Quick answer
Start at the Lighthouse, turn clams into cash, buy the Basic Fishing Rod, add an early melee weapon, then complete the Beer Can → Spider Crab → boat keys sequence. Buy the Radar after the boat unlock so the next coordinates are navigable.
Opening checklist
| Step | Action | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start at the Lighthouse — Speak to the Lighthouse Keeper and collect clams to build opening cash. | |
| 2 | Buy the Basic Fishing Rod — Buy the $3 rod, equip it, and begin with free lures. | |
| 3 | Buy an early weapon — Choose the Knife or Brass Knuckles; the guide recommends the Knife and sharpening it at the anvil. | |
| 4 | Unlock the boat — Buy the Beer Can, give it to the Keeper, use the returned empty can to summon Spider Crab, return its meat, and receive boat keys. | |
| 5 | Buy the Radar — After the boat unlock, the guide reports buying the $10 Radar to follow the next coordinates. |
What to buy first
The guide reports a $3 Basic Fishing Rod, free lures for early catches, and a Knife or Brass Knuckles as the first weapon choice. Treat these prices as a dated community transcription and confirm the shop in your build.
Avoidable opening mistakes
Do not eat every clam before the first purchase, do not sell the special boss item before the Lighthouse Keeper hand-in, and do not leave without a way to follow the next coordinates. These are route safeguards inferred from the documented sequence, not official UI rules.
Related routes
- walkthrough — main guide
- cooking — detailed guide
- islands — related guide
- speedrun — related guide