Can't find any rare/high value fish

[kindakooky]

I don't know what I'm doing wrong but I can't seem to catch a single high value fish, even using bait. The only slightly rarer ones I've got so far are a football fish and a cherry salmon. I haven't seen a single tuna or shark of any kind, or even an oarfish or surgeonfish that everyone else seems to have caught at least one of already. Anyone got any tips?

 

[Ras]

I don't have any advice, but I was shocked when I got the oarfish. What a crazy beast. I've seen no fins, which I hope is still a thing.

 

[WhitneyLeigh23]

The same is happening for me. I have gotten all of the same fish for the most part, although I did find one oarfish.
Do you happen to TT?

 

[pinkbunny]

Honestly, you just need to keep grinding until you find them. It takes time. Some people are really lucky.
I'm in southern hemisphere and was lucky enough to catch all the sharks, but thats only because I dont time travel and have been spending HOURS grinding fishing.

 

[matt]

Yeah I got an oarfish last night after hours of trying. You just need to be really quick when you reel it in, as some flee if you're too slow

 

[kindakooky]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I kept praying for a rainy day soon so I could go after the coelacanth (no rain since I started the game) and this morning I started playing and it was raining! And now I've not only managed to get a coelacanth but also TWO oarfish!! I couldn't believe my luck!! I'm so happy lol!

Do you happen to TT?

No I don't, it's kinda tempting though.

 

[JKDOS]

Bait doesn't increase rare fish spawns. It just spawns a random fish. The RNG gods just hate you

Make sure you're looking in the right areas and times of day. Some fish can only spawn on the cliffs for example, and the Sturgeon only spawns in river mouths

 

[ThomasNLD]

I recently caught my first stringfish, it was located in river lake at the top of the cliffs. I also caught my first tuna at the pier. Hopefully this helps.

 

[Garrett]

It's just luck. I've caught several oarfish and tuna (near or on the pier), sturgeon (where the river meets the ocean) and a stringfish (pool at the start of your water source, where your uppermost waterfall is).

 

[JKDOS]

It's just luck. I've caught several oarfish and tuna (near or on the pier), sturgeon (where the river meets the ocean) and a stringfish (pool at the start of your water source, where your uppermost waterfall is).

I've found 2 stringfish in the river on a cliff, at the bottom of the waterfall, if it helps anyone.

 

[Rosch]

One technique I use is to run along the edge of the shoreline to scare away the fish. Repeat this back and forth, but be aware of the size of the shadows.

Tuna and Mackerel can only be found on the pier, so I suggest scaring all the fish as you go along the shoreline but be careful when you're near the pier. If there's only small shadows, scare then away and continue.

I also apply this technique for the rivers and stop when I see the shadow of a possible rare fish.

The Barreleye has the same shadow as the Horse Mackerel, and I noticed that it spawns near rocks. Only appears from 9PM-4AM

Oarfish can be caught anywhere in the sea and has a large shadow.

Char, Golden Trout and Cherry Salmon all has the same size as Dace. Stringfish has the same size as Black Bass. These fishes only appear between 4PM-9AM, and can only be caught on the 2nd and 3rd elevations of the river.

Sturgeon can only be caught at the mouth of the river that meets the sea. It has a large shadow.

All times above are for Northern Hemisphere.