Here's an idea... This is a game set in a land of magic. There's no reason why we can't get more of the fish we want through the use of magic. So what about low-level guild point key items that give you a special spell you can cast on yourself which works its way down through your pole, your fishing line, and on in to your bait or lure? It would ward off unwanted fish, attract more of the fish you want, and prevent junk from hooking your line.

As I recall, fishing was nurfed because of gil sellers, but why should legitimate fishermen be punished because of the actions of gil sellers? It certainly wasn't MY fault gil sellers came into the game.

Having junk and monsters does no good anyway. All I do is hit Escape because I don't want to stop fishing to kill something I can kill in two or three hits. I really do want to like fishing, but it's impossible to be thrilled with it the way it is now.