Starsand Island Fishing Guide: All Fish Locations & Unlockable Spots
In most farming sims, fishing is the thing you do when you have five minutes left in the day and zero energy to do anything else. In Starsand Island, fishing is how you get rich.
While your crops are taking days to grow and your animals are slowly thinking about maybe producing an egg, the ocean is just sitting there, full of money. I ignored it at first because I hate fishing minigames, but once I realized that a single afternoon at the pier could fund my entire farming operation, I converted.
However, it is not as simple as casting a line. You have distinct biomes, specific bait requirements, and a line-tension mechanic that loves to snap right when you hook a legendary. Here is how to master the rod.
The Basics: Don't Snap the Line
You unlock the ability to fish by visiting Delphin at the AquaBlue Outpost. He gives you the Apprentice Angler certification and your first basic rod.
The mechanic is the classic "tension" game.
Aim: Hold the button to aim your shadow.
Hook: Wait for the fish to bite.
Reel: Hold the button to reel in.
White Line: Safe. Reel it in.
Red Line: Danger. Stop reeling or it snaps.
It costs 10 Energy per catch. This adds up fast, so bring food. I recommend Mushroom Soup early on, it is cheap and restores enough energy to keep you going.
Unlocking the Deep Sea (The Port)
You will notice pretty quickly that you can't reach the cool glowing spots in the ocean. That is because you need a boat.
To get off the beach, you need to find Marston at the run-down port. He will give you the Starsand Port Construction quest.
Cost: 15 Stone, 15 Softwood.
That is it. It is shockingly cheap. Once you pay him, the port opens the next day. This allows you to:
Rent Yachts: 150 coins/hour (Expensive, but lets you drive).
The Parrot Ship: Fast travel to the three special fishing zones: Coral Sea, Luminwave, and Celestwave.
The Bait Hierarchy
You cannot just use a bare hook for everything.
Meat Bait: For carnivorous fish (Sharks, Tuna).
Veggie Bait: For herbivores.
Bug Bait: For specific picky eaters.
Omni: Some fish don't care.
If you are targeting a specific rare fish, check the table below. Using the wrong bait is just wasting your time.
The Master Fish List
There are over 100 fish in this game. I have filtered this list down to the ones you actually need to care about, separated by where they live. If you are looking to fill out your Islandpedia or make quick cash, this is your map.
Upgrade Your Rod or Fail
Do not try to catch a Tuna with the Wooden Rod. You will snap the line, lose the bait, and throw your keyboard.
As you level up the Angler profession, check the AquaBlue Outpost for new blueprints.
Chrono Rod: The first upgrade. Needs Copper.
Silent Rod: Needs Carbon Line and Charcoal.
Cloud Rod: Good mid-game rod.
Noble Rod: The serious rod for deep sea fishing. Needs Prism and Iron Sheets.
Titanium / Astra / Solar Rods: These are endgame destroyers. Once you have these, the tension bar barely moves.
Making Money
Once your inventory is smelling like a fish market, head to any shop. You can sell fish anywhere. Francis buys them, Zerine buys them, even the vehicle shop will buy them.
Pro Tip: If you have the Separator machine, you can process fish into "Fish Steaks" or other materials, but honestly? The raw fish sell price is usually good enough to make it worth your while without the extra processing time.
Go forth and deplete the ocean's population. You have bills to pay.
