How to Fish Baits: What Every Bait and Lure Catches
All 15 baits and lures with the creatures each one brings up and how often, where to get it and how quickly it gets used up.
Bait data for How to Fish 1.1.3Free default baits: Ham (Crab-Fishing Rod) and French Fry (Fishing Rod)
| How to Fish baits | Rod | Cost | Where to get it | Catches | Lost per bite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shop lures | |||||
 Hot Dog | Crab-Fishing Rod | $1 | Bought for $1 at shops on islands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Rock Crab 76.9% ; Lobster 23.1% | 40% |
 Beginner Lure | Fishing Rod | $3 | Bought for $3 at shops on islands 2, 3, 4, 5 | Cod 15.4% ; Pike 15.4% ; Piranha 15.4% ; Carp 12.3% ; Salmon 10.8% ; Triggerfish 7.7% ; Goby 7.7% ; Perch 7.7% ; Goldfish 6.2% ; Sunfish 1.5% | 35% |
 Standard Lure | Fishing Rod | $15 | Bought for $15 at shops on islands 3, 4, 5 | Catfish 15.8% ; Bluegill 13.2% ; Sea Urchin 13.2% ; Yellow Boxfish 10.5% ; Angelfish 10.5% ; Needlefish 10.5% ; Koi Fish 9.2% ; Clownfish 7.9% ; Seahorse 4.0% ; Bowlfish 4.0% ; Blue Shark 1.3% | 30% |
 Professional Lure | Fishing Rod | $50 | Bought for $50 at shops on islands 4, 5 | Sengarat 11.9% ; Red Snapper 11.9% ; Tigerfish 11.9% ; Parrotfish 11.9% ; Bass 11.9% ; Halibut 11.9% ; Dogfish 7.1% ; Flying Fish 6.0% ; Eel 6.0% ; Voxelfish 3.6% ; Dripper 3.6% ; Tuna 1.2% ; Seahorse 1.2% | 25% |
 Scientific Lure | Fishing Rod | $500 | Bought for $500 at shops on islands 5 | Stonefish 21.7% ; Blobfish 21.7% ; Anglerfish 21.7% ; Tripod Fish 13.0% ; Oarfish 13.0% ; Superdwarf Fish 8.7% | 20% |
| Boss lures | |||||
 Beginner Boss Lure | Fishing Rod | $40 | Bought for $40 at shops on islands 2, 3, 4, 5 | Sunfish 50% ; The Old Pike 50% | 100% |
 Standard Boss Lure | Fishing Rod | $280 | Bought for $280 at shops on islands 3, 4, 5 | Blue Shark 100% | 100% |
 Coconut | Fishing Rod | $350 | Bought for $350 from the central palm on Desert (Island 3) | Bing Bong 100% | 100% |
 Professional Boss Lure | Fishing Rod | $1200 | Bought for $1200 at shops on islands 4, 5 | Tuna 100% | 100% |
 Scientific Boss Lure | Fishing Rod | $5800 | Bought for $5800 at shops on islands 5 | Goblin Shark 100% | 100% |
| Quest baits | |||||
 Empty Beer Can | Crab-Fishing Rod | $8 | Lighthouse keeper returns it for a Beer | Spider Crab 100% | 100% |
 Leech Bait | Fishing Rod | $1 | Swamp Daughter gives it for 3 Leeches | Giant Piranha 100% | 100% |
 Carrot | Fishing Rod | $100 | Tourist gives it for one endangered creature | Pufferfish 100% | 100% |
 Fish Bucket | Fishing Rod | Free | Scientist gives it for 5 creatures | Bowhead Whale 100% | 100% |
| Mini island bait | |||||
 Crab Carcass | Fishing Rod | Not sold | Picked up on the Crab Carcass mini island (3 per player per visit); not sold | Alaska Pollock 14.7% ; Tench 14.7% ; Char 14.7% ; Amberjack 14.7% ; Squid 11.8% ; Mahi-Mahi 11.8% ; Starfish 8.8% ; Sponge 8.8% | 20% |
How to change bait
There are 15 baits you buy, receive or pick up: five shop lures, five boss lures including the Coconut, four quest baits from the island NPCs and the Crab Carcass from its mini island. Each one has a fixed catch pool, shown here with the share of bites for every creature.
The pool belongs to the bait, not to the island, so a Professional Lure cast on Island 1 still brings up Rocks fish.
Press B with a bait in your inventory to switch the rod's bait slot. With nothing fitted, each rod uses a free default: the Crab-Fishing Rod fishes Ham (Brown Crab and Shrimp) and the long Fishing Rod fishes French Fry (Gar, Mackerel and Pike).
Every bite can use the bait up: 40% for the Hot Dog, 35% for the Beginner Lure, 30% Standard, 25% Professional and 20% for the Scientific Lure and Crab Carcass. Boss lures and quest baits are always used up by their one bite.
Boss lures, quest baits and the Coconut bait
Boss lures and quest baits each bring up one specific boss. The Beginner Boss Lure gives The Old Pike or the Sunfish, the Standard Boss Lure the Blue Shark, the Professional Boss Lure the Tuna and the Scientific Boss Lure the Goblin Shark.
The Coconut ($350 from the slanted palm on Island 3) summons Bing Bong. The quest baits (Empty Beer Can, Leech Bait, Carrot and Fish Bucket) come from the island quest givers.
Bait questions
Leech bait not working?
The Leech Bait goes on the long Fishing Rod, not the Crab-Fishing Rod, and only on the Forest island's Giant Piranha quest. Keep reeling slowly after the cast; a still bait takes a long time to bite.
Where do I cast the whale bait?
Cast the Fish Bucket from the shore near the Volcano camp with the long Fishing Rod, then step back as it bites; the whale's first slam lands at the waterline.