How to Fish starts with crabs, a questionable boat trip, and a fishing rod. A few islands later, you are hunting sharks, whales, giant piranhas, and other creatures that clearly did not get the memo about fishing being a relaxing hobby.
This guide lists every currently known fish and boss by location, along with the rod and bait you need to catch them.
TL;DR – How to Fish fish guide
Table of Contents
How fishing works in How to Fish
The most important thing to understand is that How to Fish is built around progression. You do not simply stand in one place with the same rod and hope the entire ocean eventually wanders past.
Each new island introduces stronger equipment, better lures, different fish, and more dangerous bosses. Standard catches generally use the lure associated with that stage of progression, while bosses often demand a dedicated Boss Lure or a very specific item.
The overall loop is simple:
- catch fish and other creatures,
- sell what you catch,
- buy better equipment,
- complete quests,
- defeat bosses,
- unlock the next island.
That progression is a big part of why the game feels closer to an action adventure with fishing than a traditional simulator. You can read more about the weapons, co-op chaos, trick shots, bosses, and progression in our How to Fish game spotlight.
All fish at the Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is the starting area and your introduction to the basic fishing loop. Your options are limited here, but that is intentional. The area teaches you how regular catches and boss encounters differ before the game starts throwing larger ecosystems at you.
The Spider Crab immediately establishes one of How to Fish’s favorite habits: boss bait does not always look like something you would ever willingly attach to a fishing line.
All fish on Island 2
Island 2 is where the game starts feeling like a proper fishing progression game. The standard Fishing Rod becomes part of your setup, the species pool grows, and you get two boss encounters.
All fish on Island 3
Finish the Island 2 quest chain and you receive the coordinates for Island 3. This is where the Standard Lure takes over and the catch list shifts toward more colorful and exotic species.
All fish on Island 4
Island 4 unlocks after completing the Island 3 quest. Standard catches now require the Professional Lure, so this is the point where arriving with old bait becomes a good way to waste your own time.
Yes, the Albatross takes a Tuna. At this point, How to Fish is not even pretending the food chain is optional.
All fish on Island 5
Island 5 is the current end of the progression path and requires the Scientific Lure for standard catches. It also contains some of the biggest and strangest targets in the game.
The final step is especially brutal: the Mutated Bowhead Whale uses a Bowhead Whale as bait. Keep that in mind before immediately selling everything you catch.
All How to Fish bosses and boss bait
If you only care about progression gates, this is the table to bookmark. Bosses are tied to specific locations and usually need bait that you will not use for standard fish.
How to catch fish more efficiently
A few simple habits make progression much smoother:
- Carry the correct lure tier. New islands are built around better bait, so old lures quickly lose usefulness.
- Do not sell unusual boss-related catches immediately. Some later encounters use another creature as bait.
- Complete island quests before grinding randomly. Quests are what push you toward the next location.
- Upgrade when something becomes a bottleneck. Better gear makes tougher fish and bosses easier to control.
- Use co-op if a boss is giving you trouble. How to Fish supports up to four players and is designed around chaotic multiplayer as much as solo play.
If you like the progression but want to see how the game compares with more conventional angling titles, our Best Fishing Games for PC guide is a good next stop.
For something darker and much less interested in firearms, check out our Games Like DREDGE list.
How to Fish and similar fishing games on G2A.COM
There is currently a marketplace listing for How to Fish itself, although the available GLOBAL option is a Steam Gift rather than a standard key. If you want something with a more traditional key format, several similar fishing games are also available.
Fishing for a better deal?
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How to Fish FAQ
How many islands are there in How to Fish?
The current progression covered in this guide includes the Lighthouse starting area followed by Islands 2, 3, 4, and 5.
What is the best bait in How to Fish?
There is no single best bait for every fish. Each island uses a different lure tier, while bosses usually require dedicated Boss Lures or specific items.
How do you catch bosses in How to Fish?
Bosses require the correct bait for their location. Examples include an Empty Beer Can for the Spider Crab, Modified Leech for the Giant Piranha, and a Scientific Boss Lure for the Goblin Shark.
What bait does the Mutated Bowhead Whale need?
You need a Bowhead Whale to catch the Mutated Bowhead Whale on Island 5.
Can you play How to Fish with friends?
Yes. How to Fish supports online co-op for up to four players, as well as solo play.
Does How to Fish have rare fish?
Yes. The game includes rare variants, giving completionists another reason to revisit earlier areas after progressing through the main islands.
The sea gets weirder the farther you go
How to Fish starts small, but it does not stay small for long. What begins with shrimp and crabs eventually becomes a chain of boss fights involving giant piranhas, sharks, whales, and bait choices that would make a normal angler quietly pack up and go home.
Keep the correct lure tier in your inventory, avoid selling anything that looks suspiciously important, and work through each island’s quests before moving on. The farther you progress, the less this looks like a peaceful weekend by the water and the more it starts resembling an aquatic boss rush with a fishing rod attached.