FFXIV Fishing Spawned a Decade-Long Obsession

When most people think of Final Fantasy XIV’s most dedicated players, they probably imagine maxed classes, roleplay communities, or massive 24-person raids. For a small but devoted group, though, an unlikely piece of side content is the real endgame: fishing. Part of the game since launch, the fisher class unlocks Ocean Fishing and offers more than 1,500 fish; its system requires 41 hotbar buttons, special gear, timed windows, weather and bait, status effects, and even "mooching," where one fish is used as bait for another.

The job is largely tangential to FFXIV's main progression: other gatherers provide materials for crafting, and most fish exist mainly for achievements, completionists, and in-game aquariums. Still, many players find the mechanic charming. "I’ve always been a biology nerd—especially for native wildlife.

As a kid [I] spent most of my time outdoors exploring, hunting for critters—mostly fish, reptiles, amphibians—which also developed fishing into a real-life hobby," fisher Emiach Raethwind said.

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