Reference
How to Fish Island Progression — All 5 Islands
Five islands, opened in a fixed order. Each one brings its own fish pool, its own lure tier and one boss standing between you and the next island.
How progression works
You do not unlock an island by sailing further. Each boss drops a trophy, andhanding that trophy to the NPC who asked for it is what opens the next island. A better boat does not skip a step.
| # | Island | How it opens | Boss | Lure tier | Catches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighthouse | Starting area | Spider Crab | Crab Fishing Rod, Free Lure, Hot Dog | 6 |
| 2 | Forest | Hand in the Spider Crab trophy to get the boat | Giant Piranha | Free Lure, Beginner Lure | 8 |
| 3 | Desert | Hand in the Giant Piranha trophy | Pufferfish | Standard Lure | 9 |
| 4 | Rocks | Hand in the Pufferfish trophy | Albatross | Professional Lure | 10 |
| 5 | Volcano | Hand in the Albatross trophy | Bowhead Whale | Scientific Lure | 5 |
That is 38 regular catches across the five pools. Each island page lists what bites there and on what — start with the fish and lure index.
Compiled from published guides and cross-checked between them. Not yet verified in-game by this wiki — corrections welcome.