#image_title
Fishing isn’t just a popular pastime in the real world, it’s also popular in imaginary worlds. In interactive media like video games, players spend hours and hours fishing in various locations. Besides video games, characters in other media fish for a number of reasons. The thing of it is, they need equipment in order to fish and they can only obtain it through a fantasy bait shop.
The bait shop is essentially the fantasy version of its real world counterpart with the exception that you can find far more fantastical equipment that blow the ones in the real world out of the water. Moreover, the shop’s appearance can range from being a simple ordinary building to one that could only be found in a fictional world.
Much like its real brethren, a fantasy bait shop needs to be in a particular location in order to be successful and last for a long time. It has to be easily accessible and easy to find for those searching for it. Additionally, it ought to be in a spot that makes perfect sense for it, not one that leaves people scratching their heads.
Whenever a customer steps foot in a bait shop, he has certain expectations as to what items he can find there. Standard wares such as fishing rods and bait should be there at a minimum. However, since it’s a fantasy world it gives you, the creator, a prime opportunity to come up with items that it sells that would make real world fishermen envious!
The fantasy bait shop plays an unique role in the world in that it supplies fishermen with what they need to fish. It offers to buy the caught fish so that it can sell them as-is to restaurants or other people. The shop also is constantly looking to increase its selection and the owner is always searching for a better quality rod that will catch more kinds of fish.
This is article number twenty in the fantasy buildings series. If you’d like to see what else we have, we have an ever-growing selection of articles for you to peruse at your leisure, all of which you can find on our blog page!
When constructing a fantasy world from the ground up, it’s best to get into the mind of the different people who will inhabit it and this applies to a bait shop. You have to think about it both from the perspective of the owner and its customers. As such, there are several key factors to take into consideration when working to find the perfect spot for it.
First and foremost, a fantasy bait shop needs to be in close proximity to its target market. In this case, it would be fishermen and where do you find them? On piers and docks in harbors and ports and the beaches both next to lakes and oceans! They spend hours fishing and they have no desire to walk a long distance to a bait shop that’s located on the other side of town.
You could just place one anywhere in a harbor and call it a day and move onto the next thing on your list. If you truly want to make a fantasy world feel real, you should spend a little more time in finding the right spot for the shop since no two harbors are the same size.
Secondly, a good location for a fantasy bait shop would be right next to the water, either on the pier itself or just adjacent to it. Fishermen want it to be in a convenient spot for them so they can get what they need should they run out of bait or their rod breaks and having it be in such a location enables them to get what they need and not lose much time.
Thirdly, the shop needs to stand out. Harbors are a major economic hub for cities and towns, meaning that businesses like inns draw a lot of people. The bait shop ought to do the same by having its exterior and design clearly communicate what type of business it is since it’s an active player in the local economy.
The fourth and last key factor is that it needs to be easily accessible. Fishermen and other customers carry or use quite a bit of gear and the last thing they want after a long day on the pier or the boat is to haul what they caught to a place that’s hard to get into. The bait shop should be easy to get to from several directions and easy to get in and out with relative ease.
The bait shop isn’t the most glamorous building in the world. It isn’t trying to appeal to the glitzy crowd; it’s targeting people who depend on the waters for their livelihoods. All of the products it sells would make some wealthy people squeamish.
One of the most common things you’ll find in a fantasy bait shop is the fishing rod. It’s actually the most important, otherwise you can’t go fishing without one. You could use your hands to grab a fish but that isn’t feasible in the long run. Fishing rods come in a huge variety like wood or metal. Each one handles differently so an avid fisherman would take his time feeling each one out until he found one that just felt right.
Besides the rod, you have bait. There’s a reason why it’s called a bait shop. Fishermen can find various types like worms, bugs, and so on. Each one attracts different fish and the best ones know which ones to grab for the fish they’re trying to get!
Another product you’re likely to come across in a fantasy bait shop is nets. Enterprising fishermen invest in a good quality net to help them get the fish out of the water. You have small ones where one person can hold it in his hands and large ones that you can cast out in the water to pull in a large group of fish.
Creating a fantasy bait shop gives you an opportunity to create products unique to the world that have no real world counterpart. You can even use exotic materials like unicorn hair as bait or create reels that always catch a fish no matter what. The possibilities are endless! Take this time to come up with some fantastic ideas for a fictional bait shop to sell!
The bait shop plays a multifaceted role in the world. Its basic function is to provide fishermen what they need to make a living, for a fee of course. However, in the grand scheme of things it contributes to the world in several interesting ways.
It plays a major role in the maritime economy of a kingdom in addition to being the main supplier for all fishermen needs. The bait shop is always willing to purchase caught fish to sell to other people, local eateries, or be used as bait for another day. This lets them build relationships with the other businesses in the community and the city’s residents, further raising their profile across the city.
The fantasy bait shop keeps track of the seasons fish can be caught in and lets local fishermen know what they can or can’t catch. Letting them knows lessens the chances of them getting into trouble with the local authorities who zealously dictate when and how much fish can be caught in a season. The more fishermen who run afoul of the law, the less customers they have which ultimately affects its bottom line.
The shop is a hot spot for all fishing-related news. There’s always a story about a legendary fish that’s nearly impossible to capture which only fuels many fishermen’s desire to be the one to finally catch that elusive fish. Customers and employees exchange tales about the location of said fish and what was used to try to catch it. Sometimes the shop will put up a reward for the one who finally hooks it!
A fantasy bait shop’s owner is always seeking to expand the shop’s offerings. He’ll occasionally travel across the kingdom or to other lands, hoping to find something that will catch his eye. Creating relationships with people in different locations is a great way to raise his shop’s profile as well as being potential customers in the future should he opt to expand into another places.
During his travels, the owner will sometimes stumble upon a product that’s better than one he’s already selling or he’ll create a new one himself. The more items his shop can carry, the more customers it’ll draw which will increase the store’s profits and help ensure it keeps its doors open for a long time.
A fantasy bait shop is a fisherman’s paradise. From bait to fishing rods, he’ll find everything he needs for success within its walls. It’s fortuitous for him since he depends on many of its items for his livelihood.
The absolute best spot for a bait shop would be a harbor or port and no other area comes remotely close. It’s practically right on the water and fishermen live off from what the seas and rivers provide and they can’t afford to lose much time going to a bait shop that’s practically on the other side of town.
In fantasy, the bait shop has the usual selection of items like bait and nets but it also has things that don’t exist in the real world. You can create fantasy versions of bait and rods that are unique only to your world or compose your own products like making a magic fishing rod that instantly attracts the fish you’re looking for. There’s no shortage to the amazing possibilities you can think of here!
The bait shop is the perfect place to get the latest fishing news. Customers and employees discuss the various types of fish that can be caught in-season. They also talk about the new species that was just discovered or examine the shop’s newest product to see if they want to buy it or not.
A fantasy bait shop might not be something you’d include in your story but when it comes to the world, it’s a popular place for the fishermen in your world. When it comes to worldbuilding, it’s a great addition to a fictional world!
Let me know what you think in the comments below. (Note: this is an account-exclusive feature).
If you don’t have one, you can register here. It only takes a few moments of your time!
Liked this article and want to subscribe? All you have to do is fill out the form below and that’s it!
Thanks for reading this and until the next time,
Sunfire
Subscribing means you receive:
You can always unsubscribe anytime.
CONTENTS The Premise In imaginary worlds, the military acts as the kingdom’s law enforcement. Soldiers…
CONTENTS Overview War is a staple of fantasy, whether it be between two rival countries…
CONTENTS Introduction There’s nothing better than standing on the docks, feeling the cool breeze of…
CONTENTS The Premise When people think of the countryside, one thing that’s likely to come…
CONTENTS Overview Out of all the resources used to build homes and other structures, wood…
The Season to Give Thanks Well folks, we’ve made it to another holiday, which just…
This website uses cookies.