DREADMOOR Fish List: Every Species Confirmed So Far

Quick answer: The DREADMOOR demo confirms six catchable species: Snapper, Softgazer, Shovel Nose, Sharp Fin, Sturdy Crawler and Harpooner. Snapper and Softgazer are peaceful; Harpooner is predatory. The full game promises dozens more, but their names are not published yet.

DREADMOOR's store page promises "dozens of dangerous and rare species", and Dream Dock has said the full game goes further. The free demo is much smaller: one starting region, a handful of common fish and one clear predator. That is enough to learn the two fishing systems and enough to fill this table honestly.

"Dozens of dangerous and rare species await beneath the surface." — DREADMOOR on Steam

Confirmed fish table

"Not confirmed" means exactly that. The demo lets you catch these fish, but it does not spell out a single preferred lure, and the catch may depend on the spot rather than the bait. Do not treat a fan-made table as gospel.

Snapper

The first fish you are asked to catch, and the best tutorial for the tension minigame. Snapper are peaceful, timid and easy to spook. The in-game glossary describes them as feeding on algae and small insects in swamps, and says patience and careful handling are the key.

• Bait: earthworms, which are free and unlimited at the start.
• Spot: the water under the pier at the starting shack.
• Quest: catch five for Gil and Boza.
• Weight: the demo's first catch weighed 1.71 kg, which is typical for the species.

Snapper are not worth much, but they are reliable fuel and food. Keep a stack for the fuel larva and sell the surplus. The money page explains why burning every Snapper is a mistake.

Softgazer

The demo's first bioluminescent fish and the source of chromatic scales, a material used in better lures. The quest asks you to catch three and process them in the grinder.

• Bait: Wind-Up Tin. The recipe is metal plate plus fish meat.
• Spot: open water around the trading post, often near the boat.
• Use: chromatic scales for the Rainbow Fin; meat for fuel.
• Behaviour: peaceful. It does not use the predatory retrieve.

Softgazer is the reason to learn the crafting loop early. Without scales, you cannot make the Rainbow Fin, and without the Rainbow Fin some deeper fish are much harder to catch.

Shovel Nose

A step up from Snapper in size and fight length. The demo's tackle hints point to a tin spinner or fancy blue; both are crafted or found after the first trading-post visit.

• Spot: deeper edges and channel water, often where the bottom drops away.
• Fight: longer runs than Snapper, so the tension phase lasts longer.
• Use: meat and scales; a decent trade fish.

Shovel Nose is a good test of whether you are reeling too early. If you keep losing it, go back to the fishing guide and practise the run-rest rhythm on Snapper first.

Sharp Fin

A confirmed catch with a fast, erratic run. The demo does not give it a dedicated quest or a fixed bait, so treat it as a bonus fish rather than a target.

• Spot: rocky edges and structure.
• Fight: quick direction changes; keep the rod centred.
• Use: meat.

If you are hunting a specific blueprint material, check the recipe before spending a long trip on Sharp Fin. It is not a reliable source of anything except food.

Sturdy Crawler

A bottom-dwelling catch from the reeds and shallows. The name suggests a tough fight, and it does pull harder than Snapper, but it is still a common fish.

• Spot: reeds, shallows and muddy edges.
• Use: meat, and a useful fallback when the pier is fished out.

The demo does not confirm a preferred bait. Earthworms are the safe default; if the bite is slow, move to a different splash rather than changing tackle blindly.

Harpooner

The demo's predatory fish and the most important catch for progression. Harpooners hunt in skull-marked water and require a different retrieve: cast past the splash, hold the left mouse button and reel slowly with small tugs.

• Bait: predatory bait. A normal lure will not start the predatory minigame.
• Spot: skull icons on the water, usually away from the pier.
• Use: carcasses. Three Harpooner carcasses can be traded for the carburettor instead of paying 50 coins.
• Fight: the fish follows the lure; too fast and it falls behind, too slow and it loses interest.

The Harpooner is also the demo's best demonstration of how species change the rules. It is not a Snapper with more health; it is a different interaction. For the full method, see the predatory fishing section.

Fish that are not confirmed

The store mentions "dangerous and rare species" without naming them. The demo's loading screens and dialogue mention deeper water, but not specific species. Any list that gives you exact spawn tables for the full game is guessing.

When the Early Access build launches, this page will be updated with the named species, their bait and their verified locations. Until then, six is the honest number.

What to do with your catch

The grinder is the hub. Process low-value fish for meat, keep the high-value ones whole for traders, and save three Harpooner carcasses if you plan to skip the 50-coin carburettor purchase.

FAQ

How many fish are in DREADMOOR? The store promises dozens of species. The demo has six confirmed catchable fish.

What is the best fish to catch early? Snapper for practice and fuel, Softgazer for chromatic scales, Harpooner for the carburettor trade.

Where do you catch Harpooner? In skull-marked predatory water, using predatory bait and a slow lure retrieve.

Do fish respawn? Yes, spots repopulate after a catch, though not instantly.

Are there boss fish? No named boss fish appear in the demo. The monster page covers the creatures that do.