The Beach Ball Rod is unlocked by scoring high enough in the Fischfest Volleyball minigame and then talking to the Volleyball NPC to claim it — it is not bought from the event shop.
If you’ve been combing the Fischfest merchant stalls for the Beach Ball Rod and coming up empty, that’s because it isn’t sold at all. The rod sits at the top of the Volleyball minigame reward track, so the only way to get it is to rack up points on the court and then collect your prize from the NPC who runs the game. Everything below assumes the Fischfest event is live and you’re already on the beach.
Getting to the event itself is the easy part. Fischfest runs on its own summer event island, and when you join during the event window the game hands you a Magic Conch automatically. Use it to teleport straight to the Fischfest beach plaza, then head for the sand court with the net — that’s where the volleyball game and its NPC live. The beach is also where the event currency washes up; sources report it as either generic shells or Sunshells, so don’t be thrown by the naming. Either way, that currency is spent at the merchant, not on the rod.
Unlocking the rod through the volleyball minigame
The method is a cooperative one: you and a second player rally the ball, climb the score, and the higher you push it the further up the reward track you reach. A common trick early players use is to coordinate with their partner and take turns losing on purpose, so both of you can farm points and hit the top tier quickly. Treat that as a shortcut, not a rule — it’s the approach that’s been demonstrated rather than confirmed game mechanics.
Travel to Fischfest
Use the Magic Conch you’re given on joining during the event to teleport to the Fischfest beach plaza.
Find the volleyball court
Head to the sand court with a net and look for the Volleyball NPC standing beside it.
Start the match with a partner
Interact with the Refree NPC to begin; you need a second player on the other side to rally, so this can’t be soloed.
Stack points over rounds
Win rallies to accumulate more points each game — reportedly around 25-30 in a single match reaches the top reward tier, though the exact number isn’t confirmed.
Trade wins to farm faster
Coordinate with your partner and take turns losing on purpose so both of you climb the reward track quickly.
Claim from the NPC
After the match, talk to the Volleyball NPC again to claim your rewards — the rod is only handed over through this dialogue.
Because guides disagree on the threshold, aim for 35+ points in a single game and always return to the NPC to claim — undershooting or leaving early are the two ways players miss the rod.
Video help
Everything in the reward track
Reaching the top of the track gets you more than just the rod. Players report being told they have three rewards to claim, which work out to a Beach Ball Bobber, a Volleyball Net furniture item for decorating, and the Beach Ball Rod itself. A high-scoring game also pays out event currency on top — one reported run handed over 35 shells for a 35-point match, so a strong score is worth it twice over.
Beach Ball Rod stats and what it feels like
| Stat | Approx. value |
|---|---|
| Luck | ~110 |
| Lure Speed | ~75 |
| Resilience | ~15 |
| Control | ~5 |
| Max weight | ~4.0 kg |
The rod leans hard into Luck while giving up almost everything on Control, with middling Lure Speed and Resilience and a fairly low maximum weight. The numbers below come from a single on-screen showcase and should be treated as approximate and unverified rather than official — the broad shape (high Luck, low Control) is consistent across reports, but the precise figures may be off due to capture quality.
Mistakes that cost players the rod
Score management trips people up too. Because reports put the cutoff anywhere from 25 to 30 to 35, stopping at the lowest figure can quietly waste a run — some players unlock it at 25, others only higher, so it’s safer to overshoot. And don’t try to solo the minigame; it needs a second player on the other side of the net to function at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points do you need to win the rod in the volleyball minigame?
There’s no confirmed number. Reports put the threshold for the top reward tier somewhere between 25 and 35 points in a single match, and players disagree on the exact figure. Aiming for 35+ is the safest way to be sure you reach it.
Can you get the Beach Ball Rod solo, or do you need a second player?
You need a second player. The volleyball game requires someone on the opposite side to rally the ball, so it can’t be done alone. Many players pair up and trade wins on purpose to farm points faster.
Is the Beach Ball Rod sold by the Shell Merchant?
No. The Shell Merchant sells other rods, bobbers, bait and a ship, but the Beach Ball Rod is only available as a volleyball minigame reward, claimed from the NPC.
What rewards do you get from the volleyball minigame besides the rod?
Reaching the top of the track gives a Beach Ball Bobber and a Volleyball Net furniture item alongside the rod, plus event currency from a high score — reportedly around one shell per point.
Is the Beach Ball Rod good or worth using?
It’s a high-Luck rod with very low Control, so it shines when you want better odds on catches but struggles with demanding fights. As a free event reward it’s well worth grabbing; whether it beats your late-game rods depends on how much you lean on Luck.
