Trawl Net Don’T Starve

Exploration and survival go hand in hand in Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked, and the Trawl Net is one of the most useful tools for players who wish to thrive in the open sea. This essential maritime item allows players to harvest resources from the ocean without setting foot on land. Whether you’re after food, materials, or rare ocean finds, mastering the Trawl Net can significantly improve your gameplay experience. Many players underestimate its value, but once understood, this tool becomes a vital part of long-term survival strategies in the tropical archipelago of the Don’t Starve world.

What Is the Trawl Net?

Basic Overview

The Trawl Net is a nautical item exclusive to the Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked DLC. It’s crafted and attached to boats, giving players the ability to catch a variety of items while sailing. When deployed, it drags behind your boat and collects things found in the water, such as sea creatures, junk, and sometimes even treasure.

This tool is especially helpful for gathering resources that are hard to obtain on land or are exclusive to ocean biomes. While the net is in use, players don’t have to engage in any manual fishing or diving, making it a passive yet effective harvesting method.

How to Craft a Trawl Net

Crafting Requirements

To create a Trawl Net, you will need the following ingredients:

• 3 Rope
• 2 Bamboo
• 1 Palm Leaf

The Trawl Net is found under the Nautical tab in the crafting menu. You must be near a Science Machine to prototype it for the first time. Once you have it unlocked, you can craft it freely as long as you have the necessary materials.

Material Gathering Tips

• Rope: Crafted from three cut grass. Stockpile cut grass early, as it’s used for many recipes.
• Bamboo: Found in bamboo patches; use a machete to harvest it. Always keep a machete handy when exploring islands.
• Palm Leaf: Dropped from chopping down palm trees. Useful for various survival items, so gather more than you need.

How to Use the Trawl Net

Deploying the Net

Once crafted, equip the Trawl Net to your boat. It will appear behind your vessel, and as you sail, it automatically starts collecting items found in the water. The net has limited durability and can only gather up to nine items before it breaks or must be emptied.

To collect optimal items, steer your boat through flotsam, schools of fish, or debris. Avoid sailing into shallow water or hitting coral reefs while using the net, as this may damage your boat and waste your trawling opportunity.

Retrieving the Contents

Once your net is full or you want to check your catch, click on the net to retrieve its contents. The items will be dropped on the boat, allowing you to pick them up manually. If you don’t empty the net and it breaks while full, all items are lost to the sea, so be sure to monitor its status.

What You Can Catch

Common Catches

The Trawl Net allows you to collect a diverse set of ocean resources. Some of the most common include:

• Fish: Like Tropical Fish and Jellyfish, which can be used for food or crafting recipes.
• Debris: Including Seaweed, Bottles, and Coral Pieces, useful for crafting or as fuel.
• Junk Items: Sometimes the net collects empty bottles or other seemingly useless objects, which can occasionally be recycled or burned.

Rare Finds

Beyond common materials, the net sometimes pulls in rare and valuable items such as:

• Message in a Bottle: May lead to treasure maps and buried loot.
• Brain Coral: Used for crafting anti-venom or boosting sanity.
• Live Creatures: Including Dogfish or Poison Jellyfish, which can be used in food recipes or dropped if unwanted.

Benefits of Using a Trawl Net

Efficient Resource Gathering

The Trawl Net offers an efficient way to collect a wide range of materials without the need for separate tools or manual effort. While sailing between islands or exploring the map, players can simultaneously gather food and crafting resources.

Supports Ocean-Based Survival

In Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked, you often spend long periods away from the main island. The Trawl Net supports sea-based survival by providing food and essential resources while away from land. It complements other sea tools like the Fishing Rod or Harpoon and adds depth to marine gameplay.

Great for Stockpiling

Using Trawl Nets regularly allows players to build a strong reserve of items like fish, coral, and bottles. This can be helpful in preparing for the hurricane season or when planning extended trips away from base camps.

Limitations and Things to Watch For

Limited Durability

The net breaks after catching nine items. If you forget to retrieve its contents or overfill it, the entire catch will be lost. Always keep an eye on how full the net is, especially when approaching busy ocean areas.

Inventory Management

Since the Trawl Net drops all collected items onto the boat, limited inventory space can become an issue. Prepare by clearing your inventory or having storage chests on the boat to keep the haul organized.

Boat Damage Risk

Dragging the net through shallow waters or over obstacles may not break the net, but it can damage your boat. This can be dangerous during storms or while being chased by sea creatures, so choose safe routes while using the net.

Advanced Trawling Tips

Use During Calm Weather

Calm seas are ideal for trawling. Storms, high waves, and lightning can interfere with sailing and lead to unintentional loss of cargo. Avoid using the net during monsoon or hurricane season unless absolutely necessary.

Combine with Sea Navigation Tools

Use tools like the Spyglass or Bottled Map to find fish-rich areas. Trawling through these spots increases your chances of catching valuable or rare items.

Pair with Cooking Station

Bring a Crock Pot or have one ready at your island to cook the fish and jellyfish you catch. Many of these items provide significant food and sanity benefits when used in recipes like Surf’n’Turf or Fish Tacos.

The Trawl Net in Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked is an underrated but incredibly powerful tool for survival. It enables players to maximize their time at sea by gathering valuable resources while exploring. From common fish to rare treasures, the net’s passive collection system provides a safe and efficient way to stay stocked without returning to shore constantly. While it does come with some risks and limitations, careful use and smart preparation can turn the Trawl Net into one of the most reliable assets in your survival toolkit. Use it regularly, and you’ll soon find your sea journeys more productive, your food supplies abundant, and your crafting options vastly expanded.