Fishing Tips for NieR Replicant Remake (PS4). The guide includes on how to improve your fishing skills, unlock conditions, fish locations, bait, and what to do when fish get away.
Table of Contents
How to Fish
| Unlock Condition | Unlocked when you go to the Seafront for the first time after defeating Hook in The Aerie. |
|---|
| How to Fish | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cast your line at the water's edge |
| 2 | When a fish bites, pull with the ○ button |
| 3 | Basically, pull the stick down |
| 4 | When the fish's stamina is depleted, you can reel it in |
Choose bait and cast your line at the water's edge
Once you have a fishing rod, you can fish by pressing ○ at a fishable body of water. After deciding on a fishing spot, you can choose your bait and cast your line.
What you can catch changes depending on the location and bait
The fish you can get from fishing vary depending on the location and the bait you use. There are fish that can only be caught in specific locations, so be sure to check their habitats when you need them for a quest.
See the list of fishing spots and catchable fish
A big shake of the rod is the signal it has bitten
There are two types of rod shakes. It will shake lightly when a fish is nibbling the bait. When it shakes hard, press the ○ button to start the fight with the fish. If you miss the timing, the fish will take your bait, so be careful.
Basically, pull the stick down
Once you're in the fight with the fish, ripples will appear on the water. Pull the stick in the direction that depletes the fish's stamina gauge. Basically, pull the stick down, and if the gauge stops decreasing, pulling it in the opposite direction of the fish tends to be stable.
When the fish's stamina is depleted, you can catch it
By continuing to hold the stick, the fish's stamina will decrease. When you fully deplete the fish's stamina, you will automatically reel it in.
Fishing Tips
Don't pull the stick too far
If the fish gets away after biting, it's often because you're pulling the stick too far. Focus on the protagonist's posture rather than the fish's position when operating the stick to make it harder for the fish to escape.
Protagonist's direction and stick direction
| ← | ↓ | → |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Learn the timing of the fish's bite
If you want to catch only a specific fish, remember the rod's shake. The timing of the bite differs depending on the fish, so it's easier to target them if you watch the degree and number of shakes.
What to do when you can't catch fish
Improve your fishing skill
Certain fish are difficult or impossible to catch unless you have raised your fishing skill to a certain level. Your skill increases by clearing specific quests, so it's more efficient to finish the quests first before fishing.
See how to improve your fishing skill
Try changing the bait
Each fish has a bait that makes it easier to catch. Therefore, if you feel you can't catch a fish with the same bait, it's worth trying a different one. Also, since the fishing locations are fixed, make sure you are in the right habitat.
How to Improve Fishing Skill
Increases with quest progression
Your fishing skill increases each time you clear . As your fishing skill improves, it becomes easier to deplete the fish's stamina and harder for them to escape.
Some fish can't be caught without improving your skill
Among the catchable fish, there are some that will escape in an instant or whose stamina won't decrease at all if your fishing skill is too low. Note that the fish required for a quest are those that can be caught at the time the previous quest was completed, so don't worry.
Skill-increasing quests and required items
| Quest Name | Required Items |
|---|---|
| The Fisherman's Gambit | Sardine×10 |
| The Fisherman's Gambit, Part 2 | Blowfish×7 |
| The Fisherman's Gambit, Part 3 | Rainbow Trout×7 |
| The Fisherman's Gambit, Part 4 | Bream×5 |
| The Fisherman's Gambit, Part 5 | Black Bass×5 |
| The Fisherman's Gambit, Part 6 | Sandfish×3 |
| The Fisherman's Gambit, Part 7 | Royal Fish×3 |
| The Fisherman's Gambit, Part 8 | Blue Marlin×2 |
| The Fisherman's Final Gambit | Hyneria×1 |
List of Fish Locations
Protagonist's Village
| Catchable Items | Recommended Bait |
|---|---|
| Empty Can | Lugworm |
| Giant Catfish | Carp |
| Deadwood | Sardine |
| Carp | Earthworm |
| Black Bass | Lure |
| Aquatic Plant | Lugworm |
Eastern Road
| Catchable Items | Recommended Bait |
|---|---|
| Empty Can | Lugworm |
| Giant Catfish | Carp |
| Deadwood | Sardine |
| Black Bass | Lure |
| Aquatic Plant | Lugworm |
| Royal Fish | Earthworm |
Northern Plains
| Catchable Items | Recommended Bait |
|---|---|
| Empty Can | Lugworm |
| Rusted Bucket | Sardine |
| Rainbow Trout | Lure |
| Carp | Earthworm |
Seafront
Items catchable at the blue fishing spot
| Catchable Items | Recommended Bait |
|---|---|
| Empty Can | Lugworm |
| Blowfish | Lugworm |
| Sardine | Lugworm |
| Rusted Bucket | Sardine |
| Shark | Sardine |
| Dunkleosteus | Sardine |
| Bream | Lure |
| Blue Marlin | Sardine |
| Aquatic Plant | Lugworm |
Items catchable at the red fishing spot
| Catchable Items | Recommended Bait |
|---|---|
| Empty Can | Lugworm |
| Sardine | Lugworm |
| Rusted Bucket | Sardine |
| Aquatic Plant | Lugworm |
| Medicinal Fish | Lure |
Desert
| Catchable Items | Recommended Bait |
|---|---|
| Empty Can | Lugworm |
| Rusted Bucket | Sardine |
| Sandfish | Lure |
| Hyneria | Sardine |
| Rhizodont | Sardine |
List of Fishing Trophies
A Round by the Pond
| Unlock Condition | Rhizodont |
|---|
The Rhizodont is the most difficult fish to catch in the Desert. First, proceed with the fishing quests to max out your fishing skill. After maximizing your skill, it becomes a test of patience until you catch it.
Fish of Legend
| Unlock Condition | Catch all types of fish. |
|---|
Fish of Legend is a trophy awarded for catching every type of fish in Nier Replicant. There are fish that cannot be caught just by progressing through the fishing quests, so you will need to go fishing regardless of the quests.
