This one is a side quest, and a short one. Basket and the group head to the lakeside town of Lowtide, where the Dockmaster is running a fishing contest. JJBonsig and johnfal_92 are along (both by nameplate), and most of them are happy to stand back and watch Basket do the fishing.
Welcome to Lowtide
The Dockmaster asks whether they're here for the shops or the contest. Basket picks the contest. The catch is that the only thing left that can win it is the legendary Regal Salmon, and the one person who claims to know how to find it is Quentin, who sits in the cafe. That starts The Salmon, listed as short and medium difficulty.
Before leaving the docks they poke at the Standard Bearer, a shield washer. You can put banners on shields, and if you ever want one off again it costs 10 levels to get a clean shield. One of them already has a face on their shield. It's the guild banner.
Quentin wants a drink
Quentin is not friendly. "Go away, I'm too sober to talk." Ask about the Regal Salmon and Quentin says seeking it isn't worth it, but anyone stupid enough to really want to know can bring an Axtan Ale. The cafe only serves coffee.
The ale comes from the basement of the Axtan Monastery, which ties this quest to the monastery work. Luckily there are ales stocked in dispensers for anyone doing the Salmon quest, so Basket grabs one and hands it over. Quentin's tip is to fish near the big cat statue across the lake. Also, it's cursed.
A cursed spot and a bad luck potion
First problem: nobody brought a fishing rod, so one gets picked up in town. Then the group heads out of town toward the statue, which turns out to be a stone cat that "somebody really messed up." Outside Lowtide there are creepers everywhere. The others climb into the trees to watch while Basket fishes from the lake.
Nothing happens, and it takes a minute to see why. Nobody read the text closely: you need a bad luck potion from town, and you have to drink it before you fish. "Oh, you need to be really unlucky." After a trip back for potions, Basket drinks one: bad luck, regeneration and absorption.
Poacher!
This time the line comes up with the Regal Salmon, a quest item. The lake does not take it well. "Poacher! Cur! Lemuria will not forget this theft of our glorious fish! Get them!" Lemurian Knights come up out of the water.
The knights hit hard. Basket blocks with the shield, and a couple of nice shots get called out on voice. Someone points out that since Basket already has the fish, running away to the boat is an option. "But what would be the fun in that?"
Crushing Depths
Back at the docks the Dockmaster calls it: the contest is Basket's. THE SALMON COMPLETE, and the rewards are a Fishing Trophy, Crushing Depths and 64 Enchanting Bottles.
Crushing Depths is a unique shield with Mending, and it grants Night Vision when held in the offhand. On voice it's a replacement for a shield that got lost. The trophy is a display piece with an inscription about fishing and making up lies.
Switching isn't an easy call, because the current shield has knockback resistance. Someone points out the new one would be really good for underwater areas, maybe in magenta. The episode wraps up with someone asking where the magic fish came from. The answer: just fishing.