Destiny 2 Fishing Guide: Discovering Pond Locations, Mastering Focused Fishing, and Reaping the Rewards

Destiny 2’s Season of the Deep has introduced an unexpected feature: fishing. While it may not compare to dedicated fishing games in terms of complexity, it provides a delightful distraction for Guardians. Fishing in Destiny 2 involves a few key elements, such as bait, Focused Fishing, and the ever-changing locations of fishing ponds. Let’s delve into the details.

Understanding Fishing Mechanics in Destiny 2

Fishing in Destiny 2 is a straightforward activity, as long as you know where to go. To begin fishing, you must progress through the initial stages of the Season of the Deep questline. Once you receive a fishing quest from Hawthorne, fishing ponds will appear on three destinations: Nessus, the EDZ, and the Throne World. These ponds resemble public events, and you’ll often find other players gathering on the makeshift docks when the ponds are active.

To cast your line, stand on the dock and hold the Interact button/key. When a fish bites, your lure will submerge, accompanied by a message. Press the Interact button again, ideally as soon as the message appears, to achieve a “perfect catch.” Even if your timing is slightly off, you can still reel in your catch.

Don’t forget to physically pick up the fish you catch; they will be lying on the ground around you. Walk over them to collect them. Unfortunately, the Shoot to Loot perk won’t automatically gather the fish for you. Keep in mind that larger fish (weighing 18kg and above) contribute to the Triumph called “We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Tank.” Additionally, catching fish in general contributes to the Week 1 seasonal challenge, “The One That Didn’t Get Away.”

Locating Fishing Ponds in Destiny 2

Finding fishing ponds can be confusing at first, as they are not always available and their locations change. There are three destinations with fishing ponds: The Cistern on Nessus, the Outskirts on the EDZ, and Miasma on the Throne World. However, these ponds function similar to public events, periodically appearing and disappearing without a displayed timer.

Although the map shows markers for each destination, they won’t lead you directly to a fishing pond if one is currently active. You’ll need to explore the area to find the ponds:

• On the EDZ, search along the southern coast of the Outskirts.
• On Nessus, find the ponds in the Radiolarian fluid in The Cistern, east of the Well of Flame.
• On the Throne World, locate the pond on the northern coast of Miasma.

Thankfully, there is a reliable method for spotting fishing ponds: look for a beam of light emanating into the sky. This light indicates the presence of a fishing pond below it.

Understanding Bait Mechanics

While you can fish without bait, using bait increases your chances of catching higher-rarity fish. Bait is automatically consumed when fishing, provided you have some in your inventory. To check your bait supply, observe the on-screen message before casting your lure or hover over the Fishing Tackle item in your inventory.

You can hold a maximum of 500 bait at a time. Earn bait by completing various activities, such as Salvage and Deep Dive modes, patrols, public events, and playlist activities like Crucible and Gambit. Additionally, you can obtain bait by collecting destination materials.

Mastering Focused Fishing

The precise details of Focused Fishing are not yet fully known. However, building up the Focused Fish meter increases your chances of catching rarer fish. You can observe the Focused Fish meter on the left side of the screen while near a fishing pond.

Catching legendary or Exotic fish contributes to increasing the meter. Every catch made by nearby players, even those not in your fireteam, contributes to your meter. Therefore, it is advantageous to fish at a pond with multiple players and continue fishing for as long as possible. Keep in mind that the meter resets when the pond despawns, even if you remain in the destination and wait for another pond to appear.

Reaching each increment on the meter enhances your chances of catching rarer fish. Messages such as “Nearby fish have begun to take notice” indicate progress on the meter.

Fishing Rewards in Destiny 2

Similar to checking your bait supply, you can hover over the Fishing Tackle item in your inventory to see how many fish you have collected and their rarity. You can carry a maximum of 500 fish at a time.

Head to the newly opened wing of the H.E.L.M. at any time to release your fish into the aquarium. This action is accompanied by a humorous Gambit-dunk-style animation. Depositing fish rewards you with glimmer, Sonar Station reputation, and, for legendary or Exotic fish, actual weapons and items, including the new Just in Case legendary sword.

The fish you deposit will be displayed in the aquarium, alongside various other themed items from the game’s past. Completing specific Triumphs related to fishing unlocks additional decorations for your aquarium.

Conclusion

Destiny 2’s fishing feature provides a delightful change of pace within the Season of the Deep. With the knowledge gained from this guide, you can confidently engage in fishing activities, discover fishing ponds in different destinations, utilize bait effectively, and maximize your fishing rewards. So grab your fishing rod, venture forth into the Destiny 2 universe, and reel in the excitement of this unexpected addition to the game.