FFXI Fishing Guide V1.0

by

Jowana

Author’s notice: The following information is based on the Osakana Database (http://www.fishermanrods.net ). I thought it would be helpful to put the fishing matrices into a printable layout for reference while fishing in-game. Please note that, for the sake of saving typing time (and paper space), I’ve summarized the fishing rod information on Osakana into the following four points:

1. Don’t buy cheap rods unless you want them to end up broken. As a general rule, use ONLY Composite F. Rod (and Lu Shang’s if you ever get one) unless occasion calls for a Mithran F. Rod (such as in the special case of Fat Greedies)

2. All fish included can be fished with Composite F. Rod unless otherwise noted (as it turns out there’s no “small fish” that Big Fish rods cannot fish)

3. There used to be debates about whether Mithran F. Rod is better or Composite F. Rod. The conclusion is: Composite F. Rod is the less breakable of the two; there’s no single occasion in which a Composite can be broken and a Mithran cannot, but there are times when a Mithran can break but a Composite can’t. Overall, Lu Shang’s is the best rod, Composite is second best, and Mithran is third place; so refer to #1 and only use Mithran when needed.

4. The rumor that “Lu Shang’s Fish Rod is unbreakable” is not true – there are places when even it can be broken. Have lots of Light Crystals and woodworking at 80+ to repair it.

5. Fishing on the Ship between Mhaura and Selbina is the EASIEST place to break rods – even Lu Shang’s and Composite Rods will experience occasional breakage. So unless there’s something you really need to fish, either avoid fishing on the ship or use inexpensive rod/bait combinations.

A note about baits: It turns out that Rogue Rig appears to be almost a “catch-all” lure, so upon first reading it’s tempting for beginning fishers to invest in it right away and buy nothing else. However, do take note that:

1. Rogue Rig is expensive; on Lakshmi for example, a single Rogue Rig cost 30000gil (if any are even on sale, because they are a rare visitor at the Auction House), so if your line or rod breaks… well, let’s just say you probably lost more money from losing the bait than losing your rod. If you are LVL 40+ and hunting BCNMs already, may be it won’t hurt as much financially, but still…. Ouch.

2. Rogue Rig is non-discriminating; it will catch pretty much everything; so if you are trying to catch a specific type of fish, it’s not a good idea to travel around without any other kinds of lure/bait. Other baits are more specific about what kinds of fish it will attract.

3. I heard someone say that Rogue Rig only becomes efficient at fishing LVL of 50 or above; while I do not know whether or not this particular info is true, I do notice that at lower LVL, Live Baits have a much better bite rate than Lures. It is something to think about if you want steady catches.

Now, the list of fishy-wishy’s (why do I speak like a Tarutaru? I don’t know. I am a Mithra you know! Living in Windurst for too long is having a negative effect on me):

Fish: Crayfish

· LVL Cap: 7

· Bait: Little Worm, Peeled Crayfish, Slice of Carp, Rogue Rig

· Location: Port San d’Oria, North San d’Oria, Bastok Mines, Bastok Markets (waterway), Windurst Woods, Windurst Walls, Windurst Waters, Ghelsba Outpost, West Ronfaure, East Ronfaure, Yughott Grotto, Zeruhn Mines, North Gustaberg, Palborough Mines, Dangruf Wadi, Giddeus, West Sarutabaruta (river), East Sarutabaruta (pond), La Thein Plateau, Rolanberry Fields, Jugner Forest, Davoid, Rabao

Fish: Moat Carp

· LVL Cap: 11

· Bait: Little Worm, Insect Paste, Rogue Rig

· Location: Port San d’Oria, North San d’Oria, Bastok Markets, Windurst Woods, Windurst Walls, Windurst Waters, West Ronfaure, Zeruhn Mines (river), West Sarutabaruta (river), East Sarutabaruta (lake), La Thein Plateau, Rolanberry Fields, Jugner Forest, Davoid, Boyahda Tree, Rabao

Fish: Copper Frog

· LVL Cap: 16

· Bait: Fly Lure, Shell Bug, Rogue Rig

· Location: Bastok Mines, Zeruhn Mines, North Gustaberg, Pashhow Marshlands

Fish: Cheval Salmon

· LVL Cap: 21

· Bait: Minnow, Sinking Minnow, Fly Lure, Trout Ball, Rogue Rig

· Location: East Ronfaure, Jugner Forest

Fish: Tricolored Carp

· LVL Cap: 27

· Bait: Little Worm, Insect Paste, Shrimp Lure, Rogue Rig

· Location: Port San d’Oria, Northern San d’oria, Bastok Markets (waterway), East Ronfaure, Zeruhn Mines, North Gustaberg, Giddeus, Jugner Forest, Davoi (pond)

Fish: Pirpira

· LVL Cap: 29

· Bait: Minnow, Meat Ball, Slice of Carp, Frog Lure, Rogue Rig

· Location: Windurst Woods, Windurst Walls, Windurst Waters, East Sarutabaruta, Yuhtunga Jungle

Fish: Giant Catfish

· LVL Cap: 31

· Bait: Minnow, Sinking Minnow, Trout Ball, Frog Lure, Rogue Rig

· Location: Port San d’Oria, Bastok Markets, West Ronfaure, La Thein Plateau, Passhow Marshlands, Rolanberry Fields

Fish: Dark Bass

· LVL Cap: 33

· Bait: Little Worm, Worm Lure, Minnow, Sinking Minnow, Insect Paste, Meat Ball, Shell Bug, Giant Shell Bug, Peeled Crayfish, Slice of Carp, Frog Lure, Rogue Rig

· Location: Bastok Markets, Giddeus, West Sarutabaruta, La Thein Plateau, Rolanberry Fields, Jugner Forest (lake), Davoi

Fish: Crystal Bass

· LVL Cap: 35

· Bait: Little Worm, Worm Lure, Minnow, Sinking Minnow, Insect Paste, Peeled Crayfish, Rogue Rig

· Location: Jugner Forest (Crystal Spring)

Fish: Shining Trout

· LVL Cap: 37

· Bait: Little Worm, Minnow, Sinking Minnow, Fly Lure, Trout Ball, Rogue Rig

· Location: East Ronfaure, Jugner Forest (river)

Fish: Black Eel

· LVL Cap: 47

· Bait: Little Worm, Worm Lure, Peeled Crayfish, Rogue Rig

· Location: Bastok Markets, Zeruhn Mines, North Gustaberg

Fish: Icefish

· LVL Cap:

· Bait: Little Worm, Sabiki Rig, Rogue Rig

· Location: Beaucedine Glacier (lake)

Fish: Monke-Onke

· LVL Cap: 51

· Bait: Little Worm, Worm Lure, Peeled Crayfish, Rogue Rig

· Location: Giddeus, East Sarutabaruta (lake)

Fish: Red Terrapin

· LVL Cap: 52

· Bait: Shell Bug, Giant Shell Bug, Frog Lure, Rogue Rig

· Location: La Thein Plateau, Jugner Forest (lake & Crystal Spring)

Fish: Gold Carp

· LVL Cap: 56

· Bait: Little Worm, Insect Paste, Shrimp Lure, Rogue Rig

· Location: Port San d’Oria, North San d’Oria, Bastok Markets, Windurst Woods, Windurst Walls, Windurst Waters, East Ronfaure, North Gustaberg, Jugnar Forest, Rabao

Fish: Crescent Fish

· LVL Cap: 69

· Bait: Fly Lure, Shell Bug, Rogue Rig

· Location: East Sarutabaruta (lake)

Fish: Gavial Fish

· LVL Cap: 80

· Bait: Meat Ball, Peeled Crayfish, Rogue Rig

· Location: North Gustaberg (cascade)

Fish: Emperor Fish

· LVL Cap: 90

· Bait: Trout Ball, Giant Shell Bug, Peeled Crayfish, Slice of Carp, Rogue Rig

· Location: Jugner Forest (lake), Beaucedine Glacier (lake)

Fish: Takitaro

· LVL Cap: 90

· Bait: Fly Lure, Peeled Crayfish, Rogue Rig

· Location: Davoi (cascade)

Fish: Forest Carp

· LVL Cap: ??

· Rod: ONLY Composite!

· Bait: Little Worm, Insect Ball, Rogue Rig

· Location: Yuhtunga Jungle (pond)

Fish: Elshimo Newt

· LVL Cap: ??

· Bait: Meat ball, Frog Lure, Rotten Meat, Rogue Rig

· Location: Yuhtunga Jungle (pond, underground)

Fish: Sandfish

· LVL Cap: ??

· Bait: Little Worm, Worm Lure, Insect Ball

· Location: Eastern Altepa Desert, Rabao

Fish: Giant Donko

· LVL Cap: 49

· Bait: Worm Lure, Trout Ball, Peeled Crayfish, Frog Lure

· Location: Rabao

Fish: Jungle Catfish

· LVL Cap: ??

· Rod: ONLY Lu Shang’s F. Rod

· Bait: Sinking Minnow

· Location: Yhoator Jungle (pond)

Fish: Bastore Sardine

· LVL Cap: 10

· Bait: Lugworm, Sabiki Rig, Rogue Rig

· Location: Port Bastok, Port Windurst, Port Jeuno, South Gustaberg (sea), East Sarutabaruta (sea), West Sarutabaruta (sea), Mhaura, Selbina, Valkurm Dunes, Norg, Sea Serpent Grotto, Kazham, Ship

Fish: Fat Greedie

· LVL Cap: ??

· Rod: Composite does NOT work!!! Use Mithran or Lu Shang’s F. Rod (or if you can’t afford them, Bamboo or Carbon Rod also works. Nothing else will work other than these 4 rods!)

· Bait: Lugworm, Minnow, Sinking Minnow, Sardine Ball, Sliced Sardine

· Location: Selbina

Fish: Greedie

· LVL Cap: 14

· Bait: Lugworm, Worm Lure, Minnow, Sinking Minnow, Sardine Ball, Crayfish Ball, Sliced Sardine, Rogue Rig

· Location: Selbina, Valkurm Dunes

Fish: Yellow Globe

· LVL Cap: 17

· Bait: Lugworm, Sabiki Rig, Worm Lure, Crayfish Ball, Rogue Rig

· Location: Port Jeuno, Buburimu Peninsula, Mhaura, Sauromugue Champaign, Batallia Downs, Qufim Island, Norg

Fish: Quus

· LVL Cap: 19

· Bait: Lugworm, Sabiki Rig, Sardine Ball, Rogue Rig

· Location: Port Bastok, Port Windurst, South Gustaberg, West Sarutabaruta (sea), East Sarutabaruta (sea), Selbina, Valkurm Dunes, Norg, Sea Serpent Grotto, Kazham, Ship

Fish: Tiger Cod

· LVL Cap: 29

· Bait: Lugworm, Sardine Ball, Shrimp Lure

· Location: Port Jeuno, Sauromugue Champaign, Batallia Downs, Qufim Island

Fish: Nebimonite

· LVL Cap: 30

· Bait: Crayfish Ball, Peeled Lobster, Shrimp Lure, Rogue Rig

· Location: Sea Serpent Grotto, Ship

Fish: Ogre Eel

· LVL Cap: 35

· Bait: Sinking Minnow, Peeled Lobster, Sliced Sardine, Rogue Rig

· Location: South Gustaberg, East Sarutabaruta (sea), West Sarutabaruta (sea)

Fish: Nosteau Herring

· LVL Cap: 39

· Bait: Lugworm, Sardine Ball, Shrimp Lure, Rogue Rig

· Location: Port Jeuno, Batalia Downs, Qufim Island

Fish: Gugru Tuna

· LVL Cap: 41

· Bait: Minnow, Sinking Minnow, Peeled Lobster, Sliced Sardine, Shrimp Lure, Rogue Rig

· Location: Ship

Fish: Gold Lobster

· LVL Cap: 46

· Bait: Sinking Minnow, Sliced Sardine, Rogue Rig

· Location: South Gustaberg, East Sarutabaruta (sea), West Sartabaruta (sea), Den of Rancor

Fish: Zafmlug Bass

· LVL Cap: 48

· Bait: Lugworm, Worm Lure, Minnow, Sinking Minnow, Sardine Ball, Crayfish Ball, Meat Ball, Sliced Sardine, Rogue Rig

· Location: Port Bastok, South Gustaberg, Selbina, Valkurm

Fish: Bhefhel Marlin

· LVL Cap: 50

· Bait: Peeled Lobster, Slice of Bluetail, Rogue Rig

· Location: Ship

Fish: Bluetail

· LVL Cap: 55

· Bait: Minnow, Peeled Lobster, Sliced Sardine

· Location: East Sarutabaruta (sea), West Sarutabaruta (sea), Buburimu Peninsula Sauromugue Champaign, Batallia Downs, Qufim Island, Ship

Fish: Shall Shell

· LVL Cap: 53

· Bait: Crayfish Ball, Rogue Rig

· Location: Buburimu Peninsula, Valkurm Dunes

Fish: Noble lady

· LVL Cap: 66

· Bait: Minnow, Sinking Minnow, Peeled Lobster, Sliced Sardine, Slice of Bluetail, Shrimp Lure, Rogue Rig

· Location: Ship

Fish: Blade Fish

· LVL Cap: 71

· Bait: Meat Ball, Sliced Sardine

· Location: South Gustaberg, East Sarutabaruta (sea), West Sarutabaruta (sea)

Fish: Silver Shark

· LVL Cap: 76

· Bait: Meat Ball, Slice of Bluetail, Rogue Rig

· Location: Sauromugue Champaign, Batallia Downs, Ship

Fish: Three-eyed Fish

· LVL Cap: 82

· Bait: Minnow, Sliced Cod

· Location: Qufim Island (south)

Fish: Giant Squid

· LVL Cap: 90

· Bait: Minnow, Sliced Cod

· Location: Qufim Island (north)

Fish: Bastore Bream

· LVL Cap: 70

· Bait: Minnow, Sinking Minnow, Crayfish Ball, Peeled Lobster, Sliced Sardine, Shrimp Lure

· Location: Port Bastok, Port Windurst, South Gustaberg, East Sarutabaruta (sea), West Sarutabaruta (sea), Sea Serpent Grotto

Fish: Black Sole

· LVL Cap: 96

· Bait: Sinking Minnow, Sliced Cod, Shrimp Lure

· Location: Port Jeuno, Batallia Downs, Qufim Island

Fish: Sea Zombie

· LVL Cap: 92

· Bait: Meat Ball, Rotten Meat

· Location: Ship

Fish: Titanictus

· LVL Cap: 100

· Bait: Meat Ball

· Location: Ship (normal only, no pirates)

Fish: Coral Butterfly

· LVL Cap: ??

· Bait: Lugworm, Worm Lure

· Location: Norg, Sea Serpent Grotto, Kazham

Fish: Grimmonite

· LVL Cap: ??

· Bait: Crayfish Ball, Shrimp Lure

· Location: Sea Serpent Grotto

Fish: Zebra Eel

· LVL Cap: ??

· Rod: ONLY Composite F. Rod

· Bait: Sliced Sardine

· Location: Den of Rancor

Fish: Pamtam Kelp

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Any

· Bait: Any

· Location: Port Windurst, East Sarutabaruta (sea), West Sarutabaruta (sea), Buburimu Peninsula, Mhaura, Den of Rancor

Fish: Cobalt Jelly

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Any

· Bait: Any

· Location: Port Bastok, Port Jeuno, South Gustaberg, Selbina, Valkurn Dunes, Batallia Downs

Fish: Rusty Bucket

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Any

· Bait: Any

· Location: Anywhere I think

Fish: Rusty leggings

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Clothespole, Mithran, Lu Shang’s, Single-Hook, and Composite F. Rod

· Bait: Any

· Location: Anywhere I think

Fish: Rusty Subligar

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Clothespole, Mithran, Lu Shang’s, Single-Hook, and Composite F. Rod

· Bait: Any

· Location: Anywhere I think

Fish: Copper Ring

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Mithran, Lu Shang’s, Single-Hook, and Composite F. Rod

· Bait: Any

· Location: Northern San d’Oria, Bastok Markets (storage of water), Windurst Woods, Port Jeuno, East Ronfaure, Beaucedine Glacier, Qufim Island, Kazham

Fish: Silver Ring

· LVL Cap:

· Rod: Mithran, Lu Shang’s, Single-Hook, Carbon, and Composite F. Rod

· Bait: Any

· Location: heaven Tower, Mhaura, Valkurn Dunes, Batallia Downs, Qufim Island (north)

Fish: Mythril Sword

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Clothespole, Mithran, Lu Shang’s, Single-Hook, and Composite F. Rod

· Bait: Any

· Location: Batallia Downs, Qufim Island (south)

Fish: Arrowwood Log,

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Mithran, Lu Shang’s, and Composite F. Rod

· Bait: Any

· Location: West Ronfaure, East Ronfaure, Valkurm Dunes, Jugner Forest, Davoi (cascade), Beaucedine Glacier (lake), Yuhtunga Jungle (underground), Kazham

Fish: Rusty Greatsword

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Mithran, Lu Shang’s, and Composite F. Rod

· Bait: Any

· Location: Batallia Downs, Sea Serpent Grotto

Fish: Norg Shell

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Mithran, Lu Shang’s, Single-Hook, and Composite F. Rod

· Bait: Any

· Location: Sea Serpent Grotto

Fish: Coral Fragment

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Mithran, Lu Shang’s, and Composite F. Rod

· Bait: Any

· Location: Sea Serpent Grotto

Fish: Damp Scroll

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Mithran, Lu Shang’s, and Composite F. Rod

· Bait: Any

· Location: Sea Serpent Grotto

Fish: Ripped Cap

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Any except Willow and Yew

· Bait: Any

· Location: Port Windurst

Fish: Rusty Pick

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Lu Shang’s F. Rod

· Bait: Little Worm

· Location: Batallia Downs

Fish: Rusty Cap

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Mithran, Lu Shang’s, Single-Hook, Carbon, and Composite F. Rod

· Bait: Any

· Location: Valkurm Dunes, La Thein Plateau, Jugner Forest Lake, Rabao

Fish: 1Gill

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Willow, Yew, Bamboo, Fast Water, Lu Shang’s, and Composite Rod

· Bait: Any

· Location: Port San d’Oria, Bastok Markets, Windurst Woods, Windurst Walls, Port Jeuno, Mhaura, Selbina

Fish: 100 Gil

· LVL Cap: - -

· Rod: Any

· Bait: Any

· Location: Port San d’Oria, Heaven Tower, Port Jeuno

Fishing Walkthrough: Where do I begin?

I admit, this fishing guide started as a research project; it was written through database research, not experience. I once thought the question “Where do I begin?” to be a simple one, and proceeded to fish whichever fish that seems feasible for my fishing LVL. I was wrong, of course! I am currently 28 in fishing, so I’ll continue to provide new sections to this walkthrough. But for those who just started, here’s my experience with fishing from 1-30.

Before You Begin: Buy a Composite F. Rod if at all possible. It’s worth the investment in the long run because except for on the ship, it will never break. If Composite F. Rod is not an option, go for a Glass Fiber F. Rod; of all the cheap fishing rods, this one seem to have the most steady catch. I personally prefer it over a Carbon Fiber F. Rod; the Carbon seem to break more often (at least on me) and doesn’t provide as steady a catch.

Good & Bad Skill Fish, a Rule of Thumb: Just because a fish is within reach of your fishing LVL doesn’t mean it’s a choice for raising your fishing skill. A good skill raising fish should be within 5-8 LVLs of your current fishing LVL, and it must bite very often. It doesn’t matter if a fish bites but doesn’t come up – as long as you get bites, you have the potential to get skill raises. If a fish never bites the bait, then even if it comes up often when caught hook, the overall skill raising will still be very slow. Below is just my own very personal fishing experience with various types of fishes; feel free to try fishing each of them and figure out what’s best and most economical for you.

1-10: Fishing LVLs 1-10 is fairly simple. You really can’t catch many varieties of fish at these LVLs.

· If you decide to fish in freshwater environments, use Little Worms to catch Crayfish and Moat Carps. Little Worms are an excellent choice for beginners because it is dirt cheap, and both fish it catches will add to your skills: Crayfish will raise your skill to 6, and Moat Carp to 11. Once past LVL 6 in fishing, you may switch to the more expensive Insect Paste – this will only catch Moat Carp and Gold Carp (so you don’t waste baits catching crayfish, which won’t help your skill anymore). Rod/Line Break NOTICE: I’ve only fished these two fishes in Windurst so far, and I do have to warn that Glass and Carbon Rods do break in Windurst while freshwater-fishing. Mithran and Composite won’t, however.

· If you decide to fish in saltwater, use Lugworms or Sabiki Rig to fish Bastore Sardines. Personally, I prefer Sabiki Rig over the Lugworms because Sabiki Rig allows you to catch up to 3 fish at once and is inexhaustible (provided that your line or rod doesn’t break). For those concerned about line breakage, start your fishing in Port Windurst, next to the Fishing Guild; use a Sabiki Rig with a decent rod that doesn’t break (at least a Glass F. Rod to be safe). I am yet to break a rod or a line in Port Windurst (I’ve always used Glass Rod or above). The bite rate doesn’t seem to differ much between Sabiki Rig and Lugworms, even at low LVLs.

11-20: Make sure you take the Fishing Guild Rank Exam between LVL 8-10, or your fishing will not go over 10. You can catch more types of fishes at this point, so it’s important to pick the right fish for the best skill-up efficiency.

· If you decide to fish in freshwater, go to Bastok with a Fly Lure to fish Copper Frogs. Fish these until 14-16, then switch to Cheval Salmons, which should get you up to 21 (take rank exam between 18-20). Rod/Line Break NOTICE: If you are using Lures instead of Live Baits to fish Cheval Salmon, make sure you fish them in Jugnar Forest instead of East Ronfaure. East Ronfaure will break your lines very often, whereas Jugnar will not. I lost two Minnows in East Ronfaure, but never lost any after I switched to Jugnar Forest (at least, not between the LVLs of 14-18; I did lose a Minnow in Jugnar Forest at LVL 28)

· If you decide to fish in saltwater, then you’ve made a bad choice. Greedies supposedly raises your skill up to 14, but they also hardly ever bite the hook. My attempts to fish Greedie to raise fishing all ended in failure, so don’t bother. As for Yellow Globes and Quus, which do raise skill to 17 and 19 respectively, both of these fish eat the same bait as Bastore Sardines; and chances are 70% of the time you will get Bastore Sardines instead of the fishes you want, hence these two fish are not good for skill raising. If you insist though, I would recommend sitting in Port Jeuno with a good rod and a Sabiki Rig, and you should get plenty of Quus and Yellow Globes anyway.

21-30: Many say that after LVL 20 fishing skill just flies. For me, 20-30 is the hardest, slowest, most painful fishing experience so far. I do not know if it’s just me having bad luck, or I picked the wrong fish (may be both). My skill rose barely 1 point per day, whereas I get up to 5 per day in previous 20 LVLs. I did learn, however, that certain fishes should not be touched…

· If you decide to fish in fresh water, grab a Shrimp Lure and fish Tricolored Carps. Almost everyone I know fished Tricolored Carps until LVL 27. I, however, persisted in fishing Pipira in Windurst with a Minnow, based on the fact that Minnow is cheaper to replace (though I never experienced line breakage in Windurst using a Minnow), Pipiras are expensive (4k in Jeuno, but sells mighty slow), and that Pipira raises skill up to 29 instead of 27 (I thought, “Wouldn’t it suck to have your fishing stuck at 27, since 28 is the minimum requirement for the exam). Well people, Pipira is a bad choice. It hardly ever bites the bait, and for some odd reason almost never gives skill raises (Pipiras started my horrible days of 1 skill LVL per day). Giant Catfish in Port San d’Oria is the third option, but I find it to be just as frustrating to catch as Pipiras, and raises skill just as slowly, if not slower – it almost never bites, and on top of it all, Giant Catfish does not stack! This can get annoying because even if you have an empty inventory, you will have to dump these fish for space quite often.

· If you choose saltwater fishing, then you’ve made an excellent choice. 21-30 is where saltwater fishing truly shines. Tiger Cod can easily be fished using Sardine Balls or Shrimp Lure in Port Jeunom, and the bite rate is extremely good! I estimate about 70% bite rate on all casts, which translates into fast skill up. Rod/Line Break NOTICE: Composite F. Rod does not break in Port Jeuno, and I am yet to lose a Sabiki Rig in Jeuno. However, fishing Tiger Cod/Nosteau Herring with Shrimp Lure does break the lines! Shrimp Lure is not cheap (about 4.5k on Lakshmi), so either use Sardine Balls or (if you are rich) prepare multiple Shrimp Lures. In another word, Tiger Cod is the fastest skillup fish, but can also be expensive to fish (Lugworms can work, but it catches too much crap fish).

· Another extremely good catch is Nebimonite, which can only be fished in Sea Serpent Grotto or on the Ship. Nebimonite does not bite nearly as often as Tiger Cod – I estimate the bite rate to be about 30-50%, but it does make handsome profit. A stack of Nebimonite goes for about 14-16k Gil on Lakshmi, and sells mighty fast too (unlike *ahem* Pipiras). A few fishing trips on the ship should make you a handsome profit! Rod/Line Break NOTICE: I am yet to break a Composite Rod using Crayfish Ball on the ship, and a few others I know said they haven’t either. But I did break a Composite Rod using Shrimp Lure when I ran out of Crayfish Balls – note that Nebimonite is the ONLY fish Crayfish balls will catch on the ship, whereas Shrimp Lures will catch anything from Gugru Tuna to Noble Lady – and Gugru Tuna is notorious for breaking rods (I caught 10 of them without incident, then before ship docked in Selbina rod went crack~ I am lucky already; some LS people can’t fish more than 2 of them without breaking the rod).

30-40: This section is still under construction and will undergo revisions as I climb my way toward fishing LVL 40. But so far I can already offer a few advice:

· Freshwater fishing doesn’t look good. I tried fishing Dark Bass and Crystal Bass for a while (the latter turned out to be a key item for a San d’Orian mission), and they both sucked~ The bite rates are horrible: Crystal Bass’ bite rate is lower than 20%; I caught 4 in one hour, and got 0 points in fishing LVL. Dark Bass can only be fished in Jugnar Forest’s lakes, which not only break lines, rods, but also lets you catch monsters (the rivers in Jugnar does not yield monsters as a catch). Shining Trout may not be a bad catch if it isn’t for the fact that Cheval Salmon east the exact same baits as Shining Trout, so you’ll end up with lots of unwanted side catch. Rod/Line Break NOTICE: Although I never broke a rod or a line in Jugnar Forest below LVL 20 (catching Cheval Salmon and Shining Trout), at LVL 28, while trying to catch Shining Trout, I broke a line and lost a minnow. I am not exactly sure why; my original theory is that my new fishing rank allows me to hook up bigger fish, and broke the line; but upon examining the fish list, I fail to notice a higher LVL fish in Jugnar that picks up on Minnow.

· Saltwater only provides two fishes that are feasible for raising skills: Ogre Eel and Nosteau Herring. A high LVL fisherman in my LS said Ogre Eel is a bad idea (bad bite rate, she said), and urged me to fish Nosteau Herrings. However, after trying both myself, I beg to disagree (shows you how different everyone’s fishing experience is!). First of all, Nosteau Herring eats the same baits that are used for Tiger Cod, which means you will get lots of unwanted side catch. Of all the bites you get, I doubt more than 30% of them will be Nosteau Herring; the rest are probably from Tiger Cod, which won’t raise your skill. Secondly, as stated before, Nosteau Herring/Tiger Cod breaks lines, at least in Port Jeuno. So I went on to try Ogre Eel anyway, in spite of the warning. To my surprise, the bite rate is extremely decent (though I also started on a full moon), though the actual catch rate is terrible (way lower than average; I estimate about 70% bite rate on all casts, but only 10% comes up). I fished Ogre Eel for 40 minutes and only caught 4 (and 1 Gold Lobster side catch, which is cool), but the bite rates are so constant I raised 0.1 in skill four times (which is more than pleasant in the aftershock of my Pipira-fishing). Right now I am sticking to Ogre Eel.

-------== To be Continued ==-------