
Starting out in How to Fish can feel a little confusing because the game does not always tell you what is worth keeping, where you should spend your money, or which fights you should avoid.

When you reach an island, do not immediately run off looking for something to catch. Check the island and talk to its NPCs first.
NPCs can give you quests and point you toward things worth doing in the area. Picking up these quests before you start exploring also means you are less likely to complete an objective and then realize you never accepted the related quest.
Make this a habit whenever you reach a new island. Talk to the available NPCs, see what they need, and then decide what you want to do next.
Selling catches is one of the ways you can make money in How to Fish, but that does not mean you should sell everything in your inventory.
Be careful with unusual items you get from bosses. Some of these drops may be needed for quests, so selling them as soon as you get them can create extra work later.
Regular catches are much safer to sell when you need money. If an item looks rare or comes from a boss, keep it until you know whether a quest needs it. This is especially useful early in the game when you may not know which items are important yet.
You do not always have to fight a boss in a wide open area. In fact, doing that can make some fights harder than they need to be.
Fast bosses can quickly close the gap and make it difficult to stay in control. Look around for terrain that can help you create space or limit how easily the boss can reach you.
Instead of constantly trying to outrun a fast boss, use the area around you to make the fight easier to manage. Positioning matters, and a good spot can sometimes be more useful than simply trying to deal more damage.
Getting some money does not mean you need to spend all of it right away. It is better to buy upgrades when they fix a problem you are currently having.
If your weapon is making fights too slow, a weapon upgrade may be useful. If your boat is holding back your exploration, putting money into the boat can make more sense. The best upgrade depends on what is stopping your progress.
Try to keep some money available instead of spending everything whenever you visit a shop. This gives you more freedom to buy a useful weapon or boat upgrade when you actually need one.
You do not need to go after the hardest creatures as soon as you begin. Focus on catches you can deal with consistently and use them to learn how the game works.
Regular catches can also be sold to build up your money. That money can then go toward upgrades that make tougher areas and encounters easier.
This creates a simple early-game loop. Catch creatures you can handle, sell the normal catches you do not need, save some money, and upgrade when there is a clear reason to do so.
Once you are better equipped and more comfortable with the game, you can start taking on harder targets.
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