How to FishPlayer guide

Islands & progression · Rechecked through Patch 1.0.9

How to Fish Islands Guide

The current story route has five main locations when the starting Lighthouse is counted: Lighthouse, Forest, Desert, Rocks, and Volcano. To reach the Second Island, return the Spider Crab shell for the Boat Keys, then follow Radar. Dazed Games has not published a permanent total, so future additions could change the count.

Fishing beside the wooden cabin on an island in How to Fish
Official Steam screenshot

The short route

Finish the island NPC's task, defeat the progression boss, return the quest item, then use the keys or coordinates with Radar.

Quick answer

How Many Islands Are in How to Fish?

The current gameplay route contains five main locations when the starting Lighthouse is included: the Lighthouse plus four destinations reached by boat. Some players call that “four islands” because they exclude the starting area; this guide counts all five progression locations to avoid that ambiguity.

This page focuses on the checked progression path. Return to the main How to Fish game guide for the site's other verified topics.

Current route

All Islands in Order

The main progression order is Lighthouse → Forest (Second Island) → Desert (Island 3) → Rocks (Island 4) → Volcano. The names in parentheses reflect how current players and gameplay guides commonly distinguish each stop.

  1. 01
    LighthouseStarting location · earn the Boat Keys
  2. 02
    Forest / Second IslandDefeat the Giant Piranha · earn Island 3 coordinates
  3. 03
    Desert / Island 3Defeat the Pufferfish · earn Island 4 coordinates
  4. 04
    Rocks / Island 4Defeat the terrorizing bird · earn Volcano coordinates
  5. 05
    VolcanoFinal main story location in the checked route

Before you sail

Island Progression Requirements

Radar shows the route after the current island's quest handoff is complete; it does not replace the quest, boss item, keys, or coordinates.

  • First → Second: finish the first-island NPC chain, return the Spider Crab shell for the Boat Keys, then use Radar.
  • Second → Island 3: finish the bait chain, defeat the Giant Piranha, return Big yummy fish, and take the coordinate Flash drive back to the boat.
  • Island 3 → Island 4: complete the endangered-creature and carrot-bait chain, defeat the Pufferfish, return its progression item, and follow the new coordinates.
  • Island 4 → Volcano: use the professional boss lure to catch Tuna, use it to draw out the terrorizing bird, return the bird's head, and follow the coordinates.
01

First island

How to Reach the Second Island

  1. Follow the NPC request involving beer and the empty beer can.
  2. Defeat the Spider Crab and collect its shell.
  3. Return the shell to the quest NPC to receive the Boat Keys.
  4. Return to the boat, check Radar, and follow its route to the Second Island.

Result: the boat route can now continue through Radar.

02

Second Island

What to Do on the Second Island

  1. Finish the lake NPC's dialogue, then collect the requested ground-crawling creatures. In the checked current route, the counter is three leeches; follow your in-game counter if a later patch changes it.
  2. Finish the bait exchange, then use the quest bait to defeat the Giant Piranha.
  3. Collect the item named Big yummy fish.
03

Island 3

Trade the fish for coordinates and follow Radar again

  1. Return Big yummy fish to the Second Island NPC.
  2. Take the Flash drive containing the coordinates to Island 3.
  3. Go back to the boat, check Radar, and follow the new route.
  4. On Island 3, bring the requested endangered creature to the quest NPC and receive a carrot.
  5. Use the carrot as bait to encounter and defeat the Pufferfish.
04

After the Pufferfish

How to Unlock Island 4

  1. Collect the special progression item after the Pufferfish encounter.
  2. Return that item to the same Island 3 NPC.
  3. Receive the coordinates to Island 4, then use the boat's Radar to follow them.

Result: Island 4 should now appear as your next route.

05

Island 4 to Volcano

What to Do on Island 4

  1. Buy or obtain the Professional Boss Lure and use it to catch the Tuna.
  2. Keep the Tuna and place it on the ground to draw out the terrorizing bird.
  3. Use a ranged weapon and cover while the bird is airborne, then collect its head.
  4. Return the head to the Island 4 NPC to receive the next coordinates.
  5. Follow Radar to the Volcano, the fifth main location in the current route.

Result: the final main story location is now on your route.

Need fight preparation rather than directions? Use the story bosses guide.

Troubleshooting

Radar still blank? Check the handoff, not just the boss.

Before assuming the route is broken, confirm each progression handoff:

  • The island's progression boss is defeated.
  • You collected the special quest item after the encounter.
  • You returned it to the correct NPC.
  • You received the Boat Keys or the next coordinates.
  • You returned to the boat and checked Radar again.