Breath of Fire III Fishing FAQ

------------------------------------
Breath of Fire III Fishing FAQ
Written by ElectroSpecter
Final Version (4-19-07)
E-Mail: [email protected]
------------------------------------

o============o
\ Contents /
o========o

- Introduction
- FAQs
- The Basics
- Scoring
- Fishing Ranks
- Fish Data
- Fish as Items
- Fishing Locations
- Rods
- Bait
- Manillo Shops

o================o
\ Introduction /
o============o

The fishing mini game in Breath of Fire III has always captivated me (for a
while it was all I did, not making any progress in the game), and the thought
that one could obtain a perfect score by catching the biggest of each type of
fish occurred to me at some point. I was put off mainly due to the fact that I
didn't know what the biggest of each type of fish was, or even, if there was a
maximum.

Luckily, one fateful day in the forums I decided to pose that very question:
"Is there a maximum length for each fish, and is there a 'Perfect Score?'"
Luckily, and to my amazement, someone (Terence) on the gameFAQs forums had the
exact formula that the game uses to determine the score for the fish, and also
confirmed my belief that there is a Perfect Score. Driven by this newfound
data, I have created this FAQ to set in stone this information, and also to
help those out who are just beginning.

Although I will be glad to see this FAQ reach the light of day, I regretfully
admit that I don't remember how some of people mentioned in the guide helped
me. All I know is that they're all from the forums, and they gave me some sort
of information at some point that was beneficial to the guide. If you find
your name in here, and know exactly how you helped me, feel free to send an
email.

o========o
\ FAQs /
o====o

Q. So... What's the point of fishing?

A. Though certainly not necessary (with one plot-driven exception), fishing is
quite a helpful deviation from the main quest (not to mention a fun one).
Early in the game, you can sell the fish you catch for money, which will
help with equipment. Later in the game, you'll want to catch the bigger fish
(like the whales and spearfish) to use as items.

Q. How come some fish just won't bite?

A. Try switching to a different bait type. Each fish will always respond to a
certain bait type. Also, you may need to improve your button tapping (for
higher Tecs). For info on which baits to use and how to improve Tecs, look
at the respective sections (Baits and The Basics).

Q. Why can't I reach those fish way out there?

A. You'll need to either wait until they come in range of your bait, or just
wait until you get a better rod. Your best bet is getting a new rod. You
typically can't reach those fish for a reason: Your rod can't handle them!
You run the risk of snapping your line with a lower end rod.

Q. Do I get anything for getting certain ranks?

A. Yep. For reaching the rank of Rodmaster (2000 points), you'll be able to
apprentice to Giotto. For reaching higher ranks (Master of Angling++ or The
Fish), you'll receive the best rod and bait and a Fountain Pen. Check out
the rod and bait sections for the specifics.

Q. Why do I stink at Tecs?!

A. I was terrible at getting good Tecs until I started playing piano and
developed a better sense of rhythm. Not that I suggest you pick up piano,
but I do suggest practicing until you get Tecs right. You'll probably be
able to survive by pulling off Tec + 3s, as I did, but you'll have a much
easier time if you learn the Tec + 4. If you memorize the pattern (not that
hard) just tap your other finger to a continuous beat as you press (or don't
press) the buttons for the Tec (I click my tongue to the beat, although
anyone that catches you clicking your tongue at a game may think you're a
bit strange).

Q. Have you gotten the Perfect Score?

A. Heck no, I haven't even gotten The Fish rank yet. I'm still a respectable
(but desperately short) Master of Angling++ (9159 points).

Q. What's the Shisu sidequest all about?

A. It's actually a vital part of the storyline. While you don't really have to
do all that well while making it, doing a good job nets you some nice items,
the best of which is the Shaman's Ring. ZC Liu has sent me a recipe that
will net you a Shaman's Ring when you make the Shisu dish:

"Mackerel x 1 ; 68cm or better
Shaly Seed x15
Vinegar x 5
Horseradish x 8
Knead x 2"

Q. What's a Barandy anyway? I'll let ZC Liu field this one.

A. "Just a bit of trivia... professional anglers and Australians probably
already know this. The barandy fish-name was a mistranslation; either that,
or a shortening of the original name due to too many characters. In the JP
version, it was known as the "Ba-Ra-Mu-N-De-I", based on a real-life fish
known in Japan as the Northern Barramundi (check out Gulf Saratoga in
wikipedia). Additionally, you might want to click on the link to the
Arapaima Gigas fish too!"

o==============o
\ The Basics /
o==========o

If you're just beginning the BoFIII Fishing mini game, this section is for you.
Basically, it goes over what the game already tells you, but with my own input
here and there.

Finding a Fishing Spot
----------------------

Fishing Spots appear on the world map as a single fish jumping up out of the
water repeatedly. They appear after different events in the game, so you can't
access them all at once.

Walk up to the spot and Press X to enter it. You'll find yourself in a new area.

The Fishing Menu
----------------

In the new area, press the Square button to enter the menu. From here, you can
select Gear, Data, or Rules. Gear lets you equip a rod and bait, Data lets you
see information on the fish you've caught and your current ranking, and Rules
goes over some basic info for fishing.

Equipping a Rod and Bait
------------------------

Before you can fish, you'll have to have a rod and bait equipped. Do this by
going into the Fishing Menu and selecting Gear. From here you can equip both a
rod and bait from your inventory. Simple, no?

Casting
-------

Press X once to make a green bar appear. It moves back and forth until you
press X again. The farther right the bar is when you press X, the closer your
cast will be to the maximum distance it can reach. While the bait is sailing
through the air, you can press left or right to move it around to control where
it lands.

Once the Bait is in the Water
-----------------------------

Once the bait has hit the water, you can move it around with the left and right
directional buttons. Each of these movements also bring the bait back closer to
you. Tapping X will intermittently reel the bait in. Holding X will reel the
bait in faster. Pressing the down directional button gives the bait a tug
(although using the down button in excess leads to bait loss; it's not
reccommended). Pressing Triangle will cancel the entire cast and return you to
the shore.

Some baits will slowly sink if you don't press any buttons, and rise again when
you press X. Others sink when you press X, and float back to the top when you
don't press anything. You can see the position of your bait relative to the
bottom of the area with the meter on the bottom of the screen. Don't let your
bait sink too low; you could lose it.

Attracting a Fish
-----------------

Fish are the dark shapes that swim about in the water (but I'm sure you've
figured that out already). Typically, once a fish comes in close proximity with
a bait that it likes, it will start to follow it until it bites. Some fish need
more coaxing, however.

Tapping the X button (or the left, right, or down buttons) rhythmically creates
"Tecs." When used correctly, a Tec will dramatically increase the fish's desire
to bite the bait in front of it. Sometimes, it will even attract a fish that
would normally be too far away to notice the bait. I will attempt to display
the 4 Tec rhythms here, but I strongly suggest looking at the live examples in
the Rules section of the fishing menu. (Press X when it says X and wait a beat
when it says -)

2 Count ... X-X- Tec + 1
3 Count ... XX- Tec + 2
5 Count ... XX-X- Tec + 3
7 Count ... XX--X-X Tec + 4

Reeling in a Fish
-----------------

So, the fish has bitten! You'll need to hold X to reel it in, but there's a bit
more to it than that. You'll notice something new at the bottom of the screen.
A fish icon appears, as well as a bar. You can move the bar around with the
directional buttons. The fish moves on its own. The goal is to move the bar so
that it stays on top of the fish for the most part. This is called tracking.
When the bar is on top of the fish, it will be green. When it's not on the
fish, it will be orange.

You'll also notice a red bar below the tracker and fish icons (well, you may
not really notice it until you start tackling the harder fish). This is the
stamina of the fish, and the higher it is, the more energy it will have to drag
your line out to sea. The more you fight the fish, the more the stamina will
drop. Sometimes, if your rod is just too weak, a fish will be able to fight
even without stamina.

At this point, you'll want to keep an eye on the distance that the fish has
your line out. If it gets too high, your line will break. If you find that you
were fighting the fish well, and keeping the bar green, it may mean that you
simply need a better rod before attempting to tackle that specific fish.

When the fish reaches the shore, you've caught it.

Secret Fishing Tips
-------------------

The following are a couple techniques I've developed from countless hours
fishing. These secret techniques began as mere whispers in the darkest corners
of subconscious thought, and as they manifested I noticed them and took note so
that I could pass on this information to aspiring fishermen.

Corny dialogue aside, I'll give you the following tips (and perhaps an inkling
of disappointment after that pump-up speech):

Tip #1: While reeling in the fish, it will sometimes break water. In this case,
the fish icon will pause for a second or so. This always means that the
fish is about to lose a lot of energy, and you should be ready to move
the tracking bar to the left. This happens often, so learn to react!

Tip #2: Sometimes the fish will put up such a fight that the fish icon will
dart to the right side of the bar. The tracking bar normally "drags"
the fish icon to the left, but it can't really get a good "grip" on the
fish when it's crammed into the right side of the bar. My solution is
to tap the right directional button as fast as you can. This seems to
"dislodge" the fish icon from the right side of the bar, allowing the
tracking bar to get a better grip. This method almost always prevents
the fish from running away with your line. Heck, you can use the method
to easily catch fish you normally couldn't catch with weaker rods. This
is called the "Dislodge Technique," and yes, I just made that up.

Quitting
--------

When you want to quit fishing, press Triangle while at the shore. You can
either change your mind and select Retry, or just quit to return to the world
map.

o===========o
\ Scoring /
o=======o

Thanks to Terence for the following information on the formula and the maximum
points for each fish (if you're not good with math, just skip ahead a little to
the chart):

"How fishing works:

All fish have a 'target' length that you must meet to get the full number of
points available for catching them. The Average Length is not part of this
data; it's just a guideline. The Average Length is usually 75% of the Target
Length, rounded *down* to the nearest 5cm (example: a fish with a Target Length
of 50cm would have an Average Length of 50*0.75 = 37.5 which rounds down to 35).

Just as there is a Target Length for each fish, there is also a maximum number
of points available from each fish. How many points you get from a fish depends
on what percentage of the Target Length you met. The formula used is:

Points = [[10 * Catch Length / Target Length] * Max Points / 10]

As an example, a MartianSquid grants 600 points maximum and has a Target Length
of 80cm. If you caught one that had a length of 79, you'd get the following
number of points:

Points = [[10 * 79 / 80] * 600 / 10]
= [[790 / 80] * 600 / 10]
= [[9.875] * 600 / 10]
= [9 * 600 / 10]
= [5400 / 10]
= [540]
= 540

(Anything within square brackets must be rounded *down* to the nearest integer)

Even if you catch a fish *over* the Target Length, you will not get more points
than the maximum points allowed for that fish."

Maximum Maximum
Fish Length(cm) Score
----------------------------------------
Jellyfish 30 100
Pirana 40 150
Puffer 50 200
Trout 70 250
RainbowTrout 70 300
Red Catfish 80 400
Bass 40 400
MartianSquid 80 600
Black Bass 90 700
Barandy 200 900
Man-o'-War 30 100
Flying Fish 20 150
Blowfish 20 200
Sea Bream 40 250
Sea Bass 60 500
Black Porgy 60 400
Octopus 70 500
Angler 100 600
Devilfish 120 700
Spearfish 160 800
Whale 240 999
Mackerel 70 300
Manillo 200 500

"Note that the total number of points available adds up to 9999, and as such it
is impossible to get higher than that, even if the game could display it."

o=================o
\ Fishing Ranks /
o=============o

As you move up in the world of fishing, you'll catch new fish, gain new baits
and rods, and obtain higher scores and rankings.

Thanks go to Youko (and to Ragnarok500, I believe he corrected an error) for
the following chart:

Required
Ranking Score
------------------------------
Novice 0
Novice+ 100
Novice++ 200
Rodman 600
Rodman+ 1000
Rodman++ 1500
Rodmaster 2000
Rodmaster+ 3000
Rodmaster++ 4000
Master of Angling 5000
Master of Angling+ 7000
Master of Angling++ 9000
THE FISH 9500

There are a few rewards for reaching certain ranks in the game.

For reaching the rank of Rodmaster (2000 points), you'll be able to apprentice
to Giotto.

For reaching the rank of Master of Angling++ (9000 points) and clearing the
game, you'll receive the Master's Rod and Ding Frog by talking to the fisherman
in the ? area on the peninsula west of Steel Beach (thanks to Gohanfan01 and
DavidK5 for the correct info). Check out the rod and bait sections for the
specifics.

Finally, when you talk to the same guy that gave you the Master's Rod and Ding
Frog after reaching THE FISH rank (9500 points) and clearing the game, you'll
receive a Fountain Pen item. This works like Skill Ink, except you can keep
using it to exchange skills (thanks AGAIN to DavidK5 for this info!).

ZC Liu has sent more information regarding the Fountain Pen:

"The Fountain Pen is a key item that goes under "Vtal" in your Items menu. It
allows you to select "CHANGE" when going through your skills list without
having to choose whether you want to use a Skill Ink at all. BTW, it's got
the same description as that given to the Manly Clothes armor, just that this
time the description is correct."

o=============o
\ Fish Data /
o=========o

Following each fish name is what type of bait it will snap at and also where to
find each fish.

Fish Preferred Bait Location(s)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jellyfish All but Coin West of McNeil Village (Yraall Region)
East of Mt. Myrneg (Central Wyndia)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pirana All but Coin West of McNeil Village (Yraall Region)
SW of McNeil Village (Yraall Region)
Northwest of the Plant (Eastern Wyndia)
W of Northern Checkpoint (Dauna Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Puffer Floating Type SW of McNeil Village (Yraall Region)
SW of Maekyss Gorge (Central Wyndia)
Near Maekyss Gorge (Central Wyndia)
North of Mount Levett (Dauna Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trout Worm and Fish Type SW of McNeil Village (Yraall Region)
Northwest of the Plant (Eastern Wyndia)
W of Northern Checkpoint (Dauna Region)
North of Mount Levett (Dauna Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RainbowTrout Worm and Fish Type West of McNeil Village (Yraall Region)
SW of Maekyss Gorge (Central Wyndia)
Northwest of the Plant (Eastern Wyndia)
W of Northern Checkpoint (Dauna Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red Catfish Frog Type South of Dauna Mine (Dauna Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bass All but Coin SW of Maekyss Gorge (Central Wyndia)
Northwest of the Plant (Eastern Wyndia)
East of Mt. Myrneg (Central Wyndia)
South of Dauna Mine (Dauna Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MartianSquid Worm Type East of Mt. Myrneg (Central Wyndia)
South of Dauna Mine (Dauna Region)
Near Maekyss Gorge (Central Wyndia)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Black Bass Worm and Fish Type Northwest of the Plant (Eastern Wyndia)
North of Mount Levett (Dauna Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barandy Frog Type W of Northern Checkpoint (Dauna Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man-o'-War All but Coin Northwest of Rhapala (Rhapala Region)
West of Rhapala (Rhapala Region)
Far west of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)
East of Kombinat (Lost Shore)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flying Fish Floating Type South of the Tower (Eastern Wyndia)
Northwest of Rhapala (Rhapala Region)
West of Rhapala (Rhapala Region)
Far west of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)
East of Kombinat (Lost Shore)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blowfish Floating Type South of the Tower (Eastern Wyndia)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sea Bream Worm and Fish Type Northwest of Rhapala (Rhapala Region)
Southeast of Mount Zublo (Urkan Region)
Far west of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sea Bass Worm and Fish Type West of Rhapala (Rhapala Region)
Southwest of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)
Far west of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Black Porgy Frog Type South of the Tower (Eastern Wyndia)
Southeast of Mount Zublo (Urkan Region)
Far west of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Octopus Worm Type South of the Tower (Eastern Wyndia)
West of Rhapala (Rhapala Region)
Near Cliff (Rhapala Region)
Far west of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Angler Fish Type Southeast of Mount Zublo (Urkan Region)
Near Cliff (Rhapala Region)
Far west of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Devilfish Worm Type Near Cliff (Rhapala Region)
Southwest of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)
Far west of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spearfish Fish Type Southwest of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)
Far west of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)
East of Kombinat (Lost Shore)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whale Fish Type East of Kombinat (Lost Shore)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mackerel Worm Type Near Maekyss Gorge (Central Wyndia)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manillo Coin SW of McNeil Village (Yraall Region)
South of the Tower (Eastern Wyndia)
Southeast of Mount Zublo (Urkan Region)
West of Northern Checkpoint (Dauna Region)
Near Cliff (Rhapala Region)
Far west of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)
East of Kombinat (Lost Shore)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

o=================o
\ Fish as Items /
o=============o

Any fish you've caught can be used as items. Some are healing fish, some cause
status effects, and some are used as attack items.

The fourth column describes whether you can use the fish in battle, on the
field, or both. B means in battle and F means on the field.

Restorative Selling
Fish Description Price Use
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man-o'-War Restores 1HP 5 Z B,F
Jellyfish Restores 1HP 5 Z B,F
Pirana Restores 20HP 25 Z B,F
Flying Fish Restores 20HP 25 Z B,F
Trout Restores 40HP 25 Z B,F
Bass Restores 80HP 50 Z B,F
Sea Bass Restores 80HP 50 Z B,F
Sea Bream Restores 5AP 80 Z B,F
RainbowTrout Restores 5AP 80 Z B,F
Black Porgy Restores 20AP 200 Z B,F
Black Bass Restores 80HP to party members 200 Z B,F
Barandy Restores 240HP to party members 1000 Z B,F
Spearfish Restores 240HP to party members 1000 Z B,F
Whale Restores all members' HP&status 2000 Z B,F
Blowfish Cures poison in party members 40 Z B,F

Attack Selling
Fish Description Price Use
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Devilfish Electric attack vs one target 500 Z B
Puffer Flame attack vs one target 25 Z B
Angler Earthquake(attack vs all targets) 200 Z B
Red Catfish Earthquake(attack vs all targets) 150 Z B
MartianSquid Induces blindness in one target 100 Z B
Octopus Induces blindness in all targets 150 Z B

Miscellaneous Selling
Fish Description Price Use
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mackerel Fish 100 Z F*

* The Mackerel isn't used from the menu. It's used once only as an ingredient
when you are making shisu.

o=====================o
\ Fishing Locations /
o=================o

The fishing locations are listed in the order they become available to you.
Also listed is where you'll find the fishing spot, when it becomes available to
you in the game, the game's description of the spot, and the target fish at
each. The number of each fish in each hole come courtesy of ZC Liu!

Fishing Spot #1 - West of McNeil Village (Yraall
Region)
===============================================================================
Description: "There are lots of small fish swimming
in the stream."

Available: After defeating the Nue.

Target Fish
-----------
- Jellyfish x10
- Pirana x 6
- RainbowTrout x 4

Fishing Spot #2 - Southwest of McNeil Village, near
the Farm (Yraall Region)
===============================================================================
Description: "You see a familiar shape amongst the
fish..."

Available: After defeating the Nue.

Target Fish
-----------
- Pirana x8
- Puffer x8
- Trout x4
- Manillo x1

Fishing Spot #3 - West of Arena / SW of Maekyss Gorge
(Central Wyndia)
===============================================================================
Description: "Hangout of the River Gang"

Available: After Balio and Sunder bring you to Arena

Target Fish
-----------
- Puffer x6
- RainbowTrout x8
- Bass x6

Fishing Spot #4 - South of the Tower (Eastern Wyndia)
===============================================================================
Description: "A famous spot where everyone catches
the 'big ones'"

Available: After passing through Mt. Boumore

Target Fish
-----------
- Flying Fish x12
- Blowfish x 4
- Black Porgy x 3
- Octopus x 4
- Manillo x 1

Fishing Spot #5 - Northwest of the Plant (Eastern
Wyndia)
===============================================================================
Description: "There are lots of different fish
gathered here."

Available: After agreeing to help Palet at the
Coffee Shop

Target Fish
-----------
- Pirana x8
- Trout x4
- RainbowTrout x4
- Bass x4
- Black Bass x2

Fishing Spot #6 - East of Mt. Myrneg (Central Wyndia)
===============================================================================
Description: "Something bizarre is swimming with the
fish here..."

Available: After defeating the Stallion

Target Fish
-----------
- Jellyfish x10
- Bass x 6
- MartianSquid x 4

Fishing Spot #7 - Northwest of Rhapala (Rhapala
Region)
===============================================================================
Description: "This is the best place to get fresh
river fish!"

Available: As soon as you cross the checkpoint
bridge from Eastern Wyndia.

Target Fish
-----------
- Man-o'-War x10
- Flying Fish x 8
- Sea Bream x 4

Fishing Spot #8 - West of Rhapala (Rhapala Region)
===============================================================================
Description: "A beach famous for good fishing"

Available: As soon as you cross the checkpoint
bridge from Eastern Wyndia.

Target Fish
-----------
- Man-o'-War x 4
- Flying Fish x 4
- Sea Bass x10
- Octopus x 4

Fishing Spot #9 - Southeast of Mount Zublo (Urkan
Region)
===============================================================================
Description: "Area famous for the 'big ones'!"

Available: After passing through Mt. Zublo

Target Fish
-----------
- Sea Bream x12
- Black Porgy x 6
- Angler x 2
- Manillo x 1

Fishing Spot #10 - West of Northern Checkpoint (Dauna
Region)
===============================================================================
Description: "The silence is almost tangible in this
hushed place"

Available: After fighting the Dragon Zombie and
leaving the Mines

Target Fish
-----------
- Pirana x8
- Trout x6
- RainbowTrout x6
- Barandy x3
- Manillo x1

Fishing Spot #11 - South of Dauna Mine (Dauna Region)
===============================================================================
Description: "They say that some unusual fish live
in the colder areas
upstream..."

Available: After fighting the Dragon Zombie and
leaving the Mines

Target Fish
-----------
- Red Catfish x 3
- Bass x10
- MartianSquid x 4

Fishing Spot #12 - North of Mount Levett (Dauna
Region)
===============================================================================
Description: "One of the most popular fishing spots,
just full of big fish"

Available: After fighting the Weretiger on Ogre Road

Target Fish
-----------
- Puffer x4
- Trout x8
- Black Bass x6

Fishing Spot #13 - Near Cliff (Rhapala Region)
===============================================================================
Description: "Famous octopus fishing bed"

Available: After passing through the Tidal Caves

Target Fish
-----------
- Octopus x12
- Angler x 4
- Devilfish x 4
- Manillo x 1

Fishing Spot #14 - Southwest of Steel Beach (Urkan
Region)
===============================================================================
Description: "The best fish in the world are said to
be here in this bed..."

Available: After talking to Beyd at Junk Town

Target Fish
-----------
- Sea Bass x12
- Devilfish x 4
- Spearfish x 2

Fishing Spot #15 - Far west of Steel Beach (Urkan
Region)
===============================================================================
Description: "Tide pool formed by the Outer Sea and
the Middle Sea"

Available: After talking to Beyd at Junk Town

Target Fish
-----------
- Man-o'-War x3
- Flying Fish x3
- Blowfish x3
- Sea Bream x3
- Sea Bass x3
- Black Porgy x2
- Octopus x2
- Angler x2
- Devilfish x2
- Spearfish x1
- Manillo x1

Fishing Spot #16 - Near Maekyss Gorge (Central Wyndia)
===============================================================================
Description: "The best ingredients for that Maekyss
specialty, shisu, can be
found here!"

Available: After talking to the mayor of Parch

Target Fish
-----------
- Puffer x 6
- MartianSquid x 2
- Mackerel x12

Fishing Spot #17 - East of Kombinat (Lost Shore)
===============================================================================
Description: "What kind of fish live here in this
unexplored land?"

Available: After using the Black Ship to reach the
Lost Shore

Target Fish
-----------
- Man-o'-War x8
- Flying Fish x4
- Spearfish x2
- Whale x2
- Manillo x1

o========o
\ Rods /
o====o

There aren't that many different rods in BoFIII, but that just means when you
get a new one, it'll be a lot better. This chart describes each rod's
capability: how far you can cast (Max Range), the size and speed of the
Tracking Bar (the green/orange bar that you hover over the fish icon), and the
strength of the rod (ease of pulling in fish).

Max Tracking Tracking
Rod Range Bar Size Speed Strength
---------------------------------------------------------------
Wooden Rod 27m 1/4 Slow Weak
Bamboo Rod 34m 1/4 Fast Weak
Angling Rod 49m 1/3 Fast Weak
Deluxe Rod 34m 1/3 Slow Average
Spanner 34m 3/7 Slow Strong
Master's Rod 49m 3/7 Fast Average

Wooden Rod - You can pick this sucker up at the McNeil Item Shop or the Coffee
Shop Item Shop for 40 Z. You might as well buy one at the beginning because the
next upgrade isn't for a little while.

Bamboo Rod - Find the Bamboo Rod in the Tower a little bit after Momo joins you.
When you reach the room where you charge the platform, take the stairs up, and
then take the next set of stairs up again. There should be a door here that
leads to the chest with the rod in it. With better range and speed than the
Wooden Rod, you won't want to miss it.

Angling Rod - When your Faerie Village is running smoothly, set three Faeries
to Merchants, and have them pursue the Handyman-Ability path. They get new
items much faster if all three Faeries have full dark blue bars. If you go out
and fight 4-5 battles, they'll have a new item. The Angling Rod will be the 4th
item they put up for sale, and it costs 2,000 Z. Although this rod will allow
you a much longer reach, it's not really all that great for pulling in the
strong fish.

Deluxe Rod - After killing Mikba and having Rei join you again, enter the
nearby hut and pick the lock on the door to reach the rod. Although this rod
doesn't have quite the reach that the Angling Rod does, I prefer it due to its
superior strength.

Spanner - You need to bring Momo with you into the Steel Grave because of her
ability to blow through doors. When you enter the area, head northeast and go
up the ladder and walk past a couple holes. Take the ladder down on the far
left and blow through the breakable door. The Spanner is what you'll be
catching most of your fish with due to its strength and large tracking bar.
It's totally awesome.

Master's Rod - Reach the rank of Master of Angling++ (9000 points) and clear
the game to receive the Master's Rod by talking to the fisherman in the ? area
on the peninsula west of Steel Beach (thanks to Gohanfan01 and DavidK5 for the
correct info). I don't know about this rod. Granted, the Master's Rod has a
longer reach than the Spanner, but... The added speed to the tracking bar is
almost completely useless, because the Spanner's bar is just as long, and it
really isn't that hard to follow a fish with such a huge bar. And it's just not
as strong as the Spanner. Stick with the Spanner if you're fishing in general,
and use the Master's Rod when you quickly wanna catch a Whale or Barandy or
something.

o========o
\ Bait /
o====o

Bait is very plentiful in BoFIII, and can be obtained in a number of ways.
There are four main bait types, and two special baits total. Typically, each
fish will have a certain bait type preference, and though a fish will bite any
bait that falls in that category, you'll usually have more luck with higher
level bait.

Worm Type Level Frog Type Level Other Level
-------------------- -------------------- ------------------
Worm 1 Toad 1 Coin N/A
Spirit 2 Baby Frog 2 Ding Frog TOP
Caro 3 Frog 3
Heavy Caro TOP Fat Frog TOP

Fish Type Level Floating Type Level
-------------------- --------------------
Sinker 1 Old Popper 1
Float 2 Popper 2
Hanger 3 Top 3
Deep Diver TOP Dogwalker TOP

===============================================================================

Level 1 bait locations Level 2 bait locations
---------------------- ----------------------

Worm Spirit
- In a cabinet in Rei's house - Rhapala Item Shop (50 Z)
- McNeil Item Shop (20 Z) - Urkan Tapa Item Shop (50 Z)
- Wyndia Item Shop (20 Z) - Syn City Item Shop (50 Z)
- Coffee Shop Item Shop (20 Z) - Manillo

Toad Baby Frog
- McNeil Item Shop (20 Z) - Rhapala Item Shop (50 Z)
- Wyndia Item Shop (20 Z) - Urkan Tapa Item Shop (50 Z)
- Coffee Shop Item Shop (20 Z) - Syn City Item Shop (50 Z)
- Steal from Sleepy
- Manillo

Sinker Float
- McNeil Item Shop (20 Z) - Rhapala Item Shop (50 Z)
- Wyndia Item Shop (20 Z) - Urkan Tapa Item Shop (50 Z)
- Coffee Shop Item Shop (20 Z) - Syn City Item Shop (50 Z)
- Manillo

Old Popper Popper
- McNeil Item Shop (20 Z) - Rhapala Item Shop (50 Z)
- Wyndia Item Shop (20 Z) - Urkan Tapa Item Shop (50 Z)
- Coffee Shop Item Shop (20 Z) - Syn City Item Shop (50 Z)
- Dropped by Goblin - Manillo

Level 3 bait locations Level 4 bait locations
---------------------- ----------------------

Caro Heavy Caro
- Parch Item Shop (200 Z) - Slippery cliff on Mt. Glaus
- Kombinat Item Shop (200 Z) - Manillo
- Manillo

Frog Fat Frog
- Parch Item Shop (200 Z) - Steal from Hopper
- Kombinat Item Shop (200 Z) - Dropped by Sleepy
- Manillo - Manillo

Hanger Deep Diver
- Parch Item Shop (200 Z) - Found in the Colony
- Kombinat Item Shop (200 Z) - Manillo
- Manillo

Top Dogwalker
- Parch Item Shop (200 Z) - Manillo
- Kombinat Item Shop (200 Z)
- Manillo

Other bait locations
--------------------

Coin
- On the road to Mt. Glaus; In a hole under a rock, use Teepo's kick.
- During the Contest of Champions; in a dresser in a locker room
- After returning to Wyndia; while Nina, search a dresser near the Queen's room
- A chest in the Lighthouse
- A chest in the Tidal Caves
- Inside a house in Parch

Ding Frog
- Become a Master of Angling++ (9000 points) and clear the game; you'll receive
the Ding Frog by talking to the fisherman in the ? area on the peninsula west
of Steel Beach

o=================o
\ Manillo Shops /
o=============o

Manillo is the fish guy that you pull up out of the water with Coins as bait.
He's a merchant, but he won't sell you his items for normal money; he takes
fish instead. The following list is where you can find each Manillo and what he
sells at each location.

Fishing Spot #2 - Southwest of McNeil Village, near the Farm (Yraall Region)

----------------------------------------------------------------------.
| Item | Fish 1 | Fish 2 | Fish 3 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Silver Knife | RainbowTrout X2 | Trout X2 | -- |
| Iron Helm | Trout X1 | Pirana X2 | -- |
| Waistcloth | Trout X1 | Puffer X1 | -- |
| Spirit | Pirana X3 | -- | -- |
| Baby Frog | Pirana X3 | -- | -- |
| Popper | Puffer X3 | -- | -- |
| Float | Puffer X3 | -- | -- |
| Skill Ink | RainbowTrout X1 | Trout X1 | -- |
| Bell Collar | Angler X3 | MartianSquid X3 | Sea Bream X5 |
| Holy Mantle | Black Bass X3 | Bass X4 | Sea Bass X9 |
'----------------------------------------------------------------------'

Fishing Spot #4 - South of the Tower (Eastern Wyndia)

----------------------------------------------------.
| Item | Fish 1 | Fish 2 |
|----------------------------------------------------|
| Chain Cap | Bass X1 | Blowfish X3 |
| Crepe Cape | Black Porgy X1 | Flying Fish X4 |
| Spirit | Blowfish X3 | -- |
| Baby Frog | Blowfish X3 | -- |
| Popper | Flying Fish X2 | -- |
| Float | Flying Fish X2 | -- |
| Skill Ink | Octopus X2 | -- |
'----------------------------------------------------'

Fishing Spot #9 - Southeast of Mount Zublo (Urkan Region)

----------------------------------------------------------------------.
| Item | Fish 1 | Fish 2 | Fish 3 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Wisdom Ring | Angler X1 | Black Porgy X2 | Sea Bream X2 |
| Lion's Belt | MartianSquid X2 | Bass X2 | Sea Bass X4 |
| Ginseng | MartianSquid X1 | Octopus X2 | Sea Bass X3 |
| Caro | Sea Bream X3 | -- | -- |
| Frog | Sea Bream X3 | -- | -- |
| Top | Octopus X2 | -- | -- |
| Hanger | Octopus X2 | -- | -- |
| Skill Ink | Black Porgy X1 | Angler X1 | -- |
'----------------------------------------------------------------------'

Fishing Spot #10 - West of Northern Checkpoint (Dauna Region)

----------------------------------------------------------------------.
| Item | Fish 1 | Fish 2 | Fish 3 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Wisdom Ring | Black Bass X1 | RainbowTrout X5 | Trout X5 |
| Lion's Belt | Angler X1 | RainbowTrout X9 | Trout X9 |
| Ginseng | Bass X2 | RainbowTrout X5 | Trout X5 |
| Caro | RainbowTrout X2 | Trout X3 | -- |
| Frog | RainbowTrout X2 | Trout X3 | -- |
| Top | RainbowTrout X3 | Trout X2 | -- |
| Hanger | RainbowTrout X3 | Trout X2 | -- |
| Skill Ink | MartianSquid X2 | RainbowTrout X1 | Trout X1 |
| Katzbalger | Barandy X1 | Black Bass X2 | Red Catfish X1 |
| Laurel | Barandy X1 | Black Bass X2 | Bass X1 |
'----------------------------------------------------------------------'

Fishing Spot #13 - Near Cliff (Rhapala Region)

----------------------------------------------------------------------.
| Item | Fish 1 | Fish 2 | Fish 3 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Hawk's Ring | Black Bass X3 | Bass X5 | -- |
| Artemis' Cap | Black Bass X2 | Angler X2 | Sea Bream X5 |
| Speed Boots | Barandy X1 | Black Bass X1 | Devilfish X2 |
| Soul Gem | Barandy X1 | Sea Bass X2 | -- |
| Bell Collar | Devilfish X2 | Angler X3 | Sea Bream X9 |
| Holy Mantle | Black Bass X3 | Bass X9 | Sea Bass X9 |
| Skill Ink | Octopus X2 | Devilfish X1 | -- |
'----------------------------------------------------------------------'

Fishing Spot #15 - Far west of Steel Beach (Urkan Region)

----------------------------------------------------------------------.
| Item | Fish 1 | Fish 2 | Fish 3 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Demonsbane | Spearfish X1 | Black Bass X2 | -- |
| Aries Spear | Spearfish X1 | Sea Bass X9 | Sea Bream X9 |
| Heavy Caro | Devilfish X1 | MartianSquid X1 | Octopus X2 |
| Fat Frog | Devilfish X1 | MartianSquid X1 | Octopus X2 |
| Dogwalker | Devilfish X1 | MartianSquid X1 | Octopus X2 |
| Deep Diver | Devilfish X1 | MartianSquid X1 | Octopus X2 |
| Skill Ink | Octopus X2 | Devilfish X1 | -- |
'----------------------------------------------------------------------'

Fishing Spot #17 - East of Kombinat (Lost Shore)

----------------------------------------------------------------------.
| Item | Fish 1 | Fish 2 | Fish 3 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Royal Sword | Whale X1 | Spearfish X3 | Barandy X1 |
| Life Armor | Whale X1 | Spearfish X1 | Barandy X3 |
| Cupid's Lyre | Whale X1 | Barandy X2 | Red Catfish X5 |
| Shaman'sRing | Whale X1 | Spearfish X3 | Red Catfish X5 |
| Ivory Dice | Spearfish X1 | Red Catfish X1 | Mackerel X5 |
| Skill Ink | Spearfish X1 | Devilfish X1 | -- |
'----------------------------------------------------------------------'

===============================================================================

That about does it for this FAQ. If there's anything I've missed, any mistakes
I've made, or anything you'd like to add, please E-mail me at:

[email protected]

Special Thanks (all from GameFAQs message boards):

Terence
Youko
Ragnarok500
Gohanfan01
DavidK5
ZC Liu (man, I'm sorry... I totally spaced on the whole updating thing)

This FAQ is copyrighted material and should not be modified or changed in any
way. Do not claim it as your own, either. This FAQ should be posted only on
GameFAQs and nowhere else.