Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival – Day Four

Fishing frustrations, elusive groupers, a shiny new rod upgrade, and a very foggy late-night encounter with a suspicious rock. Day 4 of the Dredge permadeath run tests both my patience and my sanity.

Missed day three? Find it here: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival – Day Three

The Great Grouper Hunt (That Wasn’t)

The morning plan was simple: head out early, catch fish, finally land that mysterious Black Grouper, and pretend I’m not on the verge of bankruptcy. But the sea, as always, had other plans.

I head straight out and find several fishing spots—most of which give me the “you need better equipment” message. Apparently, my starter rod wasn’t cutting it. Still, I manage to pull up 7 blue mackerel and a lone grey eel. Not exactly the haul I was hoping for, but at least the cooler wasn’t empty.

Somewhere along the way, my studies in Sustainable Fishing pay off: book finished, and now I have a 10% chance of not reducing fish stocks every time I catch something with a rod. You’d think that would make me feel better about the environment. It mostly makes me feel better about my wallet.

By 4:36 PM, I pull back into Greater Marrow, snagging one last mackerel on the way in. Still no sign of a Grouper, though I’m starting to question whether they’re actually real or just a fishmonger fever dream.

After selling my haul, I decide it’s time for some serious gear. I visit the Shipwright, sell off my old Simple Skimmer, and upgrade to a shiny new Weighted Line. The installation takes 3 hours, which means by the time I’m ready to head out again, it’s already 7:39 PM.

Unionised Fish and Fog – And Maybe Rocks?

Determined (or possibly just stubborn), I head back out into the night. With my new line, surely the elusive Grouper will finally show itself.

Spoiler: it does not.

Between 7:39 PM and 2:20 AM, I catch absolutely nothing. It’s like the fish all formed a union and declared tonight a strike. The only thing I catch is frustration.

With the fog rolling in thick, visibility drops to near zero. I briefly spot some shiny things off in the distance—potential treasure, or more likely, a quick route to a Madness Strike. I wisely decide not to push my luck.

And then there was the rock.
At one point, something comes into view near the edge of my light. It had that familiar red tinge that usually means my panicked brain is starting to see things that aren’t there. But as I moved closer and got it fully under the light, the red vanished and it looked completely normal.

So was it real?
Probably.
Maybe.
Hopefully.

For the sake of my Madness Strike counter, I’m calling it real. But let’s just say the boat was very carefully steered around it, just in case.

I pull into dock and call it a night. Day 4 closes with no Grouper, a slightly better rod, one near-debate with my own sanity, and a growing suspicion that the fish are mocking me.

Daily Summary

Fish Caught: 7 Blue Mackerel, 1 Grey Eel
Madness Strikes: Still just one
Damage Taken: None (rock judged real – no collision)

If you’d like to know more, please check out: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival

For more information on the rules, please check out: Dark Waters: Dredge Permadeath Rules & Survival Guide

24th Jun 2025 2

Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival – Day Three

Debt cleared, upgrades unlocked, and still no Black Grouper in sight. Day 3 of my Dredge permadeath run brings ship upgrades, mysterious messages in bottles, and the creeping fog of midnight.

Missed the previous day? Read it here: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival – Day Two

The Package Delivery, Finally

After two days of stumbling around like I had no idea where I was going (because I didn’t), I finally discovered that my map exists. You know, the thing that tells you where stuff is? Turns out that helps.

With my newfound cartographic skills, I double-checked that Little Marrow hadn’t mysteriously drifted off into the abyss overnight. Satisfied, I set sail and arrived at 8:14 AM.

The dockworker greeted me like a man who’d been waiting a while for this delivery. He took the package (still no idea what was in it — apparently it was “fresh,” which feels mildly concerning) and handed over $25. That nearly covered my hull repair bill from last night’s adventures, so I’ll take the win.

He also handed me a book on sustainable fishing — whether that’s foreshadowing or just helpful remains to be seen. Oh, and I got the usual “stop by for a chat” offer. I might actually take him up on that. Maybe he’ll tell me what was in that package.

Trinkets & Treasures

While I was in the area, I stopped by the Trader on Little Marrow. He seems keen to buy any “special trinkets” I find lying around the sea. Given the kinds of things washing up out here, I’m not sure if that’s entrepreneurial or deeply suspicious.

The Hunt for the Elusive Black Grouper

With business handled, I headed back out and activated my newly acquired fishing book, because reading on the job is apparently acceptable when you’re on a boat. At 11:53 AM, I pulled up a respectable haul of 5 cod. Not bad.

I then went searching for another fishing spot, hoping to finally locate a Black Grouper for the Fishmonger’s special order. Along the way, I spotted something floating — a message in a bottle. Curiosity overruled caution, as usual.

Inside was… well, let’s just say people out here write very dramatic love letters. But nothing that helps me find a Black Grouper.

I fished up 3 blue mackerel instead, then headed back to Greater Marrow to sell my catch. Docked safely at 4:35 PM.

Debt-Free and Dry Dock Dreams

After offloading my haul at the Fishmonger, the Mayor popped up like a bad jump scare. Good news though:

The Dry Dock is now open for business.

The Fishmonger’s facilities have been improved.

And most importantly: my debt is officially cleared.

Feels good not to owe anyone anything — though in this town, I’m sure they’ll find new ways to get my money.

I went to check out the Dry Dock, where the Shipwright explained I can now upgrade my vessel — provided I bring her the required materials. These materials are mostly found at shipwrecks, which sounds safe and completely unproblematic.

One Last Attempt Before Madness (Literally)

With the day slipping away, I made one last push to find this cursed Black Grouper. Night fell. Still no luck.

Since I was out, I decided to install a cracked bulb upgrade at the Shipwright, which somehow brought the time to 9:50 PM.

And because I enjoy dancing with doom, I made one final sweep after midnight. The fog rolled in right on cue. At that point, my sense of self-preservation kicked in and I hightailed it back to Greater Marrow to live another day.

Daily Summary

Fish Caught: 5 Cod, 3 Blue Mackerel
Debt Remaining: None (Debt cleared)
Madness Strikes: Still just one
Damage Taken: None
Suspicious Package Count: One (Delivered)
Upgrades Unlocked: Dry Dock operational, Shipwright expansion, Fishmonger improvements
Notable Finds: Message in a bottle (Read)

If you’d like to know more, please check out: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival

For information on the rules, please check out: Dark Waters: Dredge Permadeath Rules & Survival Guide

17th Jun 2025 2

Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival – Day One

Where Am I, What Is That Fog, and Why Is My Compass Blinking at Me?

Day 1 of my Dredge permadeath playthrough. I crash a boat, inherit another, fish like a pro, and nearly get lost forever in Lesser Marrow. Welcome to Greater Marrow—the creepiest fishing job I’ve ever had.

—

For more information on this, please check out: Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival Hub

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Welcome to Greater Marrow: Where the Fish Are Plentiful and the Fog Eats Souls

The game opens with a cutscene: I’m peacefully boating along when heavy fog rolls in like an uninvited guest. Then—crash! Rocks. Camera pans to a lighthouse, which apparently decided to take the night off.

Inside the boat before the crash, I notice a crumpled job advert: “Angler Wanted.” I see now it meant sacrificial angler.

—

I wake up on a soggy dock at 6:00am on a Monday morning, having apparently faceplanted here the night before. The Mayor of Greater Marrow is there to greet me with all the cheer of someone who just hired a corpse to do a job.

He casually asks if I “didn’t see the lighthouse.” I choose not to answer, partly because I’m still drying out, and partly because I very clearly didn’t. My boat? Completely ruined. But the Mayor had the locals haul my stuff into an old spare vessel. How quaint.

—

My First Fishing Trip and Immediate Cartographic Failure

The Mayor warns me to be back before sundown. Apparently fog does weird things after dark. Comforting.

I hop in the backup boat and head out. The controls are straightforward and intuitive. Time passes while fishing, sailing, or basically doing anything—so multitasking is not encouraged.

—

By 3:17pm, I’ve reeled in seven blue mackerel and three cod. I’m feeling confident. A little too confident. I decide I have time for just one more fish.

Spoiler: I didn’t.

—

After grabbing another mackerel, I turn back… only to realise I’ve docked at Lesser Marrow, not Greater. Oops. I am, in fact, an idiot. A kind soul points me back to the lighthouse. By the time I get home, it’s 8:43pm and there’s a disturbing eye icon blinking next to my compass.

Is that… panic? Hallucination? Ancient evil? Who knows!

—

Debt, Deals, and the Definitely-Not-Suspicious Fishmonger

Back at Greater Marrow, the Mayor is somehow still waiting for me like an overbearing boss. He says I can pay off the loan on the boat by selling fish, with “a small percentage” going toward town improvements. Sounds a bit pyramid-scheme-y, but I nod along.

Inside the Fishmonger’s shop, he greets me with surprise: “New fisherman, already?” I ask about the last one. He doesn’t answer. Just says it takes a “certain type of person” to last out here. You mean one with night vision and zero self-preservation instincts?

I sell my fish, earning enough to reduce my $50 debt to $31.58. That’s decent for a day of being lost at sea.

The Mayor intercepts me again and hands over a research part, which I can use to upgrade my ship.

Upgrades, Nightfall, and Regrets

I pop into the Shipwright’s to check out the gear. After some very internal debating, I buy the Simple Skimmer Rod for catching shallow-water fish. It takes two in-game hours to install, meaning I walk out at 10:46pm.

I use the research part to unlock the Improved Outboard Engine, because clearly I need all the speed I can get after today’s performance.

I return to the dock, mentally exhausted, financially lighter, and very aware that this is only day one.

—

End of Day Summary

Fish Caught: 8 blue mackerel, 3 cod
Debt Remaining: $31:58
Creepy Things Spotted: One blinking eye
Times I Got Lost: Let’s just call it “multiple”
Regrets: Also multiple

—

⚠️ Madness Strike #1: Fogblind and Foolish

Let’s be honest—I didn’t mean to return after dark. But between misreading the map, mistaking Lesser Marrow for home, and ignoring the increasingly twitchy compass eye, it happened. The fog rolled in, and I rolled with it.

The rules are clear: return after sundown, and the mind pays the price.
So here it is—my first Madness Strike.

Sanity: Fractured

Confidence: Shaken

Navigational Skills: Still questionable

—

What’s Next?

Day Two promises more fishing, more fog, and probably more confusion. Will I finally learn to navigate using the lighthouse? Will the eye by the compass blink twice? Will I discover what happened to the last fisherman?

📖 Read Day 2 – A Special Order and a Return Before Madness
(Spoiler: I didn’t earn another Madness Strike. Barely.)

3rd Jun 2025 2