Island 3 Walkthrough & Endgame Escape Guide

Island 3 is the thrilling endgame destination in the How to Fish game by Dazed Games. Having mastered basic survival on Island 1 and braved the leaping piranha swarms on Island 2, Island 3 presents your ultimate challenge: an elusive trade sequence, treacherous deep-sea fishing, and the colossal Pufferfish Boss.

This complete step-by-step walkthrough guides you through finding the hermit NPC, securing the endangered fish, acquiring Carrot Bait, and executing the escape protocol.

1. Arriving on Island 3: Setting Up Camp

Island 3 features rocky peaks, dense tree clusters, and steep drop-offs into the abyss. Unlike previous islands with ground-spawning leeches, Island 3's progression relies entirely on an NPC trade economy:

  • Locate the Hermit Cabin: Head inland from your landing cove toward the wooden shack with smoke rising from the chimney. The NPC inside holds the key to the final island coordinates.
  • Prepare High-Tier Firepower: Before engaging with island quests, ensure your team has purchased Assault Rifles or upgraded SMGs from weapon supply crates (see our Weapons Guide).

2. The Endangered Fish Hunt: Deep Ocean Trenches

When you speak to the Island 3 NPC, he will refuse to help you until you bring him a specimen of the island's legendary Endangered Ancient Fish:

  1. Navigate your boat to the dark blue ocean drop-off on the northern edge of Island 3.
  2. Equip an upgraded rod (refer to Rod Upgrades for tension stats) and standard bait.
  3. Cast far into the deep trench. The endangered fish has a distinctive slow, heavy pull with aggressive tension spikes.
  4. CRITICAL WARNING: Once caught, DO NOT COOK OR SELL THIS FISH! It is a mandatory quest item. Accidental sale will force you to spend another 15 minutes fishing for a rare spawn.

3. The Carrot Bait Exchange

Take the live Endangered Fish back to the NPC's cabin. Interact with him to hand over the fish, and in exchange, he will award your squad with the exclusive Carrot Bait.

Carrot Bait is the rarest consumable in the game. It cannot be duplicated or bought from vending machines. It is engineered specifically to trigger the apex boss encounter of the archipelago.

4. Boss Battle: The Rolling Pufferfish

Once your squad is armed with full ammo magazines and replenished hunger meters, take your boat just offshore from the main beach:

  • Summoning: Attach the Carrot Bait to your rod and cast into the water. The colossal Pufferfish will immediately surface with an earth-shattering splash.
  • Boss Mechanics: The Pufferfish inflates into a massive spiked beach ball. It rolls violently across water and land, easily crushing boats and players caught in its path.
  • Tactical High Ground: Retreat onto the island and position your shooters on cabin roofs or behind dense tree trunks where the boss cannot roll freely. Focus continuous Assault Rifle fire into its central body.

5. The Trophy Escort & Beating the Game

When the Pufferfish's health bar depletes, it explodes into dozens of meat chunks and one unique golden-glowing quest item: the Pufferfish Tail / Boss Trophy.

🚨 Anti-Seagull Defense Alert:

Flocks of aggressive seagulls will instantly dive toward the Pufferfish Tail the moment it lands. Assign one player to grab the trophy and sprint directly to the NPC, while remaining players look to the sky and shoot down any approaching birds!

Handing the Pufferfish Tail to the NPC triggers the final dialogue, unlocks the escape vessel coordinates, and awards the "We are so back" Steam achievement for completing the game!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the main objective on Island 3 in How to Fish?
On Island 3, players must locate the hermit NPC, catch an endangered ancient fish in the deep ocean shelf, trade it for Carrot Bait, summon and defeat the massive Pufferfish boss, and deliver its tail trophy back to the NPC to unlock the final escape coordinates.

How do you get Carrot Bait on Island 3?
Carrot Bait cannot be purchased or foraged. You must catch a rare endangered fish in the deep waters around Island 3 and trade it directly to the island's NPC.

How do you beat the Pufferfish boss on Island 3?
Equip Carrot Bait and cast into the ocean to summon the boss. Use high-DPS weapons like the Assault Rifle or SMG, use island trees and cabin rooftops for cover against its rolling crushing attack, and coordinate fire with teammates.

What do you do with the Pufferfish Tail trophy?
When the Pufferfish dies, it drops the Pufferfish Tail (Boss Trophy). Do not sell it! Sprint directly to the NPC to hand it over while protecting it from airborne seagulls trying to steal it.