What is a Fishing Haul? (A Simple Guide)

Welcome, fisherman. In the eerie, fog-shrouded world of Dredge, your lifeblood is the money you earn from your daily catch. Every time you leave the safety of the docks, you're making a calculated gamble. Your cargo hold has limited space, and every fish you decide to keep takes up a precious slot. A successful career isn't just about catching fish; it's about catching the *right* fish. Maximizing the value of each haul before the creeping dread of the night or the horrors of the deep overwhelm you is the key to survival and progress. This is where smart decisions separate the seasoned captains from those lost to the sea.

Do you keep that common, space-filling Cod, or do you hold out for a rare, high-value deep-sea creature? Is it worth risking your sanity to stay out after dark to hunt for a horrifying, mutated **aberration** of a common fish, which sells for a massive premium? This calculator is designed to be your personal ship's ledger and strategic advisor. It helps you quickly tally up the value of your current haul and, more importantly, it gives you a **visual representation of your cargo hold**. You can see exactly how much space you have left and how efficiently you're using it. It's about taking the guesswork out of your voyages, helping you make the best decision about when to head back to port and cash in your hard-earned catch.

How to Use the Calculator

Tallying your haul's value is a quick and simple process that gives you instant feedback:

1. Add a Fish to Your Haul: Select a fish you've caught from the dropdown menu and click the "Add" button. It will appear in your "Haul Manifest" and a visual representation will be placed in your "Cargo Hold."
2. Set Quantity & Aberrations: In the manifest, adjust the quantity of each fish you've caught. If you caught a rare, mutated version, check the "Aberration" box next to it to apply its value bonus.
3. Apply Merchant Bonus: If you're planning to sell your haul to the elusive Traveling Merchant for her bonus prices, make sure to check the "Selling to the Traveling Merchant?" box.
4. See Your Total Profit: The "Total Haul Value" will update in real-time as you add items and make changes, giving you an instant calculation of your profits. Your haul is automatically saved in your browser, so you can close the page and come back later!

Tips for a Profitable Voyage

• Think in Grids (Value Per Slot):** This is the most important secret to getting rich in Dredge. Don't just look at the base price of a fish. A giant Conger Eel might sell for a lot, but it takes up a huge amount of cargo space. Sometimes, catching several small, high-value fish like Fangtooth is much more profitable because you can fit more of them in the same space. Always prioritize fish with the best value-to-size ratio.
• **Aberrations are Your Golden Ticket:** Always, always prioritize catching the mutated, aberrant versions of fish. They often sell for double the price (or more!) of their normal counterparts and are the absolute key to making big money fast. If you see one, drop everything and catch it.
• **Know Your Merchants:** The **Traveling Merchant** who appears in different locations pays a 25% bonus for fish, but she doesn't buy everything (like crabs or trinkets). The local **Fishmonger** at the docks buys all fish types, but at their standard price. If you have a haul of pure fish, it's always worth seeking out the Traveling Merchant.
• **Upgrade Your Gear, Upgrade Your Life:** The first thing you should spend your profits on is better gear. Upgrading your rods lets you fish in new depths (like Oceanic), where the most valuable fish live. Upgrading your nets and crab pots provides a fantastic source of passive income. Better engines let you travel faster, which means more time fishing and less time worrying about the night.