DREDGE Iron Rig Fish and Refining Guide: Infused Gear, Contamination and Foundry

Scope: contaminated fish and Foundry choices

The Iron Rig DLC adds fish to the existing regions rather than giving every catch a new standalone map. This page covers the actual gate: Infused gear for contaminated habitat catches, ordinary crab pots at the correct depth for crustaceans, and Foundry conversions. It is not a claim to list all 50 DLC fish or every aberration.

Use the Scientist’s Strange Specimens phases as your route order. Infused rod catches include shallow, coastal, oceanic, Abyssal, Hadal, Mangrove, and Volcanic variants, but each still requires an infused rod that matches the habitat icon. A general Infused Rod does not cover every icon. Crab-pot targets do not need an infused pot; they need the right contaminated area and depth.

Region sample examples	Habitat / gear
Marrows Osteostracan, Tullimonstrum, Paddlefish, Swordfish	Match Shallow, Coastal, or Oceanic with an Infused Rod.
Gale Nautilus, Sollasina, Abyssal Gar, Lancetfish	Match Oceanic, Shallow, Abyssal, or Coastal with an Infused Rod.
Stellar Mahi Mahi, Tripod Spiderfish, Kerygmachela, Eagle Shark	Match Oceanic, Abyssal, Hadal, or Oceanic with an Infused Rod.
Twisted Strand and Devil’s Spine entries	Match their Mangrove, Shallow, Volcanic, or Hadal icon with an Infused Rod.

Unlock the tool before attempting Contamination

Factory Tier 2 becomes available after the first Strange Specimens phase. It makes the Siphon Trawler blueprint available; build it with one Basic Trawl Net, one Ironhaven Crate, and $50, then install it before heading for contaminated water. Contamination uses the trawler to collect Dark Fluid and Dark Canisters. A standard net or an ordinary rod does not substitute for the collection step.

Late exotic aberrations are a separate completion problem. The Deep Form, for example, needs Aberrated Bait after both Strange Specimens and Sabotage. Do not confuse that condition with ordinary regional sample fishing, and do not spend rare bait while the Factory is still missing its required tier.

Refine only what the next build needs

At Foundry Tier 1, one Lumber, one Metal Scrap, and one Bolt of Cloth become one Ironhaven Crate for $10. After the Gale Cliffs Strange Specimens phase, Foundry Tier 2 can turn two crates into Refined Metal for $25. It can also turn one crate back into materials or a Research Part, with its listed fee.

Refining Refined Metal is useful when a hull or equipment recipe needs it now. Turning every crate into metal can block the next Factory or facility upgrade. Check the construction cost first, keep the crate if that tier is still locked behind it, and refine only the excess.

Iron Rig Route explains the story gates. Ship Upgrades helps decide whether the next material belongs in a hull layout instead of another DLC craft.