Go slower... Focus on leveling what gear you do have currently. Deathsquitoes are annoying but become very, very easy once you get a better shield. Try a tower shield since you wanna block DSs and not parry them. Block their first hit, then just smack them. They have a very easy mechanic to them...

As for bonemass. That sucks. Sail around and find other swamps. Bonemass will have more than 1 spawn, you just gotta find the other ones too. There should be 4 in the world.