The fishing rod in Dave the Diver: In the Jungle lets you catch fish from the shore instead of diving into Utara Lake every time you need a fresh ingredient. It is not handed to you when the expansion begins. To earn it, you work through a short two-part questline for a villager named Basu, and once it is yours, fishing spots open up across the jungle map for stocking Bancho’s Grill.
Quick answer: Complete Basu’s quest The Walking Catfish in the Mud by netting three live Walking Catfish, then finish Vicious Catfish by killing the giant Piraiba Catfish in Utara Lake – Lower (35–75m) and handing Basu a piece of its meat. He gives you the Basic Fishing Rod on the spot.
Where to find Basu in Utara Village
Basu lives east of Dave’s house, near the lake and not far from the pier. From Dave’s place, head right and look for a home overlooking the water. The house has two green lanterns and a fish hanging by the door, and Basu is usually on his porch or standing just outside near the lake. He always carries his own fishing rod. If he is not out front, step inside and head out the back door over the water, where he often fishes from his dock.
Quest 1: The Walking Catfish in the Mud
The first quest asks you to bring Basu three Walking Catfish alive. This becomes available around Chapter 2. If it has not appeared yet, raise your friendship level with Basu by talking to him and trading, and it should unlock.
Quest 2: Vicious Catfish (the Piraiba Catfish hunt)
After the first quest, Basu starts talking up a giant he wants for the restaurant: the Piraiba Catfish. The follow-up quest can show up the very next in-game day if your friendship is high enough. You need to kill the Piraiba Catfish and bring Basu one piece of its meat.
You will find it in the Utara Lake – Lower area, roughly 35 to 75 meters deep, toward the right side and middle section of the lake. It is hard to miss. Look for a dark gray fish with a white underbelly, long whiskers, and a body about three times Dave’s size.
Claiming the rod and confirming it worked
When you deliver the Piraiba Catfish meat, Basu rewards you with the Basic Fishing Rod immediately. You will know it worked because his shop also opens up at the same time, where you can buy bait and fishing rod accessory upgrades. From that point on, every fishing spot shows a fishing rod icon on your map.
All fishing rod spots in the jungle
The rod works anywhere you see the fishing rod icon. These are the spots scattered across the map.
| Location | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Basu’s dock | The back porch of Basu’s house, over the lake |
| Surga Falls | Base of the waterfall, above the beach |
| Setah Forest (left) | Bottom of the first waterfall |
| Setah Forest (middle) | Bottom of the second waterfall |
| Setah Forest pond | The pond at the far right of the forest |
Upgrading to the Utara Fishing Rod
After you have the Basic Fishing Rod, keep an eye on Basu. When a “!” marker appears over his head again, he wants to talk. You may need to raise your friendship for it to show up, but if your level is already high enough, the prompt can appear the next day.
Speak to him, and he will ask how the fishing is going. After a short chat, he hands over the Utara Fishing Rod to replace your Basic one. The Utara Rod is already at its maximum level, so you cannot upgrade the rod itself further. You can still visit Basu’s shop for bait and accessory upgrades. Between the upgraded rod and your diving gear, you will be able to reel in every fish species in the expansion.
