- Primary Objective: Master the core fishing loop to fund advanced equipment upgrades and unlock all four ocean biomes.
- Key Progression Gate: Upgrade your boat at the shop to access deeper waters, starting from the Calm Ocean up to the Dark Ocean.
- Bait & Hook Mechanics: Match target-specific hooks and gift items to attract rare, high-value special creatures.
- Farming Strategy: Utilize high-payout catches like the Angler and Shark to build your gold reserves efficiently.
Exquisite Fishing Gameplay Video and Core Loop
To successfully navigate the depths of this pixel-art adventure, players must master the fundamental mechanics of casting, attracting, and reeling. The progression structure relies entirely on your ability to catch fish, sell them for gold, and reinvest those earnings into better gear.
Video Highlights:
- Casting Mechanics: Learn how to guide your lure toward specific depths.
- Target Attraction: See how different sea creatures react to equipped gifts.
- Reeling Loop: Observe the hook meter management required to secure heavy catches.
Avoid wasting casts on random fish if you are targeting a specific special creature. Guide your lure carefully past common obstacles to conserve time and maximize your gold-per-hour ratio.
Core Gameplay Comparison
Below is a comparison of how the gameplay loop shifts from the early game to the late-game stages.
| Stage | Primary Focus | Economy Source | Equipment Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Game | Learn casting & depth control | Calm Ocean Mermaid & Shark | Good Hook & Striped Pantie |
| Mid Game | Unlock Rocky & Turbulent Oceans | Rocky Angler & Kappa | Reinforced Hook & Drill Hook |
| Late Game | Reach maximum depths (2,000m) | Dark Ocean special catches | Omega Hook & Golden Boat |
Ocean Biomes and Depth Milestones
The map is divided into four distinct ocean biomes. Each biome requires a specific boat upgrade to enter, features unique depth ranges, and hosts exclusive special creatures that require precise hook-and-gift combinations.
1. Calm Ocean
- Access Cost: 0g (Regular Old Boat)
- Depth Range: 50m–300m
- Key Targets: Mermaid, Shark, Angler
- Best Earner: Angler (10,000g)
2. Rocky Ocean
- Access Cost: 1,500g (Regular Boat)
- Depth Range: 100m–600m
- Key Targets: Octopus, Anemone, Kappa, Angler
- Best Earner: Angler (13,000g)
3. Turbulent Ocean
- Access Cost: 5,000g (Reinforced Boat)
- Depth Range: 50m–1,000m
- Key Targets: Whale, Mermaid, Kappa, Shark
- Key Collectible: Grandpa's Letter (1,000m)
4. Dark Ocean
- Access Cost: 8,000g (Golden Boat)
- Depth Range: 50m–2,000m
- Key Targets: Late-game variants of all creatures
- Best Earner: Angler (45,000g)
Do not buy every gift in the shop immediately. Save your gold for boat upgrades first, as unlocking the next ocean biome yields significantly higher financial returns.
Biome Entry Requirements and Payouts
This table outlines the entry costs and the highest-value targets available in each of the four main ocean biomes.
| Biome | Required Boat | Entry Cost | Max Depth | Top Target | Max Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calm Ocean | Regular Old Boat | 0g | 300m | Angler | 10,000g |
| Rocky Ocean | Regular Boat | 1,500g | 600m | Angler | 13,000g |
| Turbulent Ocean | Reinforced Boat | 5,000g | 1,000m | Shark | 24,000g |
| Dark Ocean | Golden Boat | 8,000g | 2,000m | Angler | 45,000g |
Step-by-Step Beginner Progression Route
To progress efficiently without getting stuck on expensive late-game upgrades, follow this optimized step-by-step path from the starting Calm Ocean to the deepest parts of the Dark Ocean.
Farm the Calm Ocean Mermaid
Start in the Calm Ocean using the free Regular Old Boat. Purchase the Diamond Ring and equip your Regular Hook to catch the Mermaid at 50m for an easy 300g.
Target the Calm Ocean Shark
Reinvest your early gold to purchase the Good Hook and Striped Pantie. Lower your line to 200m to catch the Shark, earning 2,000g per catch.
Unlock the Calm Ocean Angler
Purchase the Box of Chocolates and equip the Regular Hook. Cast to 300m to catch the Angler. This is your primary early-game gold farming method, yielding 10,000g per successful catch.
Transition to the Rocky Ocean
Spend 1,500g on the Regular Boat to unlock the Rocky Ocean. Focus on purchasing the Reinforced Hook and Vibrant Rose to catch the 600m Angler for 13,000g.
Retrieve Grandpa's Letter in the Turbulent Ocean
Purchase the Reinforced Boat for 5,000g. Farm the 900m Shark (using the Super Hook and Diamond Ring) for 24,000g, and make sure to descend to 1,000m to collect Grandpa's Letter.
Conquer the Dark Ocean Depths
Buy the Golden Boat for 8,000g. Gradually upgrade your hooks in depth order. Your final goal is the 2,000m Angler in the Dark Ocean, which requires the Omega Hook and Diamond Ring and pays 45,000g.
Completing Step 6 and catching the 2,000m Dark Ocean Angler completes the deepest documented fishing objective in the game.
Bait, Hook, and Special Catch Requirements
Special sea creatures will only bite if you have the exact combination of hook and gift equipped. The table below lists the required loadouts for every documented special catch across all ocean biomes.
Complete Catch Database
| Creature | Ocean Biome | Depth | Value | Required Hook | Required Gift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mermaid | Calm Ocean | 50m | 300g | Regular Hook | Diamond Ring |
| Shark | Calm Ocean | 200m | 2,000g | Good Hook | Striped Pantie |
| Angler | Calm Ocean | 300m | 10,000g | Regular Hook | Box of Chocolates |
| Octopus | Rocky Ocean | 100m | 1,500g | Double Shielded Hook | Mighty Dildo |
| Anemone | Rocky Ocean | 300m | 3,500g | Reinforced Hook | Box of Chocolates |
| Kappa | Rocky Ocean | 500m | 7,500g | Drill Hook | Pearl Necklace |
| Angler | Rocky Ocean | 600m | 13,000g | Reinforced Hook | Vibrant Rose |
| Whale | Turbulent Ocean | 50m | 2,500g | Double Shielded Hook | Striped Pantie |
| Mermaid | Turbulent Ocean | 200m | 7,000g | Reinforced Hook | Lovely Ribbon |
| Kappa | Turbulent Ocean | 500m | 13,500g | Triple Shielded Hook | Vibrant Rose |
| Octopus | Turbulent Ocean | 700m | 0g | Anal Beads Hook | Pearl Necklace |
| Shark | Turbulent Ocean | 900m | 24,000g | Super Hook | Diamond Ring |
| Grandpa's Letter | Turbulent Ocean | 1,000m | Story Item | None Listed | None Listed |
| Anemone | Dark Ocean | 50m | 3,000g | Reinforced Hook | Vibrant Rose |
| Whale | Dark Ocean | 200m | 9,000g | Double Shielded Hook | Lovely Ribbon |
| Shark | Dark Ocean | 500m | 15,000g | Drill Hook | Piece of Cake |
| Mermaid | Dark Ocean | 800m | 20,000g | Super Hook | Pearl Necklace |
| Anemone | Dark Ocean | 1,000m | 25,000g | Hearty Hook | Piece of Cake |
| Kappa | Dark Ocean | 1,200m | 30,000g | Anal Plug Hook | Striped Pantie |
| Octopus | Dark Ocean | 1,500m | 35,000g | Anal Beads Hook | Mighty Dildo |
| Whale | Dark Ocean | 1,700m | 40,000g | Triple Shielded Hook | Lovely Ribbon |
| Angler | Dark Ocean | 2,000m | 45,000g | Omega Hook | Diamond Ring |
The 700m Octopus in the Turbulent Ocean yields 0g but is required for completing your Fishipedia and unlocking specific character routes.
Endgame Milestones and Save File Management
To achieve 100% completion, you must fill out the Fishipedia and unlock all character gallery scenes. Managing your progress and protecting your save files is essential as you reach these late-game milestones.
100% Completion Checklist:
- Purchase the Golden Boat to access the deepest waters
- Catch the 2,000m Angler in the Dark Ocean
- Collect Grandpa's Letter at the bottom of the Turbulent Ocean
- Complete the Fishipedia by catching all special creature variants
- Unlock all optional character gallery scenes
Save File Location and Backup
If you need to backup, migrate, or restore your progress, your save files are stored locally on Windows.
- Save Directory Path:
AppData/LocalLow/PinkySoul/Exquisite Fishing
Make sure to copy the entire folder to a secure directory before modifying any game files or reinstalling the game.
Exquisite Fishing FAQ
Q: Where can I find an exquisite fishing gameplay video to learn the basics?
You can watch the gameplay video embedded in the first section of this guide to see the correct casting, attraction, and reeling mechanics in action.
Q: What is the best way to farm gold in the early game?
The best early-game gold farm is the Calm Ocean Angler at 300m. It requires a Regular Hook and a Box of Chocolates, yielding a massive 10,000g per catch.
Q: How do I unlock new ocean biomes?
You must buy upgraded boats from the shop. The Regular Boat (1,500g) unlocks the Rocky Ocean, the Reinforced Boat (5,000g) unlocks the Turbulent Ocean, and the Golden Boat (8,000g) unlocks the Dark Ocean.
Q: Where is Grandpa's Letter located?
Grandpa's Letter is a key story collectible located at a depth of 1,000m in the Turbulent Ocean. You will need the Reinforced Boat to reach this depth.