Moosewood

Moosewood is the starting town, and the wiki describes it as a place for newcomers. It is also richer than that label suggests: sixteen fish are documented, and the top is Cataclysm Carp, a Divine Secret averaging C$30,003. Next come Mossjaw Jaw (Limited, C$4,500), Treble Bass (Exotic, C$2,667), Whisker Bill (Mythical, C$1,395.45) and Whiptail Catfish (Legendary, C$500).

The rarity mix is five Common, three Limited, three Unusual, and one each of Divine Secret, Uncommon, Mythical, Exotic and Legendary. For a beginner that means plenty of easy catches to learn on, with a few long shots at the top for when your gear improves. The town has a crab cage and a bait crate, plus fourteen NPCs including Angler, Appraiser, Merchant, Shipwright and Jack Marrow.

The rod list is long. The Flimsy Rod is C$0, the Training Rod C$300 and the Plastic Rod C$750, and prices climb through Carbon Rod (C$2,000), Long Rod (C$3,000), Fast Rod (C$4,000) and Lucky Rod (C$4,500) to C$70,000 for the Crew Rod. Others come from quests or the Advent Calendar.

Advice: start here, buy cheap rods in order, and keep an eye on Cataclysm Carp as a long-term goal.