How to Fish Boat Keys — Beer Can and Spider Crab Route

FAST ANSWER

The Beer Can starts the boat-key chain; the returned empty can is the Spider Crab bait, and the keeper completes the route after the boss.

To get the boat keys, buy the Beer Can, give it to the Lighthouse keeper, keep the empty Dry Beer Can he returns, and use that can as bait for the Spider Crab. Defeat the boss and finish the keeper's hand-in to receive the keys. The Beer Can is part of the main route, not an optional healing or sale item.

Complete boat-key sequence

1. Speak to the Lighthouse keeper and complete the opening interactions.
2. Catch or collect enough early creatures to buy the basic tools you need.
3. Buy the Beer Can from the starting-island shop.
4. Give the Beer Can to the Lighthouse keeper.
5. Keep the returned Dry Beer Can. Do not sell or discard it.
6. Use the Dry Beer Can as the bait that summons the Spider Crab.
7. Defeat the Spider Crab. If the charge keeps hitting, use the Spider Crab fight guide.
8. Collect the relevant boss result and return to the Lighthouse keeper to finish the objective.
9. Take the boat keys, then buy the Radar before leaving so the next destination can be followed.

If the Spider Crab does not appear

Check the item name in your inventory. The trigger uses the returned empty or Dry Beer Can, not a new unopened Beer Can. If the keeper has not returned it, finish the current dialogue and confirm that the purchased can was actually handed over.

If the boss is already dead but the keys are missing, return to the keeper with the active quest item instead of immediately summoning another boss. Killing the creature and completing the NPC hand-in are separate progression steps throughout How to Fish.

Continue with the full island walkthrough after the boat opens, or use the three Leeches guide on the next island.

Sources

• How to Fish full island and boss walkthrough
• How to Fish walkthrough and achievement route
• How to Fish official Steam listing