 | Plenty or Inclemency | Night | Duster Rig | Rod only |
| 16 | Platinumfish | Windward Plains 14 · Scarlet Forest 2, 8, 12, 16 | Any | Anytime | Golden Bughead | Yes |
| 17 | Speartuna | Scarlet Forest 12, 13, 17 | Fallow | Daytime | Tuff Joint Bait | Rod only |
| 18 | Sushifish | Windward Plains 13 · Scarlet Forest 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 15 | Any | Anytime | Emerald Jitterbait | Yes |
| 19 | Virid Bowfin | Windward Plains 13, 14 · Scarlet Forest 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 15 | Any | Anytime | Any lure | Yes |
| 20 | Whetfish | Windward Plains 13 · Scarlet Forest 3, 4, 8, 10, 13 · Oilwell Basin 12 | Any | Anytime | Emerald Jitterbait | Yes |
Fast route to complete the field guide
- 01Clear common fish first.
Use Windward Plains Area 13 or Scarlet Forest Areas 1–4 for Virid Bowfin, Sushifish, Whetfish, arowana and Gravid Bowfin candidates.
- 02Run the Scarlet Forest specialist loop.
Check Areas 12, 13 and 17. Change to Plenty and visit daytime for Great Trevally, then night for Escunite, Grand Escunite, Gastronome Tuna and Goliath Squid.
- 03Switch to Fallow for Speartuna.
Keep Tuff Joint Bait equipped and check the large-fish pools in Areas 12, 13 and 17 during the day.
- 04Finish cave and cold-water species.
Use Golden Bughead in dark pools for Goldenfish and Platinumfish, then visit Iceshard Cliffs 1 or 20 and Wyveria 8 or 13 for Glass Parexus and Blind Perch.
Lure unlocks and whopper technique
| Lure | Best first target | How it enters the route |
|---|---|---|
| Common Wood Minnow | General fish | Default lure |
| Emerald Jitterbait | Useful fish and bowfins | Kanya's Goldenfish side-mission line |
| Golden Bughead | Goldenfish, Platinumfish, Goldenfry | Kanya's Goldenfish side-mission line |
| Duster Rig | Gajau and Petricanths | Kanya's whopper side-mission line |
| Tuff Joint Bait | Tuna and Great Trevally | Kanya's whopper side-mission line |
| Tentacle Jig | Escunite and Goliath Squid | Kanya's final fishing side mission |
For whoppers, keep the lure moving until the fish commits. Once hooked, pull opposite its run, follow the jump prompt and reel during the tired pause. Do not hold the reel through a full-power run.
Fishing FAQ
Why is the fish missing from the listed pool?
Confirm the environment and time first. Rest at camp, return to the pool and inspect the silhouettes before casting. Rare species are not guaranteed on every refresh.
Why will a whopper not bite?
Use the preferred lure, cast beyond the fish and animate the lure instead of leaving it still. If the fish turns away repeatedly, reset the pool rather than forcing the same cast.
Does this include Starduster?
No. Starduster is caught with the Capture Net and belongs to the Endemic Life Field Guide, not the 20-entry Aquatic Life checklist.
Sources and verification limits
Official confirmation of lure-based fishing in the Scarlet Forest.
PlayStation Blog · Capcom · Checked Aug 28, 2026Official Rest, time, environment, map and Capture Net mechanics used by the route; also the source of the page image.
PlayStation · Capcom · Checked Aug 28, 2026A complete player capture pass used to cross-check the 20 unique names and separate Aquatic Life from Endemic Life.
JoCoHo · YouTube · Checked Aug 28, 2026Officially licensed launch guide used as a terminology check; its own notice says later update differences are possible.
KADOKAWA Game Linkage · Checked Aug 28, 2026
