- Exquisite Fishing How to Play: The core loop involves casting lures, attracting specific sea creatures with gifts, and reeling them in to sell for gold.
- Progression Path: Start in the Calm Ocean, upgrade your boat to reach the Rocky, Turbulent, and Dark Oceans for higher rewards.
- Equipment Synergy: Every special creature requires a specific Hook and Gift combination to be successfully caught.
- Gold Priority: Focus on catching the Angler early in the Calm Ocean to fund your first major boat and hook upgrades.
- Completionist Goal: Retrieve Grandpa's Letter at 1,000m in the Turbulent Ocean to progress the main storyline and gallery.
Exquisite Fishing How to Play: The Core Gameplay Loop
To master Exquisite Fishing, players must understand that this is not a typical arcade fishing game. It is a strategic progression-based simulator where your equipment choices determine exactly what you find in the depths. The gameplay is divided into five distinct phases that you will repeat as you move from the sunlit surface to the 2,000-meter abyss.
Video Highlights:
- Basic casting and lure guidance mechanics.
- How to identify interest meters on sea creatures.
- The reeling process and managing hook tension.
- Initial shop visit and first equipment purchase.
The Five Pillars of Fishing
- Preparation: Before leaving the dock, you must visit the shop to equip a Hook and a Gift. Without the correct combination, special creatures like the Mermaid or Shark will ignore your lure.
- Casting: Launch your lure into the ocean. You have manual control over the horizontal movement as the lure sinks.
- Attraction: Guide your lure toward a target. If you have the correct gear, a meter will appear above the creature. You must stay near them until the meter fills.
- Reeling: Once hooked, you must reel the line back to the surface. Some high-tier hooks make this faster or provide "shields" against losing the catch.
- Economy: Sell your catch at the end of the run. Use this gold to buy better boats, which are the primary "keys" to unlocking deeper ocean biomes.
In the very beginning, don't waste gold on random gifts. Use the Regular Hook and Diamond Ring to target the Mermaid at 50m. She is a consistent source of early-game income.
| Fishing Phase | Primary Objective | Key Mechanic |
|---|---|---|
| Dockside | Equipment Setup | Matching Hook + Gift |
| Sinking | Depth Management | Horizontal Lure Control |
| Engagement | Meter Filling | Proximity Maintenance |
| Ascending | Catch Security | Reeling Speed |
| Market | Reinvestment | Boat/Hook Upgrades |
Ocean Biomes and Depth Milestones
Progression in Exquisite Fishing is gated by four unique ocean biomes. Each biome requires a specific boat to enter and features a "floor" that limits how deep your lure can travel. As you move to deeper oceans, the value of the creatures increases exponentially, but so does the cost of entry.
Calm Ocean (Starting Area)
- Entry Cost: 0g (Free)
- Max Depth: 300m
- Top Target: Angler (10,000g)
- Required Boat: Regular Old Boat
Rocky Ocean (Early Game)
- Entry Cost: 1,500g
- Max Depth: 600m
- Top Target: Angler (13,000g)
- Required Boat: Regular Boat
Turbulent Ocean (Mid Game)
- Entry Cost: 5,000g
- Max Depth: 1,000m
- Top Target: Shark (24,000g)
- Required Boat: Reinforced Boat
Dark Ocean (End Game)
- Entry Cost: 8,000g
- Max Depth: 2,000m+
- Top Target: Angler (45,000g)
- Required Boat: Golden Boat
The transition between the Rocky and Turbulent oceans is the most difficult part of the game. You will need to farm the Kappa and Angler repeatedly to afford the 5,000g Reinforced Boat. Once you reach the Turbulent Ocean, you can find Grandpa's Letter at the 1,000m mark, which is essential for completing the story.
If you attempt to fish in a deep ocean with a low-tier boat, your line will snap before you reach the high-value targets. Always prioritize boat upgrades over expensive late-game hooks.
| Biome Name | Boat Required | Entry Fee | Depth Range | Key Story Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calm Ocean | Regular Old Boat | 0g | 0m - 300m | None |
| Rocky Ocean | Regular Boat | 1,500g | 0m - 600m | None |
| Turbulent Ocean | Reinforced Boat | 5,000g | 0m - 1,000m | Grandpa's Letter |
| Dark Ocean | Golden Boat | 8,000g | 0m - 2,000m | Endgame Scenes |
Gear Upgrades and Shop Priorities
The shop in Exquisite Fishing is filled with various hooks and gifts. Understanding which ones to buy first is the difference between a 2-hour playthrough and a 10-hour grind. Hooks generally improve your depth capability and reeling efficiency, while gifts act as "bait" for specific characters.
Hook Progression
Hooks are categorized by their "Shielding" and "Depth" capabilities. A Double Shielded Hook allows you to ignore small obstacles or mistakes during the reeling process, while the Omega Hook is required for the most extreme depths in the Dark Ocean.
The Early Game Hooks
Stick with the Regular Hook and Good Hook. These are sufficient for the Calm and Rocky oceans. Focus your gold on the 1,500g boat upgrade first.
The Mid-Game Pivot
Once you have the Regular Boat, purchase the Reinforced Hook and Drill Hook. These allow you to catch the Kappa (7,500g) and the Rocky Ocean Angler (13,000g).
Endgame Specialization
In the Dark Ocean, you will need the Anal Beads Hook for the Octopus and the Omega Hook for the final 2,000m Angler. These are expensive but necessary for 100% completion.
The Reinforced Hook is the best value-for-money upgrade in the game. It works for multiple targets across three different oceans, making it a "must-buy" early on.
| Hook Type | Best For | Progression Stage | Key Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Hook | Starting out | Early | Mermaid |
| Good Hook | Moderate depth | Early | Shark (Calm) |
| Reinforced Hook | Versatility | Mid | Anemone |
| Drill Hook | Deep Rocky Ocean | Mid | Kappa |
| Super Hook | High Value | Late | Shark (Turbulent) |
| Omega Hook | Maximum Depth | Endgame | Angler (Dark) |
Special Catch Requirements and Scene Unlocks
Unlocking the special scenes in the gallery is a major part of Exquisite Fishing. Each scene is triggered by catching a specific creature with the correct gift. If you use the wrong gift, the creature will simply ignore your lure, no matter how close you get.
Mandatory Catch Checklist:
- Mermaid: Diamond Ring + Regular Hook (50m)
- Shark: Striped Pantie + Good Hook (200m)
- Angler: Box of Chocolates + Regular Hook (300m)
- Octopus: Mighty Dildo + Double Shielded Hook (100m)
- Kappa: Pearl Necklace + Drill Hook (500m)
- Whale: Lovely Ribbon + Double Shielded Hook (200m)
Gift Utility Table
Gifts are not consumed upon use, so once you buy a Diamond Ring, you have it forever. This makes them a great long-term investment.
| Gift Name | Primary Target | Secondary Target | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Ring | Mermaid (Calm) | Shark (Turbulent) | High |
| Striped Pantie | Shark (Calm) | Whale (Turbulent) | Medium |
| Box of Chocolates | Angler (Calm) | Anemone (Rocky) | High |
| Mighty Dildo | Octopus (Rocky) | Octopus (Dark) | Medium |
| Pearl Necklace | Kappa (Rocky) | Mermaid (Dark) | High |
| Vibrant Rose | Angler (Rocky) | Kappa (Turbulent) | Medium |
To unlock 100% of the gallery, you must catch the same creature in different oceans. For example, the Mermaid has different scenes in the Calm, Turbulent, and Dark oceans, each requiring a different gift.
Advanced Strategies for Gold Farming
By the time you reach the late game, boat costs and high-tier hooks will require tens of thousands of gold. You cannot rely on catching common fish to make progress. You must optimize your "Gold Per Run" by targeting the most efficient creatures.
- The Angler Loop: In the Calm Ocean, the Angler at 300m pays 10,000g. Since the entry fee is 0g, this is the most efficient way to save up for your first 5,000g boat.
- Turbulent Shark Farming: Once you have the Reinforced Boat, the Shark at 900m pays 24,000g. Use the Super Hook and Diamond Ring. This is the fastest way to afford the Golden Boat.
- Endgame Dark Ocean: The final Angler at 2,000m pays 45,000g. While the entry fee is 8,000g, a single successful catch nets you a 37,000g profit.
In the late game, common fish are a distraction. They fill your inventory and provide very little gold. Focus entirely on special targets to maximize your time efficiency.
| Target Creature | Ocean | Depth | Gross Value | Net Profit (After Entry) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angler | Calm | 300m | 10,000g | 10,000g |
| Kappa | Rocky | 500m | 7,500g | 6,000g |
| Shark | Turbulent | 900m | 24,000g | 19,000g |
| Whale | Dark | 1,700m | 40,000g | 32,000g |
| Angler | Dark | 2,000m | 45,000g | 37,000g |
Exquisite Fishing FAQ
Q: How do I unlock the Rocky Ocean?
You must purchase the 'Regular Boat' from the shop for 1,500g. Once purchased, the Rocky Ocean will appear as a selectable destination from the main menu.
Q: Where is Grandpa's Letter located?
Grandpa's Letter is a special collectible found at the very bottom of the Turbulent Ocean (1,000m depth). You do not need a specific gift to collect it, but you do need the Reinforced Boat.
Q: Why is the creature ignoring my lure?
This happens if you do not have the correct Hook and Gift combination equipped. Check the Fishipedia or our Catch Requirement table to ensure your loadout matches the target's preferences.
Q: What is the best way to earn gold early on?
Target the Angler in the Calm Ocean at 300m depth. It requires a Box of Chocolates and a Regular Hook, but rewards you with 10,000g per catch with zero entry cost.
Always keep a backup of your save file. The save location is typically found in AppData/LocalLow/PinkySoul/Exquisite Fishing. If you encounter a bug or accidentally spend gold on the wrong item, you can restore your progress easily.