Since its release in 2016, Stardew Valley has become a comfort game for many of its fans. The cute simulation game takes the player to Pelican Town, where your character has inherited their grandfather’s farm. Of course, the farm is unkempt and the player character must do their best to transform the land into something amazing and beautiful.
It’s a game that really has something for everyone. From fighting monsters in the mine to planting and tending trees during each season, we think any player can find enjoyment in this wonderful little game.
However, one of the most popular activities in Stardew Valley has to be fishing. There are a dozen reasons to catch fish in the game: selling them, gifting them, cooking with them… Still, many players are confused about where to start and what to do. Not to worry, as we have you covered with our ultimate Stardew Valley fishing guide! We answer questions ranging from how to catch catfish in Stardew Valley to what uses are there for the fish you catch in the game.
Stardew Valley – Different Fish in Different Seasons
One of the most important mechanics of Stardew Valley fishing, among others, is the seasons. Of course, it makes sense that you cannot catch all the fish in all the seasons. Some of them might be too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer!
Check out our list of Stardew Valley fish in each season, where to find them, and how to catch them.
Stardew Valley Fish in Spring
Halibut
Halibut is one of the fish you can catch in spring. This fish swims around in the ocean from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM, then from 7:00 PM to 2:00 AM. You can also catch this fish in any weather, so you don’t have to worry about waiting for the right day. Depending on the fish quality and your chosen perks, it can sell for 80g to 240g.
Sardine
The sardine is an ocean fish available from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It also appears in the fall and winter. There are no weather requirements to catch the sardine. It sells for 40g to 120g.
Herring
Herring is yet another ocean fish you can catch in spring. If you happen to miss it during this season, it’s also available in fall and winter. This fish is obtainable from 6:00 AM to 2:00 AM in any weather. It can sell from 30g to 90g.
Flounder
The flounder is a fish available both in the spring and summer. It’s an ocean fish, so you can catch it at the beach. There are no weather requirements to catch the flounder, but you must fish from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. It sells for 100g to 300g.
Anchovy
Anchovy is one of the few ocean fish obtainable any time of day. You can also catch it in the fall. There are no weather requirements for catching the anchovy, and it also sells from 30g to 90g.
Eel
The Stardew Valley eel is an ocean fish that you can only catch during rainy weather. This fish is also available in the fall. It’s more lenient when it comes to the time you can catch it: from 4:00 PM to 2:00 AM. It’s one of the more expensive spring fish, as its price ranges from 85g to 255g.
Carp
The carp is the only spring fish you can catch in the Mountain Lake. It’s available in any weather, any time of day. You can also catch it in summer and fall if you miss the spring timeframe. It sells from 30g to 90g.
Sunfish
The Stardew Valley sunfish is a river fish also obtainable during the summer. This fish is available from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It only appears during sunny weather and sells for 30g to 90g.
Smallmouth Bass
The smallmouth bass can only be found in the river in Pelican Town. You can also catch it in the Cindersap Forest pond. While it’s a spring fish, it’s also a fall fish. It doesn’t require a specific time of day or weather. It sells from 50g to 150g.
Catfish
The Stardew Valley catfish is a river fish you can catch both in the Pelican Town river and the Cindersap Forest river. However, you can also find it in the Secret Woods and the Witch’s Swamp. It’s available from 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM. Rainy weather is required to catch the catfish. Catfish in Stardew Valley sells from 200g to 600g.
Shad
The Stardew Valley shad is a river fish (both Pelican Town and Cindersap Forest) during rainy weather. It also appears in the summer and fall. The time of day to catch the shad is from 9:00 AM to 2:00 AM. It sells for 60g to 180g.
Stardew Valley Fish in Summer
Octopus
You can find the octopus in the ocean from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM, during the Night Market, and on Ginger Island during any season. There’s no weather requirement for catching the octopus and you can sell it for 150g to 450g.
Tilapia
The tilapia is an ocean fish available from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM. You can also catch it in the fall and during any season on Ginger Island. There are no weather requirements for tilapia. It sells for 75g to 225g.
Super Cucumber
While it’s hard to believe this is a fish, the game does list it as one. You can catch the super cucumber in the ocean from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM. It also appears in the Night Market and on Ginger Island. This fish is also available in the fall. You can sell it for 250g to 750g.
Pufferfish
The pufferfish is an ocean fish that requires sunny weather, also obtainable on Ginger Island. It’s only available in the summer, so make sure not to miss it! Fish from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM to catch this fish. The pufferfish sells for 200g to 600g.
Red Mullet
You can find the red mullet in the ocean during any weather. It’s also available in the winter. However, you must fish between 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM to catch it. It sells for 75g to 225g.
Tuna
The Stardew Valley tuna is another summer and winter ocean fish. You can also find it on Ginger Island during any season. Obtainable from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM, tuna requires no specific weather and sells for 100g to 300g.
Red Snapper
The Stardew Valley red snapper is available in the ocean during rainy weather. It also appears in fall. To catch it, you must fish from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It sells for 50g to 150g.
Sturgeon
You can find the sturgeon in the Mountain Lake during the summer, but also during the winter. The time of day requirement is from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. However, there are no weather requirements. It sells for 200g to 600g.
Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout is obtainable in the Mountain Lake only during the summer from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. You can also find it in the river. It requires sunny weather and sells for 65g to 195g.
Dorado
The dorado is a forest river fish obtainable from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. There are no weather requirements to catch this fish. It sells for 100g to 300g.
Pike
The pike is also a river fish. However, you can also catch it in the Pelican Town river in addition to the Cindersap Forest river and pond. It’s also available in the winter. There are no time of day or weather requirements and it sells from 100g to 300g.
Stardew Valley Fish in Fall
Albacore
The albacore is a fall and winter fish obtainable during two time periods. The first one is from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM and the second one from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM. You can find it in the ocean. There are no weather requirements to catch the albacore. It sells for 75g to 225g.
Sea Cucumber
The sea cucumber is an ocean fish also available in winter. You can also catch it at the Night Market. It’s available from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM but there are no weather requirements for it. It sells for 75g to 225g.
Walleye
The walleye is the first river fish we’ll talk about available in the fall. There are two other places you can catch it, though – the Mountain Lake and the forest pond. It must be raining for you to be able to catch the walleye, and you must fish between 12:00 PM and 2:00 AM. It does fetch a decent price at 105g to 315g.
Salmon
The salmon is also a river fish available only in the fall. You can catch it both in the Pelican Town river and the Cindersap Forest river. You must fish from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM to catch it with no weather requirements. It sells for 75g to 225g.
Tiger Trout
You can only catch the Stardew Valley tiger trout in the Pelican Town and Cindersap Forest river. It’s also available during winter. To catch it, you must fish from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. However, there are no weather requirements for it. You can make a decent profit from this fish – 150g to 450g!
Stardew Valley Fish in Winter
Squid
The elusive squid is only available in the oceans during winter. It’s the only fish with these specifics, so make sure not to miss it! You can catch it from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM in any weather and sell it for 80g to 240g.
Lingcod
You can find the lingcod in the Pelican Town and Cindersap Forest rivers as well as the Mountain Lake. There are no time of day or weather requirements to catch it and it sells for 120g to 360g.
Perch
The perch is a river, Mountain Lake, and Cindersap Forest pond fish. There are no time of day or weather requirements for this fish either. It sells for 55g to 165g.
What are Legendary Fish in Stardew Valley
Now that we’ve covered all the regular fish available in Stardew Valley fishing, we get to talk about the legendary fish.
The legendary fish are five high-difficulty fish that are hard to catch for several reasons. First, the fish are only found in specific places.
Second, it’s not possible to catch these fish just by getting your fishing skill level to level 10. You also need some bonuses such as food bonuses and great gear to be able to catch them.
Even then, you might not be able to catch this fish, as it also relies on luck. If you do happen to catch one, you can be sure they’ll sell for a pretty penny. Depending on the fish you catch, its quality, and the perks you’ve chosen, the price range is from 900g to 15000g.
However, you can’t just farm these fish and sell them repeatedly to make money. The legendary fish are only available to catch once per save file, or once per player if you’re playing in multiplayer.
There are additional legendary II fish you can catch during Qi’s Extended Family quest. Note, however, that you cannot catch the regular legendary fish while this quest is active.
Are there any fish in Stardew Valley that are there year-round?
Yes! There are several fish available year-round in any weather, albeit at different times of the day.
Some of those fish are the bream, the bullhead, the largemouth bass, the chub, and the sandfish. You can find them in the river (bream), mountain lake (bullhead, largemouth bass, chub), Cindersap Forest river (Chub), and the Desert (sandfish).
While you can catch the bullhead and chub at any time, the bream is only available from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM. On the other hand, the largemouth bass is available from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. You can catch the sandfish in Stardew Valley from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
All these fish are part of bundles to restore the Community Center, so it’s a relief for anyone looking to complete it before Year 3!
What’s the Night Market in Stardew Valley?
The Night Market is one of the many events in Stardew Valley. It takes place between the 15th and 17th of Winter. You can find it on the Beach. There are various attractions to visit during this time, and some are especially meaningful for your Stardew Valley fishing journey.
There is a submarine at the Beach which can take the player deep-sea fishing. However, like most other attractions, it’s only available for a limited time. You can visit the submarine from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
We’ve already mentioned some of the fish you can get from submarine fishing. However, those are not the only fish you can get here. Some exclusive to deep-sea fishing fish are the blobfish, the spook fish, and the midnight squid. You can also catch a pearl, though the chances are very low.
How to Fish in Stardew Valley
To fish in Stardew Valley, you need to obtain a fishing rod first. On the 2nd of Spring, you will receive a letter from Willy, one of the residents, to meet him at the beach. It’s important you get there before 5:00 PM on any day. Willy will give you a bamboo pole, your first fishing rod.
You simply walk up to a body of water and cast your fishing rod. An exclamation point will appear over your character’s head, meaning you’ve caught something. You have to be quick with clicking, as the exclamation point might disappear, which means the fish got away.
Upon clicking, the fishing interface will appear displaying the fish moving up and down on it. There’s also a green bar you must keep behind the fish to catch it – this is where the real skill comes in. Some fish will be calm, and others very erratic. It’s up to you to keep up with them and catch the fish.
Different Fishing Skills & Levels
As with all other skills, Stardew Valley fishing has 10 levels. You can improve your fishing skill by catching fish, of course, but trash, seaweed, and crab pots also help.
Each fishing level gives you more fishing rod proficiency and increases the minimum size of your fish. Additionally, the bar in the fishing interface also gets bigger, meaning fish get easier to catch. It will also take shorter for the fish to bite.
The levels also each give you a different perk. For example, level 2 gives you the ability to craft bait, while level 4 lets you craft a recycling machine. As you level your fishing skill, more and more items become available in Willy’s shop.
The most important aspects of the fishing skill, however, are the professions you get to choose at level 5. This later gives you some perks depending on your profession when you reach level 10.
There are two professions: fisher and trapper. With fisher, your fish are worth 25% more (later 50% if you get the perk) and a level 10 perk gives you double chances for treasure. With trapper, you can craft crab pots easier, and the perks free the crab pots from junk items and the need for bait.
All about Fishing Rods, Bait & Other Equipment
There are a total of four fishing rods obtainable in the game. While you get the bamboo pole for free from Willy, the rest have to be bought. The fiberglass rod and iridium rod also have a skill requirement. You can move on to the fiberglass rod at level 2, while the iridium rod requires level 6.
When it comes to bait, there are three types. The regular bait makes the fish bite faster. The wild bait (which you learn from befriending Linus) lets you catch two fish at once. Finally, the magic bait lets you catch fish from any season, time, and weather, anywhere. It’s pretty overpowered if you ask us.
Fishing tackle can only be used with the iridium rod and gives you different perks. From catching rarer fish to increasing the size of the fishing bar, we think fishing tackle is very useful.
Finally, the crab pot lets you catch fish without much effort. You simply place them in a lake, pond, river, or ocean and let time do its thing. Crab pots require bait, but you can bypass that with the luremaster profession.
Best locations to fish in Stardew Valley
There are plenty of locations to fish in Stardew Valley, but the best one depends on the kind of fish you’re trying to catch. Of course, having the magic bait makes everything easier, but is there such a thing as a location better than all the rest?
Maybe, but only in part. Ginger Island has many fishing spots that let you catch certain fish in any season. If you ask us, this is the best fishing location purely because of this perk. Of course, not all the fish are available here, so it’s far from perfect.
How to Recycle while Fishing
If you’re wondering how to get rid of all that pesky trash during fishing, we’re here to be the bearers of bad news. Unfortunately, all trash that you catch while fishing cannot be recycled. You can only toss it in the trash can.
However, if you have an upgraded trashcan (especially to iridium), you can reclaim 60% of the value. It’s probably the closest thing to recycling while fishing.
What can Fish be used for in Stardew Valley?
There are many uses for the fish you get from Stardew Valley fishing. Most of the uses are for restoring the community center by completing the fish tank bundles. However, some fish are also included in quests and different cooking recipes.
There are six fish tank bundles to complete when restoring the community center, and they’re all pretty self-explanatory. We have the river fish, lake fish, ocean fish, night fishing, crab pot, and specialty fish bundles. Each bundle gives you a special gift and completing them all opens up some new possibilities in Stardew Valley.
Villagers will usually give you quests to catch certain fish as they need it for a recipe or to gift to someone. You don’t get the profit from the fish, but the money the villagers give you is pretty satisfactory.
If you want to make long-term use of your fish, you can always put them in a fish pond. The Stardew Valley fish ponds can be bought from Robin and help you raise a number of different fish. There are, however, certain fish that cannot live in the fish pond, such as the legendary fish. The fish can give different items such as roe, gems, and trash. It’s very useful overall, though.
What you can cook with Fish in Stardew Valley
There are a lot of recipes in Stardew Valley that require fish. From Trout soup to Salmon dinner, a lot of the fish you catch are useful in recipes.
The Seafoam pudding, in particular, is useful if you want to catch the legendary fish. It gives you a +4 bonus for the fishing skill. If you use it at level 10, it makes catching the legendary fish a lot easier. You can cook it using the flounder, midnight carp, and squid ink.
The Lucky Lunch is a great choice if you’re planning to go to the Skull Cave, as it gives you +3 luck. This improves your chances of finding the ladder to the next floor. To make it, you need a sea cucumber, a tortilla, and blue jazz.
Finally, the spicy eel is also good for the Skull Cave. It gives you less luck (only +1) but it also gives you speed, helping you get to the cave and through it faster. It only requires an eel and a hot pepper.
Those are just three of the many useful recipes you can make happen with Stardew Valley fishing.
Besides fish, what can you catch in/grab from water in Stardew Valley?
Although we assume that, while fishing, you mean to catch fish, this is not always the case. You will often find yourself catching trash (which we’ve already covered).
However, even the trash can be useful if you put it in a recycling machine which you can craft or obtain from the Field Research bundle in the Community Center.
Additionally, sometimes you will see a small treasure chest on the Stardew Valley fishing interface. Putting your fishing bar behind it for a certain amount of time will fill it up. However, you have to make sure not to lose the fish in the process, as you also lose the treasure!
We’ve already covered fishing poles and crab pots as ways to obtain things in the water. Now it’s time to talk about panning.
After completing the fish tank bundle, the glittering boulder near the mines is removed, and Willy will give you a copper pan.
Upon receiving the copper pan, glittering areas will appear in most bodies of water. Using the copper pan on that area can yield ore, gems, and other treasures that could net you a great price.
There are a lot of uses for panning, although it’s hard to spot the glittering water. Make sure to make the most of it and all our other tips in your Stardew Valley fishing journey!
