Coral Island Bug Catching & Fishing Guide: Tips and Tricks

Coral Island offers a rich ecosystem filled with diverse bugs and fish to catch. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, this guide will provide all the best strategies to help you master bug catching and fishing while making the most of your time on the island. Keep in mind that these mechanics are still evolving, with more updates coming soon, but for now, let’s dive in!

General Tips for Bugs and Fish

Different critters appear in different seasons, at different times of day, and in specific locations. Make sure to explore in the morning, day, and night to maximize your collection.
Bugs and fish can also be found underwater while diving—though expect more refinements to this system in future updates.

Bug Catching Guide

How Bug Catching Works

When you approach a bug:

It will become aware of you within a certain range.
An awareness meter will appear above the critter—once it fills, the bug will flee.
Different bugs react differently based on their rarity—rare bugs are more sensitive to your presence.
Equip your bug net, hold left-click to sneak, and get close.
When the bug highlights green and an exclamation mark (!) appears, release your mouse button to swing your net for a catch.
Reaction time is crucial—some bugs give you only a split second to act!

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Bug Catching Tips

1. Upgrade Your Bug Net

You start with the Basic Net, but upgrades will make catching easier:

Improved Bug Net (3,700 coins) – Available anytime at the Beach Shack.
Quality Bug Net (12,000 coins) – Unlocks at Catching Level 5.
Higher-tier nets offer a wider catch radius and angle.

2. Level Up Your Catching Skill

Catching more bugs will increase your Mastery Level, unlocking perks and recipes. Focus on easy-to-catch bugs first to level up quickly.

Skill points can be redeemed at Levels 2, 4, 6, and 8. You can choose 4 out of 6 perks total.
Best perks for bug catching:
- Light Feet – Lowers bug awareness by 10%.
- Balanced Body – Increases movement speed while sneaking by 50%.
- Scent Duration – Insect scents last 25% longer.

3. Use Insect Scents

Insect scents reduce bug awareness, making catching much easier.

Ground Insect Scent A (Level 1) – Reduces ground bug awareness by 15% for 3 minutes.
Ground Insect Scent B (Level 4) – Reduces ground bug awareness by 40% for 5-6 minutes.
Flying Insect Scent C (Level 7) – Reduces flying bug awareness by 15% for 3 minutes.

You can craft these scents once unlocked or buy them at the Beach Shack.

4. Bug Catching Movement Tips

Head First Method: Approach bugs as they move toward you to shorten the gap faster.
Second Chance: If the awareness meter fills too fast, retreat quickly—the bug will reset after a few moments.
Dash Method: Sprint with spacebar and swing your net quickly—only use this as a last resort since you only get one chance per attempt.

5. Bug Traps Are Coming Soon!

The next summer update (May) will introduce bug and critter traps that allow you to passively catch insects without chasing them. You’ll also be able to apply scents to influence which critters appear.

Fishing Guide

How Fishing Works

Stand near any body of water and equip your fishing rod.
Hold left-click to cast—longer holds = farther casts.
Wait for a bite—when a fish takes the bait, the minigame starts automatically.
Your goal is to fill the meter by reeling in the fish without breaking your line.
Click and hold to reel in, but release when tension lines appear—too much force will snap the line!
Do not press right-click—this cuts the line and cancels your catch!

Fishing Tips

1. Upgrade Your Fishing Pole

Just like bug nets, upgrading your pole will improve casting range, reeling speed, and tension control.

Improved Fishing Pole (4,050 coins) – Available anytime at the Beach Shack.
Quality Fishing Pole (12,000 coins) – Unlocks at Fishing Level 5.

2. Always Cast as Far as Possible

Longer casts reduce the chances of catching trash and increase your odds of finding rare fish.

3. Best Fishing Perks to Unlock

Just like bug catching, you’ll earn skill points at Levels 2, 4, 6, and 8.

Strong Arms – Lowers fish resistance by 10%.
Lucky Angler – 3% chance for an instant catch.
Quality Fish – 10% chance for higher quality catches (helpful for temple offerings!).

4. Use Fish Bait to Target Specific Fish

To attach bait, place it in your equippable slot.

Small Fish Bait (Level 1) – Helps catch small fish & reduces trash.
Medium Fish Bait (Level 4) – Targets medium fish.
Large Fish Bait (Level 8) – Targets large fish (best for rare & legendary catches).

If you still have legacy Spider Fern Fish Bait, it reduces bite time and speeds up catches—however, it was removed in the latest update and may not return.

5. Slow Down Time for More Catches

Set game time to 50% speed when fishing to allow more attempts per in-game day.

6. Explore Unique Fishing Spots

Different fish spawn in specific locations:

Rivers: Different species appear in the Forest, Farm, and Woodlands rivers.
Ocean: Unique fish spawn at the Docks, Beach, and Lookout.
Lake: Special fish can be caught here.
Hidden Spots: Try fishing below your farm, in the rice fields, and even inside the caverns.

7. Bonus Tip: Fish in Trash Cans!

Rummaging through trash cans can yield bugs, fish, and even seasonal critters!

Final Thoughts

Mastering bug catching and fishing in Coral Island requires patience, skill, and the right tools. By upgrading your gear, utilizing scents and bait, and strategically exploring, you’ll improve your success rate dramatically.

With future updates adding bug traps and new fish mechanics, the adventure is only getting better. Until then, enjoy exploring the island and catching all the critters you can!