In Crimson Desert, the Paddlefish spawns west of Dewhaven Logging Camp in Delesyia, near the unmarked dock between two rock pillars, and you can unlock its fishing knowledge by talking to a carpenter NPC at Rustfield Scrapyard to make catches much easier without hours of trial-and-error fishing.
Step 1: Travel to Dewhaven Logging Camp
Fast travel to Dewhaven Logging Camp waypoint in western Delesyia, then head west along the shoreline toward the unmarked dock located between two prominent rock pillars.
Step 2: Position Yourself Correctly
Stand on the shore where you can see the water clearly and cast your line into the water west of the camp. If you get a “No Fishing” warning, cast slightly less far out.
Step 3: Cast and Wait
Cast your rod and wait for three splashes before the hook prompt appears. The Paddlefish is large and harder to spot than smaller fish.
How to Get Paddlefish Knowledge from NPC (Skip Rare Fishing)
Step 1: Go to Rustfield Scrapyard
Fast travel to Rustfield Scrapyard waypoint in Delesyia, then head to the east side near the large crane and wagon.
Step 2: Find the Carpenter NPC
Look for a carpenter wearing blue clothing with a red scarf standing near the crane. If you don’t see him with a white dot on the minimap, return to the waypoint and reload the area until he spawns.
Step 3: Keep Talking Until He Mentions Paddlefish
Interact with the NPC repeatedly until he says the paddlefish dialogue: “Ever heard of the strange fish in the Bay of Abundance? Paddlefish, they call it. Snout as long and flat as its body. Incredible, eh?”. This unlocks the knowledge entry automatically.
Step 4: Verify Knowledge Unlock
Open your Knowledge menu → Creatures → Aquatic Creatures → Large Saltwater Fish to confirm Paddlefish is now unlocked.
This makes the fish easier to catch since you know its spawn location.
How to Fish in Crimson Desert (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Equip Your Fishing Rod
Hold F2 (keyboard) or left on D-pad to open the equipment wheel, then select your fishing rod next to your bow.
Step 2: Cast Your Line
Hold Q (or LT/L2) to aim, then release to cast. Watch for a blue icon indicating a valid fishing spot (red means you can’t cast there).
Step 3: Wait for the Bite
Listen for three splashes, then watch for the bobber to dip. Press RT/R2 or right-click immediately when the hook prompt appears.
Step 4: Tire Out the Fish
Pull your rod in the opposite direction the fish is swimming (if it goes left, pull right). Do NOT reel while bubbles appear or the line will snap.
Step 5: Reel When Calm
Only start reeling when water calms and bubbles disappear. Use the scroll wheel or right analog stick. If the fish struggles again, stop reeling and tire it out.
Critical Mistakes to Avoid
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Don’t reel while the fish is splashing — your line will snap instantly
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Don’t cast too far out — you’ll get a “No Fishing” warning and need to recast closer
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Don’t give up on NPC farming — paddlefish has ~1% spawn rate fishing; NPC knowledge is much faster
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If NPC doesn’t spawn, reload the area from the waypoint multiple times until a white dot appears
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Don’t turn all fish into fillets — you need whole fish for cooking and some quests
Best Fishing Rods for Large Fish
Location Knowledge
Unlocking Paddlefish knowledge through NPCs marks the spawn location on your map, eliminating hours of random searching. This is essential for the “The Underwater Ecosystem” challenge required for the Natural Collector trophy. NPC dialogue farming is significantly faster than fishing with a 1% catch rate.
