How fishing works
Equip a fishing pole, load bait (bugs and critters caught with a Bug Net make the best bait), and cast into a pool of at least ~75 connected tiles of liquid. When the bobber dips, reel in. Your total fishing power — from the pole, bait and buffs — decides how often you hook rare catches.
Fishing poles, worst to best
- Wooden Fishing Pole
- Reinforced Fishing Pole
- Fisher of Souls
- Fiberglass Fishing Pole
- Mechanic's Rod
- Golden Fishing Rod
The Golden Fishing Rod is the top pole, earned from the Angler's quest rewards.
What you can catch
Fishing pulls up fish for cooking and potions, fishing crates full of tiered loot and ores, quest fish for the Angler, and rare tools. Crates opened in Hardmode even yield Hardmode bars.
The Angler
The Angler is a town NPC found stranded in the Ocean. He hands out one fishing quest per day; completing them earns unique gear, vanity, the Golden Fishing Rod and fishing accessories.