Dredge Aberrations Guide [Updated for V1.5.0 and both DLC]

This is a guide on how to collect any aberration.

Introduction

Catching most aberrations has the same strategy but I will have a more in depth strategy for the unique aberrations. This is a WIP and I will try to update as I get more information or as the game is updated. Any strategies for aberrations not mentioned, or more information about listed aberrations, would be appreciated in the comments.

This guide is assuming you already have the ability to fish in all locations(oceanic, hadal, etc.) and have access to all spells. There will be heavy game play spoilers.

Basic Strategy

For most aberrations finding them is just a matter of locating their spawn location and waiting for them to appear. However there are ways to speed this process up. Occasionally a shimmer effect will appear above a school of fish, this means a guaranteed aberration will spawn in that school( I have noticed that this happens more often at night but I can not confirm this). Also the spell Atrophy almost always grants an aberration and is much faster then fishing normally.

1. Review the Encyclopedia for location and water depth/type of base fish.
   
2. Wait for shimmer effect or use the Atrophy spell
   
3. Collect aberration

Mixed Bait Strategy

If you are having trouble locating a certain fish try using the "mixed bait" item(this can be bought after the twisted strand quest line). This will randomly fish up any fish local to a given area. This is very useful for all the open ocean aberrations where finding a specific spawn location can be tedious. This also works with the atrophy spell.

1. locate aberrations location and use mixed bait
   
2. atrophy spell
   
3. collect aberrations

A good spot for farming open ocean aberrations is next to the Gale Cliffs merchant dock. (see image below)










The mixed bait item will only give fish that you can catch so make sure you have the right gear to catch the fish you want. This can be used in your favor as well. If you want a specific fish just unequip all fishing gear that does not apply to the certain fish and use the mixed bait. For example, if you want the Skeletal Moonfish aberration, equip only the hydraulic rod and go to the open ocean. From there use the mixed bait+atrophy spell until you have found it.

Atrophy Mechanics

The Atrophy spell will automatically fish up all the fish in a given school of fish. The fish pulled up will have a random status(fresh, stale, rotting, or infected). While I can’t confirm the exact percentages there seems to be an increased chance of pulling up an aberration. The range is quite large and is very useful for difficult to reach areas, like the Devil’s Spine. The spell has a cooldown of about 12 in game hours.

A very important aspect of the Atrophy spell to note is that any fish pulled up will not respawn naturally (As of writing this guide quitting and then reloading the save file from the menu will bring back all fish pools). This effect does not apply to mixed bait created fish pools.

Collector Quote:
"This phrase instantly culls the closest shoal of fish, readying them for swift reaping. It can be heard from a great distance, so you need not be close to your victims. But the population is unlikely to recover from such vile trauma. Use it sparingly"

Some Hard to Obtain Aberrations

Sharks (and sailfish)

• Two of the sharks can be found right next to the Greater Marrow dock(which shark is available is based on the time of day)
  
• Hammerheads are found next to the Stellar Basin area merchant
  
• Frilled Sharks can be found on the west side of the Devil's Spine ruins
  
• Sailfish can found north of the Greater Marrow dock (west of the northern set of small islands)

Scarlet/Leeching Prawn

• Prawns can be found in the open ocean by trawling or in a crab pot.
  
• A good strategy is to place several crab pots in deep water as close to a pontoon as possible(the stellar basin is a good spot for this)
  
• Alternatively trawling open ocean will eventually result in a Leeching Prawn.

Anchovy King

• Anchovy/Anchovy Kings can only be found by trawling open ocean.
  
• To do this you will need the Heavy Duty Trawl Net(last net research unlock)
  
• Once you have the Heavy Duty Trawl Net equipped sail around the open ocean until you get the Anchovy King.(this may take awhile)

Aurora/Parhelion Jellyfish

• Aurora/Parhelion Jellyfish can only be caught by trawling coastal waters in the Stellar Basin at night.
  
• Any trawl net will do except for the silt filtering trawl net. I recommend the tempered mesh net(fastest catch speed, lowest bycatch chance).
  
• Once you have the trawl net equipped sail around the outside of the Stellar Basin ring of islands until you get the Jellyfish.(this may take awhile)
  
• Photo attached of where I found a Parhelion Jellyfish.

Decrepit/Collapsed Viperfish

• This can be found with the mixed bait strategy
  
• An exact location can be found here(use atrophy spell)
  
• Make sure to get both Aberrations

Charred/Glaring Sunfish

• This can be found with the mixed bait strategy
  
• An exact location can be found here(use atrophy spell)
  
• Save and reload to respawn fish pool after atrophy spell

v1.2.0 Aberrations Locations

These are some locations for the new aberrations added in v1.2.0,
Hooked Sailfish:










Enthralled Stonefish:










Latching Snapper:










Seizing Snailfish:










Concertina Barracuda:










Gleaming Mullet:










Grinning Gar:










Tattered Mackerel:










Beaked Moonfish:










Glaring Sunfish:

Craberrations

Introduction
Craberrations are new to the game as of update V1.3.0 and function similarly to regular aberrations. All crabs, anything caught in a pot, now have a chance of being a craberration.
**Important Note**
Most craberrations can be traded into painter npc for new boat paints so don't sell your craberrations immediately.










Main Strategy
All five areas have 2-3 crab species/craberrations and can be caught with any crab pot; however the most efficient is the reinforced crab pot. Pots are best placed next to the fishmonger/floating pontoon while remaining in the “Plenty” zones. After placing the crab pots wait a few in-game days and the craberrations should eventually show up. This will be the strategy for most of the craberrations.














Imperious Lobster
The Imperious lobster is somewhat unique in that it is only available in the “few” zones of the stellar basin and has a minimum depth of 16ft. A good spot is the deep water just west of the pontoon(this is also a good place for the scarlet/leeching prawn aberration).

Pale Reach DLC

The Pale reach DLC adds 10 new fish species, 12 new aberrations, and 1 new exotic. All of the new aberrations can be caught with the same strategies used in the base game. All of the new fish species are classified as “Ice” fish except for the Char which is “Coastal”.

**Important Note**
A Fractalline Icefish, Craterous Seer, and Fallen Stars aberration will be needed for a side quest located here.















Icefish

• This is the most common fish in the Pale reach DLC but has three separate aberrations.
  
• Make sure you find all three.

Hinged Wolffish

• Only available at night.
  
• Can be found here.
  
• 

Grisly Shark

• Somewhat rare but can be found here.
  
• I recommend using the atrophy spell to increase the case of an aberration.
  

Craberrations

• The 2 new craberrations can only be caught with pots in the “plenty” zones.
  
• I recommend placing reinforcement crab pots next to the pontoon for increased efficiency.
  
• Follows the same strategy detailed in the Craberration section above.

Trawl Only Aberrations

• There are 2 new aberrations that can only be caught in a trawl net. However the only trawl able to catch “Ice’ fish can be obtained for a side quest located here.
  
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Once you have the trawl net equipped, sail around the Pale Reach until you get both aberrations.(this may take awhile)
  
• The colossal squid aberration takes up a lot of space so make sure your trawl net has enough available space every so often.
  
• Here is a screenshot of where I found a colossal squid aberration.
  
• 

Iron Rig DLC

The Iron Rig DLC adds 25 new fish species(including crabs), 25 new aberrations, 5 new exotic aberrations, and a unique aberration. All of the new aberrations can be caught with the same strategies used in the base game. All of the new fish species require the upgraded (yellow outline) gear to catch. [this section is a WIP and I will probably add more and edit somethings]

Basic Fish Species:












All new fish species are found in the new "oil slick" areas on the map with 4 new Fish Species per location. (maps with example locations below)




























The new crab species can be found anywhere in their respective location (1 per location) and can be caught with any crab pot assuming it has space. The new crab bait item can be used but doesn't work with the atrophy spell. [Follow the strategy detailed in the Craberration section above]


















All the exotic fish now have an aberration.
The best method I have found is to use the exotic bait item(unlocked at tier 4 on the rig) and then atrophy the fish spot to guarantee an aberration.





Fish 230 / ???
This is an unique aberration with no regular fish species and can only be caught after the turning in all samples to the rig scientist after he jumps from the window and after destroying the rig drill and can only be found under the rig with a bait item. The method I used to catch this aberration was to use the aberrated bait item under the rig while only having the infused hoist equipped(this took a long time and many bait items)















**Important Note**
This aberration can only be caught with a oceanic+ piece of equipment.
It is recommended that you save this aberration until you have all upgrades and have farmed several aberrated bait items because this will take a really long time.
Also it can not be sold and can only be caught onceprobably because this is the mutated body of the rig scientist

[Harry]

Thanks for the help!

[Mabra]

A good spot to get the anchovy king is by trawling in circles in the northwest corner of F10.

[Borg2011]

My understanding is that craberration chance is only based on the crab pot's aberration bonus and any book bonuses. The reinforced crab pots and the Mouth of the Deep are the most efficient for craberrations. However, I also had to wait some time before getting a King Craberration as well.

[LOZFFVII]

Took me an hour to find Collossal Squid Aberration. Spinning around to the North-East/East of the Pale Reach Pontoon.
Still haven't found the King Craberration. Literally the only one left of the DLC.
Does anyone know if increasing the Aberration rate on the boat screen affect craberrations?

[World Pissing Championship #1]

Stellar Basin for Anchovy King 10/10 absolutely, I was headed there to try and spin and see if I can get it and i got it literally upon entering the harbor

[NebulaCatz]

I caught the hammerhead by using the Atrophy spell after trying the save and quit method for about 20 minutes. It's found in the middle of D2. I saved and quit about 2 times before the hammerhead spawn location came back. So I don't think the Atrophy spell permanently removes a fishing spot. I think it could be a cool down mechanic type thing. Where it comes back after so many relogs and/or time passed, but I can't say for sure on it.

[NebulaCatz]

I caught the sailfish by saving and quitting at dawn, then going to to get the fishing spot, repeatedly, and seeing if the shimmer effect was there. I caught it in the middle of i8.

[NebulaCatz]

I caught Anchovy king at a depth of 19.9 m on the edge of D2 and E2 at night. I used the heavy duty trawl net and just circled in place for like 10 minutes.

[>//The_FALCON]

Atrophy mechanic: I think it does permanently remove that fishing spot. It also gurantees at least one abberation unless you haven't discovered the fish before

[Shiizumi]

If you Trawl (with the Oceanic one) in and around Twisted Strand, you get a lot more Anchovies. I got its Aberration there fairly quickly by driving in circles right next to the Rickety Pontoon.

As for the Parhelion Jellyfish, I personally got mine by spinning in place between a set of bluish seaweed really close to the research center.