Bait (called Bobbers in Fish It) determines your luck, mutation chance, and shiny odds. Dark Matter Bait at 630K coins is the best value in the game. Aether Bait at 3.7M is only worth it for endgame mutation farming.
Fish It Bait Tier List
| Tier | Bait | Cost | Luck | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Aether Bait | 3,700,000 | +240% | +20% Mutation, +20% Shiny |
| S | Aetherion Bait | Quest | +280% | +25% Mutation, +25% Shiny |
| A | Corrupted Bait | 1,500,000 | +180% | +15% Mutation |
| A | Dark Matter Bait | 630,000 | +160% | +5% XP, +10% Shiny |
| B | Floral Bait | 400,000 | +120% | +10% Shiny |
| B | Chroma Bait | 200,000 | +100% | None |
| C | Lucky Bait | 50,000 | +50% | None |
| C | Midnight Bait | 10,000 | +25% | None |
| D | Basic Bait | Free | +0% | None |
Aetherion Bait is the best but requires completing the Ghastly Pirate questline. Most players will use Aether or Dark Matter.
When to Buy Each Bait
Basic Bait (Free) Use this until you have 50K coins. Don't waste money on bait when your rod is still weak.
Midnight Bait (10K) Skip it. The +25% luck isn't worth the cost at this stage.
Lucky Bait (50K) Skip it. Save for Dark Matter instead.
Chroma Bait (200K) Decent mid-game option if you can't afford Dark Matter yet. The +100% luck helps catch rare fish.
Dark Matter Bait (630K) The sweet spot. +160% luck, +5% XP, +10% shiny chance. Use this from mid-game through late-game.
Corrupted Bait (1.5M) Good for mutation farming. The +15% mutation chance stacks with enchants.
Aether Bait (3.7M) Endgame bait. Only buy this when you have 8M+ coins and the Angler Rod. The +20% mutation and shiny bonuses are massive.
Aetherion Bait (Quest) Best bait in the game. Complete the Ghastly Pirate quests on Pirate Cove to unlock it.
Dark Matter vs Aether: Which to Buy?
Dark Matter Bait is 6x cheaper than Aether and provides 66% of the luck bonus. For most players, Dark Matter is the better investment.
Buy Dark Matter if:
- You have less than 5M coins
- You're still progressing through islands
- You want consistent value
Buy Aether if:
- You have 10M+ coins
- You're farming mutations specifically
- You're hunting secret fish
I used Dark Matter until I had the Angler Rod and 15M coins. The Aether upgrade wasn't worth it until then.
How to Get Aetherion Bait
Aetherion Bait is the reward for completing the Ghastly Pirate questline on Pirate Cove. The quests require:
- Catching specific rare fish
- Finding hidden items around the island
- Completing the Dead Skeleton letter quest
- Defeating the Ghastly Pirate boss
The questline takes several hours but the bait is permanent and free to use forever. Worth the grind for endgame players.
Bait ROI Analysis
| Bait | Cost | Luck Boost | Break-Even Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Matter | 630K | +160% | ~2 hours at Kohana |
| Corrupted | 1.5M | +180% | ~3 hours at Lost Isle |
| Aether | 3.7M | +240% | ~4 hours at Esoteric |
Dark Matter pays for itself fastest. The XP bonus also helps you level up, which unlocks better fishing spots.
Best Bait + Rod Combos
Early game (Steampunk Rod) Dark Matter Bait. The +160% luck makes rare fish catchable.
Mid game (Astral/Angler Rod) Dark Matter or Corrupted Bait. Corrupted if you're mutation farming.
Late game (Ghostfinn/Element Rod) Aether Bait. The mutation and shiny bonuses stack with your high-luck rod.
Secret fish hunting Aether Bait + Leprechaun II enchant + Ghostfinn Rod. Maximum luck for 1-in-millions odds.
Where to Buy Bait
All baits are sold by Seth on Fisherman Island. He's near the spawn point, next to the Blackboard.
Aetherion Bait can't be bought. It's only available as a quest reward from the Ghastly Pirate on Pirate Cove.
Common Bait Mistakes
Buying bait too early Don't buy Dark Matter until you have Steampunk Rod. The luck boost is wasted on weak rods.
Skipping Dark Matter for Aether Dark Matter is better value until you're swimming in coins. Don't rush to Aether.
Ignoring Corrupted Bait If you're mutation farming, Corrupted + Cursed enchant is stronger than Aether + Leprechaun.
Not getting Aetherion The quest takes time, but free endgame bait is worth the grind.
Related Guides
- Fish It Codes for free Luck Potions
- Fish It Beginner Guide covers full progression
- Fish It Rod Tier List ranks every rod
- Fish It Enchants Guide explains enchant combos
- Fish It Mutations Guide for mutation farming
