RDR2 | Fishing Tips & Tricks: Legendary Fish Locations | Red Dead Redemption 2

Reel in a big one with these fishing tips and tricks for Red Dead Redemption 2! This guide includes how to fish, the different rods available, & the types of fish available.

What Do You Get from Fishing?

A Good Source of Income

Just like hunting, fishing can be a good source of income. Traders around the map will pay well for fresh fish and materials.

Provides Different Crafting Materials

You can get useful materials from the different fish you can find. These materials can be used for crafting different items, like clothing.

How to Fish

Have the Right Fishing Tools

Although you can only have one rod in the game, you can change the bait and lure that you use when fishing. These will affect what kind of fish you can attract with lures attracting larger fish.

Fishing Rod

Fishing in Red Dead Redemption 2 can only be done with rods. Players will unlock the rod in Chapter 2 - A Fisher of Men Mission where you go fishing with John Marston's son, Jack.

Baits & Lures

Baits & Lures play an important part in attracting fish to your line. Certain baits with specific lures are required to be able to catch different types of fish in the game.

General Goods Stores Sell Baits & Lures

General Goods and Grocery Stores in towns and cities have a selection of baits and lures that players can choose from. The catalogs will include descriptions of the fish these items can attract..

Throw in Your Line as Far as Possible

When fishing from the shore, it's best to throw your line as far as you can to get it to deeper waters. There's less chance of catching anything if you just throw it in shallow waters.

Angle the Rod Opposite to the Fish's Direction

Use your Left Joystick to pull the fish in the opposite direction to where it's headed. This will prevent the fish from going farther than where you've already reeled it.

Know when to Reel & Brace the Rod

The line will break if you keep reeling in a fish when it's struggling. What you should do instead is to brace the rod to keep the line secure then reel it in again once it stops squirming.

Fishing Tips & Tricks

Check Your Surroundings First

When fishing, you may not notice other animals keeping an eye on you. Check the water for alligators and your surroundings for other predators to have a safe fishing trip.

Fresh Fish Sells for More

Bringing in fresh meat will always sell more in shops and traders so make sure to bring in your catch as soon as possible. Meat will start to rot if you keep it for too long.

Each Body of Water has a Variety of Fish

Players can find a wide variety of fish in the game. You can find them across most bodies of water including the game's many rivers, lakes and streams.

Release Fish to Raise Honor

Releasing fish is one of the fastest and easiest ways to raise your Honor. You can choose to release the fish once you reel it in and you see its information on the screen.

Legendary Fish Locations

Bluegill

Legendary Bluegill can be found south west of Rhodes, to the south of Clemen's Point. You will need to use a Lake Lure to catch this fish.

Legendary Bluegill Overview

Bullhead Catfish

The Bullhead Catfish can be found to the west of the Sisika Penitentiary. You'll need to use a River Lure to draw this one out.

Bullhead Catfish Overview

Chain Pickerel

You can fish out the Chain Pickerel in the Dakota River. It's right below Painted Sky and to the west of Horseshoe Overlook. Use a River Lure to catch this fish.

Chain Pickerel Overview

Large Sturgeon

The Large Sturgeon can be fished out of the river in the southwest of St. Denis. It's also to the South of the Caliga Hall area. Use a River Lure to catch this fish.

Large Sturgeon Overview

Largemouth Bass

Find the location of the Largemouth Bass in bandito territory. It's in the Armadillo area, to the south east of Lake Don Julio. Use a Lake Lure to grab this fish.

Largemouth Bass Overview

Longnose Gar

The Longnose Gar can be fished out of Lake Lagras, right above Lakay. Use a Swamp Lure to catch this fish.

Longnose Gar Overview

Muskie

You can spot the location of the Muskie to the south of the piers of Van Horn Trading Post. Check the area around the lighthouse. Use a River Lure to draw this fish out.

Muskie Overview

Perch

The Perch can be fished out of the Elysian Pool Head northwest of the Van Horn Trading Post, west of the Sawbone Clearing and use the Lake Lure to catch this fish.

Perch Overview

Redfin Pickerel

The Redfin Pickerel can be fished out of Stillwater Creek, to the east of Macfarlane's Ranch and west of Thieves Landing. Use a Lake Lure to catch this fish.

Redfin Pickerel Overview

Rock Bass

The Rock Bass can be fished out of the Aurora Basin, it's located to the west of Manzanita Post, near Blackwater. Equip and use a Lake Lure to bait out this fish.

Rock Bass Overview

Smallmouth Bass

You can fish out the Smallmouth Bass in Owanjila, a lake to the west of Strawberry. Use a Lake Lure to catch this fish.

Smallmouth Bass Overview

Sockeye Salmon

The Sockeye Salmon can be found in Lake Isabelle, it's right to the north of Mount Hagen. Grab a Lake Lure and use it to draw this fish out.

Sockeye Salmon Overview

Steelhead Trout

The Steelhead Trout can be fished out of the shallows north of Brandywine Drop and Willard's Rest. Use a River Lure to catch this fish.

Steelhead Trout Overview

How to Catch Legendary Fish

There are 13 Legendary Fish in Red Dead Redemption 2 that you can catch! There is only one of each Legendary Fish that can be found in the game so it can be a bit of a challenge to catch them.

Legendary Fish Can Only Be Found in Specific Areas

Each Legendary Fish has a specific location where they can only be found. Go near their location for it to be marked on your map.

Some Legendary Fish Require Special Lures

To catch a specific Legendary fish, you need to match your lure with their preference. You may purchase these Special Lures at Bait and Tackle stores for $ 20 each. It's best to always have a Special River, Lake, and Swamp Lure with you before hunting for Legendary fish.