TL;DR
- Fishing in NTE is called Sea Angler and is unlocked at City Tycoon Level 3.
- To reach Level 3 you need to complete Good Morning Hethereau, New Commission, and Legendary Driver quests, and own a car.
- The fishing minigame works by keeping a yellow bar aligned with a moving green bar to drain the fish’s stamina.
- Caught fish can be sold at the Fish Market for Fons and Scale Points.
- Leveling up your Fishing Level rewards Annulith and Expansion Cores.
- PC players may encounter a keyboard input bug — using a controller avoids this issue.
Fishing in Neverness to Everness is one of the most relaxing activities the game offers. It is a fully fleshed-out mini-game called Sea Angler with its own economy, dedicated fishing spots, bait types, a Fish Market, and a level progression system that rewards you with Annulith. Whether you are looking for a break from combat or want to earn extra Fons efficiently, fishing is worth adding to your daily routine once you unlock it.
This guide covers everything you need to know, including how to unlock fishing, how the minigame works, where to find fishing spots, how bait works, and how to make the most of the Fish Market rewards.
How to Unlock Fishing in NTE (Sea Angler)
Fishing is not available from the start of the game. You must reach City Tycoon Level 3 before the Sea Angler feature becomes accessible. This requires reaching a total lifetime earnings threshold of 118,300 Fons, owning a four-wheeled vehicle, and completing three specific quests. Our City Tycoon guide for NTE covers all the details on progressing through Tycoon levels quickly.
The three quests you need to complete are:
- Good Morning Hethereau – Available right after completing the episode called Good Business, Better Treasure, which ends with the photo studio quest. Look for it marked in purple under the Guide column in the Quests menu.
- New Commission – A straightforward quest available alongside the others.
- Legendary Driver – Requires you to own a car before you can complete it. If you do not have one yet, our guide on how to get a car in NTE will help you sort that out quickly.
Once you have hit Level 3, go to Menu → City Tycoon → Hethereau Hobbies and select Sea Angler to start the tutorial quest. Completing it gives you Fishing Rod I and a supply of Universal Bait to get you started. For a full overview of all Hethereau Hobbies and what they unlock, check out our Hethereau Hobbies guide.
How the Fishing Minigame Works in NTE
Fishing in NTE is an active timing-based minigame, not a passive wait. Once you cast your line at a fishing spot, the screen shifts to a minigame interface with two key elements on screen.
- The green bar represents the fish’s position and moves left and right on its own.
- The yellow marker represents your hook and is controlled by your inputs.
Your goal is to keep the yellow marker inside the moving green bar for as long as it takes to fully drain the fish’s stamina. Every second the two are aligned, the fish loses stamina. When the fish’s stamina hits zero, it is caught. If the fishing line’s durability runs out before that happens, the fish escapes.
Here are the controls for each platform:
- PC (keyboard): Press A and D to move the hook left and right.
- Controller: Use LT and RT (Xbox) or L2 and R2 (PlayStation) to move the hook.
Fish with more stamina have a smaller green bar, which makes them harder to keep aligned with. Rarer fish also move the green bar faster, raising the difficulty as you progress. The key to catching fish consistently is to anticipate the bar’s movement rather than reacting after it shifts. Short, rhythmic taps on the movement keys work much better than holding a direction down. Holding tends to overshoot, especially when the green bar changes direction suddenly.
Note for PC players: As of launch version 1.0.6.71490, there is a known bug where keyboard inputs do not work properly during the fishing minigame. If you are on PC and cannot move the overhead meter while using a keyboard, switching to a controller resolves the issue.
All Fishing Spot Locations in NTE
At launch there are eight fishing spots spread across Hethereau City’s various districts. Each spot attracts a different selection of fish, so knowing which spots to visit matters when you are targeting specific species or chasing daily in-demand fish.
- Caltrope Lake – One fishing spot in this area.
- Nautili Tunnel West – One fishing spot here.
- Nautili Tunnel East – One fishing spot.
- Cape Square – One fishing spot.
- Stellar Marina – One fishing spot. Three spots total across the Stellar Marina district combined with Cape Square and Nautili Tunnel East.
- Raindrop Court – One fishing spot here.
- Azure Vista – One of two spots in this general area.
- Imaginist – Second spot in this area.
You can see all active fishing spots on the map by looking for the fishing icon. The Fish Market menu also has a Go to Daily Rec. Fishing Spot button that takes you directly to the best spot for that day’s in-demand fish. Use this button every day to save time and maximize your earnings. Need to explore the map faster between spots? Check our guide on how to unlock all map areas in NTE.
Bait Types and How to Use Them
Bait is required to fish. Without it, you cannot cast your line. There are two main types:
Universal Bait
This is the starter bait you receive from the Sea Angler tutorial quest. It works at any fishing spot and on any fish. The Fishing Tackle Shop sells a limited daily supply of Universal Bait that you can buy with Fons instead of Scale Points. Pick this up every day since Fons are generally easier to come by early on.
Special Bait
Special bait types are purchased with Scale Points and are designed to attract specific species of fish. Early in the game, Scale Points accumulate slowly. Save special bait exclusively for in-demand fish at the Fish Market to get the highest possible return on your investment. Do not spend Scale Points on special bait for regular fishing sessions when Universal Bait is available.
You can purchase fishing tackle and bait from the Fishing Tackle Shop at any fishing spot by selecting the bait exchange button on the start screen and choosing what you want to buy. You can also buy gear from Luna Bay within Hethereau, which stocks the same items as the in-field shops.
How to Sell Fish and Use the Fish Market
After catching fish, open the Sea Angler menu and go to Fish Hold to sell them. Selling fish rewards you with both Fons and Scale Points, and the value depends on the species. You earn 1,000 Fons per City Stamina consumed when selling, so higher-value fish give you more per stamina spent.
One important thing to know: fishing itself does not consume City Stamina. You can fish as long as you have bait without worrying about stamina at all. City Stamina is only used when you sell the fish from your Fish Hold. This means you can build up a stockpile of fish and sell them strategically when you have enough City Stamina to spare.
Daily In-Demand Fish
Every day, a new set of fish becomes in-demand at the Fish Market. Submitting these through Sea Angler Menu → Fish Market earns you a significantly higher price, ranging from +200% to +500% compared to the normal selling rate. Check the Fish Market daily before you go fishing so you know which fish to prioritize. Use the Go to Daily Rec. Fishing Spot button to head directly to the best location for that day’s featured fish.
For more ways to earn Fons efficiently alongside fishing, check out our guide on how to get Fons fast in NTE.
Fishing Level Rewards in NTE
Your Fishing Level increases by accumulating Fishing EXP. You earn Fishing EXP by catching fish. You do not need to sell fish to gain experience, so catching and releasing is a valid way to grind EXP if you are low on City Stamina. Leveling up your Fishing Level rewards you with Annulith and Expansion Cores, which makes fishing one of the most resource-efficient activities you can do with your free time in NTE.
Because catching fish is the only source of Fishing EXP, it is worth fishing a little every day even if you do not plan to sell anything. The cumulative EXP adds up fast and the Annulith rewards alone make it worthwhile. Annulith is the main currency for the Scarborough Fair gacha system. If you are not familiar with that system yet, our full Scarborough Fair gacha system guide for NTE explains everything you need to know.
Scale Points and the Fishing Tackle Shop
Scale Points (also called Scale Coins) are the fishing-specific currency in NTE. You earn them by selling fish from your Fish Hold. They are used at the Fishing Tackle Shop to buy better fishing rods, special bait, and other fishing gear that improves your sessions over time.
Since Scale Points accumulate slowly in the early game, spend them carefully. The priority should always be special bait for in-demand fish on high-value days. Upgrade your fishing rod when you have surplus Scale Points and have already stocked up on the bait you need. Better rods make it easier to maintain alignment with the green bar, especially against rarer, faster-moving fish.
Tips to Fish Better in NTE
- Tap, do not hold. Short, rhythmic taps on the movement keys give you much more control than holding a direction. Holding almost always overshoots, especially when the fish changes direction fast.
- Anticipate, do not react. Watch the green bar’s rhythm and get ahead of its movement rather than chasing it. Fish that have been fighting for a while become more predictable once you read their pattern.
- Check the Fish Market before logging off. Daily in-demand fish can earn up to 5x the normal price. Making sure you catch at least a few of these every day is the most efficient use of your bait.
- Fish daily for EXP even without selling. You do not need to sell fish to level up. Catching alone gives Fishing EXP, so even a short session without selling keeps your progression moving.
- Buy Universal Bait from the Tackle Shop daily. The shop restocks a limited supply each day and it costs Fons instead of Scale Points. Always grab it before heading out.
- Use a controller on PC. Until the keyboard bug is patched, controllers are the most reliable way to play the fishing minigame on PC without input issues.
- Match your location to your target fish. Every fishing spot has a different fish pool. Use the Daily Rec. Fishing Spot button to go straight to the right location without having to guess.
How Fishing Fits Into the City Tycoon System
Sea Angler is one of several Hethereau Hobbies tied to the City Tycoon progression system. The Fons you earn from selling fish count toward your total lifetime Fons earnings, which is what determines your Tycoon Level. Higher Tycoon Levels unlock more features and hobbies across the city.
Fishing sits comfortably as a daily activity that feeds into both your Tycoon progression and your pull savings through the Annulith rewards from Fishing Level-ups. If you are building toward higher Tycoon levels and want to know what else opens up, check our guides on how to own a café in NTE and how to buy a house in NTE. For your combat progression, make sure you know how to get the right gear by reading our guide on how to get cartridges and modules in NTE, and if you want to pull for strong characters to use while exploring, visit our best team compositions guide for NTE.
Where to Play Neverness to Everness
NTE is available on PC via the official NTE website, on Android through the Google Play Store, and on PlayStation through the PlayStation Store.
Final Thoughts
Fishing in NTE is more than a throwaway side activity. It has its own economy, a satisfying skill-based minigame, daily objectives, and meaningful rewards including Annulith that directly help your gacha progress. Once you unlock it at City Tycoon Level 3, making it part of your daily routine is an easy decision. Check the Fish Market each day, stock up on Universal Bait, and fish a little every session. The EXP and Fons add up fast and the Annulith rewards from leveling your fishing are something you will appreciate every time a new limited banner goes live.
For more NTE guides, check out how to pass time and control the weather in NTE, our NTE redeem codes page for free resources, and our guide on how to get a free S-class Arc in NTE.
