Fishing in Core Keeper isn't just a side hobby for when you're bored of mining walls or dodging Caveling pickaxes. Honestly, it’s one of the most consistent ways to buff your stats before a major boss fight. But if you're trying to figure out how to get fishing gear Core Keeper players actually use to catch the rare stuff, you’ve probably realized the game doesn't just hand it to you on a silver platter. You have to hunt for it.
Most players start by punching some wood and making a basic rod. That’s fine for the early game. However, if you want to reel in the legendary fish in the Sunken Sea or the Molten Quarry, that wooden stick is going to fail you. You need a setup that increases your fishing skill, reduces the time it takes for a fish to bite, and gives you enough "fishing strength" so the line doesn't snap the second a rare fish fights back.
Starting Simple: The Early Game Rods
You can’t run before you can walk. Or, in this case, you can’t catch a Starlight Nautilus with a twig. Your first step in learning how to get fishing gear Core Keeper offers is hitting the Basic Workbench.
The Wood Fishing Rod is your entry point. It costs five Wood and is basically useless for anything beyond the dirt biome. It's a starter tool. Don't get attached. Once you move into the Tin age, you can craft the Tin Fishing Rod. This requires Tin Bars and Wood. It’s a slight upgrade, but the real jump happens when you reach the Iron tier.
The Iron Fishing Rod is where things start feeling "real." You'll need an Iron Workbench for this one. It provides a significant boost to your fishing glow, making it easier to see those ripples in dark cavern pools. It’s the workhorse of the mid-game.
The Best Rods and Where They Hide
If you want the top-tier stuff, you aren't going to find the recipes at a standard crafting bench. You have to explore. The Scarlet Fishing Rod is a fan favorite because it’s relatively easy to craft once you reach the Azeos’ Wilderness. It requires Scarlet Bars and Iron Bars. It’s fast. It’s sturdy.
But then there's the Octarine Fishing Rod. This is arguably the best general-purpose rod in the game. You find the materials for this in the Sunken Sea biome. Since the Sunken Sea is literally mostly water, having a rod that matches the biome's difficulty is essential. You’ll need Octarine Bars and some Coral Planks.
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Wait, there’s more.
If you’re lucky—or very patient—you might stumble upon the Galaxite Fishing Rod. This is a late-game powerhouse. You craft it at the Galaxite Workbench. It has the highest base fishing stat of the craftable rods, making it your go-to for endgame completionism.
Wearing Your Success: The Fisherman’s Armor Set
Getting the rod is only half the battle. If you want to maximize your efficiency, you need the outfit. The Fisherman’s Set is the gold standard for anyone serious about the hobby.
This set consists of:
- Fisherman's Hat
- Fisherman's Vest
- Fisherman's Pants
Wearing the full set gives you a massive bonus to your fishing skill. But where is it? You can’t craft this. You have to find it in Caveling Fishing Stacks or by looting crates in the Azazeos’ Wilderness and the Sunken Sea. Sometimes, the Fishing Merchant will sell pieces of it if you’ve managed to move him into your base using the Slime Oil item.
Another niche but powerful option is the Scuba Set. While it’s primarily for swimming speed, the Scuba Fins and Diving Mask can sometimes be found while fishing in the Sunken Sea. They don't boost fishing directly like the Fisherman's set, but they make navigating the water-heavy biomes much less of a headache.
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Essential Accessories: Rings and Necklaces
Don't overlook your jewelry slots. They are tiny, but they pack a punch. When people ask how to get fishing gear Core Keeper experts use, they're usually talking about these specific drops.
The Gold Fish Ring is a classic. You get this by... well, fishing. It’s a random drop from fishing spots in various biomes. It increases your fishing skill by a flat amount. Pair it with the Neptune's Necklace, which you can also pull out of the water, and you'll notice the "pulling" mini-game becomes significantly easier.
There's also the Sea Foam Ring. This one is great because it reduces the time it takes for a fish to bite. If you're grinding for specific cooking ingredients, this ring saves you literal hours of real-world time. You'll mostly find this in the Sunken Sea treasure pools.
The Secret Weapon: The Fishing Merchant
If RNG (random number generation) isn't on your side, go to the source. The Fishing Merchant is an NPC you can recruit. To get him, you first need to defeat Azeos the Sky Titan. He drops the Chum Bucket, which is the lure item needed to attract the merchant to an empty room in your base.
The Merchant sells:
- Various bait types (Spicy Bait, Glowing Bait)
- The Fisherman's armor pieces (random rotation)
- High-tier rods if you're lucky
Buying bait from him is much faster than crafting it. The Glowing Bait is particularly useful because it increases the chance of a fish biting by 20%, which stacks with your gear.
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Diving into the Deep: Specialized Gear
Sometimes you need something specific. The Keepsake Pearl is an off-hand item that gives a boost to your fishing skill. You find this by fishing in the Mold Biome. It’s a bit of a dangerous area, so make sure your combat gear is up to par before you go sitting by a pond there.
Then there’s the Rusted Ship's Wheel. It sounds like junk, right? Wrong. It’s a valuable off-hand item found in the Sunken Sea that helps with fishing strength. It’s these weird, non-obvious items that separate the casual players from the masters.
Why Bother? The Benefits of High-Tier Gear
You might be wondering why you'd spend hours hunting for a specific hat. The answer is in the kitchen.
Cooking high-level fish provides buffs that you cannot get anywhere else. For example, the Pink Coralot provides a significant boost to your melee damage. The Elder Sagefish increases your magic damage. If you're heading into a fight against Omothol or the Core Sentry, having a stack of "Rare" or "Epic" cooked fish can be the difference between a win and a frustrated respawn.
Higher fishing skill doesn't just make the mini-game easier; it increases the "rarity" roll. With the right gear, you’ll start pulling up Golden Fish. These are the ingredients for the best food in the game.
Practical Steps to Build Your Fishing Build
If you’re starting from scratch today, here is the most efficient path to becoming a master angler.
- Craft the Iron Rod immediately. Don't waste time with Tin. Skip straight to Iron as soon as you find your first few nodes.
- Locate the Fishing Merchant. Defeat Azeos as soon as you are geared up. Having a constant supply of Spicy Bait will change your life.
- Farm the Sunken Sea. This biome is the "endgame" for fishing. Even if you just sit on the shore of your starting island in the Sea, the loot tables are much better than the Clay Caves or the Forgotten Ruins.
- Check every Caveling crate. The Fisherman's set is rare. Don't leave any crates unbroken while you're exploring.
- Use the right bait. If you want more items/loot, use Sticky Bait. If you want fish specifically, use Spicy Bait.
Fishing in Core Keeper is a test of patience, but with the right gear, that test becomes a lot more rewarding. Focus on getting that Fisherman's set early, and the rest of the items will eventually find their way onto your hook. Keep your eyes on the ripples and your inventory clear—you're going to need the space for all that loot.
Next Steps for Your Core Keeper Journey
- Audit your current accessories: See if you have any rings that boost "Glow" or "Mining Speed" and swap them for the Sea Foam or Gold Fish rings whenever you're near water.
- Set up a dedicated fishing room: Build a small base near a portal in the Sunken Sea with a chest specifically for your rods and baits so you can swap builds instantly.
- Go hunt Azeos: If you haven't unlocked the Fishing Merchant yet, prioritize that boss fight today to gain access to professional-grade bait.