In Where Winds Meet, Golden Carp is a rare carp-type fish used as a raw material and for fishing achievements. Here's everything you need to know fish the Golden Carp and get it in other ways.
How Golden Carp works as a material and objective
Golden Carp counts as a raw material, similar to other fish used for cooking and crafting, but appears in lists of rarer, achievement-linked fish.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Item type | Raw material; rare carp-type fish |
| Primary uses | Crafting, cooking recipes, and fishing-related achievements |
| How to obtain | Rod fishing at active carp grounds or Tai Chi fishing in specific rivers |
| Recommended bait | Dough or other common bait for carp-type fish |
| Key requirement | Fishing unlocked via Angler Chu Shuiyang and a basic fishing rod |
| Difficulty | Higher than regular carp due to rarity; requires targeting specific spots |
| Related content | Fishing achievements and side quests such as “Fishing for Gold” |
Because of its rarity and carp classification, Golden Carp typically becomes relevant when you begin chasing higher-end dishes, collection goals, or achievement runs rather than during your very first fishing attempts.
How to locate waters with Golden Carp
Golden Carp can only appear where the game supports fishing and lists carp-type fish, so you need to know how to confirm valid waters.
Step 1
Head to waters that are knee-deep or deeper; shallow puddles cannot host fish, and your rod will show no fishing prompt there. If you receive a message that there are no fishing locations nearby, move along the shoreline, looking for natural inlets and deeper pools.
Step 2
Open the map and use the herb/fishing markers to locate known fishing grounds; explored areas can display specific fish species available in those waters.
When Golden Carp is associated with a location, the fish list for that ground will show carp species that can upgrade to Golden Carp in enhanced conditions.
Step 5
Visit rivers near the entrance to the Void King boss area, where Golden Carp can be pulled using Tai Chi fishing. If you prefer rod fishing, use similar river stretches that are labeled as shared grounds for Golden Carp, Snakehead, and River Perch.
How to catch Golden Carp with a rod
Standard rod fishing is the most accessible path to Golden Carp, provided you set up properly and pay attention to the mini-game.
Step 1
Equip your fishing rod from the backpack’s gear tab. Without equipping the rod, the game may show no fishing interaction even at valid grounds.
Step 2
Load Dough Bait or other carp-oriented bait such as common bait, because Golden Carp is classified as a carp-type fish and responds to those bait categories.
Step 3
Stand at the water’s edge where depth is at least knee-high, and verify that the fishing prompt appears; if the prompt does not show, move along the bank until the game recognizes a valid spot. Use the fishing rod icon to check the fish distribution for that exact point before you invest multiple casts.
Step 4
Cast into the highlighted fishing area and watch the indicator that shows a moving marker and a green success band; your goal is to keep the marker inside the green zone while the fish struggles. As the inner circle fills up, your line gets closer to landing the fish.
Step 5
Complete the inner circle to land the fish; if the marker slips out of the green zone for too long, the line will break and you will lose that particular attempt.
How to catch Golden Carp with Tai Chi fishing
Step 1
Move to the river near the entrance to the Void King boss area.
Teleport to the Gleaming Abyss.
Face the water and activate the Tai Chi fishing skill to begin the special interaction.
Step 2
Complete the Tai Chi fishing sequence, which generally involves timing and positioning inputs rather than the rod’s tension mini-game.
Success here can reward you with Golden Carp among other fish.
Golden Carp turns fishing into more than a side activity by tying together exploration, achievements, and resource management in a way that rewards patience. Once you unlock fishing, identify carp-rich waters, and learn both rod and Tai Chi techniques, you will consistently meet the shimmering carp where strong winds ripple the rivers, turning each catch into tangible progress across quests, cooking, and collections.
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