Online:Fishing

"After a hard week of farming, or a long night of being nagged by your wife, there is nothing better than going out for a bit of a fish."
—A Guide to Fishing Tamriel

Fishing

Fishing is one of several activities available in Elder Scrolls Online. It requires bait and a fishing hole. Bait can be gathered from various creatures around the world, such as beetles, rats, and butterflies as well as obtained via fishing or gathering plants. Fishing holes are numerous and close to shore. They are characterized by sparkling water and leaping fish. Different fish can be caught in different locales and respond to appropriate types of bait.

Once at a fishing hole, the next step is to choose the type of bait. Using the correct type of bait for that water type will yield more success and prevent the appearance of Used Bait. If you get one, it means you are using the incorrect bait type for that fishing hole. While fishing, you also have a chance to reel in a Wet Gunny Sack instead of a fish, which contains miscellaneous crafting materials such as trait materials, tempers, style materials, or enchanting runes. When a fish is on the line, the float will sink into the water and your character will pull on the fishing rod. Activating it in time will bring in a fish.

Every fishing hole has 15 catches, except ones in the Imperial City, which have 30. It is possible to come across fishing holes with fewer catches, because players can abandon a fishing hole before it is emptied, leaving the rest of the catches for later players. On rare occasions, a fishing hole can respawn shortly after having been emptied, or even sometimes while you are currently fishing out of it.

When you catch a common fish, you are able to fillet it if you use it from your inventory or bring it to a Cooking Fire. Doing so gives you a guaranteed Fish provisioning ingredient, and also has a very small chance (1%) of yielding a Perfect Roe, one of the provisioning ingredients used to brew Psijic Ambrosia (as well as Orzorga's Smoked Bear Haunch).

Types of Water

There are four main types of water sources that you can fish from. As detailed in A Guide to Fishing Tamriel, certain types of bait work better in certain types of water, and different common fish are caught depending on the water type. A fifth type of water, "Spawning", is quest-related and isn't usually encountered. Oily, Mystic, and Foul Abyssal are zone-specific water types not found elsewhere.

Foul

A Foul fishing hole

Foul water fishing holes can be found in fetid, murky pools of water such as sewers, swamps, and near decomposing corpses.

River

A River fishing hole

River fishing holes can be found in moving bodies of fresh flowing water that drain into a lake or ocean.

Lake

A Lake fishing hole

Lake fishing holes can be found in still bodies of water with deep holes or overgrowth.

Saltwater

A Saltwater fishing hole

Saltwater fishing holes are found almost anywhere on the coast. Coastal cities, such as Ebonheart and Skywatch, have docks with fishing holes.

Mystic

A Mystic fishing hole

Mystic fishing holes are only found on Artaeum, and they function identically to Saltwater fishing holes.

Oily

An Oily fishing hole

Oily fishing holes are only found in the Clockwork City, and they function identically to Foul fishing holes.

Foul Abyssal

A Foul Abyssal fishing hole

Foul Abyssal fishing holes are only found in Apocrypha. They function identically to Foul fishing holes, although with different types of fish. You might also rarely fish up a hostile Lurker.

Spawning

A Spawning fishing hole

Spawning fishing holes are related to specific quests, as detailed below.

Types of Bait

Bait can be obtained by various methods, as detailed below. Bait items can be stored in Craft Bags and are categorized as Provisioning materials, even though most bait isn't used in any Provisioning recipes.

In Clockwork City, instead of the usual foul water fish you will catch either Clockerfish or Typical Barb.

Bait Guide

Fishing Guide

Bait Source Ideal use Chub Fishing in Foul Water Saltwater Crawlers Looting small insects, fleshy undead and plants Foul Fish Roe Fishing in Rivers Foul Insect Parts Looting small flying insects River Guts Looting small animals and fleshy undead Lake Minnow Fishing in the Saltwater Lake Shad Fishing in Lakes River Simple Bait Bought from vendors. It is the least useful bait as it is not optimal for any water type. None Worms Looting fleshy undead and plants Saltwater

Water type Bait to use Bait caught Common fish caught Foul Crawlers Fish Roe Chub Slaughterfish Trodh Saltwater Worms Chub Minnow Dhufish Longfin Lake Guts Minnow Shad Silverside Perch Spadetail River Insect Parts Shad Fish Roe Salmon River Betty Foul Abyssal Insect Parts Fish Roe Chub Caliginous Bristleworm Illuminated Halosaur

Provisioning

Some fishing bait items are also used in various Provisioning recipes:

• Crunchy Spider Skewer (page) - Spider Egg, Crawlers, Acai Berry, Seasoning
• Ghastly Eye Bowl (page) - Worms, Fleshfly Larva, Bananas, Rose
• Orzorga's Blood Price Pie (page) - Red Meat, Potato, Violet Coprinus, Guts
• Orzorga's Tripe Trifle Pocket (page) - Guts, Columbine, Beets, White Meat
• Dubious Camoran Throne (page) - White Meat, Beetle Scuttle (3), Insect Parts, Guts

Furnishing

A few Furnishing plans also use bait as ingredients:

• Cauldron of Soup (page): Diagram: Cauldron of Soup
• Cauldron of Stew (page): Diagram: Cauldron of Stew

Rare Fish

Aldmeri Dominion

Khenarthi's Roost	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	None	None	Pyandonean Ray	None
Auridon	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	None	Ilyadifish Barbel Mudfish Sturgeon	Blue Monkfish Thrassian Eel Eucla Cod Mola	Shimmerpike Blackspotted Pike Bristlemouths Muskie
Grahtwood	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Bilious Catfish Snapper Eel Swamp Eel	Stickleback Dreughfish Koi	Magrove Shark Devil Ray Mojarra	Greater Fangfin Hog Sucker Tiger Perch
Greenshade	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Viperfish Cusk Eel Wolf-Eel	Jungle Bass Archerfish Murray Cod	Zebra Pompano Manefish Triggerfish	Xylo Piranha Lyretail Walleye
Malabal Tor	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Ouze Toadfish Ghastel Bass Stargazer	Z'en's Whitefish Arowana Inconnu	Abecean Halibut Ono Sea Bass	Strident Leechfin Mrigal Stonefish
Reaper's March	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Slimeslither Brotula Reaper's Eel Red Gurnard	Forest Bream Preposterous Mackerel Brown Trout Ladyfish	None	Strid Shad Flying Fish Sheepshead Sweetfish

Daggerfall Covenant

Stros M'Kai Betnikh	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	None	None	Eltheric Grouper	None
Glenumbra	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Hag Fen Hagfish Dragonfish Lamprey	Cambray Perch Powen Rock Bass	Azurain Flounder Finless Sole Tuna	Brook Trout Catfish Warmouth
Stormhaven	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Gray Loach Sawfish Yellow Moray	Silver Walleye Barfish Yellow Bass	Alcaire Pike Dab Stormhaven Flounder	Dreugh Shrimp Grass Carp River Stingray
Rivenspire	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	None	Ichory Chub Nase Rivenspire Trout Writhing Scrab	Northpoint Cod Snakehead Dusky Grouper Hake	Ruby Tench Ribbon Eel Stream Catfish Turbot
Alik'r Desert	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Midget Salmon Sand Eel Cutthroat Eel Sand Moray	Desert Pupfish Banded Killifish Lungfish Saw Belly	Bonefish Alewife Driftfish Sablefish	None
Bangkorai	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	None	Lake Snapper Scaly Lungfish Gar Paddlefish	Bjoulsae Hake Morid Cod Swai Toadfish	Prickleback Lenok Panga Pupfish

Ebonheart Pact

Bleakrock Isle Bal Foyen	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	None	None	Inner Sea Scalyfin	None
Stonefalls	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Scum Carp Fungusfish Stinkfish	Rainbow Zander Lake Chub Tench	Akaviri Wrasse Armorhead Travally	Ash Shad Ricefish Thorny Catfish
Deshaan	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	None	Mud Lamprey Old Man Gar Gourami Ide	Pikeblenny Gibberfish Monkfish Mustard Eel	Toadstool Tilapia Cutthroat Trout Deshaan Chub Mouthbrooder
Shadowfen	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Coelacanth Toxic Xoach Eel-Goby Pricklefish	Histcarp Orange Roughy Quillback Zander	None	Shark Tadpole Boga Hardyhead Opah
Eastmarch	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Ice Remora Modoc Sucker Snipe Eel	King Sturgeon Char Eastmarch Pike	Ghost Haddock Golem Shark Pigfish	White River Pickerel Ice Fish Steelhead
The Rift	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Sulfursucker Bream Skate Skorrn	Ilinalta Trout Ice Koi Jarl Salmon Zebra Oto	None	Muskellunge White Roughy Grouper Sockeye Salmon

Neutral and Disputed

Artaeum	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	None	None	Pearlescent Crayfish Abyssal Sea Pig Weaving Octopus	None
Blackwood	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Stained Porgy Inkspur Cuttlefish Muddy Razorgill	Blackwater Bullhead Red Zander Speckled Sauger	Opaline Albacore Harvester Octopus Topal Nautilus	Pantherfish Ivory Darter Onkobra Muskie
Clockwork City	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Ancestor Wrasse Barilzar's Grenadier Enmegalabzu Clicking Travally Copperclaw Crayfish Coppery Cucumber Imperfect Blobfin Oil-Eater Whalefish Operant Eel Orod Verminous Catfish Whisper Knifefish	None	None	None
Coldharbour	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Ghoulfish Heinous Gar Moray Leech Stingerpike Azure Eel Bichir Blue Slimefish Cavefish Fang Shark Harbour Gar Plasm Darter Venomfish	None	None	None
Craglorn	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	None	Crag Salmon Glasshead Barreleye Forlorn Catfish Ghost Knifefish Nirn Flounder Spiny Orcfish	None	Nedic Eel Yokudan Cod Bitterling Croaker Dragon Goby Mermouth
Cyrodiil	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Sewer Eel Pufferfish Quillfish	Runmare Bream Rainbow Fish Yellow Perch	Topal Fanche Emperor Angelfish Jewel Fish	Nibenay Trout Glassfish Pirate Perch
The Deadlands	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Molten Nudibranch Needlefish Ogrim Goonch Rustbelly Loach Banegil Black-Eyed Croaker Corpus Hagfin Deadlands Trout Dusk Angler Ebony Mudfish Slag Eel Vile Crayfish	None	None	None
Galen	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Galen Vent Spikefish Abyssal Dragonfish Obsidian Goby Systres Skate	Firesong Bream Glimmertarn Darter Stone Circle Perch Tidebarrow Tetra	Sea Robin Lizardfish Pearlfish Suncleft Cod	None
Gold Coast	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Ghastly Batfish Spiny Frogfish Black Anvil Loach	Palatine Sabertooth Hammer Bombil Spotted Bass	Sleeper Shark Scorpionfish Rattail	Bullface Wingfin Longmouth Pike Gold Coast Crayfish
Hew's Bane	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Keuppia Daggertooth Fringed Mudskipper	Cichlid Bala Shark Cherry Barb	Sparking Anglermouth Beggar Shark Crestfish	Glass Catfish Firemouth Hew's Rasbora
High Isle	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Skulltooth Barbel Systres Flounder Ropefish	Rainbow Gudgeon Bronze-Banded Sunfish Mudfin	Bluespotted Cornetfish Daggerfish Gonfalon Rockfish	Rockscale Marbled Goby Silver Bream
Imperial City	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Aphotic Batfish Glow-Spotted Blenny Cannibal Lancet Blobfin Guiyu Hatchetfish Humpback Angler Imperial Loosejaw Scabrous Grenadier Flabby Whalefish Trapjaw Eel Wen Loach	None	None	None
Murkmire	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Michinitl Lined Sole Ayotlchin	Moist Scale Burrower Redear Sunfish Bowfin	Longlure Eelfin Fat Sleeper Spotted Seatrout	Hist Sap Shiner Kuuyicet Thick Scaled Mullet
Necrom Foul Abyssal fish are found in Apocrypha Lake, Ocean, and River fish are found in the Telvanni Peninsula	Foul Abyssal	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Lurker Spawn Inkfish Inkwell Squid	Morrowind Dreugh Shrimp Agarivore Shark Deadrock Lobster	Howling Shark Obdurate Albacore Puffball Blowfish	Sadrith Splat Brown Hat Snail Magma Salmon
Northern Elsweyr	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	None	None	None	Greater Senchefin Moon-Sugar Shrimp Hircine's Pupfish Elsweyr Moon Tetra Freshwater Blenny Rimmen Bichir Reedfish Galaxias Speckled Dace Desert Sucker Grayling Cudgeon
The Reach Blackreach: Arkthzand Cavern	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Briarthorn Goby Leechtooth Eel Muckbelly Frogfish Siltwallow Burrfish	Druadach Garpike Pinegilled Drum Hagfin Vendace Karth Crayfish	None	Blackreach Pilgrim Fretfish Lost Valley Tench Nchuand Cavetrout
Southern Elsweyr	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Radhin Zhab Pellitine Tilapia Fif Cat Ruin Sucker	None	Khaj'Roh Zha'ja Roh Pellitine Horse Mackerel Wedgefish	Roh-Ri Fresh-Water Sardinella Elsweyr River Perch Shaveskin Darter
Summerset	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Senche Flathead Copper Oreodory Burnish Groper	Crystal Hannia Dusk Arowana Blooming Flowerhorn	Lingweloce Radiant Dory Quicksilver Lingwe	Great Yellowfin Anu's Travally Eton Sprat
Vvardenfell	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Oanna Firemouth Guiyu Sleeper Coffinfish	Shalk-Brother Crayfish Pity Bombil Hoaga Oto	Resdaynian Sailfin Weeping Pygmy Shark Ghost Octopus	Ash Blindfish Netch-Hook Eel Pilgrim Goby
West Weald	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Bonytongue Skingrad Sculpin Wildburn Blobfish Death Hopper Nymph	Bitterfish Salasso Carp Colovian Zander False Hadolid	None	Larich Loach Golden Sturgeon Giant Strid Piranha Marble Trout
Western Skyrim Blackreach: Greymoor Caverns	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Sanguine Lamprey Hypogean Tetra Vandellia	Lodsilungur Solitude Loach Frigid Char	Birtingr Ghost Salmon Skyrim Gurry Shark	Blue Muskie Chillwind Pike Morthal Longfin
Wrothgar	Foul	Lake	Saltwater	River
	Greater Ashmouth Lesser Ashmouth Pariah Lumpfish	Giant Hammerjaw Matron Eelpout Vorkhiposh	Crab-Slaughter-Crane Blue-Ringed Octopus Black Scabbardfish Hairy Coffinfish	Chinlea Nelma Tum Weever

Quest-Related Fish

These fish can only be caught at specific fishing holes as part of the related quest. Aside from Used Bait, nothing else can be caught at these fishing holes.

New Life Fishing Hole (Fish Boon Feast)	Fish	Water Type	Zone
	Black Marsh Cucumber Histmuck Blobfin Shadowfen Creeping Leech	Spawning	Shadowfen

Other Items

In addition to fish, there are several other types of items you can earn by fishing:

Antiquity Leads

• Beetleback Pigment lead for Spore Savant Body Marks (any fishing hole in Telvanni Peninsula and Apocrypha)
• Buoyant Steel lead for Thrassian Stranglers (any fishing hole in Stros M'Kai)
• Coral Plating lead for Thrassian Stranglers (any fishing hole in Artaeum)
• Iridescent Pearlwater Wash lead for Syrabane's Ward (fishing holes in Galen and High Isle)
• Mnemonic Star-Sphere lead for Mnemonic Star-Sphere furniture (any fishing hole in Clockwork City)
• Wolf-Tail Sash lead for Harpooner's Wading Kilt (Foul fishing holes in Murkmire)

Containers

• Wet Gunny Sack — most commonly contain trait stones or runestones, but may also contain a weapon or piece of armor
• Pyandonean Bottle — a container found only in Summerset that may contain a page from the Crafting Motif 64: Pyandonean Style book, units of Sea Serpent Hide, Clam Gall or Powdered Mother of Pearl
• Waterlogged Psijic Satchel — a container found only in Artaeum that may contain the following rare recipes:

Recipe: Artaeum Picked Fish Bowl — creates the Artaeum Pickled Fish Bowl unique dish

Recipe: Artaeum Takeaway Broth — creates the Artaeum Takeaway Broth drink

• Abyss-Drenched Folio Volume — found only in Apocrypha, may contain furnishing recipes or style materials

Furniture

You may find the following furnishing items for your home:

Coral, Crown (page) Coral, Sun (page) Fish, Bass (page) Fish, Large (page) Fish, Medium (page) Fish, Salmon (page) Fish, Small (page) Fish, Trout (page)

Kelp, Green Pile (page) Kelp, Lush Pile (page) Kelp, Small Pile (page) Sea Sponge (page) Seashell, Noble Starfish (page) Seashell, Pink Scallop (page) Seashell, Sandcake (page) Seashell, Starfish (page) Seashell, White Scallop (page)

Additionally, certain zones have their own furniture drops:

Summerset

• Plants, Ruby Glasswort Patch (page)
• Plant, Sea Grapes (page)
• Coral Formation, Ancient Pillar Polyps (page)
• Coral Formation, Bulwark (page)
• Coral Formation, Fan Cluster (page)
• Coral Formation, Pillar Polyps (page)

Murkmire

• Fish, Black Marsh (page)

Trueflame

During early access, it was possible to very rarely obtain Trueflame while fishing in Stonefalls. This was a Veteran Rank sword that was part of the Arms of Infernace item set. It was quickly removed before the game's official release with Patch 1.0.1, but existing copies of the sword can still be found in-game and can be traded to other players.

As part of ESO's tenth anniversary celebrations, a Trueflame Sword Replica was made available as a weapon style. During the Anniversary Jubilee 2024 event, all fishing nodes had a rare chance to drop a Bound Style Page: Trueflame Sword Replica in reference to the original bug from 2014.

Fishing Buffs

Champion Point Perks

There are two Champion perks associated with fishing. Both are in the Craft tree, and both are active (i.e. must be slotted to take effect). These are Reel Technique and Angler's Instincts. The former reduces the time needed for a fish to bite by 25%; the latter increases the chance to snag a rare fish and stacks with other bonuses such as the one from Lure Allure detailed below.

Fish Eye

Fish Eye

Increases Magicka and Stamina Recovery by x and grants keen eyes toward fish.

Fish Eye is a status effect gained by drinking Hissmir Fish-Eye Rye. In addition to a level-scaled buff to Magicka Recovery and Stamina Recovery, the drink grants "keen eyes" similar to the Keen Eye perks available for crafting material nodes. With this status effect, fishing holes will appear to glow, and the water type will be displayed when you approach (e.g. "River Fish", "Spawning Fish", etc). While the glow effect may be useful in highlighting fishing holes, the secondary effect is largely obsolete since water types are now automatically displayed even without this drink active.

Lure Allure

Increases Max Health and Max Magicka. Additionally, fish may be drawn to you.

Lure Allure is a buff gained by eating Artaeum Pickled Fish Bowl. In addition to a level-scaled increase to your maximum Health and Magicka, the food increases your chance of fishing rare fish.

Sharp's Patience

Fish bite at an increased rate and have a higher chance of being trophy fish.

Sharp's Patience is the Companion Perk granted by Sharp-as-Night, a Companion added by the Necrom Chapter. When he is with you, his perk causes fish to bite at an increased rate, and also increases your chances of catching a trophy fish. Trophy fish obtained due to this perk will have the Companion icon displayed next to them on the UI when caught. Note that the perk does not reduce your chance to hook special items, nor does it affect the rate at which you catch non-trophy fish that can be fileted for Perfect Roe; it only reduces your chance to catch bait.

Summoning Sharp at max rapport after he reaches level 20 will grant you Sharp's Handmade Fishing Lure, a Keepsake which permanently unlocks the Sharp's Patience perk without the need to have him as your active Companion.

Fishing Achievements

Fishermen on High Isle

There are many achievements associated with fishing. Every zone except the starter islands has 12 rare fish you can catch. Catching all of the rare fish in a zone will give you that zone's achievement. If you get all of the major zone achievements in one alliance, you'll receive another achievement for that alliance. Get all three of those, along with the starter island achievements and the separate ones for Cyrodiil and Coldharbour, and you'll receive the rare Master Fisher achievement. Note that the fish on the starter islands are not necessary for the alliance fishing achievements, but they are necessary for the Master Fisher achievement. Completing the Master Fisher achievement grants the title "Master Angler".

Craglorn Angler and the DLC achievements are not needed to earn the Master Fisher achievement. Fish Boon Angler is a quest-related holiday event achievement.

Auridon Angler (5 points)

Khenarthi's Roost Angler (5 points)

Grahtwood Angler (5 points)

Greenshade Angler (5 points)

Dominion Fisherman (10 points) Dominion Fisher Yellow

Malabal Tor Angler (5 points)

Reaper's March Angler (5 points)

Alik'r Desert Angler (5 points)

Stros Angler (5 points)

Bangkorai Angler (5 points)

Glenumbra Angler (5 points)

Covenant Fisherman (10 points) Covenant Fisher Blue

Rivenspire Angler (5 points)

Master Fisher (50 points) Slaughterfish Flesh Pink

Stormhaven Angler (5 points)

Deshaan Angler (5 points)

Bleakrock Angler (5 points)

Eastmarch Angler (5 points)

Rift Angler (5 points)

Pact Fisherman (10 points) Pact Fisher Red

Shadowfen Angler (5 points)

Stonefalls Angler (5 points)

Cyrodiil Angler (10 points) Nibenay Trout Green

Coldharbour Angler (5 points)

Craglorn Angler (5 points) Yokudan Cod Tan
Imperial City Angler (5 points)
Wrothgar Master Angler (5 points)
Hooking Wrothgar's Biggest Catch (10 points)
Hew's Bane Master Angler (5 points)
Gold Coast Master Angler (5 points)
Fish Boon Angler (5 points)
Morrowind Master Angler (5 points)
Clockwork City Master Angler (5 points)
Summerset Master Angler (5 points)
Artaeum Master Angler (5 points)
Murkmire Master Angler (5 points)
Northern Elsweyr Master Angler (5 points)
Pellitine Master Angler (5 points)
Western Skyrim Master Angler (5 points)
The Reach Master Angler (5 points)
Blackwood Master Angler (5 points)
Deadlands Master Angler (5 points)
High Isle Master Angler (5 points)
Galen Master Angler (5 points)
Necrom Master Angler (5 points)
Pulled from the Depths (10 points)

Bugs

• Occasionally you will receive the message "You cannot fish in Werewolf form" while attempting to fish.
  • This can be fixed by relogging.
• Sometimes while fishing at a lake in Auridon, you will catch both a Barbel and a Zebra Oto, the latter of which is a rare fish from the Rift, and will get credit for both.
• Some very few fishing holes will only give Used Bait.
• Sometimes while fishing in the fishing hole under the bridge to the closed Green Emperor Way District in the Arboretum District, you will catch a Sewer Eel, a Cyrodiil foul water fish. ^?

Notes

• Guts are a quest item in The Witchmother's Bargain.