Starsand Island King Fish Guide: Legendary Fish & Locations
Complete Starsand Island King Fish guide covering all six legendary fish, Arapaima, Paddlefish, Swordfish, Megamouth Shark, Long-barbelled Dragonfish, and Glowfish, with exact zones, time windows, seasons, bait, and rod requirements.
There are six King Fish (legendary fish) in Starsand Island spread across river, lake, and deep-sea zones. You need at least a Golden Rod to catch any King Fish. Each is region-locked with specific time windows: Arapaima (river, summer/autumn, noon–2 AM), Paddlefish (river, spring/winter, 6 AM–10 PM), Swordfish (Coral Sea, all seasons, 6 AM–6 PM), Megamouth Shark (Luminwave, all seasons, 8 PM–2 AM), Long-barbelled Dragonfish (Celestwave, all seasons, 8 PM–2 AM), and Glowfish (Moonlit Forest Dreamfall Garden, autumn, midnight–2 AM). Catching two King Fish is required for the Expert Angler certification.
King Fish are the rarest, most valuable catches in Starsand Island, each one is a legendary variant of a normal species, locked to a specific zone, time window, and often a specific season. Whether you are pursuing the Expert Angler certification (which requires catching two King Fish) or simply trying to fill your Islandpedia, this Starsand Island king fish guide documents everything the community has discovered about all six legendary fish.
How Many King Fish Are There?
The in-game records documents six King Fish across four distinct water zones. Here is the complete overview:
| King Fish | Zone | Season | Time Window | Bait | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arapaima (King) | River | Summer, Autumn | 12:00–24:00, 0:00–2:00 | Veggie Bait, Meat Bait | Not documented |
| Paddlefish (King) | River | Spring, Winter | 6:00–22:00 | Bug Bait, Veggie Bait | Not documented |
| Swordfish (King) | Coral Sea | All seasons | 6:00–18:00 | Meat Bait | Not documented |
| Megamouth Shark (King) | Luminwave | All seasons | 20:00–24:00, 0:00–2:00 | Meat Bait | Not documented |
| Long-barbelled Dragonfish (King) | Celestwave | All seasons | 20:00–24:00, 0:00–2:00 | Meat Bait | Not documented |
| Glowfish (King) | Moonlit Forest (Dreamfall Garden) | Autumn | 0:00–2:00 | Bug Bait | Not documented |
All King Fish are region-locked: you will only find a specific King Fish in its designated zone, regardless of bait, time, or season. Two of the six are limited to specific seasons (Arapaima and Glowfish), while the ocean King Fish are available year-round.
Sell Value Comparison
The wiki does not yet document exact sell prices for King Fish. Treat the table above as location and timing reference, and confirm in-game sale values after catching.
Equipment Requirements
Minimum Rod Tiers
You cannot catch King Fish with a basic rod. The in-game records documents the following rod progression:
| Rod | Tier | King Fish Capability |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Rod | Starter | Cannot catch King Fish |
| Golden Rod | Mid-tier | Minimum requirement for all King Fish |
| Noble Rod | High-tier | Easier fights; better tension management |
| Epic Rod | Top-tier | Stronger hook, better catch rates |
| Titanium Rod | Endgame | Very easy fights; tension barely moves |
| Solar Rod | Best | Minimal tension; recommended for Celestwave King Fish |
If you show up with anything below a Golden Rod, you will not be able to hook King Fish at all. For the deep-sea King Fish (Megamouth Shark and Long-barbelled Dragonfish), the Noble Rod or better is strongly recommended due to their punishing tension values.
Recommended Angler Perks
Two profession perks dramatically improve your King Fish hunting:
- Rare Bites: Increases the chance of hooking rare fish, especially during daytime hours. Essential for daytime King Fish like the Swordfish.
- Hooked on Fate: Allows you to fish in ocean zones without needing visible fish shadows. Without this perk, you must wait for shadows to appear before casting, significantly slowing your King Fish attempts.
River and Lake King Fish
Arapaima (King): River
- Season: Summer, Autumn
- Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 AM (split window: noon–midnight, then midnight–2 AM)
- Weather: Sunny or Rainy
- Bait: Veggie Bait or Meat Bait
- Location: Rivers across the island
- Sell Price: Not documented on the wiki
The Arapaima is a river-dwelling King Fish available during the warmer months. Player reports indicate good luck catching it near the wooden bridge crossing to Green Pasture Ranch, particularly around 2:00 AM during summer. The long time window (12 hours starting at noon) gives flexibility, but the late-night portion (midnight to 2:00 AM) overlaps with other productive fishing times.
Paddlefish (King): River/Lake
- Season: Spring, Winter
- Time: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Weather: Sunny, Snowy, or Rainy
- Bait: Bug Bait or Veggie Bait
- Location: Rivers and Cloudrest Lake area
- Sell Price: Not documented on the wiki
The Paddlefish is widely considered the easiest King Fish to catch. Several players report catching it without even realizing it was a legendary variant. It is available from the very beginning of the game in the river zone, has a generous 16-hour window, and tolerates all weather conditions. The wiki notes that the town’s waterfall is a reliable fishing spot for this species.
Deep-Sea King Fish
Three of the six King Fish are locked behind the Starsand Port construction quest. Here is how to access them.
Unlocking the Parrot Ship
- Speak to Marston on the beach to begin the port construction quest.
- Donate Stone and Softwood to rebuild the dock.
- The port opens the next in-game day.
- The Parrot Ship ferry becomes available at the dock. Each trip takes you to one of three deep-sea zones.
Swordfish (King): Coral Sea
- Season: All seasons
- Time: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM (daytime only)
- Weather: Any
- Bait: Meat Bait
- Location: Coral Sea (southeast of the island via Parrot Ship)
- Sell Price: Not documented on the wiki
The Swordfish is the most accessible ocean King Fish due to its daytime window across all seasons. If you are planning your first King Fish hunt, this is the recommended target. Take the Parrot Ship to Coral Sea during the morning, bring Meat Bait, and fish until you hook it.
Megamouth Shark (King): Luminwave
- Season: All seasons
- Time: 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM (nighttime only)
- Weather: Any (Sunny, Snowy, or Rainy)
- Bait: Meat Bait
- Location: Luminwave (north of the island via Parrot Ship)
- Sell Price: Not documented on the wiki
The Megamouth Shark is a night-only catch in the Luminwave zone. Multiple players report spending nearly an entire in-game day before landing one around 2:00 AM, so bring stamina-restoring food and prepare for a long session. The tension fight is demanding, bring at least a Noble Rod.
Long-barbelled Dragonfish (King): Celestwave
- Season: All seasons
- Time: 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM (nighttime only)
- Weather: Any
- Bait: Meat Bait
- Location: Celestwave (southwest of the island via Parrot Ship)
- Sell Price: Not documented on the wiki
The Long-barbelled Dragonfish is Celestwave’s King Fish and is considered one of the most difficult catches in the entire game. The Celestwave zone has the highest-tier fish with the strongest tension values. The wiki recommends a Titanium Rod or better for this fight, the Solar Rod makes the tension bar nearly static, which is the difference between landing and losing this fish.
Deep-Sea Trip Planning
Because two of three ocean King Fish only appear at night (8:00 PM onward) and the Swordfish is daytime only, an efficient approach is:
- Morning: Sail to Coral Sea for the Swordfish (6:00 AM – 6:00 PM).
- Evening: Sail to Luminwave or Celestwave after 8:00 PM for night King Fish.
- Use Teleporters: Place a Teleporter on your boat for quick returns home between zones.
Each Parrot Ship trip costs 30 coins separately, so visiting all three zones in one day totals 90 coins. Plan ahead to maximize each trip.
Moonlit Forest King Fish
Glowfish (King): Dreamfall Garden
- Season: Autumn only
- Time: 12:00 AM – 2:00 AM (midnight to 2 AM)
- Weather: Sunny or Rainy
- Bait: Bug Bait
- Location: Moonlit Forest, Dreamfall Garden area (near the waterfall)
- Sell Price: Not documented on the wiki
The Glowfish King is the rarest and most valuable King Fish in Starsand Island. It is restricted to autumn season, a two-hour midnight window, and is hidden deep in the Moonlit Forest’s Dreamfall Garden zone. To reach Dreamfall Garden, you must progress through the Exploration profession and push through the Moonlit Forest’s gated zones.
One player guide notes that the Glowfish King can be found near the waterfall in Dreamfall Garden, and that you can actually walk behind the waterfall for additional fishing spots. The low oxygen requirement (1 unit) suggests this fish prefers shallower water within the zone.
Notable Non-King Fish: Dolphinfish and Zander
While not King Fish, the following species are frequently searched alongside King Fish guides and deserve brief mention:
Dolphinfish (Celestwave)
- Zone: Celestwave (deep-sea, via Parrot Ship)
- Season: All seasons
- Time: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Weather: Any
- Bait: Meat Bait
- Difficulty: Hard
- Sell Price: Not documented on the wiki
The Dolphinfish (mahi-mahi) is one of Celestwave’s regular species, available year-round during daytime hours. It requires Meat Bait and provides a lively fight at hard difficulty. While not a King Fish, it is a reliable income source during Celestwave day trips while you wait for the nighttime King Fish window.
Zander (River)
- Zone: Rivers across the island
- Season: All seasons
- Time: 6:00 AM – 2:00 AM
- Weather: Any
- Bait: Any bait type (accepts all)
- Difficulty: Medium
- Sell Price: Not documented on the wiki
The Zander is one of the most forgiving fish in Starsand Island, available year-round, in any weather, accepting any bait, and active for 20 of every 24 in-game hours. It is a reliable fallback target whenever conditions elsewhere are not cooperating.
King Fish Catching Strategy: Step by Step
- Check your season and in-game time. Use the tables above to determine which King Fish are currently available. Prioritize the Swordfish if you are in any season, or the Paddlefish in spring/winter.
- Equip the right rod. Minimum Golden Rod for all King Fish; Noble Rod or better for ocean zones.
- Invest in Angler perks. Unlock Rare Bites and Hooked on Fate before serious King Fish hunting.
- Bring the correct bait. Stock Meat Bait for ocean King Fish, Bug Bait for the Glowfish, and Veggie/Meat Bait for river King Fish.
- Travel to the correct zone. For river King Fish, fish in the river/lake area. For ocean King Fish, take the Parrot Ship (30 coins per trip).
- Cast and persist. King Fish have low bite rates. Keep fishing until you hook the legendary variant, do not leave the zone.
- Manage the tension fight. When the tension indicator turns red, stop reeling immediately. Forcing the reel on a red line will snap it.
- NPC gift values, drop tables, and crop growth rates reflect community-documented data for Starsand Island.
- Cross-checked against official community logs, Steam patch updates, and in-game playthroughs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many King Fish are there in Starsand Island? +
The in-game records documents six King Fish: Arapaima (River), Paddlefish (River/Lake), Swordfish (Coral Sea), Megamouth Shark (Luminwave), Long-barbelled Dragonfish (Celestwave), and Glowfish (Moonlit Forest). Each is region-locked, you can only catch a specific King Fish in its designated zone.
What rod do you need to catch King Fish in Starsand Island? +
You need at minimum a Golden Rod to hook King Fish. The Noble Rod makes the fight easier with better tension management, and the Titanium Rod or Solar Rod make the tension bar barely move. Epic and Solar-tier rods are strongly recommended for the deep-sea King Fish.
Where do you catch the Swordfish King in Starsand Island? +
The Swordfish King is found in the Coral Sea zone, accessible via the Parrot Ship from Starsand Port. It is available in all seasons from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM and takes Meat Bait. It is considered the easiest King Fish to target due to its wide daytime window.