Are you struggling to level your fishing skill in Final Fantasy XI on the Nasomi server? My in-game character, Valaena, reached level 100 fishing through dedicated research and grinding, and I’m here to share my knowledge. I spent weeks analyzing every fish, comparing their value to vendors, crafters, and the auction house, and pinpointing the best locations and bait for optimal skill-up rates and profit. Tired of seeing frustrated fishermen in-game, I decided to create this comprehensive guide.
Important Notes Before You Start:
- Time Investment: Fishing is a time-consuming skill but requires less initial Gil investment compared to other crafts.
- Independent Skill: Fishing level does not count towards your crafting level cap, allowing you to max fishing alongside another craft.
- Fishing Command: The command and macro for fishing is
/fish. - Lure/Bait Loss: Ending fishing before the fish’s stamina depletes will cause you to lose your lure or bait.
- Bug Lockout: Failing to reel in a fish within the time limit can bug your character, requiring a disconnect (D/C) to fix. Use Ctrl+Alt+Delete or close the launcher window to D/C.
- Monster Exception: Monsters will not bug your character if they time out, and you won’t lose lure/bait.
- Catch Indicators: Pay attention to log messages to identify what you’ve hooked:
- “Something caught the hook!” – Small fish.
- “Something caught the hook!!!” – Large fish.
- “You feel something pulling at your line.” – Item.
- “Something clamps onto your line ferociously!” – Monster (will attack if reeled in).
- Anti-Botting Measures: On Nasomi, move your character every 20 minutes of fishing to maintain optimal catch rates, otherwise, they will decrease rapidly.
- No Daily Limit: There’s no limit to the number of fish you can catch per day on Nasomi.
Guide Overview:
This guide utilizes two rods: a Composite Rod for large fish and a Halcyon Rod for small fish. However, a Composite Rod is sufficient to follow this guide up to level 96. Using a Halcyon Rod where suggested is recommended if you have one.
Effective targeting of specific fish requires a variety of lures and bait:
- Sabiki Rig
- Insect Paste
- Fly Lure
- Frog Lure
- Worm Lure
- Shrimp Lure
- Meatball (optional)
- Rogue Rig (for later levels)
This guide prioritizes the fastest path to level 76+ fishing while generating decent Gil. It’s not designed for shortcuts to Qufim Island or Sauromugue Champaign, or for players solely focused on catching mythril swords before level 76. Mythril swords are a minor part of a high-level fisherman’s income, and pursuing them early will slow down your progress. Reaching higher levels quickly is recommended for optimal fishing profitability.
Leveling Your Fishing Skill: Step-by-Step Guide
0-6: Selbina – Cobalt Jellyfish & Bastore Sardines
- Setup: Halcyon/Composite Rod + Sabiki Rig
- Target Fish: Cobalt Jellyfish & Bastore Sardines
The Sabiki Rig allows you to catch two fish simultaneously, accelerating skill-up rates. You’ll catch both Cobalt Jellyfish and Bastore Sardines. Cobalt Jellyfish are in high demand for crafting, so sell stacks on the auction house or use them for alchemy. The initial levels are slow, but the rig will help. You might also catch some Quus.
6-11: West Ronfaure (Knightwell Lake) – Moat Carp
- Setup: Halcyon/Composite Rod + Insect Paste
- Target Fish: Moat Carp
Moat Carp have an excellent bite rate here with Insect Paste. Remember to keep one Moat Carp for your level 8-10 guild fishing test.
11-16: Bastok Mines (Sewer) – Copper Frog
- Setup: Halcyon/Composite Rod + Fly Lure
- Target Fish: Copper Frog
This setup effectively isolates Copper Frogs. While the bite rate isn’t as high as Moat Carp, you avoid wasting time catching unwanted fish or monsters. Copper Frogs have some crafting value; check the auction house for their current prices.
11-17: Mhaura – Yellow Globe
- Setup: Halcyon/Composite Rod + Sabiki Rig | Worm Lure | Crayfish Balls
- Target Fish: Yellow Globe
Yellow Globes are mostly low-value, but this location can offer faster skill-ups compared to Copper Frogs. Worm Lure and Crayfish Balls will isolate Yellow Globes, while the Sabiki Rig will catch both Yellow Globes and Bastore Sardines (though Sardines are less effective for skill-ups at this point). The Sabiki Rig is still worthwhile if you have one. List stacks of Yellow Globes on the auction house or use them to level Alchemy (level 12) by making Poison Dust.
16-20: East Ronfaure – Cheval Salmon & Shining Trout
- Setup: Composite Rod + Fly Lure
- Target Fish: Cheval Salmon & Shining Trout
Cheval Salmon is required for your next guild fishing test, so keep one. Shining Trout becomes catchable starting at level 17.
20-27: Bastok Markets – Giant Catfish & Dark Bass
- Setup: Composite Rod + Frog Lure
- Target Fish: Giant Catfish & Dark Bass
Many players target Giant Catfish in Port San d’Oria, but Bastok Markets with Frog Lure is more efficient. Here, you can isolate two fish that both provide skill-ups. Fishing near the music shop or a vendor is recommended for quick selling of large fish. Don’t forget to keep one Giant Catfish for your level 28-30 guild fishing test.
27-36: Zeruhn Mines (Bridge to Korroloka Tunnel) – Black Eel
- Setup: Composite Rod + Worm Lure
- Target Fish: Black Eel
Fishing starts to become very profitable here. From level 27, you can isolate Black Eels in Zeruhn Mines using a Worm Lure. Vendor them for approximately 2,400 Gil per stack for instant cash.
36-56: Windurst Woods – Gold Carp
- Setup: Halcyon/Composite Rod + Shrimp Lure
- Target Fish: Gold Carp
Similar to Black Eels, you’ll isolate a valuable vendor fish for excellent skill-ups and Gil. There are no monsters in this area, and you’ll also fish up silver rings, which can be auctioned or desynthesized into silver ingots. Gold Carp have a good bite rate despite being isolated. Vendor them for around 3,600 Gil per stack. Eventually, you’ll need a Gugru Tuna for your level 38-40 guild test and a Monke-Onke for the 48-50 test. Buy these from the auction house if possible, as you are near the Windurst fishing guild. If unavailable, your Composite Rod + Shrimp Lure will catch both: Gugru Tuna on the Selbina-Mhaura boat and Monke-Onke in Yuhtunga Jungle or East Sarutabaruta.
56-66: Yuhtunga Jungle – Crescent Fish & Elshimo Newt
- Setup: Composite Rod + Fly Lure
- Target Fish: Crescent Fish & Elshimo Newt
Avoid East Sarutabaruta for Crescent Fish; the bite rate is poor during daylight, and monster encounters are frequent. OP warp to Yuhtunga Jungle and drop into the nearest hole on the left (towards Norg) to find safe fishing spots in the tunnel. Alternatively, fish by the waterfall at the lake for a more scenic route. You’ll catch Crescent Fish, Elshimo Frogs, and Elshimo Newts. Frogs won’t give skill-ups past level 56, but Newts will until level 60. Monster rates are low here. Expect roughly a 50/50 split between Crescent Fish and Frogs. Vendor Crescent Fish for 4,800 Gil per stack. A Bhefhel Marlin is needed for the level 58-60 guild test; catch it on the Selbina ferry with Composite Rod + Slice of Bluetail if you can’t buy one.
60-66: Selbina-Mhaura Ferry | Sauromugue Champaign | Batallia Downs – Silver Shark
- Setup: Composite Rod + Meatball
- Target Fish: Silver Shark
Silver Sharks are a good alternative to Crescent Fish for this level range. You can start fishing for them as early as level 56, but it’s more recommended after Newts stop providing skill-ups around level 60+.
60-66: Lufaise Meadows – Tavnazian Goby
- Setup: Halcyon/Composite Rod + Minnow
- Target Fish: Tavnazian Goby
Another alternative for this level range. You must complete all three Promathia Missions (Dem, Holla, Mea) to access Lufaise Meadows. You’ll catch Dark Bass alongside Tavnazian Goby, but you should catch approximately twice as many Goby.
66-76: Port Windurst – Bastore Bream
- Setup: Composite Rod + Shrimp Lure
- Target Fish: Bastore Bream
You’ll primarily catch Bastore Bream and some junk. The bite rate isn’t the best, but vendor prices of over 7,000 Gil per stack more than compensate. Keep grinding – you’re almost to high-level fishing! The level 68-70 guild test item is a Bladefish, which can be caught in East or West Sarutabaruta using Meatball, Slice of Bluetail, or a Rogue Rig. Alternatively, try the same setup in Port Bastok if the bite rate is slow in Windurst; the bite rate may be better, but you will also catch jellyfish.
76-96: Qufim Island – Gigant Squid & Black Sole
- Setup: Composite Rod + Rogue Rig
- Target Fish: Gigant Squid & Black Sole
Congratulations, you’ve reached high-level fishing! 60-slot Gobbiebags are highly recommended as you’ll catch many large, non-stackable fish. Keep everything you catch and vendor it. Expect to earn between 40,000-80,000 Gil per hour (approximately). Crafting or desynthesizing catches or auctioning large fish can increase your profits further. You will also catch both fish needed for the level 78-80 guild test (Three-Eyed Fish) and the 88-90 guild test (Gigant Squid).
96-100: Silver Sea Route to Nashmau – Mola Mola & Kalkanbaligi
- Setup: Ebisu Rod + Shrimp Lure
- Target Fish: Mola Mola & Kalkanbaligi
For these massive fish, you’ll need the Ebisu Fishing Rod. Obtaining the Ebisu requires earning the 95,000 guild point key item; the quest chain in Rabao auto-completes. This final stage is optional, as neither the Ebisu Rod nor level 100 fishing is necessary for end-game fishing in Qufim Island or Sauromugue Champaign.
