Is The Hook/Fishman Island/The South Wetlands a good base spot?

[Gilgamesh]

The Hook is nice because I am close to two cities, the Wetlands are very fertile, and I really don't know much about fishman Island but I think I can trade with the city on the island. Any thoughts as to where/if I should go to any of these places or am I wasting my time?

[Pyrrhus]

It's pretty far from center of map if you're heavy trader. Not much shops down there or too far apart from each others. But that area can be established for self sufficiency if you like. Fishmen Island has acid rain sometimes. Fishmen are hostile and do not have trade shops. You might only get Hive traders to come to your city on Fishmen Island but not Trader's Guild.

Southeast of Bonefields on border to Royal Valley and Cheater's Run can grow both cactus and cotton and very close to Fishmen Island if you're looking for better farming spot.

[Gilgamesh]

You can't grow anything on fishman island?

[Pyrrhus]

Well depends on what crops, yields might be too low for either cactus or cotton on ground there. You still could hydroponic wherever there water or rain but no hydroponic for cotton and cactus. There some mods you might want to check out to suit your base building on Fishmen Island.