Fishing and Item Hunting
The vibrant region of Alola is teeming with opportunities for both dedicated anglers and meticulous treasure hunters. Mastering the art of fishing and diligently searching for hidden items will significantly enrich your journey, providing valuable Pokémon, essential resources, and even rare treasures.
Acquiring the Fishing Rod
Unlike previous Pokémon titles, the Fishing Rod in Pokémon Sun and Moon isn't an early-game acquisition. You'll receive your very own Fishing Rod from a friendly fisherman on Route 7, just before you enter the Wela Volcano Park. This occurs after completing the Akala Island Grand Trial and defeating Olivia. Once obtained, the Fishing Rod is a key item that can be used at any designated fishing spot.
Mastering the Art of Fishing
Fishing spots are identifiable by their distinctive bubbling or sparkling water. These visual cues indicate a higher chance of encountering Pokémon or reeling in rare items. Here's how to maximize your fishing success:
- Standard Fishing Spots: Simply approach any body of water and use your Fishing Rod from the Key Items pocket. You'll cast your line and wait for a bite.
- Sparkling Fishing Spots: These are your prime targets! Sparkling spots have a significantly increased chance of yielding rare Pokémon, higher-level Pokémon, or valuable items. Always prioritize these when available.
- Reeling In: Once you get a bite, a prompt will appear. Press 'A' at the right moment to reel in your catch. Timing is key!
Common Fishing Catches & Items
While specific encounters vary by location, here's a general idea of what you can expect:
- Water-type Pokémon: Magikarp, Tentacool, Wingull (often found near water), Wishiwashi, Feebas (rare), and more!
- Evolutionary Stones: Water Stone (rare)
- Battle Items: Net Ball, Lure Ball (rare)
- Held Items: Mystic Water, Big Pearl, Pearl, Heart Scale (rare)
- Consumables: Potions, Super Potions, Revives
The Thrill of Item Hunting
Alola is a treasure trove for observant trainers. Hidden items are scattered across every route, town, and dungeon, often tucked away in inconspicuous corners, behind rocks, or even in plain sight but requiring a keen eye. These items can range from essential healing supplies to valuable TMs and rare evolutionary items.
Methods for Item Discovery
- Visual Cues: Always keep an eye out for sparkling spots on the ground, which indicate a hidden item. These are often found near walls, trees, or other environmental features.
- Ride Pokémon - Stoutland Search: This is your ultimate item-hunting companion! Once you gain access to the Stoutland Search Ride Pokémon, you can summon Stoutland to sniff out hidden items. When Stoutland is active, a small exclamation mark will appear above its head if a hidden item is nearby. Follow Stoutland's gaze and press 'A' when the exclamation mark becomes larger and more frequent to pick up the item. Stoutland Search becomes available after completing the trial at the Thrifty Megamart on Ula'ula Island.
- NPC Hints: Occasionally, NPCs will offer subtle hints about hidden items in their vicinity. Pay attention to dialogue!
- Environmental Interaction: Don't be afraid to interact with everything! Press 'A' on suspicious-looking rocks, trees, or even trash cans. You might be surprised what you find.
Examples of Hidden Items
The variety of hidden items is vast, making exploration incredibly rewarding:
- Poké Balls: Poké Ball, Great Ball, Ultra Ball, Premier Ball, Dive Ball, Net Ball
- Healing Items: Potion, Super Potion, Hyper Potion, Full Restore, Antidote, Paralyze Heal, Burn Heal, Awakening, Ice Heal, Full Heal, Revive, Max Revive
- TMs (Technical Machines): Many powerful TMs are hidden throughout Alola, offering new moves for your Pokémon. Examples include TM01 Work Up, TM04 Calm Mind, TM06 Toxic, and many more.
- Evolutionary Items: Various evolutionary stones (Fire Stone, Thunder Stone, Water Stone, Leaf Stone, Moon Stone, Sun Stone, Dusk Stone, Dawn Stone, Shiny Stone), Metal Coat, Dragon Scale, Up-Grade, Dubious Disc, Protector, Reaper Cloth, Electirizer, Magmarizer.
- Held Items: Leftovers, Choice Scarf, Assault Vest, Life Orb, Expert Belt, Focus Sash, Scope Lens, Muscle Band, Wise Glasses, Black Sludge, Big Root, Shell Bell, Amulet Coin, Lucky Egg (very rare).
- Valuables: Pearl, Big Pearl, Stardust, Star Piece, Nugget, Big Nugget, Comet Shard, Rare Bone. These can be sold for significant amounts of money at Poké Marts.
- Stat Boosters: HP Up, Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, Carbos, Rare Candy.
Strategic Item Hunting Tips
- Regular Sweeps: Make it a habit to use Stoutland Search whenever you enter a new area or revisit an old one.
- Check Every Corner: Don't just stick to the main path. Venture into tall grass, behind buildings, and along cliff edges.
- Dungeons and Caves: These areas are often rich with hidden items, but they can be tricky to navigate. Take your time.
- Post-Game Exploration: Many new areas and hidden items become accessible after completing the main story. Don't stop searching!
