How to Fish Tips

๐Ÿชฑ How to Fish Bait & Lure Guide

Lure tiers decide what bites: Free and Beginner lures cover the early islands, while Standard, Professional and Scientific lures unlock later waters. Boss baits are different โ€” mostly quest rewards that cannot be bought.

Published August 26, 2026 ยท Last updated September 21, 2026

Quick Answer: Which Lure Catches What?

Ordinary lures can be purchased in the store; special boss lures are mostly obtained through quests and cannot be bought directly. The correct lure must be used to summon the corresponding boss โ€” any store-bought lure will fail. Match the bait tier to the island for normal fish.

Island

Lighthouse

Bait for normal fish

Free Lure, Hot Dog

Island

Island 2 (Forest)

Bait for normal fish

Free Lure, Beginner Lure, Hot Dog

Island

Island 3 (Desert)

Bait for normal fish

Standard Lure

Island

Island 4 (Rocky)

Bait for normal fish

Professional Lure

Island

Island 5 (Volcano)

Bait for normal fish

Scientific Lure

How to Get the Modified Leech (Giant Piranha Bait)

The only bait that can summon the Giant Piranha, the main boss of Island 2. It is a quest reward โ€” no store sells it.

  • Reach Island 2 (Forest Island): finish the Spider Crab task at the Lighthouse, get the boat key, buy and equip the $10 Radar, and follow the northwest green dot.
  • Find the Forest Lady near the lake or in the store area and start her conversation (the goal shows as 0/3 leeches).
  • Collect exactly 3 Leeches โ€” they are picked up from the ground, not fished. Search the grassland, paths, vegetation edges and near NPCs; watch for the "Leech" interaction prompt.
  • Give all 3 to the Lady; she returns the Modified Leech.
  • Equip it, cast at the lake or shore to summon the Giant Piranha โ€” bring a Shotgun and healing items.
  • After the kill, hand the Skeleton to the Lady to receive the Island 3 coordinates.

๐Ÿ’ก If the 3/3 count gets stuck there is no official reset method โ€” search the ground systematically outward from the NPC instead (the grass is tall and easy to miss).

How to Get the Carrot (Pufferfish Bait)

The only bait that can summon the Pufferfish, the main boss of Island 3 โ€” also quest-only.

  • Reach Island 3 (Desert Island) after delivering the Giant Piranha skeleton; the Radar shows the new coordinates.
  • Find the Tourist NPC sitting under a tree, afraid to enter the water.
  • Use the Standard Lure to catch a Needlefish (some sources also accept a Seahorse) and feed it to the Tourist.
  • He rewards you with the Carrot; attach it and cast into the sea at the beach to summon the Pufferfish.
  • Prepare ranged weapons and healing โ€” the Pufferfish is a rolling chase fight; keep your distance.
  • After the kill, hand over the Fin/Trophy to unlock Island 4.

Full Lure List by Island and Usage

Prices and exact catchable species may shift with patches; the table reflects multiple August 2026 guides.

Lure

Free Lure

How to get

Free at the start

Main usage

Rock Crab, Shrimp, Mackerel, Gar, Pike, Goldfish

Notes

Basic

Lure

Hot Dog

How to get

Store (about $1)

Main usage

Rock Crab, Lobster, Piranha

Notes

Common early

Lure

Empty Beer Can

How to get

Quest (feed beer to the Keeper)

Main usage

Spider Crab (Lighthouse boss)

Notes

Quest-only

Lure

Beginner Lure

How to get

Store

Main usage

Cod, Perch, Triggerfish, Goldfish, Pike

Notes

Common on Island 2

Lure

Beginner Boss Lure

How to get

Store

Main usage

The Old Pike (optional boss)

Notes

Not mainline

Lure

Modified Leech

How to get

Quest (3 ground leeches to the Forest Lady)

Main usage

Giant Piranha (Island 2 boss)

Notes

Cannot be bought

Lure

Standard Lure

How to get

Store

Main usage

Angelfish, Boxfish, Catfish, Seahorse, Needlefish, Clownfish

Notes

Main force on Island 3

Lure

Standard Boss Lure

How to get

Store (about $280)

Main usage

Blue Shark (unlocks the grill)

Notes

Strongly recommended

Lure

Carrot

How to get

Quest (give Needlefish to the Tourist)

Main usage

Pufferfish (Island 3 boss)

Notes

Cannot be bought

Lure

Professional Lure

How to get

Store

Main usage

Eel, Tigerfish, Flying Fish, Red Snapper

Notes

Island 4

Lure

Professional Boss Lure

How to get

Store

Main usage

Tuna (used to summon the Albatross)

Notes

Island 4 mainline

Lure

Scientific Lure

How to get

Store (about $500)

Main usage

Anglerfish, Blobfish, Oarfish, Stonefish

Notes

Volcanic zone

Lure

Fish Bucket

How to get

Quest (feed 5 volcanic fish to the Hazmat NPC)

Main usage

Bowhead Whale

Notes

Final stage

Lure

Scientific Boss Lure

How to get

Store

Main usage

Goblin Shark

Notes

Late game

Bait Technique Rules

  • Matching principle: normal creatures use the current island's tier lure; bosses must be given their designated special bait or they never appear.
  • Quest-bait chain: Empty Beer Can โ†’ Spider Crab; Modified Leech โ†’ Giant Piranha; Carrot โ†’ Pufferfish; placed Tuna โ†’ Albatross; Fish Bucket โ†’ Bowhead Whale.
  • Before casting a boss lure, buy weapons, healing and upgraded ammunition โ€” the boss spawns immediately with its minions.
  • Once the boss appears, enter combat right away and watch the white escape bar under its health: if it empties, the boss flees and the bait is wasted.

๐Ÿ’ก After defeating the Blue Shark on Island 3 the grill unlocks โ€” cooking ordinary fish to about 1.5x sell value funds the better lures and weapons.

Bait FAQ

  • Can the Leech Bait be bought? No โ€” collect 3 ground leeches and hand them to the Forest Lady for the Modified Leech.
  • How do I get the Carrot? Catch a Needlefish on Island 3 with the Standard Lure and give it to the Tourist.
  • What happens with the wrong bait? Normal fish follow the island tier rules, and bosses simply never appear.
  • Where are the Leeches? On the ground โ€” grassland, paths, near NPCs. Look down and watch for the interaction prompt.
  • What catches the Needlefish? The Standard Lure, sold at the Island 3 store.