Fishing Guide - Carp Route

The "Carp Route" is a popular method of fishing skillups in the game, as Moat Carp and Forest Carp is used in The Rivalry/The Competition quests and you will need 10,000 of them in order to obtain Lu'Shangs. Since it is possible to get fishing skill up to 56 by using Halcyon Rod + Insect Ball method, many fishermen go this route in hopes of fishing up over 10,000 Moat Carp by the time their skill will hit 56. This route is one of the slowest routes of getting the fishing skill, but one of the fastest routes to hitting the goal of Lu'Shangs. Once this route is completed, most fishermen can focus on more profitable skill up fish without the worry of broken rods, as the Lu'Shangs is very sturdy and can handle any type of fish.

Save all the Moat and Forest Carps you fished up and trade them to the NPC you opted to start the quest from.

It is strongly recommended to level Cooking skill into the mid 20s so you can make your own Insect Balls. Bait will really add up if bought from the AH or the Kazham vendors, however, you can make your own stacks for less than 400 gil per synth.

Unless otherwise noted, always use Halcyon Rod and Insect Ball.

Level 1-11 - The early go

There are 5 places to start: Windurst Woods, Windurst Waters, Bastok Markets (waterway), Rabao, or Port San d'Oria. If you head to Rabao, you will need to use a Carbon Rod instead of Halcyon, as Sandfish will break the Halcyon. Rabao is the best spot, though many fishermen will start in Windurst Woods. Moat Carps cap at 11 fishing.

Level 11-21 - The Forest Carp

In order to safely do this, you will need a level 50 or higher job, and know how to get to Sea Serpent Grotto. Right before the Sea Serpent Grotto zone there is a waterfall. The mobs there detect on sound only, so sneak fishing is possible. Your targets will be Moat Carps and Forest Carps. If your messages has "!!!", just release the fish as it is a mob.

Level 21-33 - West Sarutabaruta

The Dark Bass is what you will skill up to Level 33 with, but you will catch a lot of Moat Carps in the process. If you fish to fatigue every day, about 160-170 of the catches will be Moat Carps, and the rest will be Dark Bass. Mobs will rarely occur if you use Halcyon. I picked this location due to the proximity of the fishing guild.

Alternatives: Bastok Markets, Zerhum Mines

Level 33-50 - Rabao

You must use the Carbon Rod, as the Sandfish will break the Halcyons. Most of the fish will be Moat Carps, but you will see Sandfish (which cap fishing at 50) from time to time.

Level 50-56 - Windurst Waters

The skillup targets will be Gold Carps, but there are still Moat Carps to pull up.

Alternatives: Port San d'Oria, Bastok Markets

By the time you hit 56 fishing skill, you should have most if not all the 10,000 carps that you need. If you need more, continue fishing for Moat Carps in Rabao until the quest is finished, then move on to the next phase of fishing skill ups.