Fishing is a gathering job in Final Fantasy XIV.
It is one of a few jobs that take your character out of battle and into the world to take advantage of what nature has to offer.
Some of you might be thinking, “I pay my subscription to fight monsters with cat girls, so why should I pick up a fishing rod?”
Some of you are probably rubbing your hands together with excitement and wondering when you can put your weapons down and get to the good stuff.
No matter what, fishing in XIV has a lot of benefits that could help you a lot as you play.
At least for me, it makes me feel good.
There’s something nice about taking off your armor and sitting by a river for a while, taking in XIV’s great atmosphere, and doing something that isn’t stressful for a while.
It can be a nice break from the game’s more intense parts.
Clearly, not everyone thinks like that.
You want to get something out of the game, right?
All the other crafters and gatherers sound like they do cool things, like make weapons, armor, or potions.
So what does fishing have to do with any of that?
Well, it’s actually quite a useful job.
It might not sound like much, but it’s a very important part of Eorzea’s economy.
Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
Let’s start from the beginning.
How Do You Start Fishing?
All you need to get started is a level 10 Disciple of War or Magic class.
This includes any role in the game that has to do with fighting.
Get the quest from the Fisherman’s Guild in Limsa Lominsa.
You won’t have to wait long to get your first rod.
Every job in XIV has its own storyline with quests, characters, and challenges.
Fishing is no different.
It can seem slow at first, but that’s part of its appeal.
You don’t just need to get this done to move on.
It’s a fun and relaxing thing to do on its own.
You will learn everything you need to know to get started in the first few quests.
What Do You Get Out Of Fishing?
Other than fish?
What else do you want?
The job of a chef or cook goes hand in hand with fishing.
Culinarians make food that can give players very useful buffs, and the raiding community wants these buffs very much.
If you want to make money, you should probably also work on becoming a chef.
If you already play Culinarian, fishing can save you a lot of time and money on buying ingredients.
Culinarians can also break down fish into crafting parts that can be used by different crafters in a variety of recipes.
In a way, the two jobs kind of go together.
But you don’t have to do both of them if you don’t want to.
One way to make money is to sell fish.
But the profits won’t match what the other classes could do.
Fishing is a fun thing to do first and foremost, and sometimes you can even make a little money from it.
Patch 5.2 also added Ocean Fishing, group activity for Fishers that can be done with up to 24 other players.
From the Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks, a boat leaves every two hours.
And players can go on a fishing tour of the best fishing spots in Eorzea.
This activity can give you a lot of experience, as well as end-game currency, mounts, and decorations for your house.
If you don’t like the idea of fishing already, this probably won’t change your mind.
But Ocean Fishing is a good example of how fishing can be a relaxing way to play a game if that’s what you’re after.
Why Fish Instead Of Botany Or Mining?
If you want to have fun and relax in XIV, fishing is the way to go.
It’s relaxing, helpful, and a nice break from the usual grind.
Botany and Mining both have a clear path to success, more clear ways to make money, and useful synergies with Disciples of the Land.
I think fishing is one of the little things in XIV that brings the world to life.
It could be in other MMOs, sure.
But not nearly as in-depth.
Few other games can match Final Fantasy XIV’s atmosphere and feel.
And fishing lets you just sit back and take it all in.
It made me feel like my character was more than just a hero, especially since he had a simple house to go home to at the end of the day.
Is fishing going to be as profitable or as fast-paced as Botany or Mining?
Most likely not.
But if you have the right mindset, it can be a very rewarding path.
