The most reliable place to start looking for a Gravid Bowfin in Monster Hunter Wilds is the oasis in Windward Plains, Area 13. Guides from Shacknews and Gamer Guides both point to it, and Shacknews reports its best luck there around sunrise. Other reported spots, mainly in Scarlet Forest, are worth checking if the oasis comes up empty. Because the fish does not appear on a fixed schedule, the sections below cover where guides report it, what conditions seem to matter, and how to make the catch for Kanya’s Fishing for Flavor quest.
Where to look first: the Area 13 oasis in Windward Plains
Start at the oasis in Windward Plains, Area 13. Shacknews reports that its guide found the Gravid Bowfin most often in Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, and that its best results came at this oasis. Gamer Guides also lists the oasis as an easy place to find the fish. It is the strongest single recommendation among the guides we looked at, but it is a practical first stop rather than a confirmed spawn point. Players who visit it and do not see the fish should not conclude that the location is wrong.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Monster Hunter Wilds Steelbook | $32.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Wild Hearts - PlayStation 5 | $20.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Maximum Entertainment 34 Sports Games - World Edition (PS5) | $26.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Monster Hunter Wilds - Lenticular Sleeve Edition /PS5 | $35.86 | Buy on Amazon |
Other reported locations to try
Guides disagree on the exact spots, so treat the following as places to check in turn, not guaranteed spawns.
| Location | Where it is reported | Notes from the guides |
|---|---|---|
| Windward Plains, Area 13 oasis | Shacknews, Gamer Guides | Recommended first stop; Shacknews reports its best luck here around sunrise. |
| Scarlet Forest water | Shacknews and other guides | Reported alongside Windward Plains as a place the fish is found most often. |
| Scarlet Forest, Base Camp pool | Guides reviewed for this article | Given as a useful alternate within Scarlet Forest. |
| Iceshard Cliffs | Guides reviewed for this article | Listed as a spot to try if the first locations fail; no timing detail was given. |
Because the spots overlap across guides, a sensible order is the Area 13 oasis first, then Scarlet Forest water, including the Base Camp pool, and then Iceshard Cliffs. Guides do not agree on a precise ranking beyond the oasis.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Players can also now ride atop the Seikret, an agile new mount enabling hunters to traverse difficult terrain, perform actions like sharpening weapons on the move, and switch between two weapons while out on hunts!
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
Season and time of day
Season of Plenty is the condition that appears most consistently in guides. Advice on time of day is less uniform, and the guides do not give a single rule:
| Source | Timing advice |
|---|---|
| Shacknews | Success reported around sunrise. |
| Gamer Guides | Dawn or dusk. |
| GamesRadar | Morning. |
| Destructoid | Morning or nighttime. |
The practical approach is to go during Season of Plenty and try different times of day at the same spot. Check the in-game season before you travel, since the guides do not state when they were written, and seasonal conditions may have changed since. If the fish is absent at one time, come back at another time rather than moving on immediately.
Rank #2
- Hunt giant nature-infused bests – Survive their attacks, learn from their behaviors, and use your Karakuri and your weapons in combination to cut these creatures down to size.
- Craft your hunting grounds – You are the only one in Azuma able to wield the Karakuri technology.
- Hunt in a pack, or be a lone wolf – In WILD HEARTS you can face the Kemono alone or unite with up to two friends (or other players) to stalk and hunt your prey.
- Gear up to hunt, hunt to gear up – Create your character, then gather materials from each hunt and build an array of armor and weapons.
Catching it for Fishing for Flavor
Kanya’s Fishing for Flavor quest asks for a Gravid Bowfin, and the catch has to be made with a rod. A fish caught with the capture net does not count toward this assignment, so do not use the net on this fish.
- Equip the fishing rod. Confirm it is the rod, not the capture net, before you cast.
- Equip the Emerald Jitterbait. It is the bait recommended in the guide that covers this method.
- Go to the Area 13 oasis in Windward Plains during Season of Plenty, or to another reported location.
- Cast near the fish rather than directly onto it.
- Work the lure to attract the fish’s attention.
- Wait patiently for a bite. The fish may not respond immediately.
- Reel in the catch with the rod to complete the quest requirement.
The quest database describes the Gravid Bowfin as known for its nutritious eggs. That is a description of the fish within the game, not a claim about real-world fish.
Rank #3
- Enter the stadium and take part of one of the biggest competitions across 34 sports: from swimming, soccer, extreme bike, weightlifting, trampoline and much more!
- Defend your own country and visit the World: United States, Australia, Japan, France…
- Train yourself alone or compete with your friends!
- An enhanced version of “30 Sport Games in 1”, with revamped design, new games and more customisation!
If the fish does not appear
- Check the season first. The guides consistently point to Season of Plenty, so a different season is the most likely reason for a missed fish.
- Try another time of day. Reported timing differs, so sunrise, morning, dusk and night are all worth a check.
- Move to a reported alternate. Scarlet Forest water, including the Base Camp pool, and Iceshard Cliffs are the next places named in guides.
- Do not assume the location is wrong after one visit. The fish is not guaranteed to appear at any spot, so a single empty check does not rule a location out.
What is not established
No measured spawn rate, population figure or tested probability for the Gravid Bowfin appears in the guides reviewed, and none should be assumed. The timing and location advice is based on what players and guides have reported, so it is best read as a set of places and conditions to try rather than a schedule.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
- Crossplay Multiplayer – Alongside the option to enjoy the story of Monster Hunter Wilds solo, hunters can join up to three other players across any platform to explore the world together and take on the game’s challenges as a hunting party or receive aid from notable story characters as Support Hunter NPCs.
“
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
