How to Really Fish Walkthrough: Five-Island Route to Escape

A run of How to Really Fish moves through five islands in strict linear order. Each island requires killing a boss, trading that boss's drop to the island fisherman, and then sailing onward. The run is only finished when the escape banner appears — "YOU ESCAPED" confirms everyone is going home with 500 Bubbles, and leaving before that message means the run did not register as complete. The game is in beta and updates weekly, so prices, shop stock, and prompts can shift; confirm each milestone against the live game.

Route overview

Progression is strictly linear: no island opens early and no fisherman accepts a drop out of order.

Two early-game details are currently inconsistent between descriptions. Fisherman Joe is placed on the first (Forest) island in one account, but in the recorded run he stands on Island 2 with a different fisherman on the first island. The Giant Crab's trigger also varies: fishing with Crab Bait in the recorded run, or a shared server-wide encounter that any player can wake, announced to the whole server with a GIANT CRAB health bar. Check in-game which behavior applies to your session.

Milestone 1: opening tutorial and the Giant Crab

1. Follow the tutorial: collect three clams, sell them, then catch a fish (such as the Emo Fish), cook it on the campfire to raise its price, and sell it.
2. Raise money with basic bait and buy a knife — the recorded run uses it during the boss fight.
3. Fish with Crab Bait to pull up the Giant Crab. Its attacks only go forward and are slow, so circle it continuously while hitting it — the recorded playthrough spins around it so its attacks cannot connect.
4. The kill confirms on screen with "GIANT CRAB SLAIN! It dropped a Crab Claw!" Trade the Crab Claw to the fisherman and sail to Island 2.

Milestone 2: Island 2, the leeches quest, and the Piranha King

Talk to the island fisherman and ask for his mission, which requires finding three leeches. Leeches that are far away are marked with white dots on screen — follow those rather than searching manually. Handing them in gives Leech Bait. Before the fight, fish normally and sell cooked catches to buy a knife; then use the Leech Bait to pull the Piranha King. Focus on the small piranhas first, then the boss — its hitbox is big, so there is no need to get close. Cook and sell leftover piranhas, upgrade inventory slots, and buy a pistol (unlimited bullets) for the next fights. Give the Piranha Bone to Fisherman Joe and sail to Island 3.

Milestone 3: Island 3, the Boxfish quest, and the Giant Pufferfish

Talk to the island fisherman (Fisherman Alex in the recorded run), who asks for a Boxfish. You need the Standard Lure to reliably pull a Boxfish, so collect money and buy it. Kill catches with a gun, or use the knife for a bigger hitbox if aiming is hard. Hand the Boxfish to the fisherman to receive Carrots — do not sell them, as they are the summon item for the Giant Pufferfish. Use the Carrots to lure the boss, kill it (a gun makes this much easier), and it drops thorns — the Pufferfish Spike. Trade the spike to the fisherman to get directions to Island 4.

Milestone 4: Island 4, the Giant Tuna and the Albatross

Talk to the island fisherman (Fisherman Phil in the recorded run), who requires a tuna. Catching the Giant Tuna requires the Professional Boss Lure, so farm cash first — about 600 cash in the recorded run — buy the boss lure, and put the rest into a gun damage upgrade, since Island 4's fights are notably harder. Defeat the Giant Tuna, then place the Tuna carcass on the grass to lure the second boss, the Albatross, and shoot it until it dies (a gun is effectively required). It drops an Albatross Feather. Give it to the fisherman to be directed to the last island, the volcano.

Milestone 5: Volcano Island, Lava Fish, the Whale, and the Mutated Whale

Talk to Fisherman Pat, who asks for five scientific fish (Lava Fish). These require the Scientific Lure, which is expensive, so first farm cash with the Professional Lure — sharks sell for very high amounts (one shark sold for about 3,000 in the recorded run; Hammerhead Sharks are listed at $3,085 each with a Professional Lure, the best late-game income). Buy weapon upgrades such as extra ammo and reduced recoil before continuing. Deliver the five Lava Fish to Fisherman Pat to receive a Bucket of Fish. Use the Bucket of Fish to catch and kill the Whale, then carry the Whale Carcass up the volcano and throw it into the middle — that is what turns it into the Mutated Whale. Fight it by walking backward while shooting, or by spinning it in a wide open area; keep moving and never stand still. Give the Mutated Whale Carcass to Fisherman Pat and board the military boat to escape.

How to confirm each boss kill counted

Each boss confirms its kill with an on-screen line naming the drop, such as "GIANT CRAB SLAIN! It dropped a Crab Claw!" or "MUTATED WHALE SLAIN! It dropped a Mutated Whale Carcass!" If that line does not appear, the drop is not in your inventory and the fisherman will not accept it. The run as a whole is confirmed only by the escape banner reading "YOU ESCAPED," which awards 500 Bubbles. Defeating the Mutated Whale and escaping also unlock the Whale of a Tale and Homeward Bound achievements; Untouchable (a full run without dying) rewards the same cautious habits that carry a run — circling the Giant Crab, backing away from the Mutated Whale, and buying damage upgrades before fights.

Money rules that apply across the run

Cash purchases the lures, weapons, and upgrades each island transition requires, and running short is what stalls most runs. Three run-wide habits:

• Cook every catch on the campfire before selling — a cooked fish is worth noticeably more at the Fishmonger than a raw one.
• Buy inventory slot upgrades so you can sell in bigger batches.
• On Volcano Island, farm Hammerhead Sharks with the Professional Lure before doing quests, since they are the best late-game income.

One navigation note: if the boat gets stuck, press recover boat and the position resets slightly out to sea.

Note that the coin values above are recorded examples, not guaranteed payouts, and this route documents a dependable path rather than a fastest one.