Quick answer: Complete the scientist’s five-fish request, use the Fish Bucket to summon the Bowhead Whale, run clear of its aerial body slam and preserve the carcass for the volcano.
Why this encounter matters
Bowhead Whale is the first half of the final story sequence. The scientist trades a Fish Bucket after receiving five Volcano-native fish; the bucket summons the whale, and the complete carcass must be carried up the wooden route and thrown into the crater.
Bowhead Whale route at a glance
| Encounter order | #9 of 10 boss and major encounters |
|---|---|
| Location | Volcano Island |
| Story status | Required for the main route or its setup |
| Summon / trigger | Fish Bucket |
| Item to keep | The complete Bowhead Whale carcass. |
How to unlock and start Bowhead Whale
- Give the hazmat scientist five fish and receive the Fish Bucket.
- Stock ammunition and cooked healing before using the bait.
- Sprint away when the whale launches into the air.
- Attack after a charge or body slam while the path is clear.
- Carry the complete carcass up the wooden route to the crater.
Preparation specific to this fight
- Catch five Volcano-native fish with the Scientific Lure and hand them to the hazmat scientist one at a time until the Fish Bucket is awarded.
- Buy the Assault Rifle and at least a couple of damage upgrades before using the one-use quest bait.
- Stock cooked healing and full ammunition, then identify a long run-out lane for the body slam.
- Keep inventory capacity for the complete carcass and learn the wooden path to the crater.
Attack patterns and safe responses
| Pattern | How to answer it |
|---|---|
| Aerial launch | Stop shooting and sprint as soon as the whale rises. Distance from the landing point is the only safe priority. |
| Body slam recovery | Turn back after the impact and use the grounded recovery for sustained Assault Rifle damage. |
| Large target pressure | Do not let its size tempt you to stand underneath it. Keep an exit lane visible even while firing. |
Step-by-step fight plan
- Complete all five native-fish hand-ins and verify the Fish Bucket is in inventory.
- Heal, reload and move to open ground before using the bucket.
- Fire while the whale is grounded but keep the escape lane behind you clear.
- When it launches, sprint away rather than trying to finish a magazine.
- Return damage after each landing until the fight ends.
- Pick up the whole carcass, carry it up the planks and throw it into the volcano.
Solo and co-op approaches
Solo
Solo play is a rhythm of damage and full retreat. Reload after a landing window if needed, but never allow an unfinished magazine to keep you beneath the next body slam.
Co-op
Spread side-by-side with the same retreat direction so everyone clears the landing zone. Nominate one player to carry the carcass after the kill; the others can lead the route to the crater.
Common mistakes in this encounter
- Using the Fish Bucket before upgrading the Assault Rifle.
- Continuing to shoot while the whale is already airborne.
- Selling, cooking or abandoning the carcass after the kill.
- Returning to the scientist with the body instead of throwing it into the crater.
If the attempt or unlock fails
If the Fish Bucket is missing, continue the scientist dialogue and confirm that all five fish were native Volcano catches. If the whale is dead but the final boss has not appeared, carry and throw the whole carcass into the crater.
Bowhead Whale FAQ
How do you get the Fish Bucket?
Give five fish native to Volcano Island to the hazmat scientist; current walkthroughs recommend using the Scientific Lure for those catches.
What should you do when the whale jumps?
Stop attacking and run as far from the landing area as possible. The body slam can end an attempt very quickly.
Where does the carcass go?
Carry the complete body up the wooden route and throw it into the volcano to trigger the mutated form.
What happens next
Throwing the carcass into the crater summons the final boss.
Open the complete Volcano Island route →
Sources, method and evidence limits
The five Scientific Lure catches, Fish Bucket, Assault Rifle preparation, aerial body slam, whole-carcass requirement and crater trigger are corroborated by current Destructoid and map walkthroughs.
- Official How to Fish Steam page — official game and progression premise.
- Destructoid boss guide — encounter patterns, triggers and recommended responses.
- Destructoid complete walkthrough — island order, economy choices and story hand-ins.
- All Things How boss guide — cross-check for bait, attack windows and unlock confirmation.