In Ashes of Creation, gold-making doesn't have to be a grind filled with complex spreadsheets, marketplace flipping, or elaborate crafting formulas. One of the most underrated and genuinely enjoyable ways to earn Ashes of Creation gold is through sport fishing. This system combines relaxation, skill progression, and tangible rewards, making it both accessible for casual players and profitable for those who take it seriously.

Fishing in Ashes is divided into two main types: AFK fishing and sport fishing. AFK fishing is the more passive method, ideal for beginners. Simply equip a fishing rod, head to any freshwater area, cast your line, and let the game handle the process. While you cannot AFK fish in open seas yet, this method is excellent for leveling your fishing skill and gathering basic fish. These fish will later become essential for crafting chum, the key to unlocking the more profitable sport fishing.

Sport fishing is where the real gold comes in. Unlike AFK fishing, it requires active participation and the use of chum, a fishing buff that spawns fish in the water and accelerates the process. Freshwater chum requires 49 fish, while saltwater chum requires 99. Craft your chum at a cookhouse, throw it into the water, and wait for the fish to appear. Chum lasts for one hour, so if someone else has already deployed it, you can use the same active spot.

Once the spot is active, you need bait. Beginners should start with the cheapest bait, which already yields solid returns of about 50 silver per fish in open seas. Sport fishing itself is an interactive mini-game, similar to an easy-mode rhythm game. You damage the fish using your arrow keys until it is caught. Lower fishing levels result in less damage and longer battles, so avoid wasting expensive bait early. Around fishing level 20, low-quality bait is sufficient; after level 25, switching to high-quality bait becomes more profitable.

Another key requirement for sport fishing is mobility. You cannot fish from land-you need a boat for freshwater areas and a ship for the open seas. While boats can technically fish in open seas, they are slow, and ships are strongly recommended. A Moon Strider mule is invaluable, as it increases the number of fish you can carry. With proper setup, a player can transport up to seven fish in a single run: four in ship tanks, two on the mule, and one on the character.

Crafting or buying the right vessel is straightforward. A freshwater rowing boat requires just 50 wood, while ship components for the open seas demand 500 wood and 150 stone. Prebuilt fishing ships are also available at harbors for 18 gold, but a bug requires that you carry at least 25 gold for the ship to appear. Avoid the 25-gold Caravl-it's a combat ship, not suited for fishing.

Freshwater sport fishing is safe and great for solo players, while open seas fishing is where the big money lies, but it carries significant risk. Open seas are PvP zones where pirates can attack and steal your ship, fish, and time. Therefore, until you have a crew or fishing friends, freshwater areas like Coltorum are recommended. Open seas are home to lucrative catches such as tuna, sturgeon, sailfish, and marlin. Large marlins alone can sell for around 10 gold, but they require careful storage using both your ship and mule.

There are a few important technical tips. Always split bait into stacks of one to three units, as a current bug can cause you to lose entire stacks in one cast. High-quality bait should be reserved for later fishing levels to maximize returns, and large fish should be carefully managed to avoid storage issues.

For progression, start with AFK fishing until level 10, selling colored fish on the marketplace, and reserving colorless ones for chum. Craft your first freshwater boat and acquire a Moon Strider mule. Continue AFK fishing, integrating freshwater sport fishing around level 20 to generate early gold. When ready, craft ship components, equip tanks, and move to open seas with friends for high-risk, high-reward opportunities.

Fishing in Ashes of Creation combines immersive mechanics, risk-reward strategy, and substantial profit potential. Whether you prefer the calm of a freshwater river or the high-stakes tension of the open seas, sport fishing can be a core part of your gold-making strategy. With the right setup and approach, you'll find that this underrated system is both enjoyable and highly profitable.