Need fish quickly for cooking recipes like fish porridge, fried fish, or salmon sandwiches in Crimson Desert? You don’t always have to cast a line—you can simply buy fish from dedicated fish shops or provisioners.
Buying fish is a fast, reliable way to stock up on ingredients for cooking, especially early in the game when you’re unlocking life skills or completing NPC requests (like Renee’s Fish Porridge quest). In this guide, we’ll show you the main fish shop locations (especially near Hernand), what fish you can buy, their prices, and tips for using them in food recipes.
Why Buy Fish Instead of Fishing?
- Speed — Instant access to common fish without needing a rod or dealing with the fishing minigame.
- Convenience — Perfect for bulk cooking or when you’re low on time/stamina.
- Unlock Knowledge — Hovering over fish in the shop menu reveals their details (even if marked with a question mark initially).
- Note: Whole fish sell for more than fillets (around 10 copper vs. 2 copper), so buy whole and clean them yourself only when needed for specific recipes.
Fish fillets are made by selecting a whole fish in your inventory, holding the Use button, and choosing Clean.
Main Fish Shop Locations in Crimson Desert
1. Hailard’s Fish Shop – Rodbel Fishing Dock (Most Popular & Recommended)
This is the best early-game spot for buying fish.
How to Reach It:
- Start from Hernand (the main starting city).
- Head southeast to the Rodbel Fishing Dock area.
- Important: You may need to liberate the dock from Bleeding Bandits first if it’s occupied.
What Hailard Sells (prices in copper coins):
- Pond Loach – 27
- Small Rasbora – 27
- Small Gudgeon – 27
- Tench – 79
- Yellow Bass—85
He also sells basic fishing rods for 15 copper if you still need one.
2. Finley’s Fishing Shop – Nas River Fishing Dock
- Located along the Nas River, south of Hernand (near the river split, left of Anvil Hill, above the “Y” in the river on the map).
- Similar stock to Hailard, including common fish and fishing supplies.
- Great alternative if Rodbel is still contested.
3. General Provisioner Shops (Limited Fish Stock)
- Alden’s Provisioner Shop in central Hernand (east of Oakenshield Manor, across from the Equipment Shop/Smithy).
- Sells a basic fishing rod for 15 copper and occasionally basic fish or tools.
- Other towns (like Vellua or Demeniss) have similar provisioners that may carry fish later in the game.
Tip: Look for small fish icons on your world map to spot dedicated fishing villages and shops.
Step-by-Step: How to Buy Fish for Food
- Locate the shop—fast travel to Hernand or nearby points, then head to Rodbel Fishing Dock or Nas River.
- Talk to the Merchant (Hailard or Finley).
- Browse the Inventory—Scroll to the fish section. Unknown fish will show as question marks until you discover them via fishing or observation.
- Purchase—Buy the needed fish (stock is limited, so check back after progressing the story or waiting in-game time).
- Use for Cooking:
- Take fish to a campfire, cooking pot, or improvised cooking spot.
- Select a recipe that requires fish (e.g., fish porridge needs fish + other basics).
- Or clean the fish first for fish fillets if the recipe calls for them.
Pro Tip: For quests like Renee’s request (Fish Porridge), buying a few cheap fish (pond loach, etc.) can save time while you learn fishing.
Best Fish to Buy for Early Cooking
- Common Fish (27 copper): Pond Loach, Small Rasbora, Small Gudgeon—cheap and versatile for basic meals.
- Better Fish (79–85 copper): Tench, Yellow Bass—useful for higher-value dishes or selling if you don’t need them.
- Later areas may unlock rarer fish from coastal or mountain shops.
Tips for Efficient Fish Gathering & Cooking
- Combine buying with actual fishing for variety (there are 51 fish species total).
- Keep whole fish in inventory until you need fillets — you can’t turn fillets back into whole fish.
- Sell excess whole fish for better profit than fillets.
- Use bought fish to quickly complete cooking-related quests and unlock butchery or other life skills.
- Stock up on small bags (50 copper) from the same shops for extra inventory space.
Is Buying Fish Worth It?
Yes — especially in the early hours. It’s cheaper and faster than repeated failed fishing attempts while you’re learning the reeling mechanics. Once you get The Claw fishing rod or better gear, you can transition to self-caught fish for profit and rare species.
Have you found Hailard’s shop at Rodbel yet? Which fish do you buy most often for cooking, or what’s your favorite recipe? Drop your tips or other shop locations in the comments!
Happy cooking (and fishing) in Crimson Desert!
