Octopods? Octopi? Octopuses? It doesn't matter what you call them; in Final Fantasy XIV, you need the right bait to make them appear. If you and your sea fishing team can catch enough, you can carry the Octopus Traveler title and you will earn 10 points for completing what the octopods have done to you.
Before fishing
First things first: make sure you've unlocked sea fishing. Make sure your gear is up to the task. Merging the Facet gear to give you at least 800 GP puts you in a good position to use skills like Double Hook and Identical Cast. Consider getting foods that give you even more GP, like HQ Peppery Popotoes. You'll also want a good supply of Krill and some Hi-Cordials.
You cannot go it alone. You will need a full group of anglers to achieve this achievement. There are a handful of FFXIV Fishing Discords and Cross-world Linkshells where you can find like-minded Success Hunters. If you need a hookup, try asking in chat for Shout in Limsa Lominsa before setting off on a fishing trip.
Fishing routes
Visit Dryskthota at the ocean fishing docks at Limsa Lominsa to check the ocean fishing boating schedule. For carrying octopus, the best route ends in the Northern Strait of Merlthor at night. This path gives you the chance to catch sharks at two stops along the way: first under normal and spectral conditions in Galadion Bay, then again during spectral currents in the Northern Strait.
How to catch octopods
Ideally, your party needs a spectral current to appear while in Galadion Bay for the best chance of success. Here's the catch: Your party can't afford to spend time trying to set off the current here, as you'll be trying to catch as many octopods as possible. With luck, someone in another group on your boat will catch the Spectral Fish you need.
Before the spectral weather in Galadion Bay, use Krill as bait. Your goal is to hook up a cyan octopus approximately 21 seconds after your casting. This octopus will have an average tug; a (!!) pull. Once you catch one, use Identical Cast then Double Hook the next Cyan Octopus to catch 4 more. Use a Hi-Cordial to restore a GP and repeat the process. When a spectral current appears, continue to use Krill and grab a Merman's Mane. These tend to appear almost instantly after launching as an average tug (!!). As in normal times, you can use an identical distribution and a double hook for 4 additional octopods.
With enough skill and luck, your party will have the 150 octopods they need when they leave Galadion Bay. If you come just short, your party will have to unleash a spectral current in the Northern Strait by catching Spectral Sea Bo fish with ragworms. Once the rainbows appear, return to Krill. You'll want to grab a Mopbeard and use your trusty identical Cast / Double Hook combo. Mops appear about 5 seconds after you cast with a medium tug (!!).
Special thanks to S'yahn Tia de Cactuar for collecting a lot of data for the benefit of all fishermen.
