A new addition to Star Ocean: The Second Story's repertoire of Specialties, Fishing is a pleasant little pastime that you can indugle throughout the game. There are fishing spots scattered throughout both Expel and Energy Nede, and snagging fish out of them is as simple as approaching the spot, tossing your line in, and seeing what bites.
This guide will teach you the ins and outs of Fishing in Star Ocean The Second Story R. First, though, a little introduction to the process.
How to Fish
In order to use the Fishing Specialty one of your characters needs to Improve two Specialty Skills: Biology and Item Knowledge. Both are useful for other things - particularly Biology, which can give your characters a nice early-game boost to their HP scores - so fulfilling this prerequisite shouldn't be too difficult.
In order to go Fishing you need to find a fishing spot. You can find fishing spots in three broad areas:
- Beaches, streams, or rivers on the world map
- Water sources in villages, towns, or cities
- Water sources in dungeons (doesn't happen often, but it can happen)
In other words, you can fish just about everywhere you go. The only caveat is that you can see the silhouettes of fish circling in the water. If you see fish, then you can go Fishing. You'll know you're in position if an icon of a fishing rod appears over your lead character's head.
Press the confirm button to cast your lure. The fish in the water will slowly move over to the lure, and eventually grab hold. Tap the confirm button again as soon as you see exclamation points over your character's head. Do this correctly and you'll pull up one or more fish. The higher the character's Fishing level, the more fish you can potentially snag in a single go.
Each area where you can fish has a list of available fish. It appears on the left side of the screen when you're near a fishing spot, and you'll receive a more detailed view if you enter the Bait menu (button is in the bottom-left of the screen). Any ???? marks are fish you haven't yet caught. Every type of fish that you catch is entered in the Fish Encyclopedia, under the Database submenu, including their size, where you caught them, how many you've caught, and the largest you've caught.
When in the Bait menu you'll also see how the fish in your current area will react to the various types of bait you can attach to your lure. Some bait works better for certain fish than others. Every fish you catch immediately turns into bait for catching other fish, and you can purchase more bait in specific stores throughout Expel and Energy Nede.
Fish come in three different sizes - small, medium, large - and their size is reflected in the shadows that appear in the water. Unknown fish are at least partially identified by their size, and you can pull your lure out and try again if an approaching fish doesn't match the size of the catch you're trying to land. If you're specifically looking for a small fish, for example, you should pull your lure back if a large fish is on the hunt for the lure.
While Fishing you can activate the Chum option (bottom-left corner of the screen for the button). Chum uses Fishy Fragrance to double the rate of the fish you catch. Fishing with Chum active and you'll use up a Fishy Fragrance. You can trade for more Fishy Fragrance from Reel. See below for more details.
Occasionally when fishing the sky will go dark. A fish will wander up to the lure, and once the exclamation marks go up you'll have a shorter-than-normal window of tie to catch it. If you're successful you'll wind up with superior fish, usually filling in any gaps that might be in your local fishing knowledge.
In addition to fish you'll sometimes pull treasure out of the water. There's no way of telling if you'll catch fish or treasure. (Though at higher levels, you'll sometimes catch both.) On the world map you may also pull up monsters when the sky goes dark.
Now and then you'll see an especially large silhouette in the water. This is a sign of a rare, gigantic fish that you can only catch in that specific spot. Once you catch that fish you won't find another one in this location, and the fish will be removed from the fishing list in this area. These are distinct from other rare fish, such as the Hoffman Shark, which only appear in a few places and are difficult to catch. Look under the Reel section, below, for more details.
Reel
When you first enter Harley, just before leaving the Krosse Continent (though you can do this any time you like) you'll meet an enigmatic young traveler named Reel, down by the docks. Reel is obsessed with fish, and unlocks the Fish Picture Encyclopedia in the Database submenu. You can find Reel in Harley while you're exploring Expel, and later in L'Aqua, once you've reached Energy Nede.
Reel will give you prizes for catching different fish species. Your first goal should be reaching 15 different species, as Reel will give you the Masterwork Rod. This makes Fishing easier, and will serve you well throughout the game. The prizes you can earn are as follows:
- 5 Fish Species - Experience Card
- 10 Fish Species - 3 Fishy Fragrance
- 15 Fish Species - Masterwork Rod (unlocks Astute Angler Achievement)
- 22 Fish Species - Raymond Jewel
- 35 Fish Species - Soul Jacket+
- 48 Fish Species - Soul Helmet+
- 60 Fish Species - Ring of the Deep King+
- 66 Fish Species - Volticry+
Reel is impressed if you bring him rare, unique, gigantic fish. He'll give you additional, strictly ornamental items to celebrate these catches:
- Tokuirokkaku - Angler's Plaque - Red
- Father of the Deep Sea - Angler's Plaque - Blue
Reel also accepts trades, and in exchange hands out valuable items. Most of these are things you can make, though the last one, the Edge Jewel, can only be found here. The items you can trade for are as follows:
- Seafood
- Any fish
- Life in Nature
- Otiph Carp
- Castle Gate Carp
- Krosse Carp
- Pocket Encyclopedia
- Pixie Mackerel
- Imp Mackerel
- Jailor Mackerel
- Fishy Fragrance
- Any large fish
- Traveling Salmon
- Any small fish
- Lord Amberjack
- Any medium fish
- Treasure Card
- Blue Ghoul
- Whelp Mouth Bass
- Ogre Mouth Bass
- Wealth Card
- Desert Dab
- King Dab
- Black Knight Dab
- Experience Card
- Hiton Marlin
- Harley Marlin
- Lacuer Marlin
- Shield Ring
- Junior Tuna
- Color Tuna
- Silverpatch Tuna
- Ring of Resistance
- Krosse Eel
- Quiver Amago
- White Sands Viper
- Sacrificial Doll
- Black Carla
- Coach Shrimp
- Crest Shrimp
- Goodie Box
- Rabbit Sunfish
- Amber Perch
- Star Ruby Eye
- Top-Quality Tuna
- Any large fish
- Edge Jewel
- Harbor Amago
- Divine Char
- Spring Child
Fishing Locations - Expel
Below are all the spots where you can go Fishing in Expel. Most of them are accessible by foot, though some require you to learn the Bunny Call Super Specialty. Yet others can only be found on VR Expel, when you have access to a Psynard.
Krosse Continent
Southern Krosse
- Arlia Village / Southern Krosse (Rivers near Arlia)
- Shrimp
- Oliph Carp
- Clear Sky Trout
- Black Lotus
- Arlia Village Well (near the Item Shop in the north)
- Shrimp
- Clear Sky Trout
- Quiver Amago
- Southern Krosse (Beach between Arlia and Salva)
- Two-Star Sardine
- Pixie Mackerel
- Crest Shrimp
- Desert Dab
- Southern Krosse (Beach south of Arlia)
- Pixie Mackerel
- Two-Star Sardine
- Jailor Mackerel
- Lord Amberjack
Central Krosse
- Krosse City (bridges)
- Krosse Carp
- Traveling Salmon
- Black Lotus
- Krosse Eel
- Krosse Castle (washing basin in east wing)
- Krosse Carp
- Whelp Mouth Bass
- Ogre Mouth Bass
- Krosse (rivers running out of Krosse City)
- Krosse Carp
- Swift Trout
- Black Lotus
- Traveling Salmon
- Krosse (beach south of Krosse Cave)
- Clear Sky Trout
- Rabbit Goby
- Glass Lotus
- Sapphrire Lotus
- Krosse (beach next to Krosse Cave)
- Seven-Star Sardine
- White Knight Yellowtail
- Paladin Seriola
- Harley Marlin
Western Krosse
- Desert Area (desert behind the Lasgus Mountains)
- Two-Star Sardine
- Pixie Mackerel
- Desert Dab
- Black Knight Dab
Northern Krosse
- Kurik (docks, pre-visit / near the Save Point, post-visit)
- Seven-Star Sardine
- Witch Saba
- White Knight Yellowtail
- Lord Amberjack
- Northern Krosse (lake and river leading out of Mountain Palace)
- Castle Gate Carp
- Krosse Carp
- Mountain Amago
- Glass Lotus
- Northern Krosse (beaches closer to Kurik)
- Imp Mackerel
- Elurian Urchin
- Crest Shrimp
- Desert Dab
- Krosse (eastern beaches)
- Krosse Carp
- Swift Trout
- Black Lotus
- Krosse Eel
Eastern Krosse
- Harley (docks near Reel)
- Two-Star Sardine
- Imp Mackerel
- Junior Tuna
- Hoffman Shark
- Krosse (beach cove south of Marze, beyond the mountains)
- Castle Gate Carp
- Harbor Amago
- Swift Trout
- Glass Lotus
- Tokuirokkaku (rare, only one)
- Krosse (beaches near Harley)
- Seven-Star Sardine
- White Knight Yellowtail
- Paladin Seriola
- Harley Marlin
Lacuer Continent
Southern Lacuer
- Hilton (docks)
- Pixie Mackerel
- Coach Shrimp
- Jailor Mackerel
- Hilton Marlin
- Snow Gator (rare)
- Lacuer City (bridge to Lacuer Castle)
- Shrimp
- Otiph Carp
- Swift Trout
- Coach Shrimp
- Gross Eel
- Lacuer Castle (to the right and left of the entrance)
- Seven-Star Sardine
- Lacuer Marlin
- Linga (bridge through the middle of the town)
- Otiph Carp
- Clear Sky Trout
- Angel Trout
- Amber Perch (rare)
- Southern Lacuer (rivers flowing out of Lacuer City)
- Coach Shrimp
- Rabbit Goby
- Clear Sky Trout
- Krosse Eel
- Southern Lacuer (rivers near Linga)
- Shrimp
- Castle Gate Carp
- Mountain Amago
- White Lotus
- Southern Lacuer (beaches south of Lacuer City)
- Two-Star Sardine
- Pixie Mackerel
- Coach Shrimp
- Black Knight Dab
Northern Lacuer
- Northern Lacuer (river flowing out of Lacuer Front Line Base)
- Rabbit Goby
- Angel Trout
- White Lotus
- Sapphire Lotus
- Northern Lacuer (beaches north of Lacuer Front Line Base)
- Seven-Star Sardine
- Hoffman Sardine
- Crest Shrimp
- Witch Saba
- Snow Gator (rare)
Hoffman Island
- Hoffman Coast (landing point on the island)
- Hoffman Sardine
- Jailor Mackerel
- White Knight Yellowtail
- Paladin Seriola
- Hoffman Shark (rare)
- Hoffman Ruins (B1, eastern bridge)
- Shrimp
- Castle Gate Carp
- Krosse Carp
- Black Lotus
- Pearl Shark (rare)
- Hoffman (beaches in the northwest)
- Hoffman Sardine
- Coach Shrimp
- White Knight Yellowtail
- Paladin Seriola
- Hoffman Shark (rare)
Ell Continent
- Elurian Coast (northwestern landing point)
- Imp Mackerel
- Coach Shrimp
- Desert Dab
- King Dab
- Eluria Settlement (wash tub beside the old woman, left side of the settlement)
- Crest Shrip
- Paladin Seriola
- Ell (beaches)
- Seven-Star Sardine
- Elurian Urchin
- Glass Lotus
- Junior Tuna
- Ell (rivers)
- Shrimp
- Otiph Carp
- Glass Lotus
- White Lotus
Maze of Tribulations Region
- Maze of Tribulations (B13, upper-right corner of Gabriella Celesta's room)
- Castle Gate Carp
- Krosse Carp
- Black Lotus
- Dragonfish (rare)
- Maze of Tribulations Region (beaches)
- Elurian Urchin
- Imp Mackerel
- Desert Dab
- Color Tuna
Remote Islands
If you inspect the map you'll see chains of small islands extending off of the larger continents. You can land on the larger of these islands and go Fishing. Depending on where you land you may find different varieties of fish available. Note that some of these islands may belong to continents, and the only way to tell them apart is to wait for the fish list to pop up on the left side of the screen.
- Remote Island (west, between Ell Continent and Maze of Tribulations)
- North Nedian Urchin
- Spring Child
- Puny Goby
- Banquet Bream
- Remote Island (north, between Ell Continent, Krosse Continent, and Hoffman)
- Imp Mackerel
- Magician Saba
- Lord Amberjack
- Hilton Marlin
- Remote Island (south, off coast of Krosse Continent near Arlia)
- Mercenary Saba
- Magician Saba
- Witch Saba
- Jailor Mackerel
- White Sands Viper
Fishing Locations - Energy Nede
Below are all the spots where you can go Fishing on Energy Nede. Virtually all of these locations require you to get a Psynard, and a few are locked until you reach specific parts of the game.
Centropolis Region
- The Centropolis (central fountain near the entrance)
- Blue Ghoul
- Ogre Mouth Bass
- Nede (coastlines)
- Mercenary Saba
- Puny Goba
- White Knight Yellowtail
- Paladin Seriola
- Lord Amberjack
- Nede (Field of Courage coastlines)
- Mercenary Saba
- Puny Goby
- Junior Tuna
- Color Tuna
Cave of Crimson Crystals Region
- Noel's House (water basin near the portrait of the hawk)
- Bunny Goby
- Rabbit Sunfish
- Nede (beaches and coastlines)
- North Nedian Urchin
- Black Carla
- Traveling Salmon
- Junior Tuna
Princebridge Region
- Princebridge (central pool when entering town)
- Two-Star Sardine
- Black Carla
- Spring Child
- Star Ruby Eye (rare)
- Nede (near Princebridge)
- Hoffman Sardine
- Puny Goby
- Bunny Goby
- Quiver Amago
- Nede (coastline south of Princebridge - look for a huge fish silhouette)
- Seven-Star Sardine
- Pixie Mackerel
- Black Carla
- Father of the Deep Sea (rare, only one)
- Nede (Field of Might island)
- Seven-Star Sardine
- Pixie Mackerel
- Black Carla
- Nede (For a Few Fol More island, northwest of the Field of Might)
- Hoffman Sardine
- Crest Shrimp
- Traveling Salmon
- Jotnar Fin (rare)
Fun City Region
- Field of Love (water surrounding the platform with the Save Point)
- Castle Gate Carp
- Clear Sky Trout
- Blue Ghoul
- Ogre Mouth Bass
- Wandering Salmon (rare)
- Nede (coastlines)
- Mercenary Saba
- Puny Goby
- Quiver Amago
- Junior Tuna
- Nede (beaches)
- North Nedian Urchin
- Bunny Goby
- Travling Salmon
- White Sands Viper
L'Aqua Region
- L'Aqua (Herush landing dock in the basement)
- Mercenary Saba
- Picnic Bream
- Banquet Bream
- Silverpatch Tuna
- Nede (beaches)
- Mercenary Saba
- Picnic Bream
- Banquet Bream
- Color Tuna
Phynal Region
- Phynal Pier (landing point from L'Aqua)
- Mercenary Saba
- Magician Saba
- White Knight Yellowtail
- Paladin Seriola
- Silverpatch Tuna
- Phynal (bridge leading into the dungeon)
- North Nedian Urchin
- Black Carla
- Quiver Amago
- Giant Black Tuna (rare)
- Nede (coastline north of Phynal Pier)
- North Nedian Urchin
- Seven-Star Sardine
- Black Carla
- Silverpatch Tuna
- Nede (lake surrounding Phynal)
- North Nedian Urchin
- Black Carla
- Quiver Amago
- Giant Black Tuna (rare)