Breath of Fire IV - Fishing

  I pretty much struck with Tec3 until I reached Ocean Spot 1, where I got the hang of tec4.  Tec3 goes ba, baba, baba, and tec4 goes bababa, baba, ba.  If those written examples didn't help, listen to the drums in the background music.  They cycle through the four tecs.  Have a listen and try to match (you don't have to hit them at the same time as the BGM does as long as you get the right rhythm).

Rods

• Wooden Rod: Buy in Sarai for 50z.
• Bamboo Rod: Manilla Shop in Wyndia (2 x Sea Breams) OR Ordinary Fairy Item Shop, 250z
• Deluxe Rod: Tidal Flats.
• Angling Rod:  Manillo shop in Lyp (2 x Salmon, 2 x Dorado, 2 x MartianSquid).
• Spanner: Earn 6000 fishing points, and claim from Gyosil in Lyp. 
• Master's Rod: Earn 9500 fishing points and claim from Gyosil in Lyp.

Fishing Spots

River Spot 1
Jellyfish, Sweetfish, Trout, Rainbow Trout

When you get to the little desert canyon bit on the way to Sarai from the Cliffs, exit to the side, and another path will open up.

I went with just casting straight into the water fall from the sticky-out rock on the side of the river, and had quite a bit of luck there.

The Trout went for the Straight, while the Sweetfish and the Jellyfish will bite on anything.  You probably don't have much chance of catching a rainbow trout on your first visit, and will need to come back when you've got something better than baby frogs and straights. I finally caught one under the waterfall with a Flattop.  If the fish gets stuck behind the rock, try using left or right instead of x to tap it out.

On returning here after reaching Synesta, I was able to catch everything near the waterfall using FlatTops.  However, RainbowTrouts were easier to find at the other end of the river.

Lake Spot 1
Jellyfish, Piranha, Bass, Blue Gill, MartianSquid

On the way to the Sandflier Warf, you'll run into a patch of desert with a sign in the middle.  Exit to the northeast and a path to the fishing spot will open up.  

In the rocks to the right of the pier, I found Blue Gills and Bass went for my Baby Frogs.  Piranhas and Jellyfish bit on Flattops and Deep Divers.

A piranha ran off with my deep diver when my attention wandered, and I didn't save scum to get it back because I'd caught quite a few fish by that point.  Annoying.

When I returned here later, I found it was pretty easy to catch Jellyfish, Piranhas, and Blue Gills in the rocks to the right, with my Frogger lure, but I just couldn't get my hands on any Bass'.  Not until I switched back to the Baby Frog, when I caught two in a row.

Ocean Spot 1
Man-o'-War, Flying Fish, Blowfish, Sea Bream

From Ludia, head east to the crossroads, then go north to Shyde.  Along the way, you'll run into a '?' spot.  Enter, read the sign, then exist to the west.

I caught a Man-o'-War and a Flying Fish near the rocks with a Popper.  Man-o'-Wars bit a lot on Hangers, too.  In fact, Man-o'-Wars bite on anything.

I caught a Blowfish using a Frogger, standing just below the tip of the cliffy bit, and aiming out towards the sea.  Flying Fishes bit quite a lot on Flattops, near the rocks.  Had no luck with Sea Breams on my first visit.

Returning here later, I was able to catch Sea Breams using the Angling Rod and the Crab lure, and casting straight out from the little cliff.

River Spot 2
Jellyfish, Trout, Browntail, Rainbow Trout, Salmon

Speak to the fisherman on the first screen of Kasq woods, and he'll tell you about this spot.

On my first visit here, I played with my new level 2 lures, catching at least three fish with each.

I started standing on the bridge, facing into the waterfall.  I found that Trouts bite on Tails, Toads, Flattops, Hangers, Warblers and GoldTops.  Browntails bite on Hangers, Warblers and GoldTops.  Jellyfish bite on Toads and FlatTops.

Fishing into the marshy area on the other side of the bridge was broadly similar, with lots of Trout and Jellyfish biting.  I caught a few RainbowTrout with FlatTops and GoldTops.

I finally caught a Salmon near the waterfall with a Toad.  I also caught another RainbowTrout there with a FlatTop.


Chamba Spot
Jellyfish, Bullcat, Acheron

When you're finally able to access most of the map again, after getting the shift spell, head to North Chamba.  At the entrance, the man outside will warn you not to go inside.  Ignore him, go inside, and slaughter the monster.  After talking to the man again, you'll be able to fish in the mist.

On my first visit here, I could only get Jellyfish, even with my best lures.  Gru.

On returning later, I was able to catch an Acheron between the two buildings on the top right, that is, to the Southeast, using the Angling Rod and the Dancer Lure.

Even later;  For me, the most successful way to catch Acheron was between the two buildings to the southeast, with a dancer lure.  Cast the lure to about 25m, let it sink, tech 4.  I caught three Acherons in a row, all biting at around 20m.

Ocean Spot 2
Man-o'-War, Sea Bass, Flatfish, Octopus, Bonito, Spearfish, Whale

From Lyp, take the ship to the north.  You'll see a blue flag; explore there, and you'll find the fishing spot.

I used my shiny new level 3 lures here (from the Manillo Shop in Lyp), and cast straight out into the sea.  I only caught Man-o'-Wars and Sea Bass with my Fat Frog and Platinum Top, but caught a Bonito with the Deep Diver and the Swisher.    I also got a couple of Man-o'-Wars and a Sea Bass with a Deep Diver.

Later, I came back here and used these tips from HotaruYuuki to catch Whales;

Whale : Ocean Spot 2, cast 25m (I'm using bamboo/spanner) toward the rock. I used dancer (lv 3 winder). You can stand on the bridge connecting the land and the boat. Wait until your lure gets to the ground. Use tech 4. If you dont catch anything after two consecutive tech 4, cancel and cast your lure again.

Spearfish: Same as the whale, but start doing tech 4 when your lure starts sinking. Spearfish don't live as deep as the whale.

I accidentally caught a couple of Octopodes and a Flatfish doing this.  However, I didn't catch a Spearfish until I read this thread, specifically Alltra's posts. Using the Angling Rod and a Dancer, and teching as soon as the lure hit the water, I got a Spearfish first try.  A big one too - maximum points and a crown!

...and then another one jumped right into my line as I was letting the lure sink to try to get a Whale.  For god's sake.

In the same trip, I got the King Whale (this is how I refer to crowned fishies)!  I'd almost caught him twice before, but, annoyingly, when the bar went even the teeniest bit to the right of the gold box, it would break my line.  But I got him this time!

Lake Spot 2
Bass, Piranha, Blue Gill, Black Bass, MartianSquid, Dorado

At the '?' spot south of Lyp, go east.

Again, I used my level 3 lures.  I caught a Blue Gill and a Black Bass with the Fat Frog.  The Black Basses practically leapt onto the line, which was useful, because you need those to get even more shiny lures in Lyp.

Later in the game, I had some trouble catching a Dorado here, so I used this video for tips.  It took a while, but it did eventually work for me.  And then I got an Angling Rod!

Saldine Spot
Blowfish, Moorfish, Sea Bream, Black Porgy

You come to this fishing spot automatically, as part of the storyline.

Using all of my Level 3 lures, I caught a bunch of Blowfish and Moorfish.  Nothing else.  


Lake Spot 3
Jellyfish, Angelfish, Black Bass, MartianSquid, Dorado, Barandy

East of Chiqua.  Speak to the fisherman on the Chiqua docks, and he'll direct you.

I caught Angelfish and Jellyfish with all my level 3 lures.  Just couldn't seem to get ahold of anything else.

Came back later; casting straight out from the dock, with the Bamboo Rod and the Crab lure, I got a MartianSquid.  I got quite a few Martian Squids later, with the Angling Rod.


River Spot 3
 Sweetfish, Trout, Browntail, Rainbow Trout, Salmon, Bullcat, Sturgeon

When Ryu reaches the Emperor's Tomb, go to the '?' spot to the west, and exit to the south.

To catch a Sturgeon, use these tips from HotaruYuuki to catch Whales;

Sturgeon: River Spot 3, cast south of the bridge. Sturgeon can be found behind the rock. I used worm (Crab). Wait until your lure gets to the ground then do tech 4.

I also caught a couple of Salmon and a Bullcat this way.  Aim for the frothy green plants.


Ocean Spot 3
Flying Fish, Sea Bass, Flatfish, Octopus, Bonito, Angler 

There's a '?' spot midway between the Highway and Kwanso.  Enter it, and you'll see a sign in the middle.  Exit to the west to open a path to the final fishing spot.

Catching Angler is a complete pain in the arse.  I used a crab lure with the Angling rod, and stood on the cliff to the right, casting straight ahead.  I caught one near the buoy, about 25m out.  They live deep.