While exploring the Stellar Basin in the dredge, you will encounter the Research Assistant at his scientific research outpost. He had a hard time because a huge sea creature moved in and destroyed almost everything it can reach. To find out what this creature is and what it does to local wildlife, you need to collect two sets of samples. This guide explains how to collect all the samples for the research assistant, so you can find out what’s going on and get the best possible reward from this quest.
Related: How to solve the rock slab with three crab-like creatures at Gale Cliffs in Dredge
Where To Collect All Fish Samples For The Research Assistant
There are two sets of samples you need to collect for the research assistant. We’ve listed all the necessary fish here so you can work with them in a way that makes sense to you.
Where to find a glowing octopus
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You can find a Glowing Octopus by placing a Crab Trap anywhere in the Star Pool. We caught one very close to the pontoon in this area, which meant we didn’t have to go far to catch the first sample. It took a day for the glowing octopus to appear, though you may catch one earlier, depending on the books you’ve read and the type of pot you’re using. We recommend Mouth of the Deep.
Where to find a firefly squid
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Firefly squids are easy to catch creatures. Wait until nightfall, then look for a swirling pool of glowing fish below the surface of the water. Fish there and you’ll catch all the firefly squid you want.
Where to find an aurora jellyfish
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Aurora Jellyfish gave us a lot of trouble with this Chase. You cannot catch them with a rod or a crab pot. Instead, you need to research and unlock Trawls, then purchase and equip one. These allow you to catch fish by simply browsing. We caught an Aurora Jellyfish while cruising and exploring at night in the Stellar Basin. Do the same and you should find one.
Once you have caught these three fish and handed them over to the research assistant, you will progress in your quest and be able to access the Stellar Basin hub. This will allow you to retrieve the relic there and bring it to the collector. However, you can also continue working for the Research Assistant for another reward. To do this, you need to collect the following fish samples.
where to find an anglerfish
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Monkfish are fairly common in the Star Basin. You’ll want to fish at night in areas where you can fish the deep sea. If you don’t have a rod that can fish that deep, you’ll have to search for one or find another way to get one later. Anglerfish spots show fish dancing in the depths of the water surface.
Where to find a loose traffic light
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The Stoplight Loosejaw is the fish that gave us the most trouble in this second part of Research Assistant Pursuit. You can only find it at night, and even then it’s rare. This fish appears in places of disturbed waters where red-eyed fish swirl below the surface. We recommend that you start from the research outpost and search the waters around the star basin rather than in the region.
Where to find a giant amphipod
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You will find giant amphipods in the center of the star pool. Use the machine that the research assistant asked you to activate to get rid of the monster for a moment before sailing. You can see what fishing spots these creatures will give you as they are clearly different from the others. It’s the legs that betray them.
Where to find a snailfish
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Snails can only be caught in the center of the star pool. To get them, you must use the generator to activate the machine that makes the creature disappear in that area for a short time. Then you can sail, catch a snailfish and escape.
What do you get for completing the research assistant quest?
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After you turn in all the samples and complete everything else on this quest, the research assistant will tell you why the fish in this part of the world are so weird. He will also give you a new book, A Plan for the Future. Equip it and navigate to read it and unlock the perks it offers.
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