In Dinkum, you catch fish with a fishing rod in rivers, billabongs, mangroves and the sea around your island. You can sell them to John for Dinks, donate them to the museum, or keep the ones visitors and Bulletin Board tasks ask for. Each fish only turns up in certain places, seasons and times of day. Players can collect every one of them and keep track of which ones they still need in the game.
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Where to Find Fish in Dinkum
Where you cast your line decides which fish you can catch. Rivers, billabongs and mangroves each have their own mix, and some fish, such as Barcoo Grunter, turn up in all three. The northern and southern oceans look the same, but some fish only live on one side while others can be caught on both. The Island Reef has its own set of reef fish that can be caught at any time of day in any season, and the Deep Mine underground is home to Deep Fish. If a fish you need is missing, it may live in water you haven't tried yet, so check each area before you give up.
When Each Fish Shows Up
Every fish has its own window, made up of a season and a time of day. The game runs through four seasons, and fishing splits into morning, day and night. Many fish are around all year, but plenty only come out in a few seasons. Golden Perch and Murray Cod show up in the morning, while Saratoga and Barracuda only appear at night.
That's why a fish can be right in front of your line and still fail to show up. Before you head out, check the season and the time of day, since that one step saves a lot of wasted casts.
What You Need to Start Fishing
You need a fishing license before you can buy a rod. Fletch at the Town Hall sells the first license for 250 Permit Points, and once you have it, John sells a basic fishing rod. Better licenses cost more Permit Points, with 1,000 for the second and 3,000 for the third, and they unlock the Copper and Iron Fishing Rod recipes. Better rods hold up longer, which helps with the big catches.
How to Catch Fish in Dinkum
Fish won't come to your line on their own, so you need to find one and cast close to it. Hold the button to charge your throw, since a longer hold sends your bait farther. Casting uses energy, and running low can make you pass out, so eat something before a long session. Making and eating food restores your energy.
A small splash means a fish is nibbling, while a bigger splash with a deeper sound means it has taken the bait. Press the button right away at that point, because the timing is quick enough to miss.
Once hooked, the fish fights to get away, and this is when you need to hold back. Reeling while it pulls drains a meter on screen, and if the meter runs out, the line snaps and the fish is gone. Reel only when the fish calms down. If you do lose one, it usually stays nearby for another try.
The Most Valuable Fish in Dinkum
Fish sell to John at John's Goods, and prices vary a lot from one fish to the next. Lungfish is the top seller by a wide margin, and Yellowfin Tuna, Marlin, Deep Fish and Humphead Wrasse all bring in big money too. Rarity doesn't always match price, though. Empire Gudgeon is a common catch in billabongs, yet it sells for nearly 10,000 Dinks, so an easy-to-find fish can still be worth selling. Check a fish's price before you sell it.
Donating Fish to the Museum and Bounties in Dinkum
Not every fish has to go to a shop. Once the museum is built, you can donate a fish to Theodore for 100 Permit Points, and every fish earns the same amount no matter what it sells for. That makes common fish just as useful as expensive ones for this purpose. Permit Points also pay for licenses, so donations help you get better rods sooner.
Some Bulletin Board tasks and visitors ask for a specific fish, so it's smart to keep a rarer-looking catch on hand instead of selling it straight away.
FAQ
Will the basic fishing rod last?
Not for long. The basic rod will likely break before you've caught much, so it's worth saving up for a copper rod early on.
Which fish are Super Rare in Dinkum?
Yellowfin Tuna, Marlin and Blob Fish carry the Super Rare tag. Blob Fish is found in the Southern Ocean at night during autumn and winter, but it sells for only about 100 Dinks, so it's better kept for your collection than sold for cash.
What is the most valuable fish in Dinkum?
Lungfish sells for about 50,000 Dinks, the highest price of any fish. It lives in rivers and billabongs and only bites at night, but it can be caught in every season. Yellowfin Tuna is next at about 24,600 Dinks, caught in the ocean in the morning or at night during spring and autumn.