Where to Find the Endangered Fish in How to Fish

The Tourist sitting by the tree on Island 3 can’t swim — there’s “a scary fish in the ocean” he’s too afraid to step into. He’ll trade you his special bait for “one of those endangered creatures,” and his only hint is “You’ll know it when you see it.” Here’s what actually counts.

Which Fish Count as Endangered

The acceptance rule, straight from the quest: any fish whose inspect tag says “Endangered.”

• Seahorse — confirmed. The reference run handed one in and completed the quest.
• Drip Seahorse — confirmed too. The seahorse caught in the reference run was actually the rare Drip variant, and it was accepted without issue. The Endangered tag belongs to the species, not the variant — so don’t hold the Drip back for your collection if you want the Carrot now.
• At least one more species qualifies. The reference runner later caught a second fish tagged “Endangered species” (a different, elongated fish) — so the seahorse isn’t unique. No complete list of qualifying species exists yet; trust the tag, not the shape.

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The proof in one frame: a Drip Seahorse catch with the "1.25x Endangered Species" bonus on screen — the tag belongs to the species, variant or not.

Where and How to Catch One

Honest answer: ordinary fishing around Island 3, and some patience. There is no confirmed special bait, rod, or spot — the reference runner asked out loud whether it was “just luck of the draw” and never found otherwise. A co-op group in another launch video also pulled a seahorse from a regular cast. Fish normally, inspect anything unusual, and watch for the Endangered tag.

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No secret method — regular casts in the waters around Island 3 are exactly how the confirmed catches happened.

Step by Step

1. Reach Island 3 and talk to the Tourist by the tree to activate the quest.
2. Fish the waters around the island with your regular rod and lures.
3. Inspect uncommon catches — you’re looking for the Endangered tag.
4. Hand the tagged fish (Drip variant included) to the Tourist.
5. Take the Carrot bait he gives you.
6. Don’t cast the Carrot until you’re prepared — food, a ranged weapon, and tree cover. A failed boss attempt consumes the Carrot, and the only way to get another is catching another endangered fish.

Common Mistakes

• Hunting for a fixed spawn or secret bait. Nothing supports one; the tag shows up on random regular catches.
• Keeping the Drip Seahorse for the collection and stalling the chain — more seahorses can be caught later.
• Casting the Carrot straight after the hand-in, unprepared. The classic chain mistake; see the Pufferfish boss guide before you cast.
• Cooking or selling your only tagged catch before the hand-in. Extras are safe to cook for money; the quest needs one intact.
• Mixing up the two Island 3 NPCs: the shark goes to the Grill Master, the endangered fish to the Tourist.

Watch It Done

I'm Playing 100% of How to Fish — Drip Seahorse catch at 1:16:41

Jump to:1:01:43 Meeting the Tourist, quest given1:16:41 Drip Seahorse caught and handed in, Carrot received1:17:33 Carrot cast — Pufferfish spawns1:31:48 Fin hand-in, Island 4 coordinates

What Happens Next

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The end of the chain: kill the Pufferfish the Carrot summons, keep the Pufferfish Fin, and the Tourist hands over the Island 4 coordinates.

Carrot → Pufferfish boss → keep the Pufferfish Fin → Tourist → flash drive with the Island 4 coordinates. The full post-boss checklist is in What to Do After the Pufferfish.