How to Fish WikiFor How to Fish 1.1.3
Bowhead Whale

Bowhead Whale Boss: Fish Bucket, Fight and the Volcano

The first of the two final whales: stand underneath it while it is on the ground, run when it launches, then carry the body into the volcano.

BossVolcano (Island 5)
Checked against How to Fish 1.1.3
Summon itemFish Bucket (from the scientist for 5 creatures)
Health20000 (Normal; Easy 75%, Hard 125%)
Recommended weaponsAssault Rifle ($20,000) with Extended Mag and maximum bullet upgrades
Next stepThrow the body into the volcano crater to spawn the Mutated Bowhead Whale.

Fish Bucket: how to summon the whale

The scientist in the yellow hazard suit gives you the Fish Bucket for any five creatures.

  1. Throw a lit Dynamite stick into the water and collect the dead fish, or buy five Beers; any five items count.
  2. Throw five to the scientist with Q and press E at 5/5 to take the Fish Bucket.
  3. Catch spare fish and drop them near your fighting spot and higher up the volcano for food.
  4. Fit the Fish Bucket on the long Fishing Rod, cast from the shore near the camp and step back as it bites, or its opening slam lands on you.

How to kill the whale boss

Its whole pattern is ground time and air time.

  1. When it is grounded, move right under its body and keep shooting; its attacks cannot reach that spot.
  2. When it launches high into the air, sprint away without looking back.
  3. Return once it has slammed down and repeat.

Bowhead Whale solo and in co-op

Solo, the under-the-whale rule is enough; keep food on the ground so you never open the inventory mid-fight.

Each extra player adds health, and the same rules carry straight over to the mutated whale that follows, so agree on positions before casting.

Assault Rifle kit for the whales

The Assault Rifle ($20,000) from the military supplies is the weapon for both whales. Max its bullet damage, add the Extended Mag ($5,400) and buy the extra inventory slots.

Speedrunners use stacked Dynamite instead: roughly 16 to 18 sticks for this whale.

Bowhead Whale health

The Bowhead Whale has 20,000 health on Normal (75% on Easy, 125% on Hard). Patch 1.0.4 nerfed it.

Carry the whale into the volcano

Do not sell or eat the body, even though it is worth $8,000: it summons the final boss.

Pick it up, climb the path up the volcano to the rim on the camp side and throw it into the crater. The mutated whale bursts out about three seconds later.