Getting all achievements in How to Fish is much easier when you follow the right order. There are 28 achievements in total, covering the main story, bosses, rare creatures, combat challenges, fishing collections, and several unusual tasks that are easy to miss.
The best approach is to focus on progression first and leave the more complicated achievements until after finishing the game. Once the ending is complete, you keep your equipment and can freely travel between all five islands, making the remaining achievements much less stressful. This guide covers the recommended route from Island 1 through the Volcano, followed by a post-game cleanup route for the remaining achievements.
Before You Start – What You Need to Do?
There are a few things worth knowing before beginning your achievement run. The game can take roughly 5 to 20 hours depending on how directly you follow the objectives and how much time you spend exploring. Most achievements are not particularly difficult, although the final boss and the Bean achievement are considerably more demanding.
Here are some useful tips before you start:
- Keep two save files if possible. One should be your normal playthrough, while the other can be reserved for the Bean speedrun.
- Co-op can make most boss fights easier because multiple players can deal damage and revive each other.
- Bean is better attempted solo because the one-hour limit makes coordination difficult.
- Do not worry about difficult trick-shot achievements during the story.
- Finish the main game first, then return for the cleanup achievements.
- Press Tab to open the creature encyclopedia. It tracks the creatures and drip variants you have already discovered.
- Bosses drop special trophy items rather than normal fish drops. Make sure you bring the correct trophy back to the NPC who requested it.
One important note is that the Bean route mentioned in older guides was affected by the 1.0.5 update. The exploit used by the previous route was patched, so the speedrun may require a different method depending on the current version.
Island 1
Your first island introduces the basic fishing and combat systems while giving you your first few achievements.
Getting Started
The first achievement is extremely simple. Catch any creature, place it on the ground, and kill it.
This should happen naturally as you learn how fishing and combat work, so there is no need to specifically prepare for it.
Drip
Drip creatures are special versions of normal creatures with unusual appearances and rainbow-colored names. They are rare, but you should eventually encounter one while playing normally.
These creatures can also be used at the Reel of Fortune machines found throughout the islands. Drip creatures respawn, so using one does not permanently prevent you from completing the collection later.
Who Stole My Beer
For this achievement, use beer as bait on your fishing rod to summon the spider crab.
Before fighting it, upgrade your brass knuckles as much as possible. The crab has a useful stun behavior that makes the first boss considerably easier than later bosses.
After catching it, dodge its attack and move behind it. The crab can become stunned for a few seconds, giving you an opportunity to attack repeatedly.
Once defeated, collect the shell it drops and bring it to the lighthouse keeper. This gives you the boat keys and unlocks access to the other islands.
Island 2
Island 2 introduces boat upgrades, dynamite, the forest quest, and another boss fight.
Getting an Upgrade
Visit the shack beside the old man and purchase the engine upgrade for $230.
There is another engine available later, but buying this one is cheaper and gives you the achievement without needing to skip ahead.
Buy the Shotgun
If you have enough money for a weapon upgrade, prioritize the shotgun instead of the pistol.
The pistol is not particularly useful for the amount of money it costs, while the shotgun remains useful through several parts of the game.
Dynamite
Dynamite becomes available for $25 on Island 2.
It can be thrown into the water to kill creatures and collect whatever floats back to the surface. It is useful as an emergency food source, although fishing normally remains a better way to make money.
Be careful when using it. Dynamite can hurt or kill you, so avoid throwing it directly at enemies during normal combat.
Dinnertime
This achievement requires completing the forest lady’s quest.
First, search the forest for three leeches. The tall grass on Island 2 can make them difficult to spot, so watch for the pickup prompt while moving through the area.
After collecting all three:
- Give the leeches to the lady.
- Receive the required boss bait.
- Fish up the piranha boss.
- Defeat the piranha.
- Collect its tail.
- Return the tail to the lady.
The achievement unlocks when you complete the final step.
The piranha boss can spawn smaller piranhas during the fight. Use the shotgun against the main boss, then switch to your brass knuckles for the smaller enemies. Keep some food available so you can heal during the battle.
Island 3
Island 3 is where cooking becomes a major part of your progression and money-making strategy.
Grillmaster
The Grillmaster asks you to bring him a shark. Purchase the Standard Boss Lure for $280, use it to summon the shark, and defeat it.
Return the shark to the Grillmaster to unlock access to the grill.
The island has plenty of coconut trees, which can interfere with movement during the fight. The shark can sometimes get stuck around them, giving you free opportunities to attack, although you should not rely on this.
How Cooking Works
Once you have access to the grill, cooking becomes one of your most useful tools for making money.
Press F while holding an item to inspect its value and cooking multiplier. The value increases while the item is being cooked and reaches 1.5x before eventually dropping to zero once it becomes completely burnt.
The ideal moment to remove an item is at the 1.5x multiplier.
Burnt items have almost no value and provide very little benefit when eaten, so avoid letting valuable fish turn black unless you specifically need the achievement associated with eating burnt food.
Cooking is not limited to fish either. Other items, including weapons, can also receive the multiplier before being sold.
Vacation
For the Vacation achievement, help the tourist by giving him an endangered fish.
Endangered fish are different from drip creatures. Certain species are marked as endangered when caught and can provide additional bonuses.
Examples include:
- Needlefish
- Bowl fish
- Seahorse
Use the appropriate standard lure and catch an endangered fish, then give it to the tourist.
He rewards you with a carrot, which acts as the bait needed to summon the Island 3 boss.
The pufferfish boss rolls toward you and becomes larger during the battle. Later in the fight, it produces a purple poison cloud, so avoid standing in its path while attacking.
Buy More Inventory Space
Extra inventory and hotbar slots are worth purchasing as soon as they become affordable.
Having more space means you can carry additional cooked fish into boss fights. This becomes especially important during the later encounters, where having enough food can determine whether you survive.
Island 4
Island 4 focuses on stronger boat upgrades, a special bird boss encounter, and additional weapon attachments.
I Am Speed
Purchase the Dual Motors for $860 from the shack near the grill.
This is the best boat engine available at this point and unlocks the achievement.
Terrorizing Bird
For this achievement, purchase the Professional Boss Lure for $1,200.
Use the lure to summon the tuna mini-boss. After defeating the tuna, place it on the ground as bait. The seagull will then approach and trigger the boss encounter.
The lure can potentially survive the summon because it has a durability chance, but the tuna itself is consumed.
The seagull has two main attacks. It can dive directly at you or fire a ranged attack after an audible warning.
Buildings are extremely useful during this fight. Stay inside for protection, then step outside when the bird is vulnerable.
The red enemy indicator can be seen through terrain, making it possible to track the bird while remaining under cover.
A fully upgraded Uzi is enough for the fight, although the sniper rifle is another option if you prefer more accurate weapons.
Weapon Attachments
Island 4 also expands your attachment options.
A weapon can have four attachment slots, including options such as:
- Extended Magazine
- Laser Sight
- Red Dot or Sniper Scope
- Compensator or Suppressor
These attachments become particularly useful for the final boss and several post-game combat achievements.
Island 5 – Volcano
Island 5 is where you should prepare for the game’s final encounters.
Use Lava for Cooking
Lava is one of the best cooking methods because it automatically reaches a 1.5x multiplier.
Unlike the normal grill, you do not have to worry about pulling the item out at exactly the right moment. Once you reach the Volcano, cook the fish you intend to sell or use for healing with lava.
Stock up heavily before starting the final boss sequence. Having a large amount of cooked fish can make the ending much easier.
Fully Equipped
You need to apply every available attachment to one weapon.
A fully upgraded assault rifle is already a strong choice for the final boss, so completing this naturally during your Volcano progression is recommended.
Wait until you have enough money and fish before buying everything. Island 5 is a better place to farm cash because fish have higher values.
The Whale
Give the scientist five fish to receive the whale bait.
Dynamite can be a quick way to collect the required fish if you are short on time.
Use the bait to summon the whale and defeat it. The whale charges toward you and can launch itself into the air before coming down for a powerful attack.
After defeating it, take the whale to the Volcano and throw it inside. This starts the final boss sequence.
Deadliest Catch
The final encounter is against the lava whale, which is much more dangerous than the regular whale.
It can:
- Roll toward you
- Stomp the ground
- Create dangerous lava areas
- Launch lava meteorites
- Become more aggressive during its second phase
- Jump into the air and attack from above
The second phase is especially dangerous because the boss becomes much more aggressive.
For this fight, use a fully upgraded assault rifle with all available attachments and carry as much lava-cooked food as possible.
This is arguably the hardest fight in the entire achievement list.
We Are So Back
Defeating the final boss does not immediately unlock the achievement.
After killing the lava whale, collect its tail and return it to the scientist. He gives you the RHIB keys.
Start the RHIB and watch the ending sequence to officially complete the game.
Post-Game Cleanup
After the ending, you return to Island 1 with your equipment intact. All five islands are available, making this the perfect time to finish the remaining achievements.
You should avoid trying to complete most of these during the main story because the post-game gives you better weapons, more money, and easier access to every area.
Easy
Kill a boss within 10 seconds.
The first boss is the easiest target. Use beer as bait to summon the spider crab, then use a powerful upgraded weapon to eliminate it quickly.
With endgame equipment, the fight should be over almost immediately.
360 No Scope
For this achievement, kill a creature after performing a full 360-degree rotation before firing.
You must also fire from the hip rather than aiming down the sights.
A sniper rifle works well because the weapons use hitscan mechanics, meaning you do not need to compensate for bullet travel.
Find a weak creature that can survive only one shot, rotate completely, and fire immediately after completing the spin.
Noob
This achievement requires getting a kill without receiving a kill-score multiplier.
The easiest approach is to find a fish on the ground and repeatedly shoot it with a ranged weapon.
Do not perform stylish actions or special shots. You want the most basic kill possible so the kill score remains at zero.
Impressive
You need to reach a 5x kill-score multiplier.
Kill-score modifiers stack together, so the easiest method is to shoot a seagull in the head while it is flying and do so from the hip at a distance.
A laser sight helps because it provides a visual aiming point without requiring you to use ADS.
An assault rifle is a good option because it can produce enough damage to activate additional modifiers.
Some useful modifiers include:
- No Scope
- One Shot One Kill
- Overkill
- Fly Fishing
- Last Bullet
- Triple Kill
- Point Blank
- Finally
Getting several modifiers together can push the multiplier well beyond 5x.
Let Me Go
This achievement is earned by getting picked up by a seagull.
Die, but do not immediately choose the respawn option. Stay where you are and wait for a seagull to approach.
If it does not happen naturally, you can use dynamite to kill yourself, then remain still until the bird picks you up.
Yummy in My Tummy
Buy the Beginner Boss Lure for $40 from Island 2.
Use it to summon the easiest mini-boss you can access with this lure. Defeat it, then hold the body over a grill until it becomes completely black.
Once it is fully burnt, eat it.
Competitive Eating
This achievement is completed through the same action as Yummy in My Tummy.
After burning the mini-boss until the cooking multiplier drops to zero, eat it to trigger the achievement.
You can therefore unlock both achievements during the same attempt.
GOLD GOLD GOLD
This achievement requires obtaining a legendary skin from the Reel of Fortune.
Find a drip creature and place it into the machine. The result is random, so you may need several attempts.
The important thing to remember is that drip creatures respawn. You can keep hunting them and continue using them for additional spins.
I’m the Bird Now
To make the boat fly, place a bundle of dynamite underneath it while the boat is in the water.
Detonate the dynamite and the explosion will launch the boat into the air without destroying it.
Everyone’s Dream
This is one of the more unusual achievements because it requires killing a seagull with dynamite.
You can shoot a placed stick of dynamite to detonate it remotely.
A simple setup is:
- Put dynamite on the ground.
- Place a fish near the dynamite.
- Move far enough away to avoid the explosion.
- Wait for a seagull to approach the fish.
- Shoot the dynamite when the bird is nearby.
The fish will be destroyed by the explosion, but you can repeat the setup if the first attempt fails.
Collector
Collector requires finding and killing every creature in the game.
The easiest way to track your progress is to press Tab and check the encyclopedia.
The important trick is that the creature you catch is determined by the lure, rather than simply the island you are standing on.
This means you can do most of the collection work from Island 5 instead of repeatedly traveling around the map.
Check the encyclopedia for missing creatures, determine which lure is needed, and continue fishing until the missing entries are completed.
Fishipedia
Fishipedia works similarly, except this achievement focuses on finding every drip creature.
Use the encyclopedia to see which variants you are missing.
Drip creatures are rare, so this is primarily a patience challenge. Keep fishing and checking your collection until the remaining variants appear.
All In
All In is best completed together with the Millionaire achievement.
The strategy involves the roulette machine on Island 5.
Green pays 35 times the value of the item you bet, so you need to make sure your bet is valuable enough to reach the required amount when the multiplier hits.
For example, if you need to sell an item worth $100,000 after winning, the minimum bet value is roughly:
$100,000 ÷ 35 = about $2,858
Since lava increases the value by 1.5x, you should aim for fish worth comfortably more than the minimum after cooking.
The green result has a low chance of appearing, so this achievement is based heavily on luck. Continue fishing on Island 5, lava-cook valuable fish, and only gamble the ones that meet your target value.
Rich! Millionaire
The Millionaire achievement can be completed during the same roulette strategy.
Instead of gambling every fish you catch, keep the high-value ones for the green roulette result and sell lower-value fish normally to keep funding your fishing operation.
Because the green result is rare, expect this to take several attempts. One exceptionally valuable fish can be enough to complete the requirement when the roulette lands correctly.
Handyman
The Handyman achievement sounds much harder than it actually is.
You need to defeat the final boss using your bare hands, but the important detail is that only the killing blow needs to be a punch.
You do not need to fight the entire lava whale with your fists.
Instead:
- Start the final boss fight normally.
- Use your assault rifle to reduce the lava whale’s health.
- Stop attacking when its health is extremely low.
- Switch to your fists.
- Move close to the boss.
- Land the final punch.
The difficult part is judging the boss’s remaining health without accidentally killing it with your gun.
If you are playing co-op, this becomes much easier. Other players can continue damaging the boss while one player switches to fists for the final hit. Everyone in the lobby can receive the achievement if the killing punch is registered correctly.
Bean – The One Hour Run
Bean requires you to finish the entire game within one hour.
This is the rarest and most demanding achievement in the list because the route that previously made the achievement easier was patched in version 1.0.5.
Older strategies relied on reaching the final island without properly unlocking it. That method no longer works after the update.
The safest approach is to keep a separate save specifically for the speedrun instead of combining it with your normal achievement playthrough.
The run should also be done solo. Although co-op is technically possible, coordinating multiple players under a strict one-hour timer can create more problems than it solves.
The final boss is where most attempts are likely to fail, so learning the route and practicing the ending is more important than trying to save a few seconds during the early sections.
Getting all 28 achievements in How to Fish is mostly a matter of following the right progression order and leaving the difficult cleanup tasks until after the story. The first four islands introduce the required weapons, boat upgrades, quests, and bosses, while Island 5 gives you access to the best equipment and the final encounters.
Once you finish the game, return to the earlier islands with your endgame gear and work through the remaining combat, roulette, collection, and trick-shot achievements. Most of them become much easier once you have strong weapons and plenty of money. The two achievements that deserve the most preparation are Handyman, because of the required final punch, and Bean, because of its strict one-hour completion limit.