What to know
- There are seven Kingfish species available in the open world, split between river/lake waters and three ocean zones.
- You need a minimum of a Golden Rod to catch Kingfish, and upgrading to an Epic Rod improves your odds.
- Each Kingfish species is locked to its region, and many also require specific seasons and time windows.
- Two perks matter a lot: Rare Bites for better rare catches (especially during the day), and Hooked on Fate so ocean fish shadows are not required.
In Starsand Island, catching Kingfish fishing is mostly about preparation and timing rather than luck. Once you understand which zone to fish, what hours to show up, and how to keep fishing efficiently, you can reliably pull Kingfish for quests and collections.
| Topic | Quick details |
|---|---|
| Minimum gear requirement | Golden Rod minimum to hook Kingfish |
| Recommended rod | Epic Rod (stronger, better odds) |
| River/lake Kingfish | Arropia, Paddlefish (Cloud Rest Lake/river area) |
| Ocean Kingfish zones | Coral Sea, Celeste Wave, Lumen Wave |
| Key perk 1 | Rare Bites (boosts chance of rare catch during the day) |
| Key perk 2 | Hooked on Fate (ocean fish shadows not needed) |
| Efficiency tips | Bring bait if you lack Hooked on Fate, bring food because fishing drains stamina |
Where Kingfish live and when they bite
Kingfish are region-locked, meaning you cannot catch a different Kingfish species while fishing in the wrong zone, even if you keep casting. On top of that, some species only appear in certain seasons and within specific time windows, so your in-game season and clock should decide what you target first.
River and Cloud Rest Lake Kingfish windows
| Kingfish | Area | Season | Time window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arropia | River area / Cloud Rest Lake region | Summer and autumn | Noon to 2:00 a.m. |
| Paddlefish | River area / Cloud Rest Lake region | Winter and spring | 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. |
Ocean Kingfish zones and windows
| Kingfish | Ocean zone | Season | Time window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swordfish | Coral Sea | All seasons | 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
| Long barbell dragonfish | Celeste Wave | All seasons | 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. |
| Mega Mouth Shark | Lumen Wave | All seasons | 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. |
Locations for getting to ocean fishing spots
If you have a deployable boat, you can sail to Coral Sea, Celeste Wave, or Lumen Wave yourself. If not, you can hire a ferrier south of the Starsand Island port to take you to one of the fishing spots, and you can also mark your target zone on the map to help you navigate and know when you’ve arrived.
How to get Kingfish step by step
Step 1: Check your season and set your target Kingfish
Use your current season and the in-game time to decide what’s realistically available, because some Kingfish have tight windows like Arropia (summer/autumn, noon to 2:00 a.m.). If you want the easiest availability, prioritize the Swordfish in Coral Sea since it’s available all seasons with a wide daytime window.
Step 2: Make sure your rod meets the minimum requirement
Equip at least a Golden Rod before you leave. If you show up with anything below Gold, you will not be able to catch Kingfish.
Step 3: Upgrade to improve your odds (recommended)
If you can, upgrade to the Epic Fishing Rod at the workbench because it’s stronger and gives you a better chance overall. You can catch Kingfish with Gold, but Epic is the better long-term setup.
Step 4: Pick the right perks before a long fishing session
Unlock Rare Bites to increase your chance of hooking rare fish during the day.
If you plan to fish oceans heavily, work toward Hooked on Fate so you can keep fishing even when fish shadows are not present.
Step 5: Travel to the correct fishing region
For rivers and Cloud Rest Lake, fish in the river/lake area tied to those waters. For ocean Kingfish, go to one of the three ocean zones: Coral Sea, Celeste Wave, or Lumen Wave.
Step 6: Start fishing where you see active fish (when available)
When you arrive at an ocean spot, you’ll often see multiple fish already present, which is a good sign you’re in the right place. Cast and keep fishing until you hook the Kingfish tied to that region.
Step 7: Keep bites coming when the spot goes quiet
If you run out of fish shadows at a location, you have two practical options. Bring bait to keep fish appearing, or rely on Hooked on Fate in the ocean so you can cast anyway and eventually a fish will hook your line even without shadows (it just takes longer).
Step 8: Pack food and plan for volume
Fishing consumes stamina over time, so bring food to avoid cutting the trip short. Expect it to take a lot of catches overall to land what you need, especially if you’re aiming for multiple Kingfish.
Rewards
| Reward type | What you get |
|---|---|
| Quest progress | Kingfish are required for the Expert Angler quest progression |
| Collection value | Kingfish are rare catches and useful to complete your open-world fishing goals |
Your best Kingfish plan based on time of day
If it’s daytime, Coral Sea Swordfish is the most flexible target since it’s available all seasons from morning to evening. If it’s night (8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.), Celeste Wave and Lumen Wave become strong options for the long barbell dragonfish and Mega Mouth Shark, and you can fish them in any season.
If you want Kingfish without wasting time, match your season and clock to the correct region, bring at least a Golden Rod, and lean on Rare Bites and Hooked on Fate to keep your catch rate steady. Once you build that routine, Kingfish becomes a repeatable grind instead of a frustrating gamble.
