Quick Links
Fishing is a minigame withinPersona 4 Goldenthat more than a few players are likely to miss on their first playthrough. UnlikePersona 5/Royal, there are several quests that require fishing, but players will notice they need to first obtain a fishing rod. Players won’t be able to buy this at Daidara Metalworks, and, since getting the fishing rod can take a few in-game days, it’s important to start the sidequest as soon as possible.
Updated on August 07, 2025 by Renri Seong:If you’re planning on maxing out all Social Links in aPersona 4 Goldenplaythrough, then you’re going to need both fishing rods. Unfortunately, it’s not too obvious how you can go about obtaining one. There are several steps for you to take before you can obtain the River Fishing Rod. Fishing can be difficult for new players, but there are ways to makeGolden’s fishing minigame easier. The following guide has been updated to include every fish you can catch with the River Fishing Rod and the Angler Set.
When Does It Unlock?
You can start the fishing rod sidequest as early as4/18:
The drinks in the vending machines restore 5SP, so stock up on them for the first dungeon if possible.
The second part of this quest won’t be accessible unless you have aGemitem:
How to Fish
In order to fish, you’ll needbait. Larger fish require rarer bait such as Inaba Jewel Beetles and Genji Beetles, while smaller fish can be hooked on more common bait like the Breadcrumbs or Tatsuhime Ladybugs. Go to the Riverbank or the Shichiri Beach and press Space/X to start fishing. It’s highly recommended to read theBeginner Fishingbook (available 4/20) and theExpert Fishing(available on 6/28), to make the fishing minigame easier.Fishing also requires Diligence, and having more Diligence means the Protagonist will stay longer.
How to Catch the Samegawa River Guardian
How to Get the Angler’s Set
The Angler’s Set is a key item that’s required for catching the Guardian of the Samegawa River. You will need to start “Quest 60: Acquire Samegawa’s Guardian.” Ask the Old Man about the Guardian and the type of bait in order to unlock theInaba Jewel Beetles. These can then be caught with theBug Netat the beginning of August. You can only catch the Samegawa Guardian during rainy weather. The River Guardian can only be hooked with Inaba Jewel Beetles. If you’re in the late-game phase, you can catch the Guardian on any day inDecemberorwhen it’s snowing.
How to Catch the Shichiri Beach Guardian
How to Get Deep-Sea Rod
After riding your scooter to Shichiri Beach 3x, you can start fishing there. Try to fish, and you’ll be told you need a stronger fishing rod. To do this, you will need to completeQuest 60: Acquire Samegawa’s Guardian. Once the Guardian’s caught, show it to the Old Man, andhe’ll hand over the Deep-Sea Rod.
There are several Quests that require fishing, but the most important one isQuest 15: The Shichiri Beach Guardian. This is the last part of the Fox’s Social Link. To hook the Beach Guardian, theGenji Beetlebait is required. They can be caught at the Shrine at night, or you canorder them from Tanaka’s Amazing Commoditieson8/22.
While not part of the quest, it’s highly,highlyrecommended to read theExpert Fishingbefore attempting to catch the Sea Guardian. Without the Fast Reel action, it’ll be near-impossible to complete the Quest.
Go to Shichiri Beachwhen it’s raining. Like the River Guardian, you will know you’ve hooked the Sea Guardian when a large splash forms around the bobber. Once you’ve caught it, speak to the Old Man one last time after catching the Sea Guardian. Thenreport to the Foxto max out the Social Link. This will allow you to fuse Ongyo-Ki in the Velvet Room.
Every Fish in Persona 4 Golden
And How to Get Them
There are six type of fish inPersona 4 Golden, but you won’t be able to catch all of them until August. You’ll also want to make it a habit of catching bugs, since the rarer fish can only be hooked with specific bait. You can eat fish to restore health, but you’re better offsaving them for sidequests, since there are various tasks that require fish.
Cloudy or Rainy
Raining or Snowing
