Complete Base Fish Price Table
| Creature | Island | Type | Base sell value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Crab | 1 | Normal | $3 |
| Shrimp | 1 | Normal | $5 |
| Rock Crab | 1 | Normal | $7 |
| Lobster | 1 | Normal | $9 |
| Piranha | 2 | Normal | $4 |
| Gar | 2 | Normal | $5 |
| Mackerel | 2 | Normal | $6 |
| Cod | 2 | Normal | $10 |
| Goby | 2 | Normal | $12 |
| Pike | 2 | Normal | $12 |
| Salmon | 3 | Normal | $14 |
| Perch | 2 | Normal | $18 |
| Triggerfish | 2 | Normal | $18 |
| Goldfish | 2 | Normal | $24 |
| Catfish | 3 | Normal | $46 |
| Clownfish | 3 | Normal | $46 |
| Sea Urchin | 3 | Normal | $52 |
| Yellow Boxfish | 3 | Normal | $53 |
| Needlefish | 3 | Endangered | $60 |
| Angelfish | 3 | Normal | $62 |
| Bluegill | 3 | Normal | $62 |
| Seahorse | 3 | Endangered | $100 |
| Bowlfish | 3 | Endangered | $150 |
| Bass | 4 | Normal | $250 |
| Eel | 4 | Normal | $280 |
| Red Snapper | 4 | Normal | $280 |
| Sengarat | 4 | Normal | $280 |
| Halibut | 4 | Normal | $290 |
| Tigerfish | 4 | Normal | $310 |
| Flying Fish | 4 | Normal | $320 |
| Voxelfish | 4 | Normal | $340 |
| Parrotfish | 4 | Normal | $350 |
| Dripper | 4 | Normal | $380 |
| Blobfish | 5 | Normal | $1,360 |
| Oarfish | 5 | Normal | $1,450 |
| Anglerfish | 5 | Normal | $1,500 |
| Stonefish | 5 | Normal | $1,500 |
| Superdwarf Fish | 5 | Normal | $1,700 |
| Sunfish | 2 | Boss fish | $50 |
| The Old Pike | 2 | Boss fish | $80 |
| Blue Shark | 3 | Boss fish | $300 |
| Tuna | 4 | Boss fish | $2,000 |
| Goblin Shark | 5 | Boss fish | $6,200 |
| Bowhead Whale | 5 | Boss / quest | $8,000 listed |
The table reproduces Game8’s base list without borrowing the inconsistent live values spoken during video runs. Story bosses with a dash in the source table are omitted because no verified base sale value is supplied. Bowhead Whale has a listed value, but the main story requires its body at the Volcano, so progression takes priority over the apparent payout.
Best Ordinary Fish by Island
Lobster is the highest listed ordinary catch on Island 1 at $9, and Hotdog targets it along with Rock Crab. Goldfish leads the verified ordinary Island 2 group at $24. Island 3 improves to Bowlfish at $150, although it is also an endangered fish that can satisfy the Tourist’s quest.
Island 4 marks the first large step in repeatable ordinary income. Dripper has the highest listed ordinary value there at $380, followed by Parrotfish and Voxelfish. Because all three sit in the Professional Lure pool, income is still random rather than a guaranteed Dripper on every cast.
Island 5 has the strongest ordinary values in the table. Superdwarf Fish leads at $1,700, with Anglerfish and Stonefish at $1,500 and Oarfish at $1,450. Scientific Lure is therefore the clearest late-game ordinary-fishing tier when your goal is repeatable sales rather than a quest boss.
Are Boss Fish Better for Money?
Optional boss fish can have high values, but a headline price does not include bait cost, fight time, weapon investment, or risk. Tuna lists at $2,000 and Goblin Shark at $6,200, yet each needs a boss lure and a combat encounter. Ordinary Scientific Lure fishing may be more predictable when you need a smaller amount for one upgrade.
Tuna is also required to summon Albatross during the main story. Selling it forces another Professional Boss Lure cycle before Island 4 can be completed. The walkthrough videos repeatedly show how tempting a large sale can be, but that anecdotal temptation is exactly why this page separates “valuable” from “safe to sell.”
Cooking, Variants, and Bonuses
Several guides say cooking can improve the money returned for a catch, especially around the Island 4 loop. However, the source set does not provide a complete verified cooked-value table for all 49 creatures. Treat the figures above as base reference values, not a promise of the exact number displayed after every modifier.
Drip and other unusual variants may not follow the ordinary result a player expects. Video transcripts include exceptional on-screen sale amounts and gambling outcomes, but they do not isolate every modifier or patch condition. Use the rare variants guide before selling a catch that looks different from its normal encyclopedia entry.
A Safe Money Route
On Lighthouse, use free clams to reach the rod, then sell ordinary catches until the required Beer and a practical weapon are affordable. Do not gamble this money. The beginner guide explains why early equipment and the Radar are more reliable investments.
On Forest and Desert, buy the lure tier that matches the local pool and improve one firearm instead of purchasing every option. Save endangered fish until the Carrot quest is complete. On Rocks, Professional Lure opens the stronger ordinary pool, while Professional Boss Lure should be reserved for Tuna when you are ready to continue the story.
On Volcano, Scientific Lure catches can fund the Assault Rifle and its upgrades. Catching and selling ordinary fish is lower risk than repeatedly starting boss encounters. Always keep five fish available for the scientist’s request if that step is not complete.
What Not to Sell
- The first endangered fish needed to obtain the Carrot on Island 3.
- Tuna when you still need to summon Albatross on Island 4.
- Bowhead Whale when the Volcano transformation is still incomplete.
- The final quest trophy or fin before it is returned for the keys.
- A missing normal or Drip encyclopedia entry before its collection status is recorded.
These safeguards matter more than chasing the single highest number. A required creature that must be caught twice costs time, bait, and ammunition, reducing the benefit of the first sale. Check all fish and locations when you are unsure what a catch is for.
Related Guides
Open all baits to target the right pool or all weapons to decide what the income should fund. The Island 4 guide covers the point where ordinary fishing, Tuna, the casino, and major weapon purchases compete for the same money. Use verified base values as the budget baseline before considering any bonus.