In How to Fish, the Scientific Boss Lure is bought on Island 5, the Volcano island, for $5,800, and it summons that island’s optional mini-boss.
How to Fish, the physics fishing-and-shooting game from Dazed Games on Steam, hides one of its priciest lures behind its final island. The Scientific Boss Lure isn’t part of any quest and nothing in the story sends you after it, which is exactly why so many players finish the game without ever knowing it exists. Here’s where it lives and what it’s actually for.
The Volcano island price and what the lure summons
You’ll find the Scientific Boss Lure for sale on Island 5, the Volcano island, at a cost of $5,800. Using it summons the island’s optional mini-boss — a creature that exists purely as a collection target, with no bearing on the ending.
Key That’s the whole reason it matters: killing this mini-boss is the last check-mark for post-game Collector cleanup. The sources place it firmly on Island 5 but don’t pin down the exact shop building or vendor, so expect to sweep the island’s stalls to find the lure on sale.
Save this purchase for after the credits
Treat the Scientific Boss Lure as an endgame or post-game buy, never a progression lure. It does nothing to move you through the five islands, and at nearly six thousand it’s one of the heaviest single expenses in the game.
The smart moment to buy it is after you finish the story. Once the credits roll you crash back onto Island 1 with all your gear, and every one of the five islands is freely open — so you can sail to the Volcano, summon the mini-boss, and clean it up safely instead of picking a fight mid-run. Just budget for it in advance, because if you sink your endgame money into upgrades and roulette first, you’ll be grinding all over again to afford this one lure.
Scientific Boss Lure versus the Scientific Lure
| Lure | Use |
|---|---|
| Scientific Boss Lure ($5,800) | Summons Island 5’s optional mini-boss for Collector cleanup |
| Scientific Lure / Shrimp ($500) | Repeatable farming lure for high-value fish during progression |
This is where people trip up, because the game sells two very similar-sounding items. The Scientific Lure — also called the Shrimp lure — costs $500 and is a farming tool you buy in bulk to pull up high-value fish during the mid-to-late grind. The Scientific Boss Lure is a one-off summon item at more than eleven times the price. Same word, completely different jobs.
Before you spend, press Tab to open the encyclopedia and confirm Island 5’s optional mini-boss is actually the gap you’re missing — the price is too steep to buy it blind.
Reach Island 5
Sail to the Volcano island, where the lure is sold and the mini-boss lives.
Buy the Scientific Boss Lure
Purchase it for $5,800 from the island’s shops.
Summon the mini-boss
Use the lure to trigger the optional encounter.
Kill the mini-boss
Take it down the same way you handle the island’s other creatures, with your maxed loadout.
Check the encyclopedia
Open Tab to confirm the creature now registers toward Collector.
Related How to Fish guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need the Scientific Boss Lure to finish How to Fish?
No. The lure and its mini-boss sit entirely outside the main storyline — you can reach and watch the ending without ever buying it. It only becomes relevant once you’re chasing full completion after the credits.
Is the Scientific Boss Lure tied to the Collector achievement?
Yes. Collector asks you to find and kill every creature in the game, and Island 5’s optional mini-boss is one of those creatures. Because nothing in the story points you toward it, this lure is often the very last thing standing between a player and that achievement.
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