How to Kill the Pufferfish in 5 Fast Steps
- Get Carrot Bait: Trade your Island 2 rare catch to the Island 3 trader or forage beach crates.
- Summon the Boss: Equip Carrot Bait and cast into deep water off the southern reef.
- Sidestep the Spike Roll: Sprint sideways when the boss inflates. Do not stand behind wood fences as they shatter.
- DPS Window: Unload with an Assault Rifle or Shotgun into its glowing belly during the 3-second recovery phase.
- Protect the Tail: Carry the Pufferfish Tail directly to the harbor captain. Kill seagulls immediately if they swoop down!
Defeating the Pufferfish Boss
How to Summon the Pufferfish
The Pufferfish is the major progression blocker on Island 3 in the How to Fish game. To summon it, you cannot use standard bait or leech bait. You must acquire carrot bait by trading an endangered fish to the Island 3 NPC. Once equipped, cast your line into the water, and the massive Pufferfish will immediately spawn and attack.
Best Strategy & Loadout
The Pufferfish rolls around like a massive, spiky beach ball, trying to crush you and your boat. Basic pistols are incredibly ineffective.
- Weapons: Upgrade to an SMG or Assault Rifle at the weapons crate/casino before the fight. (See rod upgrades and economy to make money fast).
- Positioning: Use the island's trees or cabin roofs for cover. The boss struggles to roll over steep terrain.
- Co-op: Have one player act as bait while the others focus fire on the boss.
Drops: Pufferfish Tail & Boss Trophy
When you finally burst down the Pufferfish's health, it will explode into chunks of meat. Do not sell everything indiscriminately! Amidst the meat chunks is the Pufferfish Tail / Boss Trophy (it looks like a bone-exposed remnant of the fish). This is a critical quest item.
What the Boss Trophy Unlocks
Pick up the Pufferfish Tail and bring it back to the main NPC. Handing over this boss trophy is the exact trigger that unlocks the coordinates to the next island, allowing your crew to progress the game.
Seagulls Will Steal It — How to Protect the Trophy
The most devastating mistake players make is dropping the Pufferfish Tail on the ground. Seagulls will swoop down and steal the trophy, forcing you to re-do the entire Carrot Bait trade and boss fight! If playing co-op, designate one player to immediately grab the tail and sprint to the NPC while the others shoot any approaching seagulls.
Why You Might Not Be Killing It (Troubleshooting)
Three common failure points, in the order players usually hit them:
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
| It never spawns | You are not on Carrot Bait. Leech bait and worm bait summon nothing on Island 3. |
| It keeps crushing you | You are fighting on open ground. Get to the cabin roof or behind thick trees before it rolls. |
| It eats way too much damage | Your game is out of date — Patch 1.0.4 nerfed it. Fully restart Steam and let the update apply. |
Patch 1.0.4 Balance Note
Because the Pufferfish was the first major wall players hit, the developer confirmed in Patch 1.0.4 (August 21, 2026) that it was explicitly nerfed alongside the Whale. If you are fighting on an older save and it feels spongier than this guide suggests, fully restart Steam to apply the latest balance changes.
FAQ
How to summon the Pufferfish in How to Fish?
You must equip Carrot Bait and cast your line on Island 3. It will spawn instantly.
Why can't I go to the next island after killing the Pufferfish?
You likely sold the Pufferfish Tail or let a seagull steal it. You must deliver the Boss Trophy to the NPC to get the coordinates.
Where do I get Carrot Bait?
Catch the rare endangered fish in the deep trench north of Island 3, keep it alive (do not cook or sell it), and trade it to the hermit NPC.
Can I solo the Pufferfish?
Yes — SMG or AR from the roof works. In co-op, one player kites while the rest focus fire, which is noticeably faster.