Fish · Creature 9 of 54
How to catch Mackerel
A dependable no-lure Forest catch for rebuilding coins after an expensive purchase.
Last verified August 28, 2026
Quick facts
Mackerel at a glance
Quick answer
Catch Mackerel on Forest Island with Default Fish Pool and the Fishing Rod, then finish the encounter so the base entry can record. The recorded raw base value is 6 coins before killscore, cooking or other modifiers.
Mackerel catch setup
| Island | Forest Island |
|---|---|
| Category | Fish |
| Method | Fishing-rod catch |
| Tool | Fishing Rod |
| Pool / trigger | Default Fish Pool |
| Raw base value | 6 coins |
| Encounter | No dedicated boss encounter |
How to get Mackerel
- Reach Forest Island. It is stage 2 of the main route and follows the green Radar marker.
- Use the Fishing Rod with Default Fish Pool. Another lure tier is not treated as equivalent unless the documented pool lists it.
- Land the fish in a clear area and defeat it; merely hooking it may not complete the encyclopedia entry.
- Open the Tab encyclopedia after the catch and confirm the base entry before moving to the next directory row.
Do not plan around the base value alone
Killscore, cooking and route use can make a catch more important than its raw coin number. Quest items should be handed in before considering a sale.
Forest Island context
The green island introduces the Fishing Rod, Beginner Lures, optional mini-bosses and the three-leech story chain.
Unlock: Return Spider Crab's shell, receive the boat route and follow the green Radar marker northwest.
Island route tip
Open the complete Forest Island route →The objective is three Leeches, not five; stale launch snippets reported the wrong count.
Drip variant guidance
A Drip is a rare visual/name variant, not a new bait tier. Repeat the ordinary Default Fish Pool route for Mackerel, watch for a rainbow-colored name and defeat the variant only if the Tab encyclopedia shows a separate empty Drip row.
- Do not buy a supposed universal “Drip lure”; none is documented.
- Confirm the defeat rather than assuming a hook alone recorded the variant.
- Keep long variant farms for collection cleanup after story-critical purchases.
Related creatures
Sources and version boundary
This page records the released-build creature directory and uses original route notes written for this guide. Game identity and update status are checked against Dazed Games' official Steam pages; raw values are shown as reference data rather than guaranteed final sale payouts.
- Official How to Fish Steam listing ↗
- Official Steam announcements ↗
- Site sourcing, extraction count and correction method
Verified for Patch 1.0.10 on . Patch 1.0.10 slightly reduced Anglerfish health but did not announce new creatures or a changed bait route.
Quick answers
Mackerel FAQ
Location, collection method, value, encounter status and tracking answers for this directory entry.
Where do I find Mackerel in How to Fish?
Mackerel is found on Forest Island, stage 2 of the five-island route, in the Default Fish Pool.
What catches Mackerel?
Use Default Fish Pool with the Fishing Rod on Forest Island.
How much is Mackerel worth?
Mackerel has a raw base value of 6 coins before killscore, cooking or gambling effects.
Is Mackerel a boss?
No. Mackerel is a fishing-rod catch rather than one of the 11 dedicated encounters.
Does Mackerel need different bait for a Drip variant?
No separate Drip lure is documented. If the Tab encyclopedia shows a Drip row for Mackerel, repeat the normal Default Fish Pool route, look for a rainbow-colored name and defeat that variant.