Tips & Tricks

Short, practical tips: best weapons, best fishing spots, fastest ways to make money, and hidden mechanics.

New islands unlock from quests, not from farming money

Buying every upgrade and stacking cash doesn't open the next island. Progression is gated by local quests and boss objectives. When you reach a new island, talk to the NPCs there first and find the unfinished objective; that's what actually moves you forward.

Tip

Don't sell everything after a boss fight, check for a trophy piece first

Several boss quest hand-ins need a specific trophy-like piece (described variously as a skull, tail, fin, or bone), not just ordinary meat. Selling everything right after the kill can mean losing the one item the quest giver actually wants, forcing another trip.

Tip

Leeches for the Island 2 quest are found on land, not in the water

The leech-collection quest makes it tempting to search the water, but leeches are small ground pickups near the quest area. Lower the camera and check vegetation, structures, and paths instead of the shoreline. Some players have also reported the full count not spawning at once, so if you're clearly stuck below five, it may be a spawn issue rather than a search problem.

Tip

Seagulls can steal fish you've already brought ashore

A fish landing on dry ground isn't automatically secured: seagulls can swoop in and steal it. Deal with anything circling overhead before walking away. The seagulls themselves can also be shot and sold, so a stolen catch isn't a total loss.

Tip

Practice trick shots on weak, disposable fish before trying them on a boss

A flashy finishing shot (like a 360 no-scope) increases the sale value of the kill, not just the achievement progress. Weaken a normal fish first to create a safe opening, then practice the trick shot on the kill. Don't try to learn the timing during a boss fight, where one missed attempt costs you an opening.

Tip

Drip creatures and each fish's rare variant are separate collection goals

It's easy to assume an unusual-looking catch fills every collection requirement for that species, but the drip-creature set and a normal fish's own rare variant are tracked separately. Check what you actually caught before selling it on the assumption you've already logged the rare version.

Tip

Fully build one weapon before buying attachments for several

Buying a sight here and an upgrade there across multiple guns leaves you with several half-built weapons and none that feel especially strong. The "Fully equipped" achievement also wants every attachment on a single weapon, so picking one gun that fits your playstyle and fully upgrading it first solves both problems at once.

Tip

In co-op, keep track of who picked up the boss trophy item

A boss can drop meat, trophy pieces, and physics objects everywhere at once, and it's easy for a group to assume someone else grabbed the important one. Call out who picked up the trophy piece and make sure that player is present for the quest hand-in, before anyone starts selling.

Tip

Use trees and terrain to break the Pufferfish's approach

Fighting the Pufferfish in the open can turn into a damage race you lose. Trees and solid terrain can interrupt or redirect its approach, creating short windows to shoot safely. It's not a guaranteed stun lock since the physics vary between attempts, but picking a repeatable loop around cover works better than standing in the open.

Tip

Fish aren't just for selling, they can also be used as gambling stakes

Gameplay footage shows caught fish (including a grilled fish) being used as stakes at the roulette table, not just sold for cash. A catch can be sale value, a collection target, or something you risk trying to turn into more, so it's worth deciding what you want from a catch before selling it on autopilot.