How to Fish Bait Guide: Lures, Boss Bait & Where to Get Them
Every lure and bait item in How to Fish, what it catches, and which island sells it — plus the two catches you should never sell.
Lure tiers
Standard fish are caught with the lure tier that matches your island progression. Each new island sells the next tier — buy it as soon as you arrive.
| Lure | Where | Catches |
|---|---|---|
| Free Lure | Lighthouse & Island 2 | Rock Crab, Shrimp, Mackerel, Gar |
| Beginner Lure | Island 2 | Pike, Cod, Goldfish, Perch, Triggerfish |
| Standard Lure | Island 3 | Angelfish, Boxfish, Catfish, Clownfish, Salmon and more |
| Professional Lure | Island 4 | Parrotfish, Bass, Halibut, Flying Fish, Red Snapper and more |
| Scientific Lure | Island 5 | Anglerfish, Blobfish, Oarfish, Superdwarf Fish, Stonefish |
Boss lures
Dedicated lures for specific bosses. Each one is sold near its boss's island:
| Lure | Where | Catches |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner Boss Lure | Island 2 | The Old Pike |
| Standard Boss Lure | Island 3 | Blue Shark |
| Professional Boss Lure | Island 4 | Tuna |
| Scientific Boss Lure | Island 5 | Goblin Shark |
Special bait
How to Fish's signature move: boss bait that looks nothing like bait. Keep these in your inventory instead of selling them.
| Bait | Where | Catches |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Dog | Lighthouse & Island 2 | Rock Crab, Lobster, Piranha |
| Empty Beer Can | Lighthouse (quest item) | Spider Crab |
| Modified Leech | Island 2 (leech quest) | Giant Piranha |
| Carrot | Island 3 | Pufferfish |
| Tuna | Island 4 | Albatross |
| Fish Bucket | Island 5 | Bowhead Whale |
| Bowhead Whale | Island 5 | Mutated Bowhead Whale |
Bait rules that save you money
- Carry the right tier. Old lures lose usefulness on new islands — buy the next tier the moment you unlock it.
- Bombs vs lures are different tools. Dynamite is faster but lowers value per fish; lures plus killscore multipliers pay better over time. See the money guide.
- Boss bait is weird on purpose. Beer cans, carrots, whole tuna — if it has a quest vibe, keep it.
- Lures aren't region locked either. Most species can be caught on other islands with the right lure; islands mostly sell the lures.
Not sure what a lure catches? Filter every fish by bait in theFish Finder:
🐟 Search by bait in the Fish Finder
FAQ
What bait do I need in How to Fish?
Standard fish take the lure tier of your island (Free → Beginner → Standard → Professional → Scientific). Bosses take boss lures or special items.
What bait catches the Spider Crab?
An Empty Beer Can, on the Crab Fishing Rod at the Lighthouse.
What bait catches the Pufferfish?
A Carrot, on Island 3 (Desert).
Which catches should I never sell?
A Tuna (bait for the Albatross) and a Bowhead Whale (bait for the Mutated Bowhead Whale).
Related:Fish Locations Guide ·Fish Finder ·Boss Fish Tips ·Money Guide