Fish are the engine that powers everything in Dave the Diver. Every dive you take is simultaneously a fishing expedition and a restaurant prep session — the fish you catch become ingredients for Bancho’s sushi menu, sell for direct gold, and unlock story-critical quests from Dr. Bacon and Duff. Understanding which fish live at which depth, what they sell for, and how to catch them efficiently is the difference between a profitable evening service and a restaurant that runs dry halfway through dinner. This guide covers every fish by zone, the recipes they unlock, the most valuable species, and the fishing techniques that maximise your haul on every dive.
For a broader overview of the game, see our Dave the Diver guide. If you enjoy cozy games with deep management systems, Dave the Diver sits in excellent company — explore our picks for the best cozy RPG experiences for more recommendations.
Fish by Depth Zone
The Blue Hole is divided into three distinct depth zones, each with its own ecosystem, danger level, and fish value. Your suit’s depth limit gates access to lower zones, so upgrading is your first priority if you want the highest-value catches.
Shallow Zone (0–50m)
| Fish | Rarity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Giant Mudskipper | Common | Early quest fish; low sell value |
| Seahorse | Common | Unlocks Seahorse Tempura; medium value |
| Mantis Shrimp | Common | Unlocks Shrimp Bisque; packs a punch if you get too close |
| Blue Tang | Common | Schools well; use Net Gun for multiple captures |
| Clownfish | Common | Abundant; great for filling restaurant stock early |
| Parrotfish | Common | Found near coral; schools with Blue Tang |
| Banded Sea Krait | Rare | Venomous — keep distance; decent sell value |
| Napoleon Wrasse | Rare | High sell value; unlocks Wrasse Meuniére recipe |
The shallow zone is ideal for the early game. Almost every fish here is catchable with the basic harpoon, and the abundant schools of Blue Tang, Clownfish, and Parrotfish will keep your restaurant stocked through the opening chapters. The Napoleon Wrasse occasionally drifts up into shallow waters — always worth grabbing when you spot one.
Best weapons: Basic Harpoon, Underwater Rifle. Net Gun once unlocked for schooling fish.
Mid Zone (50–130m)
| Fish | Rarity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Giant Trevally | Common | High SP recipe; reliable high seller |
| Hammerhead Shark | Common | Avoid unless tranq-equipped; high sell value |
| Spotted Eagle Ray | Common | Unlocks Ray Carpaccio; great customer satisfaction |
| Lionfish | Common | Spines deal damage — approach from behind |
| Pufferfish | Common | Unlocks Fugu after story quest; very high late-game value |
| Cuttlefish | Common | Ink is a useful cooking ingredient |
| Oarfish | Rare | Occasionally drifts mid-zone; highest sell value in the game |
| Goblin Shark | Rare | Deep mid-zone; distinctive elongated snout |
| Whale Shark | Unique | Encounter only — not catchable; see Special Encounters |
The mid zone introduces larger, more aggressive fish and the first boss-level encounters. Upgrade your suit to at least mid-tier before spending extended time here. The Giant Trevally and Spotted Eagle Ray are the workhorse catches of this zone — both unlock strong restaurant recipes and sell well for gold.
Best weapons: Net Gun for schooling mid-zone fish; Harpoon (upgraded) for solo large fish; Tranquiliser Darts for sharks.
Deep Zone (130m+)
| Fish | Rarity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Giant Squid | Common (boss) | Boss encounter; drops ink and rare items |
| Snailfish | Common | Passive; easy catch; decent deep-zone value |
| Barreleye | Common | Distinctive tubular eyes; medium value |
| Frilled Shark | Common | Living fossil; good sell value |
| Oarfish | Rare | Most reliable deep-zone spawn; highest gold seller |
| Thresher Shark | Rare | Whip-like tail; consistently high gold value |
| Colossal Squid | Rare | Larger than Giant Squid variant; rare encounter |
The deep zone is where the real money lives. Every fish here sells for significantly more than its shallow or mid-zone equivalents. However, the danger level rises sharply — have Tranquiliser Darts loaded before descending, and never push past your suit’s depth limit without upgrading first. A failed deep dive that costs you equipment upgrades will set your income back more than the fish gain was worth.
Best weapons: Tranquiliser Darts for large rare fish to preserve Grade A quality; fully upgraded Harpoon for general use.
Fish That Unlock Restaurant Recipes
Catching a recipe-unlock fish for the first time automatically adds a new dish to Bancho’s menu. Some of the most profitable restaurant items come from fish you have to actively seek out rather than stumble across. The table below maps the key fish to their recipes and their restaurant value tier.
| Fish | Recipe Unlocked | Restaurant Value | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napoleon Wrasse | Wrasse Meuniére | High | Shallow/Mid |
| Giant Trevally | Trevally Teriyaki | High | Mid |
| Seahorse | Seahorse Tempura | Medium | Shallow |
| Oarfish | Oarfish Sashimi | Very High | Mid/Deep |
| Spotted Eagle Ray | Ray Carpaccio | High | Mid |
| Mantis Shrimp | Shrimp Bisque | Medium | Shallow |
| Pufferfish | Fugu (post-story quest) | Very High | Mid |
| Cuttlefish | Cuttlefish Ink Pasta | Medium | Mid |
Recipe unlocks are permanent — you only need to catch the fish once to add the dish. After that, any subsequent catches of the same species go directly to stock or sell.
Most Valuable Fish to Stock
There is an important distinction between restaurant value (measured in Sushi Points, which drive customer satisfaction and tip income) and sell price (the gold you earn by selling fish directly rather than cooking them). The optimal strategy is to maintain two nights’ restaurant stock of your best SP fish, then sell any surplus. Running out of fish mid-service is catastrophic for income, so always restock before selling.
Top 5 by Gold Sell Value
- Oarfish — the highest sell price of any catchable fish; rare but worth multiple dive attempts to find one
- Pufferfish — becomes highly valuable after the Fugu recipe unlocks; sell surplus freely once you have enough stocked
- Thresher Shark — deep zone regular; consistently among the top gold-per-fish earners
- Napoleon Wrasse — mid-zone reliability makes this a strong recurring earner; easier to farm than deep fish
- Giant Trevally — excellent balance of catch frequency and sell value; the backbone of mid-game income
Top 5 by Sushi Points (Restaurant Value)
- Oarfish Sashimi — top-tier menu item; the dish that drives the most customer satisfaction when available
- Fugu — unlocks late but delivers maximum SP; requires completing the Pufferfish preparation story quest
- Ray Carpaccio — great customer satisfaction; Eagle Ray is a reliable mid-zone catch
- Trevally Teriyaki — consistent high SP; Giant Trevally is one of the more frequently encountered mid-zone fish
- Wrasse Meuniére — strong early-to-mid game restaurant performer before deep zone access opens up
Special Fish and Unique Encounters
Whale Shark
The Whale Shark is not catchable — it is an observation-only encounter. Approach slowly with no weapons drawn and do not sprint toward it. Moving too aggressively causes it to swim away. A slow approach triggers a cutscene and advances Dr. Bacon’s research storyline. This is one of the most memorable moments in the game, so take your time with it.
Great White Shark
The Great White Shark is catchable but extremely dangerous. It appears in the mid-to-deep zone transition (approximately 100–140m) and deals significant damage if it charges. Use Tranquiliser Darts to neutralise it before attempting a harpoon capture. The sell value is high enough to justify the effort once you have the gear to handle it safely.
Giant Squid
The Giant Squid is a boss-level encounter in the deep zone rather than a standard fish. It requires upgraded weapons and careful positioning — its ink cloud disorients and its tentacles deal heavy damage. Defeating it drops multiple rare items including ink (a high-value restaurant ingredient) and story-critical components. The Giant Squid fight is not optional for main story progression.
Night Dive Fish
Night dives unlock after Chapter 1 and open access to several fish that do not appear during the day. These are worth pursuing specifically:
- Bioluminescent Jellyfish — a quest item required for a specific story beat; not sold but essential for progression
- Firefly Squid — medium sell value; beautiful night-dive exclusive
- Moray Eel — high sell value; aggressive if approached without care
Night dive access opens through the Sea People Village after sufficient story progression. Check for night-exclusive quest requests from Duff before each night dive session.
Fishing Efficiency Tips
Headshots vs Body Shots
Fish quality degrades with damage. A headshot on a stationary fish yields Grade A (maximum sell value and restaurant SP). A body shot typically drops quality to Grade B or Grade C. Always aim for the head on fish you intend to sell at high value, particularly Oarfish and Napoleon Wrasse where the quality premium is significant.
Net Gun for Schools
The Net Gun is the most efficient tool for schooling fish (Blue Tang, Parrotfish, Clownfish). A single Net Gun shot can capture four to six fish simultaneously, making it dramatically more efficient than individual harpoon shots for stocking the restaurant with common species.
Tranquiliser Darts for Large Rare Fish
Tranquiliser Darts serve two purposes: they neutralise the thrash damage that large fish deal when harpooned, and they preserve Grade A quality by reducing the total damage inflicted during capture. For Oarfish, Thresher Shark, and Great White Shark, always tranquilise before harpooning.
Storage Strategy
Never sell down to zero restaurant stock. The correct workflow is: dive — stock two nights’ supply of your top SP fish — sell everything surplus. Running out of a key ingredient mid-service forces you to serve lower-tier dishes, which tanks customer satisfaction and the tip income that follows.
Upgrade Priority
Follow this upgrade sequence for the best income growth: Suit depth limit first (unlocks higher-value zones), then harpoon power (one-shot kills on larger fish, better quality preservation), then inventory capacity (more fish per dive means fewer dives for the same stock level). Do not invest in weapon variety before maxing suit depth — you cannot reach the highest-value fish without it.
For broader quest and progression tips, see our Dave the Diver tips guide.
Duff’s Marine Biology Requests
Duff periodically requests specific fish for his marine biology research. Having the requested fish in your inventory when you speak to him triggers story progression and unlocks new dive zones and equipment. Always check Duff’s request board before diving so you can prioritise his fish — unlocking story beats faster opens up better fishing areas sooner.
| Chapter | Fish Requested | Unlock Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Blue Tang, Seahorse | Tutorial quests; basic recipe unlocks |
| Chapter 2 | Napoleon Wrasse, Spotted Eagle Ray | Mid-zone access improvements; Bancho recipe expansion |
| Chapter 3 | Giant Squid ink (boss drop), Oarfish | Deep zone story progression; Sea People Village access |
Duff’s requests do not expire between sessions, but completing them promptly avoids situations where you have been accidentally selling the exact fish he needs. Keep one specimen of any fish Duff has requested in storage as a buffer.
For more on managing quests and story progression efficiently, our Dave the Diver tips guide has a dedicated quest priority section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the rarest fish in Dave the Diver?
The Oarfish is widely considered the rarest catchable fish. It appears infrequently in the mid-to-deep zone and requires patience or multiple dives to find one. When you do spot an Oarfish, tranquilise it before harpooning to preserve Grade A quality and maximise the sell price.
What fish does the sushi restaurant need most?
This shifts as the game progresses. Early game: Blue Tang, Clownfish, and Seahorse are plentiful and keep the restaurant running without much effort. Mid game: Giant Trevally and Napoleon Wrasse unlock the high-SP recipes that drive customer satisfaction. Late game: Oarfish and Pufferfish (post-Fugu unlock) maximise both SP and gold income.
How do you catch the Whale Shark?
You cannot catch the Whale Shark — it is an encounter only. Approach slowly without drawing any weapons to trigger a cutscene. Sprinting or having a weapon drawn causes it to flee. It is part of Dr. Bacon’s research storyline and will reappear during story-required encounters regardless of your earlier attempts.
How do you get deep zone fish early?
The fastest path to deep zone access is upgrading your suit’s depth limit at the equipment shop, which requires gold and sometimes story gating. Complete Duff’s early chapter requests promptly to advance story progression, which unlocks some deep zone access independently of equipment upgrades. The combination of equipment investment and story completion opens the deep zone as quickly as the game allows.
What fish sell for the most gold?
Oarfish, Pufferfish (after the Fugu story quest), and Thresher Shark are consistently the highest gold-per-fish sellers. As a general rule, deep zone fish sell for more than mid-zone, which sell for more than shallow zone. The rarer the fish, the higher the sell price — Grade A quality adds a further premium on top of base value.
Sources
- TheGamer: Dave the Diver Fish Guide
- Dave the Diver Wiki (Fandom)
- Steam: Complete Diver’s Guide (Official Community Guide)
I've been playing video games for over 20 years, spanning everything from early PC titles to modern open-world games. I started Switchblade Gaming to publish the kind of accurate, well-researched guides I always wanted to find — built on primary sources, tested in-game, and kept up to date after patches. I currently focus on Minecraft and Pokémon GO.