Boss Guide · 03
Pufferfish Boss GuideHow to Fish — Island 3 (Desert)
The Pufferfish is the third story boss in How to Fish, found on Island 3 (Desert). It rolls after you like a wrecking ball, its poison is lethal, and the guides genuinely disagree on which gun to bring. This guide covers the carrot bait that summons it, the SMG-vs-shotgun question, and the positioning that matters more than the weapon itself.
How to Trigger the Pufferfish Fight
The Tourist Under the Tree & the Endangered Species Quest
A tourist sits under a tree on Island 3, refusing to go near the water because he fears a fish. He will trade bait for help, but only if you bring him an endangered creature. This is the quest that leads to the Pufferfish.
Pufferfish Bait: The Carrot
- 1
Buy the new Fishing Rod ($3) and the Standard Lure ($15) if you have not already.
- 2
Fish with the Standard Lure and catch creatures from the water.
- 3
Do not sell your fish before examining them — check each one before selling.
- 4
Find the catch labeled 'endangered creature' — the Needlefish is the one you hand over.
- 5
Feed it to the tourist. He gives you the Carrot.
- 6
Use the Carrot as bait to reel in the Pufferfish.
Won't Spawn? Check These First
- Do you actually have the Carrot? If you only caught fish but never traded an endangered creature to the tourist, the bait is not in your inventory.
- Are you casting with the Carrot equipped? Without it, you are still solving the tourist's requirement, not fighting the boss.
Pufferfish Gear: What to Buy Before the Fight
This is the one boss where the guides genuinely disagree, so the choice is yours:
SMG ($650)
One published guide reports it is the only weapon that could finish the fight. The Bean speedrun route also takes the SMG and adds a full bullet upgrade plus an extended mag.
Shotgun
Two close shells, then run to the opposite side before it rolls into you, and repeat. It is slower, but it is a valid clear on a normal run.
Food & Healing
Eat enough seafood before casting so your health and hunger are topped off. If you are constantly stopping to eat mid-fight, the encounter drags out and gives the boss more chances to punish you.
What the Gear Costs
| Line | Items | Total |
|---|---|---|
| SMG route | New Fishing Rod $3 + Standard Lure $15 + SMG $650 (+ bullet upgrades) | $668+ |
| Shotgun route | New Fishing Rod $3 + Standard Lure $15 + Shotgun | cheaper, slower |
Bullet upgrade prices are not published, so the SMG line is a minimum.
Whichever you bring, the terrain matters more than the weapon — see the fight section below.
How to Beat the Pufferfish
The Fight Loop: Shoot, Then Run
The Pufferfish rolls toward you to do melee damage, but it is slow and predictable, which is your advantage. The loop is simple:
- 1
Land your shots — a short burst (two shotgun shells, or an SMG magazine).
- 2
Immediately run to the opposite direction before it closes the gap.
- 3
Turn and shoot again.
The key is to keep distance without getting cornered. Do not stop to empty a full magazine into it — keep moving, keep a gap, and fire in windows.
Use the Trees for Cover
Standing in open ground gives the boss too clean a path toward you. Put a tree between yourself and the Pufferfish — it forces the boss to reposition and walk around the obstacle, which buys you a cleaner ranged window. This positioning does more for you than a more expensive weapon.
Purple Poison & the Growing Size
Poison
The Pufferfish leaves purple poison on the ground. Do not run through it — the damage tick turns lethal fast.
Growing size
The Pufferfish grows larger as you hit it. Once it drops a little under half its health, it is easier to watch and dodge, because the bigger body is slower to turn.
The Merchant's Shop Trick
Lure the Pufferfish around the merchant's shop on Island 3. When it grows big enough, it sometimes gets stuck cutting corners while it chases you around the building — that stuck moment is a free damage window. Do not bet the whole fight on it, but use it when it happens.
After the Fight: Tail & Coordinates
Keep the Pufferfish Tail
Defeating the Pufferfish is not the end of the step. Pick up the Pufferfish Tail and return it to the tourist.
The Island 4 Coordinates
The tourist gives you the coordinates for Island 4 in exchange for the Tail.
Pufferfish Tips, Mistakes & Tricks
Why You Keep Losing to the Pufferfish
Standing still to shoot
→ You are the easy target. Shoot, relocate, shoot again.
Chasing it as its health gets low
→ A nearly dead Pufferfish can still ruin the attempt. Do not abandon the positioning that kept you alive just because it is almost over.
Dying to poison
→ You are running through the purple patches. Route around them.
Pufferfish in Co-op
Co-op helps: one player baits the roll while the others shoot from the side, and a teammate can revive you if the poison catches you out. As with every boss, let the host turn in the quest for credit, and warn teammates before throwing Dynamite — it damages everyone.
Co-op guideSpeedrun & Achievement Tricks
- Bean speedrun (finish the game in under an hour): buy the SMG, upgrade the bullets fully, and grab the extended mag. Ignore the Grill and rush to catch a Seahorse or Needlefish as fast as possible so you can trade for the Carrot and reach the next island.
- The Easy achievement (kill any boss within 10 seconds) is easier on a smaller boss or a pre-aimed spawn; save it for a less tanky fight.
Common Pufferfish Mistakes
- 1
Standing in the open with no tree or building between you and the boss.
- 2
Stopping to shoot instead of shoot-and-relocate.
- 3
Running through the purple poison.
- 4
Chasing a nearly dead Pufferfish and losing your position advantage.
FAQ
How do I get the Carrot bait?
Fish with the Standard Lure, check your catches (don't sell them all), find the one labeled 'endangered creature' — the Needlefish — and feed it to the tourist under the tree. He gives you the Carrot.
Do I really need the SMG?
Not necessarily. One guide could only kill it with the SMG, while a shotgun route — two shells, then run — also clears it. The SMG is faster; the shotgun is cheaper. Both work.
Why does the Pufferfish keep growing?
It grows as you damage it. That is normal — once it is under about half health it is actually easier to read and dodge.
Next story boss
Albatross — Rocks Island
The giant bird the scared islanders keep talking about.