Quick Answer

There is no single "Kingfish" species in Starsand Island — "King" is a yellow rarity tier shared by exactly six fish. The six are Arapaima and Paddlefish (rivers), Swordfish (Coral Sea), Long-barbelled Dragonfish (Celestwave), Megamouth Shark (Luminwave), and the autumn late-night Glowfish. Start the Angler profession with Delphin at the AquaBlue Outpost, chum the matching bait to spawn shadows, and land Kings with a rod — wiki.gg says the Fishing Net cannot catch yellow-rarity fish. Expert Angler asks for two King catches of any species. The only real dispute is the Glowfish's exact water: wiki.gg says Lake, Eurogamer and TechRaptor say Spore Cascade, and player reports point at the Dreamfall Garden waterfall in the Moonlit Forest.

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For casting, bait, and the full fish reference, return to the Fishing Guide.

The Six King Fish

Conditions follow the wiki.gg fish and Angler tables, cross-checked against Eurogamer and TechRaptor's Early Access lists. Sell prices are community-reported wiki.gg values — no official price list exists. The confidence column reflects the row as a whole; the Glowfish row's water cell is the known exception.

Guide reference table
FishSeasonTimeWater / boat groundBaitSell (community-reported)Confidence
Paddlefish (King)Spring, Winter6:00–22:00RiverBug, Veggie733Cross-checked; one guide calls it the easiest King
Arapaima (King)Summer, Autumn12:00–2:00RiverVeggie, Meat782Cross-checked; weather cells differ between sources
Swordfish (King)All6:00–18:00Coral Sea (boat)Meat826Cross-checked
Long-barbelled Dragonfish (King)All20:00–2:00Celestwave (boat)Meat1051Cross-checked
Megamouth Shark (King)All20:00–2:00Luminwave (boat)Meat1051Cross-checked
Glowfish (King)Autumn0:00–2:00Disputed — see belowBug1607Conditions cross-checked; exact water unresolved

How to Catch King Fish

  1. Start the Angler profession with Delphin at the AquaBlue Outpost (he mails you on Summer 3 of year 1, per wiki.gg).
  2. Upgrade rods along the Angler ranks — Wooden to Chrono, Noble, Solar, Titanium. A higher tier is not a proven requirement, but players report King catches get easier as rods improve.
  3. Craft or buy the matching chum bait and throw it into the water to spawn shadows. Without Workpedia's Hooked on Fate upgrades, a shadow must be present.
  4. Cast on the green bobber marker, hold to reel, and release if the line turns yellow or red.
  5. Use a rod — the Fishing Net caps at purple rarity and cannot land Kings.

River Kings vs Boat-Ground Kings

River Kings (no boat needed). Paddlefish runs in Spring and Winter from 6:00 to 22:00 with Bug or Veggie bait; Arapaima runs in Summer and Autumn from 12:00 through 2:00 with Veggie or Meat bait. One player guide places Arapaima in the river north of the farm by the Green Pasture Ranch bridge around 2 AM, and Paddlefish at the town waterfall — useful anecdotes, not verified map pins.

Boat-ground Kings. Swordfish (Coral Sea, daytime), Long-barbelled Dragonfish (Celestwave, night), and Megamouth Shark (Luminwave, night) are listed as exclusive to those grounds on the wiki's location pages, and Eurogamer, TechRaptor, and player reports agree. Reaching them requires the rebuilt Starsand Port, Delphin's 30-grape quest, and the Parrot boat — the fare is disputed at 10g (wiki) versus 30 gold (player reports). For the two night Kings, charter before 18:00 so you are already on the water when the 20:00 window opens.

The Glowfish Conflict

Weather is also split for Glowfish and Arapaima: wiki.gg lists Sunny/Rainy only, while Early Access press lists print wider weather sets. Until an official source settles it, fish them on Sunny or Rainy nights/days to match the strictest listing.

Expert Angler Requirement

The final Angler rank, Expert, requires catching two King fish — any two, and they do not have to be the same species (wiki.gg). The two river Kings are the usual picks because no boat unlock is needed: Paddlefish in Spring/Winter and Arapaima in Summer/Autumn cover the whole year between them.

Note the separate Intermediate Trial is worded "Catch a Glowfish" — the wiki does not specify whether that means Glowfish (King) or any Glowfish-named species such as the Comet, Fringetail, or Pearl Glowfish, all of which are ordinary lake catches.

FAQ

Is there a fish called Kingfish in Starsand Island?
No. There is no single species named Kingfish. King is a yellow rarity tier shared by six fish: Arapaima, Paddlefish, Swordfish, Long-barbelled Dragonfish, Megamouth Shark, and Glowfish. Searches for kingfish almost always mean this set.
Do I need two of the same King fish for Expert Angler?
No. The wiki wording is catch two King fish, and it explicitly notes they do not have to be the same species. Players report the catches need to be in your inventory, so sell or pond them only after the quest registers.
Can I catch King fish with the Fishing Net or Fish Traps?
Per wiki.gg, no — the net caps at purple rarity and yellow King fish still require a rod. Player anecdotes about traps or nets landing Kings are mixed and unverified.
Is bait required for King fish?
Wiki tables list a preferred chum per King, and chumming is the reliable way to spawn shadows. A few players report no-bait King catches, so bait may not be strictly mandatory — but bring the listed bait if you want consistent results.
How much do King fish sell for?
There is no official price list. Community-reported wiki.gg values are: Paddlefish 733, Arapaima 782, Swordfish 826, Long-barbelled Dragonfish 1051, Megamouth Shark 1051, Glowfish 1607. Treat them as community data, not confirmed 1.0 prices.
Do I need Expert Angler or a top-tier rod before a King can bite?
Unverified. One unofficial site claims Expert rank and a max rod, but players report an Arapaima on the basic rod in Summer 1 and a river King on a Noble Rod. Better rods clearly help; a hard gate is not proven.

Sources

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