Star Ocean The Second Story R Fish Encyclopedia Guide

I can totally picture it. Directors, producers, and designers in a Japanese studio are creating the next world-shattering RPG, with the most engaging narrative, characters that will last for a century to come, and a combat system that will shape future gameplays.

In the corner, a young intern raises his hand timidly while heavy sweat drips down his forehead. Everyone looks at him, wondering who dares to interrupt the brainstorming of the next record-breaking JRPG. Summoning unknown courage and strength, the young man speaks tremblingly: “Will there be a fishing minigame?”

The faces of everyone there open up with a large smile. They pat the intern on the back, shower him with laurels, and the following month, he’s promoted to the company’s president.

After this unnecessarily lengthy introduction, I’m here to talk about how Star Ocean The Second Story R included the most staple minigame in the JRPG industry, fishing, in its remake. It’s simple, it’s endearing, but it’s fishing!

It’s like going to your grandparents’ house and finding the food they made for you throughout your childhood. No matter the taste, appearance, or how unhealthy it was, the feeling of nostalgia flushes all over you, and you momentarily forget about your problems.

That’s how I feel about fishing. Okay, maybe I romanticized it too much. But as someone whose favorite series is Breath of Fire, seeing this minigame present in any game is always enough to fill me with joy.

So, I made sure to hunt down all the fish in the Star Ocean 2 remake to tell you where to find them and why on earth you should invest in your fishing career. Or why you shouldn’t.

Without further ado, welcome to my Star Ocean The Second Story R Fishing Guide!

Why Fish in Star Ocean the Second Story R

The game introduces the fishing system a few hours in. Players of the original Star Ocean: The Second Story can rush to a coastal map to experience the minigame and eagerly imagine what rewards await them for the act of fishing.

Fishing is as simple as pressing a button, but some commands could have been better explained. If you stand before a fishing spot, the interface will show a tooltip with hotkeys and what each one does. But since I never stood still, it took me a while to notice this. So, I will briefly explain the shortcuts that only work when you are ready to fish.

• X – To fish.
• R1/RB – To open the bait screen. It also shows what fishing spot you’re at, the catchable fish available in that spot, and the fishing difficulty with the respective bait. (This is essential).
• R2/RT – Equips Chum. You need the Fishy Fragrance item, which has the effect of doubling the fish rate.

These simple commands can go unnoticed because even the tutorial fails to relay them to the player.

By the way, what are the benefits of fishing? Eventually, you will come across Reel, The Fish Collector. This character will give you prizes according to how many different types of fish you’ve reeled in or trade them for items.

You can also sell fish for Fol. Some rare ones can net you big bucks. And, of course, for every single action you do in Star Ocean The Second Story R, you’ll be completing some Challenge Missions. Fishing has a few of them with some fantastic rewards.

Beginner Challenge Mission

• Use Fishing 30 times!
  • x3 Life in Nature – Biology Level +1
  • x3 Pocket Encyclopedia – Item Knowledge Level +1

Beginner Challenge Mission

• Catch 3 fish at once with Fishing!
  • x3 Fishy Fragrance
  • x3 Shrimp
  • x3 Traveling Salmon

Beginner Challenge Mission

• Catch your first record-size fish!
  • x3 Fishy Fragrance
  • x5 Chawanmushi 

Beginner Challenge Mission

• Catch 5 types of record-size fish!
  • FOL 5000
  • BP 5
  • tri-Emblum+ / Factor: Fishing Slayer – Deal 150% damage to enemies encountered while fishing.

Expert Challenge Mission

• Reach Fishing Lv. 10!
  • x10 Fishy Fragrance
  • x10 Junior Tuna
  • x10 Crest Shrimp
  • x1 Divine Char

Expert Challenge Mission

• Use Fishing 100 times!
  • x3 Fishy Fragrance
  • x3 Sole in Orange Sauce 
  • x3 Salmon Omelet

Specialist Challenge Mission

• Use Fishing 200 times!
  • FOL 30000
  • BP 10

Specialist Challenge Mission

• Catch 6 fish at once with Fishing!!
  • FOL 30000
  • BP 10
  • x10 Fishy Fragrance
  • x5 Chawanmushi

Specialist Challenge Mission

• Catch 30 types of record-size fish!
  • FOL 30000
  • BP 10

Legend Challenge Mission

• Catch a record-size fish of every type!
  • FOL 2000000
  • Angler’s Plaque – White

Compared to any other Challenge Mission, the rewards for fishing are quite underwhelming since it benefits the fishing craft itself. However, there’s Reel, The Fish Collector, whose prizes are way better. You can find her in Harley or L’Aqua.

The Fish Collector Rewards List

• 5 types of fish
  • 1x Experience Card
• 10 types of fish
  • 3x Fishy Fragrance
• 15 types of fish
  • Masterwork Rod – Makes it possible to catch a fish that no one has ever caught before. Necessary for fishing the rare ones.
• 22 types of fish
  • Raymond Jewel (Key Item)
• 35 types of fish
  • Soul Jacket+ / Factor: CRT Super Boost – Critical hits restore 2% HP/MP.
• 48 types of fish
  • Soul Helmet+ / Factor: Super Rally – Revive at 40% HP just once when HP reaches 0.
• 60 types of fish
  • Ring of the Deep King+ / Factor: Gathering Stars – ATK, DEF, HIT, AVD, and INT increase by 20% when there are three of the same factor.
• 66 types of fish
  • Volticry+ – Celine’s strongest weapon / Effect: Wind Element Attack – Unleash shockwaves when casting spells. / Factor: Reckless Magic – Spend 15% more MP in exchange for INT increasing by 30%.

Besides those rewards, Reel can also trade fish for some items. The most prominent one is the Edge Jewel, which adds the protagonist of Star Ocean: The Last Hope to Assault Actions.

Reel’s rewards are pretty nice, especially if you’re using Celine in your main party. However, they demand some time investment in the minigame, which may not be the cup of tea for most players.

Well, now you know the rewards gained by putting the fishing activity into practice. If this motivated you to grab your rod and bait, I will detail where I found all the fish. In-game, there is a Fish Encyclopedia that shows the habitat of the fishes. Some directions work like a charm, like those found in the city.

However, the fish found in the World Map are confusing and don’t always live up to the description in the encyclopedia. Numerous locations share the same school of fish, but some are uniquely found in certain spots. Therefore, I decided to group the types of fish by the region where I found them and not each separately.

Catchable Fishes in Cities

Arlia Village

You can fish anywhere in the village. The most appropriate and romantic is on the village bridge, but there is an exclusive fish in the well.

• Catchable fishes
  • Shrimp
  • Otiph Carp
  • Clear Sky Trout
  • Black Lotus
  • Quiver Amago (in the well)

Salva

In Allen’s Mansion, there’s a water pot to the right of the entrance. It’s a peculiar spot, but anyway.

• Catchable fishes
  • Hoffman Sardine
  • Swift Trout

Krosse City

From the entrance, go forward until you reach the bridge crossing to the castle. You can fish there.

• Catchable fishes
  • Krosse Carp
  • Traveling Salmon
  • Black Lotus
  • Krosse Eel

Krosse Castle

From the castle’s entrance, go to the easternmost room, the one with beds. You can fish in the wooden wash tank.

• Catchable fishes
  • Krosse Carp
  • Whelp Mouth Bass
  • Ogre Mouth Bass

Kurik

There are two instances of fish types in Kurik: before the city is destroyed and after. Before; you can fish all around the port and in the fountain. After; you can only fish in the debris. Don’t worry, there are no missable fishes.

• (Before Kurik is destroyed) Catchable fishes
  • Shrimp
  • Whelp Mouth Bass
  • White Sands Viper (If you miss this one, you can fish it by the waters close to Fun City and the Field of Love in Energy Nede)
• (After Kurik is destroyed) Catchable fishes
  • Seven-Star Sardine
  • Witch Saba
  • White Knight Yellowtail
  • Lord Amberjack

Harley

Anywhere near the port.

• Catchable fishes
  • Two-Star Sardine
  • Imp Mackerel
  • Junior Tuna
  • Hoffman Shark (Rare)

Hilton

Also in the region around the port.

• Catchable fishes
  • Pixie Mackerel
  • Coach Shrimp
  • Jailor Mackerel
  • Hilton Marlin
  • Snow Gator (Rare)

Lacuer City

Go forward from the entrance, and you can fish on the bridge leading to the castle.

• Catchable fishes
  • Shrimp
  • Otiph Carp
  • Swift Trout
  • Coach Shrimp
  • Gross Eel

Lacuer Castle

Right next to the entrance, there are some water fishing spots for grabs.

• Catchable fishes
  • Seven-Star Sardine
  • Lacuer Marlin

Linga

In the bridge near the entrance.

• Catchable fishes
  • Otiph Carp
  • Clear Sky Trout
  • Angel Trout
  • Amber Perch (rare)

Elurian Coast

In the water at the coast.

• Catchable fishes
  • Imp Mackerel
  • Coach Shrimp
  • Desert Dab
  • King Dab

Eluria Settlement

In a wooden bathtub on the west side of the settlement.

• Catchable fishes
  • Crest Shrimp
  • Paladin Seriola

Centropolis

In the fountain close to the save point.

• Catchable fishes
  • Blue Ghoul
  • Ogre Mouth Bass

Noel’s Home

In a water clay pot north of the save point.

• Catchable fishes
  • Bunny Goby
  • Rabbit Sunfish (rare)

Princebridge

In the thermal fountain by the save.

• Catchable fishes
  • Two-Star Sardine
  • Black Carla
  • Spring Child
  • Star Ruby Eye (rare)

L’Aqua

Go inside the building and then all the way into the place where the Mayor and Mirage are waiting for you. You can fish in the water there.

• Catchable fishes
  • Mercenary Saba
  • Picnic Bream
  • Banquet Bream
  • Silverpatch Tuna

Phynal Pier

This place is called Pier.

• Catchable fishes
  • Mercenary Saba
  • Magician Saba
  • White Knight Yellowtail
  • Paladin Seriola
  • Silverpatch Tuna

Catchable Fishes in Dungeons

Hoffman Ruins

Inside the dungeon, there’s a creek by a bridge. From the B1 save point, go east and then proceed north. When you get to an intersection, keep going north, and you’ll find a wooden bridge with a fishing spot. It’s the only place with the Pearl Shark.

• Catchable fishes
  • Shrimp
  • Castle Gate Carp
  • Krosse Carp
  • Black Lotus
  • Pearl Shark (rare)

Field of Love

Fast travel to the Central Area save point in the Bridge of Flowers area. Walk a few steps north to find a bridge above a fishable water spot. 

• Catchable fishes
  • Castle Gate Carp
  • Clear Sky Trout
  • Blue Ghoul
  • Ogre Mouth Bass
  • Wandering Salmon (rare)

Maze of Tribulations

This will be possibly the last fish you’ll catch. On the thirteenth floor, just before the boss, there’ll be some lava on the sides. It’s the only spot where you can hook the Dragonfish.

• Catchable fishes
  • Castle Gate Carp
  • Krosse Carp
  • Black Lotus
  • Dragonfish (rare)

Catchable Fishes in the World Map

Near Arlia

You must have a bunny or fly. As soon as you leave Arlia, get on your Bunny or Psynard and go slightly south to find a river upstream.

• Catchable fishes
  • Castle Gate Carp
  • Otiph Carp
  • Divine Char
  • Sapphire Lotus

Near Krosse Cave

Outside Krosse Cave, there’s a small strip of land with access to a school of fish.

• Catchable fishes
  • Seven-Star Sardine
  • White Knight Yellowtail
  • Paladin Seriola
  • Harley Marlin

Near the Mountain Palace

Mountain Palace is tricky to find if you don’t recruit Ashton or Opera since a marker won’t appear on the map. That’s why I’m gonna point you the way.

As you approach Kurik, you will come across a bridge. Just after crossing this bridge and passing a waterfall, you will see an entrance to the mountains on your left if you are facing Kurik or heading south, according to the map.

Although the path might be lengthy, it will lead you to a lake at the top of the mountain that houses unique fish. If you can access the Bunny, call them and cross the mountains. It will make your life much easier.

• Catchable fishes
  • Castle Gate Carp
  • Krosse Carp
  • Mountain Amago
  • Glass Lotus

South of Krosse Cave

You can only access this spot via Bunny or flying. From the Krosse Cave, call your Bunny and hop on the mountains until you reach a beach on the other side. There’s also a Unique Spot waiting for you in the corals.

• Catchable fishes
  • Clear Sky Trout
  • Rabbit Goby
  • Glass Lotus
  • Sapphire Lotus

Desert after Lasgus Mountains

You can get to the desert by walking across the Lasgus Mountains, or you can cross them all by bunny or by flying. Then look for a beach to do some fishing.

• Catchable fishes
  • Two-Star Sardine
  • Pixie Mackerel
  • Desert Dab
  • Black Knight Dab

Outside of Kurik

On the World Map, there’s a fishing spot outside Kurik, or even in the city if it’s already destroyed, which is a pretty creepy place to fish, really.

• Catchable fishes
  • Mountain Amago
  • Harbor Amago
  • Glass Lotus
  • White Lotus

North of Kurik

When you leave Kurik, you’ll see a strand plain to the north. Here, you can catch some urchins.

• Catchable fishes
  • Imp Mackerel
  • Elurian Urchin
  • Crest Shrimp
  • Desert Dab

Outside Centropolis

In any stretch of water outside Centropolis.

• Catchable fishes
  • Mercenary Saba
  • Puny Goby
  • White Knight Yellowtail
  • Paladin Seriola
  • Lord Amberjack

Outside L’Aqua

Leaving L’Aqua, there is a beach all around. Fish in it.

• Catchable fishes
  • Mercenary Saba
  • Picnic Bream
  • Banquet Bream
  • Color Tuna

Near Phynal

Phynal on the World Map is almost submerged in water. You can find these fish by angling in these waters. But you can’t do it at the dungeon’s entrance, so you have to get on the Bunny and search around for a fishable spot.

• Catchable fishes
  • North Nedian Urchin
  • Black Carla
  • Quiver Amago
  • Giant Black Tuna

For a Few Fol More Island

South of Princebridge is a small island with a chest and a hidden location, called For a Few Fol More. On this island is the rare fish Jotnar Fin. I recommend buying Magical Rasp from the merchant there to create better items with Blacksmith.

• Catchable fishes
  • Hoffman Sardine
  • Crest Shrimp
  • Traveling Salmon
  • Jotnar Fin (rare)

The Rarest Gigantic Fishes

There are two rarer-than-normal fish in Star Ocean The Second Story R known as gigantic types: Tokuirokkaku & Father of the Deep Sea. Their shadows in the water resemble those of a whale, and you know you’ll hook them if the screen starts shaking when you cast the bait.

Although I know where they appear, I don’t know the conditions for their appearance or if they can only be caught once. I found them earlier, fished them, and then they never reappeared.

Fishing Tokuirokkaku

You can find the Tokuirokkaku in a place only accessible by Bunny or flying. Go to Marze and head straight south from the town to find a sandy area surrounded by mountains. In the only school of fish there, a gigantic shadow may appear, harboring the Tokuirokkaku.

Using a mid or large fish as bait makes it easier to catch. Once you hook it and show it to Reel, the Fish Collector, you’ll earn an Angler’s Plaque – Red, which gives you bragging rights and not much else.

Fishing Father of the Deep Sea

The Father of the Deep Sea works in the same way as the Tokuirokkaku. It emerges as a giant shadow at a fishing spot at the northern tip of the Princebridge continent, right next to a Raid, in case you haven’t killed the monster.

You need a mid or large fish as bait, and the ground trembles as you try to hook it. When you present it to Reel, this time you get an Angler’s Plaque – Blue, also technically useless. But cute.

No Fishing Minigame Left Behind

When a game is remade, I expect it to have various quality-of-life improvements, better visuals, trophies, and maybe a new feature or two. However, I never anticipated a fishing minigame to be added.

But now that it’s there, I’m glad they included it. I admit that if they hadn’t added this minigame, it wouldn’t change my perception and opinion of the game, as discussed in my review.

If there’s one thing I can’t stop raving about Star Ocean The Second Story, it’s that it was already an outstanding game, and the remake has managed to add even more flavor and sparkle to the experience. I hope everyone who likes JRPGs will give it a go. Thanks for reading RPG Informer!

FAQ Section

Continue reading:

Star Ocean Second Story R Unique Spots Guide

Star Ocean The Second Story R Raid Enemies Guide

Star Ocean Second Story R Review – A Stellar Remake