Quick answer: Trade an endangered creature to the Tourist on Island 3 to receive the Carrot, use it as bait to summon the Pufferfish, then keep moving around the trees while firing a strong ranged weapon. In the later phase, widen your route to avoid the purple poison. Check the drops and return the Pufferfish trophy to continue.
Before you start the fight
The Pufferfish is the main progression boss on the third, Desert island. It is a larger difficulty jump than the earlier fights because its rolling charges punish players who stop to aim, and the later phase makes parts of the arena dangerous.
| Need | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Carrot | Complete the Tourist's endangered-creature request | Summons the boss |
| Ranged damage | Bring an upgraded SMG or another reliable firearm | Lets you attack while retreating |
| Open inventory space | Do not fill every slot before the fight | Makes the trophy easier to identify and keep |
| Clear route | Notice the trees and obstacles before casting | Cover breaks up direct charges |
How to get the Carrot bait
- Reach the Desert Island and find the Tourist sitting under a palm tree.
- Accept the request for an endangered creature.
- Use the island's normal fishing route and inspect catches before selling them.
- Return a catch that the game marks as endangered.
- Keep the Carrot the Tourist gives you; it is the Pufferfish trigger.
Pufferfish fight strategy
1. Start with space behind you
Equip the Carrot, cast and be ready to move as soon as the boss is on land. Starting with your back against a shack, tree or shoreline makes the first charge much harder to escape.
2. Kite around the trees
Run a wide circle and fire while the Pufferfish turns or reroutes around cover. Do not plant your feet for a perfect burst. Consistent damage while moving is safer than a long stationary spray.
3. Widen the route in the poison phase
As the boss grows, it begins leaving purple poison around the arena. Keep the same move-first rhythm, but stop cutting through the middle of your old route. Watch the ground and move to clean space before committing to another burst.
4. Check every drop
When the fight ends, inspect the remains and keep the trophy item required by the Tourist. Ordinary meat is not a substitute for the progression drop.
Common mistakes
- Trying to finish the fight with melee while the boss is mobile.
- Standing still to reload or empty a full magazine.
- Backing into the water or a tree because the escape route was not checked first.
- Running through old poison during the later phase.
- Leaving or selling items before confirming the required boss trophy.
Pufferfish FAQ
What bait summons the Pufferfish?
The Tourist’s Carrot is the quest bait used to start the Pufferfish encounter on the third island.
What weapon should you use?
A strong ranged weapon is safer than melee. Launch-week reports most often recommend an upgraded SMG because it lets you keep damaging the boss while moving.
Why should you keep the Pufferfish Fin?
The boss trophy is part of progression. Check the drops carefully and return the required trophy to the quest NPC before leaving.
Sources and verification
- Official How to Fish Steam page — official game loop and progression structure.
- PC Gamer Pufferfish strategy — Tourist quest, Island 3 and movement advice.
- Mobalytics boss guide — Carrot trigger, poison phase and trophy hand-in.