How to Fish: Unlock the Second Island (Spider Crab Boss)
Beat the Spider Crab, hand in its Shell, get the Boat Keys, buy the Radar, and sail northwest to Forest. Killing the boss alone does not unlock the boat. Here is the full sequence.
Goal: Beat the Spider Crab on the starting Lighthouse island, hand in its unique drop, get the Boat Keys, buy the Radar, and sail northwest to the second island (Forest). Killing the boss alone does not unlock the boat. You must hand in the Shell to the keeper first.
1Farm Money and Gear Up First
- 1Eat clams so you do not starve.
Feed extra clams and fish to the lighthouse keeper for cash.
- 2Buy the Crab Fishing Rod ($3) first.
Catch crabs and shrimp, drop them, punch them (kill multipliers help), sell to the keeper.
- 3Save for a weapon before the beer.
Knife $45 or Brass Knuckles $24. Sharpen the knife on the anvil by the lighthouse ($12 first upgrade, $28 second). Players recommend at least two upgrades.
2Get the Empty Beer Can Lure
- 1Buy the Beer Can ($12).
- 2Hand the full can to the keeper (Q / feed).
Do not drink it yourself. That wastes the $12 and you have to buy another.
- 3He returns the Empty Beer Can.
It auto-equips as your lure. This is what attracts the Spider Crab.
3Fight the Spider Crab
Cast the empty can near shore. The crab has a health bar and a white escape timer underneath. If the timer empties, it leaves and you recast.
- Stay close enough that it charges, not so far that it starts jumping. Jumps waste time and hit harder.
- Sidestep the lunge. Do not trade hits face-on. 3-4 claw hits will drop you.
- When stars or swirls appear over its head (self-stun after a missed charge), run in and land 2-3 hits, then back off.
- Repeat. Eat a clam or fish if you are low.
- Keep damaging during stun windows so the escape timer does not run out.
4Hand In the Shell (The Actual Unlock)
- 1Pick up everything after the kill.
Eat or sell meat chunks if you want. Keep the Spider Crab Shell. Do not sell or cook it.
- 2Give the Shell to the keeper.
He gives you the Boat Keys.
5Buy the Radar and Sail to Forest
- 1Buy the handheld Radar ($10) from the keeper before you leave.
- 2Board the boat and equip the Radar.
A green marker appears northwest of the Lighthouse.
- 3Steer to the green marker.
That is Forest, the second island. Dock and get off.
Key Decisions
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Drinking the beer yourself. It wastes the $12 and you get no lure. Hand it to the keeper.
- Fighting before buying or sharpening a weapon. Bare fists take too long and the escape timer runs out.
- Standing in front of the crab and trading hits. 3-4 claw hits will drop you. Sidestep the lunge, punish the stun.
- Running too far away during the fight. It enters the jump phase, which wastes time and hits harder.
- Selling or losing the Shell. The Shell hand-in is what unlocks the boat. Keep it.
- Sailing without the Radar. No green marker means no direction. Buy it for $10 before leaving.
- Thinking the kill alone unlocks the boat. It does not. You must hand in the Shell to the keeper.