How to fish in Monster Hunter Wilds

When you enter the vast world of Monster Hunter Wilds, you’ll receive a fishing rod and basic materials. While this activity might initially seem a bit perplexing due to its minimal instructions, don’t fret. We’re here to guide you by showing you how to lure and fish in MHW.

Monster Hunter Wilds fishing guide

The first thing you need to do for MHW’s fishing activity is find a suitable fishing spot where you can clearly see critters swimming. There aren’t too many bodies of water in the Windward Plains (aka the starting region), but you can utilize a small pond on the map’s northern side.

Once you’ve found a fishing spot, equip your fishing rod from your Item Bar and cast your line. You’ll need to lure the fish over by moving/jigging your line. Although it may seem like you’re going to scare the fish away, critters are actually more enticed when they see something moving about. Each fish reacts differently to specific motions, so try to see what type of movement attracts them more. You may also change your lures via the Item Bar to attract other critters (you’ll unlock more lures as you progress through the story). Additionally, you can use your Capture Net to gather critters if you feel like trying a new approach.

Based on my experience, it’s best not to cast your line directly on the fish, as this does seem to spook them. Try to cast it in their line of sight and then move around to get their attention. It takes some patience, but you can always try again when it doesn’t work in your favor. If it’s successful, a critter will swim over to you immediately, and you can reel it in using the same button you used to cast it. Watch out for debris to ensure it doesn’t disrupt the process.

When you venture into Scarlet Forest, you’ll find many more places to fish. This destination holds many spots, including one right at camp.

While at the Base Camp, you can participate in Kanya’s Fishing: Life in Microcosm side quest, which provides some helpful tips on this activity. The mission rewards you with five Sushifish Scale, five Honey, and 20 Guild Points. In return, you can start making fish-based recipes to cook up excellent meals for your Monster Hunter Wilds journey. You should also check back with Kany♐a during the endgame stages to unlock more fish types and lures.