You're standing on the deck of a Sloop. The sun is dipping below the horizon, painting the Wilds in a bruised purple hue that makes the water look like ink. Most players are out there sweating over World Events or trying to tuck on a Reaper’s Hideout, but you? You're just staring at a bobber. Sea of Thieves fishing is a vibe. It’s the ultimate "low stakes, high reward" mechanic that most people ignore until they realize they need that final commendation for the Legendary Hunter of the Sea of Thieves title.
It’s slow. Honestly, it’s borderline meditative. But if you think it’s just about clicking a button and waiting, you’re doing it wrong. There is a genuine science to the rod, the bait, and the RNG gods that govern the shores of the Sea of Thieves.
The Mechanics Nobody Tells You About
Let’s get the basics out of the way first because if you don't nail the physics, you’re just wasting earthworms. When a fish bites, it’s going to pull. Left, right, or straight away. You have to pull your rod in the opposite direction.
Listen to the wood.
The rod creaks. If you’re pulling the wrong way, the line vibrates and the sound gets sharp. That’s your warning. If you ignore it, the line snaps, and there goes your rare Shadow Stormfish. Also, keep your rod tip down. A lot of players think they need to aim for the sky, but keeping the rod level with the water gives you more room to react when the fish suddenly darts.
Bait is everything
You can’t just throw a bare hook into the water and expect a Trophy Sand Battlegill.
- Earthworms: Use these in the Wilds if you're hunting Wildsplashes.
- Leeches: These are for the Ancient Isles and Ancientscales.
- Grubs: If you’re in the Shores of Plenty looking for Plentifins, you need these wigglers.
But here’s the kicker: some of the best fish don't want bait at all. Splashtails, the "pigeons of the sea," will bite anything. They are the bane of every Hunter's Call representative’s existence. If you’re fishing for Pondies in a landlocked pool—like the one at Devil's Ridge—don't waste your bait. They’ll bite a bare hook every single time.
Why the Hunter’s Call is the Hardest Grind
The Hunter’s Call is the most stubborn faction in the game. Period. Unlike the Gold Hoarders, where one Vault can jump you up a few levels, Merrick’s family demands a blood sacrifice of thousands of fish.
You need 50 levels to hit Pirate Legend status through them, though most people opt for the easier route of Order of Souls or Merchant Alliance. If you choose the path of the fisherman, you are choosing a life of solitude. You’re also choosing to hang out at Seaposts like North Star or The Finest Trading Post. These tiny docks are the only places to sell your catch, and the NPCs there—like Serick or Hendrick—are the only ones who care about your burnt Islehopper.
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The Rarity Tier List
Every fish species has five variants. Four are common-ish. One is a nightmare.
Take the Splashtails. You’ve got your Rubies and Seafoams. Easy. But the Umber Splashtail? That’s the rare one. It’s gold. It sparkles. It makes you feel like a king for about five seconds until you realize it’s still just a Splashtail.
Then there are the Stormfish. These are the true test of a crew’s patience. To catch a Shadow Stormfish—the rarest fish in the game—you have to be in the middle of a literal hurricane. The bell is ringing, the wheel is spinning, your ship is taking holes from the storm, and you’re standing on the bowsprit trying to keep a line in the water. It’s chaotic. It’s frustrating. It’s peak Sea of Thieves.
Hidden Strategies for Professional Anglers
Most people fish off the back of a moving boat. Don't do that. Well, do it if you're bored during a long sail, but if you're farming, find a shipwreck.
Shipworks are gold mines for Sea of Thieves fishing enthusiasts. Not only do they attract Wreckers—which are valuable and look cool—but the barrels inside shipworks often contain pre-caught rare fish. I’ve found more Bone Ancientscales in barrels than I have ever caught on a rod.
The "Fort Fishing" Meta
Want to catch Battlegills? You have to be near an active Skeleton Fort. This is high-risk fishing. You’re sitting there in range of tower cannons while a giant skull cloud hovers over you. Other players see that cloud and think "loot." You see that cloud and think "bait."
Pro tip: If you can tuck your rowboat behind a rock near the fort, the cannons won't target you. You can sit there in peace, pulling up Battlegills while the rest of the server fights over a Chest of Legends. It’s sneaky. It works.
Cooking is Half the Battle
Raw fish is worth pennies. Burnt fish is worth even less. If you want the big gold and the reputation boost, you have to cook your catch.
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Every ship has a stove. Every Seapost has a campfire.
The trick is watching the eyes. When you put a fish on the pan, it starts out pink and translucent. As it cooks, it turns white, then golden brown. The moment the eyes turn completely white and the steam starts to pick up, pull it off. If you wait for the smoke to turn black, you’ve ruined it. A perfectly cooked Trophy Fish can sell for thousands, whereas a raw one might only net you a couple hundred.
Also, eating cooked fish gives you a "health reserve." That little circle next to your health bar? That’s your best friend in a PVP fight. It regenerates your health automatically after you take damage. This is why top-tier streamers always have a stack of cooked fish in their food radial. It’s not just for the gold; it’s for the tactical advantage.
The Cultural Phenomenon of Fishing Fleets
There is a segment of the community that organises "Fishing Fleets" through Discord or Reddit. They’ll get three or four Galleons on a single server, all meet at a Seapost, and just... fish.
It’s one of the few times Sea of Thieves feels truly peaceful. There’s an unspoken rule: you don't sink the fishing boat. Of course, this is a pirate game, so someone usually ruins it, but the fact that these groups exist shows how much depth there is to this "side activity."
Handling Aggressive Players
If you’re out there solo fishing and a Brigantine starts bearing down on you, don't panic. Most players will leave a solo fisherman alone if you speak up on the horn.
"Just fishing for Pondies, guys!"
Usually, they’ll sail past. Sometimes they’ll even trade you their bait for some of your cooked meat. But if they keep coming? Dive. Just scuttle or leave. Your fish stay in your inventory if you keep them on your person, but any fish in your ship’s storage crates are gone the moment that hull hits the seafloor. Always keep your rarest catches in your pockets.
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Common Misconceptions and Errors
A lot of players think you need to be at a specific island for every fish. Not true.
Islehoppers are island-specific, sure. If you want a Stone Islehopper, you need to be at Fetcher’s Rest or Shark Bait Cove. But things like Splashtails and Stormfish are everywhere.
Another mistake: ignoring the Trophy variants.
Trophy fish are bigger. They fight harder. They take longer to cook. But they are the only way to quickly level up the Hunter's Call. If you're serious about the grind, you should honestly be throwing back the small ones and only focusing on the Trophies. It feels wasteful, but it saves hours of real-world time.
Setting Up Your Ultimate Fishing Session
If you’re looking to spend an afternoon chilling in the Sea of Thieves, here is how you do it right.
First, go to a large island and dig. Don't look for chests. Just shove your shovel into the sand and grass. You'll dig up bait way faster than you’ll find it in barrels. Once you have a stack of 50 or so, head to a Seapost.
Park your ship so the stove is easily accessible from the deck. This allows you to rotate: one person fishes, one person cooks. If you're solo, you just have to be disciplined. Catch three, cook three.
Actionable Next Steps for Aspiring Hunters
- Empty your pockets: Before you start, make sure you aren't carrying fruit. You need those five slots for bait and fish.
- Check the sky: Find the storm. If you want the rarest fish, you need to be where the rain is. Follow the storm’s path using the map table; it generally moves in a predictable pattern across the map.
- Visit the Sovereigns: If you are a Captain of a ship, you can sell your fish to the Sovereigns at any Outpost. It’s faster than sailing to a Seapost, though you get a tiny bit less XP than selling directly to the Hunter's Call.
- Listen to the music: The game’s soundtrack changes when a rare fish is on the line. It’s subtle, but the tension in the strings kicks up a notch. If the music sounds "epic," don't let that line snap.
- Focus on the Commendations: Open your Pirate Log. Look at the Hunter's Call tab. Pick one species—like Ancientscales—and stay in the Ancient Isles until you've finished the grade. Bouncing around the map is how you end up with 100 partial sets and no completions.
Fishing isn't a distraction from the game. It is the game. Whether you’re looking for the thrill of the Shadow Stormfish or just want to max out your health reserve before a skeleton fleet fight, the rod is just as important as the sword. So grab some grubs, head to the Shores of Plenty, and start casting. The Hunter's Call is waiting.