In How to Fish on Steam, Dazed Games’ co-op fishing shooter, you get the boat keys by baiting your rod with a beer can on Island 1, fishing up and killing the spider crab boss, taking its shell to the lighthouse keeper, and accepting the keys he hands you.
How to Fish is a physics-based co-op fishing game from Dazed Games on Steam, and despite the name it is also a shooter — you crash onto a small island and have to fight your way back home. The boat keys are the first real gate on that journey: until you have them, you are stuck on Island 1. They come from a single quest tied to the island’s spider crab boss, and once the lighthouse keeper hands them over, travel to the other islands opens up.
What to set up before the spider crab fight
The spider crab is Island 1’s boss, so treat it like one. Spend your early time on the island fishing and selling your catch until you have enough money for gear, because going in with your bare fists is a slow, painful way to lose.
Max out your brass knuckles’ sharpness before you fish up the spider crab — the boss stunlocks for a few seconds after you get behind it, and sharper knuckles turn that window into real damage.
Bait your rod with a beer can
Rod baits are covered in the tutorial; loading an empty beer can is what lures the spider crab specifically.
Fish up the spider crab
Cast with the beer can equipped and reel in the long-legged crab that has been stealing the lighthouse keeper’s beer.
Dodge its charge
The crab lunges straight at you, so sidestep the charge instead of trading hits head-on.
Hit it from behind during the stun
Once you get behind it, the crab stunlocks for a few seconds — punch it hard with your sharpened brass knuckles while it is frozen. This stun is unique to the first boss, so do not build the habit for later fights.
Pick up the shell it drops
When the crab dies it leaves a shell on the ground; grab it.
Bring the shell to the lighthouse keeper
Carry the shell back to the keeper in his lighthouse and talk to him.
Accept the boat keys
He trades you the boat keys for the shell, and those keys are what actually unlock travel off Island 1.
Keeper won’t take the shell? Check what you’re carrying
If the dialogue refuses to advance, it is almost always because you are holding the wrong thing. The quest wants the spider crab’s shell — its boss trophy — not a chunk of ordinary meat or some other creature you fished up along the way. Every boss in the game drops a distinct trophy item like this, and that trophy is specifically what the quest giver is looking for. Fish up the crab again if you need to, make sure the shell is in hand, and try the keeper once more.
Boat keys aren’t the same as your engine upgrades
| Boat item | How it works |
|---|---|
| Boat keys | Reward from the lighthouse keeper for the spider crab shell; unlocks travel off Island 1. |
| Engine upgrade | $230 at the Island 2 shack next to the old man; the “Getting an upgrade” boost to boat speed. |
| Best engine (Dual Motors) | $860 in the Island 4 shack by the grill; the top motor, which pops “I am speed”. |
Key It is easy to lump everything “boat” together, but the keys only unlock the ability to travel — they do nothing for your speed. The engine upgrades are a separate line of purchases you make later, on other islands, and they are tied to their own achievements. Here is how the three pieces differ:
Related How to Fish guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get the boat keys in How to Fish?
In How to Fish by Dazed Games on Steam, bait your rod with a beer to fish up the spider crab, kill it, and take its shell to the lighthouse keeper. The lighthouse keeper gives you the boat keys, which unlock travel.
Which boss gives you the item for the boat keys?
The first boss, the spider crab, drops the shell needed for the boat keys. Bring that shell to the lighthouse keeper to receive the keys.
What should I do if the lighthouse keeper dialogue will not advance?
Check that you are carrying the shell from the spider crab, not plain meat chunks. Bosses drop distinct trophy items, and those trophy items are what quest givers want.
Do the boat keys come from upgrading the boat engine?
No. The engine upgrade is bought separately, while the boat keys come from giving the spider crab shell to the lighthouse keeper.
Are the boat keys the same as the RHIB keys?
No. The boat keys come from the lighthouse keeper after the first boss, while the RHIB keys come from giving the final boss tail to the scientist.
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