Struggling with today’s New York Times Strands puzzle? You are not alone. Puzzle #787 features a theme that requires a bit of fishing knowledge to crack, along with several tricky words that can be difficult to unscramble. Below, you will find the complete list of answers, strategic hints to help you progress, and a breakdown of the theme’s underlying logic.
The Theme: Fishing Gear
The central theme for today’s puzzle is “Fish or cut bait.”
If that phrase doesn’t immediately trigger the right mental image, consider this simpler clue: Out on the water.
The puzzle revolves around the equipment and accessories used in recreational fishing. Once you identify the core theme words, the remaining letters on the grid will fall into place.
Pro Tip: The goal of Strands is to find all hidden words that fit the theme, including the spangram (the long word that spans the entire width or height of the grid). When you find all theme words, every letter on the board will be used.
Today’s Answers
Here are the specific answers for today’s puzzle. Note that the number of theme words can vary from day to day.
The Spangram
* TACKLE
* How to find it: Look for the letter T located four rows down on the far-left side of the grid. The word winds across the board from there.
Theme Words
These are the specific items related to fishing gear:
* HOOK
* LURE
* REEL
* BOBBER
* COOLER
* PLIERS
* SWIVEL
* WEIGHT
How to Unlock Hints
If you are stuck and need the game to reveal a theme word, you must first find three non-theme words of four letters or more. You do not need to find specific words; any valid words of sufficient length will work.
Here are some common words found in today’s grid that can help you unlock hints:
* HEAT
* PILE
* PILES
* COOL
* COOLS
* LICE
* CRATE
* HOLE
* RIGHT
* RULE
Why This Theme Matters
While “fishing gear” might seem straightforward, Strands often tests niche vocabulary. Words like SWIVEL (a small connector that prevents line twist) and PLIERS (often used for hook removal) are specific to the hobby rather than general knowledge. This design encourages players to expand their vocabulary beyond common objects, turning a simple word search into a mini-lesson on angling terminology.
A Note on Difficulty
Today’s puzzle is considered moderately challenging due to the specificity of the gear items. If you enjoy Strands, you might find these past themes particularly difficult:
- Dated Slang: Requires knowledge of lingo that may have faded from common use (e.g., PHAT ).
- Marine Biology: Demands specific knowledge of sea creatures and anatomy (e.g., BALEEN or RIGHT whale).
- Sea Creatures: Similar to the above, this theme relies on knowing specific fish names like BIGEYE or SKIPJACK.
Conclusion
Today’s Strands puzzle challenges players with specific fishing terminology, anchored by the spangram TACKLE. By identifying key gear items like hooks, lures, and reels, you can clear the board and master the “Fish or cut bait” theme.
