Here’s everything you need to do on the Desert (Island 3) in How to Fish:
- Buy the SMG - It is the best weapon in the game. [Highly Recommended]
- Max out the SMG - Add the Compensator and buy the maximum Bullet Damage Upgrades. You can add the Laser and the Red Dot if you want, but skip those if you don’t have enough money. [Recommended but not mandatory]
- Purchase the Standard Lure - Required to catch high-value creatures. [Mandatory]
- Purchase the Inventory Slot - Extremely helpful upgrade. [Optional]
- Fight the Blue Shark and unlock the Grill - Allows you to cook your catch, increasing its value. [Recommended but not mandatory]
- Complete the Tourist’s Quest - Gives you the coordinates for the next island (Island 4). [Mandatory]
- Catch Bing Bong - A secret fish for the completionists. [Optional]
After completing the Forest (Island 2), you’ll get the coordinates for the Desert (Island 3). This island is the midpoint of the game, where you can get better weapons, upgrade your boat, unlock the grill, and much more. This complete How to Fish Desert Island walkthrough will tell you everything you can do on Island 3. We’ll also highlight the optional stuff that you can skip if you’re looking to speedrun the Desert. So, let’s just get to it.
How to Complete the Desert (Island 3) in How to Fish
The Desert Island has better equipment (Lures, Ship Parts), better weapons (Shotgun, SMG), and better fish (Bowlfish, Sea Horse, Sea Urchin). It’s the perfect island for farming money and preparing for Island 4 and Island 5.
Read on to learn more about everything that you can do on this island, including some hidden easter eggs that you can find.
1. Get Better Lures, Weapons, & Upgrades
The first thing you want to do on the Desert Island is to get the Standard Lure and purchase the SMG ($350). These two upgrades will allow you to catch and hunt the high-value fish of Island 3.
After buying the SMG, you should also get the Compensator and buy the maximum Upgrade Bullets that you can from this Island.
If you don’t have it already, make sure you buy the Fishing Rod ($3). It is the best rod in the game right now and is required to catch every boss fish, including the Bowhead Whale.
You can also purchase another Inventory Slot from the gear shop. Make sure you grab that as well.
2. Unlock the Grill
The Desert Island is the first island in How to Fish that has the grill. You can use it to cook your catch. Cooking your catch will increase its value by 1.5x, which can be very helpful if you want to farm money and buy every upgrade possible.
How to Unlock the Grill in How to Fish
To unlock the grill in How to Fish, you need to catch and defeat the Blue Shark. The Blue Shark is a mini-boss that can only be caught on the Desert Island using the Fishing Rod and the Standard Boss Lure. Both of these items can be purchased from the gear shop on the Desert Island.
Defeat the Blue Shark, pick it up, and give it to the NPC standing next to the grill. Now, you can use the grill to cook your catch.
Pro Tip: Remove the fish from the grill as soon as the multiplier hits 1.5x. That’s the highest value multiplier cooking can apply.
3. Complete the Tourist’s Quests
After buying every important upgrade, you can start working towards escaping this island and moving on to Island 4. For that, you need to complete the quest of the Tourist NPC. This quest has two parts.
For the first quest, you need to catch an endangered species and give it to the Tourist. These include the Bowlfish, the Seahorse, and the Needlefish. When you catch any of these, give them to the Tourist instead of selling them to get the Carrot.
With the Carrot in your hand, you can start the second part of the quest: kill the Pufferfish and give the Pufferfish Fin to the Tourist.
When you give the Pufferfish Fin to the Tourist, he’ll give you the coordinates for the Rocks (Island 4).
Pro Tip: Make sure to pick the Pufferfish Meat Chunks, cook them, and sell them to make plenty of money that you can use to buy Island 4 upgrades early.
If you simply want to progress to the next island, that’s all you have to do on the Desert. But if you are looking for something extra, I suggest you try to catch the Bing Bong fish. It is a secret fish that you can only catch on the Desert Island. Check out our detailed How to Fish Bing Bong Guide to learn how to catch and defeat the hidden/secret fish of the Desert Island.
How to Fish Island 3 FAQs
After you kill the Pufferfish Boss, you need to find the Pufferfish Fin (dropped by the Pufferfish upon dying). When you find it, pick it up and give it to the Tourist NPC. He'll give you the coordinates to the next island (Island 4). Now, you can use the boat and the radar to travel to the next island.
The Desert Island has 11 creatures/fish that you can catch. Out of these, 9 creatures can be caught using the Standard Lure. The Blue Shark is a mini-boss and can only be caught using the Standard Boss Lure. To catch the Pufferfish Boss, you'll need the Carrot Lure that you can get from the Tourist NPC.
Endangered fish can be caught using the Standard Lure and the Fishing Rod on Desert Island (Island 3). Seahorse, Bowlfish, and Needlefish are the most common endangered fish that you can catch. Endangered fish are offered to the Tourist NPC to get the Carrot Lure for the Pufferfish Boss.
While you’re here, also check out our How to Fish Tier List that ranks the best weapons in the game. And if you’re struggling to make money, see our guide on How to Farm Money in How to Fish.
