How to Fish Rare Fish Variants

Rare variants are special versions of regular fish with unique appearances and significantly higher sell values. Every fish species in How to Fish has at least one rare variant, and catching them all is one of the game’s ultimate challenges.

What Are Rare Variants?

Rare variants look different from their normal counterparts — they have unique colors, patterns, or visual effects. They are much harder to catch and sell for 5-10x the normal price. Some rare variants are required for quests and collection milestones.

How to Find Rare Variants

Rare variants follow specific spawn rules:

• Location: Each rare variant only spawns on specific islands or in specific fishing spots
• Time: Some rare variants only appear during day or night cycles
• Weather: Certain rare fish only spawn during rain, storms, or clear weather
• Rod Quality: Higher-tier rods increase your chance of hooking rare variants
• Bait: Specific bait types attract specific rare fish

Rare Variant List by Island

Starting Island

• Golden Trout: Uncommon rare variant. Found near the dock during morning hours.
• Silver Bass: Rare variant that spawns during rain. Requires mid-tier rod.
• Crystal Perch: Legendary variant. Only appears at night during storms.

Island 2

• Emerald Pike: Uncommon variant. Found in deep water spots.
• Ruby Salmon: Rare variant that spawns during sunset hours.
• Diamond Tuna: Legendary variant. Requires high-tier rod and specific bait.

Island 3

• Obsidian Catfish: Rare variant found in cave fishing spots.
• Sapphire Eel: Legendary variant. Only spawns during thunderstorms.
• Platinum Shark: Mythic variant. Requires endgame rod and perfect trick shot.

Island 4+

• Void Ray: Mythic variant found in the deepest waters.
• Phoenix Bass: Mythic variant that glows with fire effects.
• Cosmic Whale: The rarest fish in the game. Extremely low spawn rate.

Tips for Catching Rare Variants

• Maximize your rod stats — higher catch rate and tension capacity give better odds
• Fish in the right location — rare variants have specific spawn zones
• Watch the conditions — time, weather, and bait all affect rare spawn rates
• Use trick shots — some rare fish only appear in hard-to-reach spots
• Be patient — rare variants have low spawn rates and may take many attempts
• Play co-op — more players fishing means more chances for rare spawns

Rare Variant Sell Values

Rarity	Normal Value	Rare Variant Value	Multiplier
Common	10 coins	50 coins	5x
Uncommon	25 coins	150 coins	6x
Rare	100 coins	700 coins	7x
Legendary	500 coins	4,000 coins	8x
Mythic	2,000 coins	20,000 coins	10x

Related Pages

• Fish Guide — All fish species overview
• Island Guide — Fish pools by island
• Gear Hub — Best rods for rare fish
• Trick Shots — Reach hidden fishing spots