How to Unlock Fishing in Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster fishing in the wide open wilderness of Monster Hunter Wilds is a peaceful but enriching respite from the frenzy of monster hunts. As either an experienced hunter seeking to supplement your skill set or a fresh player who is looking to uncover all aspects of the game, learning to master fishing can deliver useful supplies and a time to relax. This tutorial will take you through the easy process of unlocking and enjoying fishing, from locating the proper locations and casting your line to knowing the different lures and what they catch. So, take out your rod and get ready to reel in some of the most elusive aquatic animals in the wild!

How to Unlock Fishing

In Monster Hunter Wilds, fishing is pretty simple. Just grab your fishing rod — you can find it either in your Essentials Radial Menu or in the quick access inventory at the bottom right of your screen. You’ll get the rod pretty early on in the game.

When you’re picking a fishing spot, stay aware of your surroundings — some areas are safe, but others might have larger monsters roaming nearby. Position yourself wisely if you know which zones they tend to patrol.

It’s usually easy to spot fish. In murky water, look for ripples on the surface, while in clear water, you can see the fish swimming below. Often, you’ll also notice their fins poking just above the water.

How to Fish in MH Wilds

Once you’ve found some fish in Monster Hunter Wilds, it’s time to cast your line. Follow the on-screen prompts to aim — a white circle will appear on the water showing where your line will land. Try to aim near or between the fish you want. Don’t worry if they move around — you can adjust your line later to lure them in. When you’re happy with the spot, use the prompted command to cast your line into the water.

This is where a bit of patience and skill comes in. In the upper right corner of your screen, you’ll see different fishing commands, like moving the line or jiggling it to attract fish. Different fish respond to different movements — some like a slow drag back and forth, while others react to sudden, sharp jerks of the line. If nothing’s biting, try switching up your lure to see if that grabs their attention.

Once you get a bite, another prompt will pop up — use it to start reeling the fish in. It doesn’t always work right away — sometimes the fish will grab the lure and slip away. Other times, you’ll hook a fighter that thrashes and pulls your line through the water.

If a fish starts dragging your lure, don’t panic. Just pull the line in the opposite direction of where the fish is trying to go — this will tire it out so you can reel it in. It might take a few tries to get the hang of it, so don’t get discouraged if you lose a few at first. Keep at it, and you’ll be landing fish like a pro in no time!

All Fish Locations

How to Use Lures in Monster Hunter Wilds

In Monster Hunter Wilds, if you want to get lures for fishing, you’ll need to start the “Seeking the Goldenfish” side quest. To kick off this quest, head to the Scarlet Forest Base Camp and talk to Kanya — you’ll find her by the pool of water at the back of the camp. If she’s not there, you might need to progress further in the main story before she shows up.

Once you have lures, changing them is easy. Equip your fishing rod, then hold the same button you’d use to switch coatings or ammo for your weapon — you’ll see the prompt on the right side of your screen, just above your quick access inventory. From there, just pick the lure you want, like the Golden Bughead, and it’ll attach to your line.

There’s no limit to how many times you can swap lures, and they don’t wear out. The only catch is that you can’t change lures while your line is in the water. If you want to switch things up, you’ll have to reel your line back in first.

Lures and Their Uses

• Common Wood Minnow:
  • Description: A common wooden lure shaped like a small fish.
  • Acquired from: The start.
  • Good for: All types of fish.
• Golden Bughead:
  • Description: A lure that looks like a shining beetle.
  • Acquired from: Seeking the Goldenfish.
  • Good for: Goldenfish, Platinumfish, Goldenfry.
• Emerald Jitterbait:
  • Description: A lure with a blade made of ore.
  • Acquired from: Fishing for Flavor.
  • Good for: Gravid Bowfin, Virid Bowfin, Bomb Arowana, Burst Arowana, Sushifish, Whetfish, Gunpowderfish.
• Tuff Joint Bait:
  • Description: A lure shaped like a cephalos.
  • Acquired from: The Catch of a Lifetime!
  • Good for: Gastronome Tuna, Gajau.
• Duster Jig:
  • Description: A lure shaped like a Starduster.
  • Acquired from: The Catch of a Lifetime!
  • Good for: Gajau.
• Tentacle Jig:
  • Description: A lure made with thorngrass.
  • Acquired from: Razzle Dazzle.
  • Good for: Escunite, Grand Escunite, Goliath Squid.