There’s a peculiar type of appeal to exploration games. They reel you in with a relatable premise, and keep delivering on it with more mysteries to fill in the different pieces of the puzzle. Reminiscent of Firewatch, a game where you can spend a whole day ranging a park, you can sink hours sailing the open world archipelago of Dredge looking for catch, and the further out you go, the better it will be.
This laid back Lovecraftian horror adventure really puts you out there, testing skill and intuition with 128 different fish species with their aberrations that you can track down and sell for profit. Here are some of the most valuable species you can find.
10 The Nightwing Catfish
This gorgeous monstrosity used to be a regular Catfish once, not too long ago, but something happened to it, that you may or may not find out as you progress through Dredge’s multiple endings, and it grew hooked barbells out of its face. To the fishmonger at Greater Marrow, the town that generously took you in when you stopped by with a battered old boat, these ‘aberrations’ are interesting for many reasons.
One of them is that they’re rumored to don their eater with special abilities. Others, of course, just say they drive you mad. The truth lies with the collector, a secluded man living on Blackstone Isle who happens to have a few special abilities of his own, and more than a few dark predilections towards the paranormal. Either case, it brings in a good price of $180.
9 The Bloodskin Shark
The Bloodskin Shark is another oceanic aberration of the Bronze Whaler that you can find ambling somewhere around Blackstone Isle. Like the rest of its unfortunate kind, they usually come out at night, although there are certain items that you can equip to increase your chances of catching them.
If you do manage to catch it, you’re up for more than twice as much profit as you would from its regular, unmutated kin. You don’t need any extra special equipment to catch it either, just a rod and a trawl, but be prepared to sail out a few times if you’re planning to make a fortune - this baby takes up a good amount of your limited inventory slots, and then some. It will be worth it though, for $220 a head.
8 The Gulper Eel
This ice-age looking creature is just as rare as it looks, and its huge maw is there for a reason — it helps it devour prey that is much larger than itself. Considered to be the rarest form of the elusive eel, this Hadal catch has not been seen by many humans, so it is guaranteed to fetch you an impressive price of $250 a pop.
You, however, will most probably meet it, as it’s requested by the Traveling Merchant as part of the Recording Rarities Pursuit, so be prepared with a suitable rod, or you might just find it and still miss out. Luckily, it’s not too far out to sea, as you can find it somewhere in or around the Stellar Basin.
7 The Goliath Tigerfish
Once you’re on the Recording Rarities Pursuit, you will also be requested to come home with a Goliath Tigerfish. Taking up eight slots of your inventory, you’ll be lucky if you sail home with two, but most likely you will only be able to fit just one with all the equipment. Like the Gulper Eel, it only takes a rod, and you can find it somewhere in the Twisted Strand.
This species of fish is known to be extremely predatory, with fangs described in the lore to be so big as to pierce its own lower jaw. Luckily, the fish don’t attack you in Dredge, or you’d be up for a fight. Once you have it in the bag, you’re looking at a hefty $250 per catch.
6 The Oarfish
For an ancient predatory species living in Gale Cliffs, the Oarfish looks super cute. Long, iridescent with wide goldfish eyes, its head is crested with a majestic head feather similar to that of a cockatiel. This Abyssal species is extremely rare, and surprisingly hard to find, so it might be time for you to use that handy Spyglass of yours, which you will most probably have unlocked by then.
This curious sea serpent will undoubtedly be one of your requests for the Recording Rarities Pursuit, so be sure to clear out your inventory before you go out to sea. With enough of them stacked in your inventory, it can bring in a small fortune at $250 a pop.
5 The Coelacanth
Found slithering in the fjords of the treacherous surrounds of Devil’s Spine, the Coelacanth is an ancient Abyssal giant with haunting, dead eyes. Possibly the most elusive of the Recording Rarities Pursuit, it will give you a run for your money, but once you reel it in, it can earn you up to $250 a head.
Like the Goliath Tigerfish, you’re likely not going home with more than one, as it takes up seven slots in your cramped inventory. Once you’ve upgraded your hull though, it wouldn’t hurt to go out to sea and catch a few of these devil babies again. Dredge is, after all, a fishing game, so take your time and enjoy the sunset.
4 The Cleft-Mouth Shark
Why so serious? The Cleft-Mouth Shark sniggers at you with a row of teeth that stretches back forever into an ominous grin. Had this been another game, it might have been the last set of smiling teeth you ever see, but thankfully Dredge is kind to its players, putting them in the shoes of a wizened elderly fisherman.
It will not be a while until you meet it too, this oceanic catch is available quite early on in the game, floating peacefully around Blackstone Isle like it owns the place. It will, however, take up quite a bit of space in your inventory, and for good reason — this catch will earn you $275 a pop, so don’t get greedy. Or do, and spend many nights out at sea, but be sure to dock at the Collector’s house around dawn or the sneaky Angler Fish will come sniffing after you.
3 The Twisted Shark
Another precious dweller of Devil’s Spine is the Twisted Shark, a Volcanic species with three twisted tails that will send you puzzling at your inventory trying to fit a few of them in without throwing out your old rod to make space. Taking up an L-shape, the Twisted Shark will comfortably take up to six inventory spaces, and render some middle slots useless.
This aberration of the Volcanic Frilled Shark is worth the journey though, as it will get you at least $300, more if you sell it a bit further away from where it usually lives.
2 The Sallow Sailfish
Something awful happened to this poor Sailfish, and it grew pallid scales and zombie eyes that will haunt your dreams for night to come. If you look hard enough, you can really tell it has seen something.
Residing somewhere between Devil's Spine and Little Marrow, this prized oceanic catch is extremely rare to find. It is worth the trip though, as one of those will get you $350 on its own. That is, if you can manage to get it home…the Sallow Sailfish takes up nine inventory slots!
1 The Gazing Shark
The Gazing Shark is by far the most valuable species in Dredge, fetching up to $425 a head… and for good reason! It is also extremely rare to find. This aberration of the Hammerhead Shark packs giant, bulbous eyes extending on either side of its once aerodynamic head, giving it much to see, but alas not as much to think about. It is definitely worth a catch though, if not for its hefty market price, then for the legend that will follow you if you manage the feat.
Making a home in the outermost regions of Stellar Basin and a little beyond, don’t even think of going after until you have at least a Tier 2 Hull. Once you do, don’t get too greedy, the Gazing Shark takes up an awkward T-shape in your inventory that is hard to stack up with any of its brothers or sisters, so it might be wise to sniff out another fishmonger nearby if you want to get a little trade out of it.