Terraria fishing requires a fishing pole, bait in your inventory, and a body of liquid large enough to fish in, such as water, honey, or lava.
Terraria fishing requirements you can't skip
To fish in Terraria, you must have three non-negotiable items and conditions. First, you need a fishing pole equipped. Second, at least one bait item must be in your inventory when you cast the line; the bait is only consumed when you reel in a catch. Third, you must be near a valid body of liquid, water, honey, or lava, that is large enough. A connected pool of at least 75 tiles is needed for fishing to function at all, and pools of 300 or more tiles remove the size penalty completely, giving you the best results. The fishing spot should be 1,000 tiles deep for the ocean, 50 tiles deep for a pool of honey, and 75 tiles deep for other bodies of water. The Truffle Worm from the Glowing Mushroom biome is excluded from bait because it is used to summon Duke Fishron and cannot attract underwater critters. The Golden Bug Net makes bait-type critters spawn quicker from the grass and flowers it hits. The Lavaproof Bug Net is crafted by combining a Bug Net with 15 Hellstone Bars at a Hellforge.
How to get your first fishing pole and bait
Early in the game, the simplest fishing pole to obtain is the Wood Fishing Pole, which you can craft from 8 Wood at a workbench. For bait, you need a Bug Net to catch common critters like worms and grasshoppers. You can buy the basic Bug Net from the Merchant for 25 silver coins. Use it to catch worms (found in the Overworld during rain), grasshoppers (found in grass), and other small critters. Place the bait in your inventory, and you are ready to fish.
The basic terraria fishing mechanics explained
- Stand near the edge of the liquid and equip your fishing pole.
- Press the use/attack control to cast the line into the water.
- Wait for the bobber to move up and down; an audio cue also indicates a bite.
- Press the same control again to reel in your catch.
There is no timing minigame like in other games, just watch the bobber and listen for the sound. If you want to compare fishing gear or bait stats, you can check mobile game tier lists to see which items perform best on your device.
How to boost your fishing power for better catches
Fishing power determines how quickly you catch fish and the quality of your catches. It is affected by your fishing pole, bait, and several situational modifiers. To increase your fishing power:
- Use a better fishing pole and higher-quality bait.
- Fish in a pool of 300 or more connected liquid tiles to remove the size penalty.
- Fish during rain (20% boost) or overcast weather (10% boost).
- Use a Fishing Potion for a temporary 15% boost.
- Equip Angler Armor (15% boost) or an Angler Tackle Bag/Earring (10% boost).
- Throw a Chum Bucket into the water for an 11-20% boost.
- Luck can be improved by consuming Lesser Luck, Luck, and Greater Luck Potions, or by equipping a torch that matches the biome you are in (e.g., Hallowed Torch in Hallow, Crimson Torch in Crimson).
How to take on angler quests for rare rewards
The Angler is an NPC found sleeping on the sand near the ocean or in the Underworld. Once you have an empty house, he will move in. Each day at 4:30 AM in-game time, the Angler gives a new fishing quest asking you to catch a specific fish from a particular biome and height. The Angler will only give you one fishing quest per day and you cannot change it. Completing these quests rewards you with unique gear, bait, and even the Golden Fishing Rod (after 30 hard-mode quests) or the Hotline Fishing Hook. This is the next stage of fishing, guiding you toward the rarest items in the game. The best items to get via fishing include the Toxicarp (Corruption weapon), Blade Tongue (Crimson sword), Crystal Serpent (Hallow magic weapon), Obsidian Swordfish (second strongest spear), Bottomless Lava Bucket, Demon Conch, and Honeyfin (restores 120 HP).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fish in lava or honey?
Yes, you can fish in lava and honey in addition to water. Lava fishing requires a Hotline Fishing Hook or a Lavaproof Bug Net to avoid burning your bait. Honey fishing works with any standard pole and bait.
What happens if I run out of bait?
If you have no bait in your inventory when you cast the line, nothing can be caught. You must always have at least one bait item on hand. Bait is only consumed when you successfully reel in a catch.
How do I know which biome a quest fish is in?
You can look up the fish in your quest log or consult a biome map of your world.
Does the moon phase affect fishing?
Yes, the moon phase affects fishing power. A full moon provides a small boost, while a new moon reduces it. This modifier stacks with weather and time-of-day effects.
Can I fish on mobile devices?
Yes, fishing works on mobile devices with the same mechanics. Use the on-screen use/attack button to cast and reel in. The controls are the same as on other platforms, though the button positions may vary by device.
For the wider topic, see mobile game tier lists.
