Quick answer: The third island is Desert Island. To get off it, trade an endangered creature to the Tourist for the Carrot, use the Carrot to summon Pufferfish, keep the boss trophy / Fin and return it to the Tourist. This unlocks the coordinates for Rocks Island. The Coconut and Blue Shark routes are optional and will not move the main story forward.
Find the step blocking your run
| What you see | What the game still needs |
|---|---|
| Island 3 is not available | Return the Giant Piranha skeleton on Island 2; the kill alone is not enough. |
| The Tourist will not give you the Carrot | Bring a catch explicitly marked endangered and do not sell or cook it first. |
| You found a Coconut tree | That starts optional Bing Bong content, not the story route. |
| Pufferfish is dead but you are still stuck | Pick up the trophy / Fin, return it to the Tourist and confirm the Rocks Island coordinates. |
Story location order
How to reach Island 3
Island 3 follows the Giant Piranha route on Island 2. Complete the three-Leech quest, use the modified bait for the Piranha encounter and finish the boss hand-in before expecting the next island route to open.
If the Island 2 quest is stuck, use the three-Leech guide first.
Third Island checklist
| Objective | Action | Keep |
|---|---|---|
| Map the island | Talk to the Tourist and other available NPCs | Quest context |
| Grillmaster (optional) | Use a Standard Boss Lure for the Blue Shark | The Blue Shark for the side objective |
| Tourist request | Catch and inspect an endangered creature | The Carrot reward |
| Prepare | Buy ranged damage and enough ammunition | Cash for a retry |
| Pufferfish | Use the Carrot and kite around cover | The boss trophy / Fin |
| Progress | Return the required trophy to the Tourist | Next coordinates |
Optional: Blue Shark and the Grill
The Standard Boss Lure can summon the Blue Shark on Desert Island. This is a useful Grillmaster side route, but it is not the boss that unlocks Rocks Island. If money is limited, secure the Tourist's Carrot and the Pufferfish loadout first.
Open the Blue Shark encounter guide →
The endangered creature request
Use the current build's inspection information rather than memorising one species from an old video. The quest cares about the endangered status. Inspect catches before cooking or selling them and return one that the game explicitly labels endangered.
What is the Coconut for?
The Coconut is optional bait for Bing Bong, a secret catch on Desert Island. Buy it directly from the marked palm tree for $350, use it with a Fishing Rod and prepare for a fast fight after the catch lands. It does not help with the Tourist quest or unlock Rocks Island.
Follow the illustrated Bing Bong and Coconut route →
Prepare for the Pufferfish
Do not use the Carrot the moment you receive it. Check your ammunition, inventory space and escape route. The Pufferfish is safest when fought at range while circling the island's trees. Its later phase leaves purple poison, so old ground can become unsafe.
Read the complete Pufferfish boss strategy →
How to leave for Rocks Island
- Inspect the Pufferfish remains and keep the progression trophy / Fin rather than ordinary meat.
- Return to the Tourist and complete the full hand-in conversation.
- Confirm that the Rocks Island coordinates are now available.
- Use the boat and Radar route only after that confirmation; sailing away before the hand-in does not complete progression.
Why players get stuck here
- Selling an endangered catch before reading its status.
- Confusing the optional Coconut or Blue Shark routes with main progression.
- Using the Carrot without a useful ranged weapon or enough ammunition.
- Killing the Pufferfish but bringing the wrong remains back to the Tourist.
- Leaving the island before the trophy hand-in completes.
- Following a launch-day species or damage claim that changed in a later patch.
Third Island FAQ
What is the third island in How to Fish?
The third story location is Desert Island, after the starting Lighthouse and Forest Island.
How do you reach the third island?
Defeat Giant Piranha on Island 2, keep its skeleton and return the skeleton to the woman beside the lake to receive the Desert Island coordinates.
How do you get off the third island?
Complete the Tourist’s endangered-creature request for the Carrot, defeat Pufferfish, keep its progression trophy or Fin and return it to the Tourist to unlock the Rocks Island coordinates.
What is the Coconut for?
The $350 Coconut is optional bait for the secret Bing Bong catch. It does not unlock the next island.
Sources and verification
- Official Steam page — island, quest and boss progression loop.
- PC Gamer's Island 3 Pufferfish route — Tourist and endangered-creature quest.
- Destructoid complete walkthrough — Blue Shark side route and Pufferfish progression.