Mossjaw basics (rarity, behavior, and where it lives)

Mossjaw is an Exotic-tier catch that lives beneath the Lost Jungle, inside the Forgotten Temple. It’s a tough fight: the fish darts around the bar and applies a severe progress speed penalty while you reel. You’ll only find it during a timed Hunt event at the temple pool, often referred to as the Mossjaw Rest.

Setting Requirement
Rarity Exotic (with a rarer Secret variant, Elder Mossjaw)
Location Lost Jungle → Forgotten Temple → Temple pool (Mossjaw Rest)
Spawn condition During the Lost Jungle Hunt event at the temple pool
Time Night
Weather / Season No requirements
Preferred bait Glowworm
On hook Exotic shimmer audio and icon; erratic movement on the bar
Reel penalty -95% progress speed (Exotic)

Unlock the Forgotten Temple and reach Mossjaw Rest

You can’t reach the pool until the temple itself is open. The temple is a five-room maze with a rune puzzle in each room. Clear each room, collect its Rune, then head to the Temple Gates.

  • Collect all five Runes by completing each room’s puzzle.
  • Place the five Runes on their matching pedestals at the Temple Gates.
  • Enter the newly opened chamber to access the large pool where Mossjaw spawns during the Hunt.
  • When the Hunt begins, you can use the Temple Eye to quickly return to the Gates area and set up at the pool.

When Mossjaw spawns (and what the on-screen message means)

Mossjaw appears during the Lost Jungle Hunt window at the temple pool, and only at night. When the event starts, you’ll see an announcement on-screen—“A Mossjaw Hunt has begun!”—and the pool becomes active for the duration of the Hunt. If you arrive outside the event window or during the daytime, Mossjaw won’t bite.

Bring Glowworm bait; Mossjaw is picky and won’t respond to other options. Because the fish applies a heavy progress speed reduction, high-tier rods and speed-focused enchantments help you keep the meter moving.

  • Rods that can handle extreme penalties: Sanguine Spire Rod, Seraphic Rod (the Luminescent Oath Rod is also a strong pick).
  • Enchantments that counter the reel debuff: Steady Immortal or Mystical, paired with Overclocked for additional speed.
Variant Rarity Reel penalty Resilience Notes
Mossjaw Exotic -95% progress speed -30 Standard Hunt target
Elder Mossjaw Secret Stronger penalty (around -97%) -200 Extremely rare during the same Hunt; a black exclamation mark on hook signals it

Luck boosts can help when you’re rolling for the Elder variant. Aurora totems and the Merlin NPC’s luck bonus are useful, but the Elder catch is still never guaranteed.

Summary: catch Mossjaw

  1. Open the Forgotten Temple by solving all five rune rooms and placing the Runes at the Temple Gates.
  2. Wait for night and the Hunt notification to appear.
  3. Use the Temple Eye to return to the Gates area and set up at the pool.
  4. Equip Glowworm bait, a high-tier rod, and speed-oriented enchantments.
  5. Hook the fish and manage the severe progress speed penalty; expect erratic movement on the bar and the Exotic shimmer cue.
  6. If you see a black exclamation mark on hook, you likely have the Elder Mossjaw—brace for an even harder fight.

Fix common blockers

  • Can’t enter the pool area: you’re missing one or more Runes. Clear all five rooms and match each Rune to its pedestal at the Temple Gates.
  • No bites at the pool: confirm it’s night and the Hunt is active; Mossjaw won’t spawn outside the event window.
  • Bites but nothing lands: switch to Glowworm bait and use progress speed enchantments. The penalty is severe without them.
  • Confusing items: Mossjaw is not the Mossjaw Jaw. The latter is a Limited fish found at Moosewood Pond with a different behavior and penalty.

Mossjaw is designed to be punishing—timed spawns, strict bait, and heavy reel slowdown—but the encounter is consistent. Unlock the temple once, stock Glowworms, and camp the pool at night when the Hunt announces. With a fast rod and the right enchant combo, the Exotic version becomes manageable, and every cast gives you a shot at the Elder.