Fishing in Stardew Valley is a lucrative skill that can earn you money, EXP, and even the good favour of your fellow villagers. Most fish can be caught with a fishing pole, though certain critters can only be snagged by using a crab pot. With a huge selection to catch, including catfish, walleye, red snapper, largemouth bass, sturgeon, tiger trout, and eels across multiple ponds, you may need a little help working out which ones are worth your time – and that’s where we come in.
We’ve pulled together this Stardew Valley fish guide to teach you everything you need to know about the profession and the different creatures you can grab. We’ve gone into detail about every fish, how to get a Stardew Valley fish pond, all of the Stardew Valley fish bundles to help fix the fish tank in the Community Centre, and whether you should pick the Fisher or Trapper path. Make the most of your time in the village, and maybe steal a couple of hearts with these prime catches.
If you find this guide useful, we have plenty more Stardew Valley content, including a Stardew Valley Lewis guide, and a Stardew Valley Sebastian guide. We also have a list of the best Switch multiplayer games or the best mobile two-player games if you’re looking for something new to play.
How to fish in Stardew Valley and Stardew Valley Fishing tips
In Stardew Valley, fishing is played out through a mini game. When a fish is hooked, a meter will appear where a fish icon moves up and down, and you must control a green bar and keep it over the fish. When the green bar is over the fish, the catch meter will raise, and when the fish leaves the bar, the catch meter will drop. If the catch meter fills to the top, your catch will be successful, but if it drops all the way to the bottom, the fish will get away.
Fish come in multiple tiers, classified as different levels of ‘quality’. These tiers are normal, silver, gold, and iridium. Each tier has a different sell price, with normal being the lowest and iridium being the highest.
There are four types of fishing pole – training rod, bamboo pole, fiberglass rod, and iridium rod. Training rods are easier to use, but can only catch common fish, fiberglass rods are able to use bait, and iridium rods are able to use bait and tackle. If you have an iridium rod and are over level six, you can purchase and equip a lead bobber, which will stop the fish from bobbing in the minigame and make it easier to catch. If you manage to keep the fish within the green bar throughout the entirety of the minigame, you will secure a perfect catch, which raises the quality of the fish up one tier.
It is impossible to tell the exact specimen and stats until the fish is caught, however, certain behaviours and conditions, such as the time of day or the season, can help you guess what you might have hooked. Also, a legendary fish will always show up with a little crown on the icon, so you know you’ve snagged a worthy catch!
If you have the fisher profession you gain an additional 25% cash for each catch, and if you have the angler profession it goes up to 50%, but for the purposes of this guide we have included the base price for normal, silver, gold, and iridium catches below.
Fish in Stardew Valley also have different behaviour patterns – there are five in total.
- Mixed – they move in a basic pattern
- Smooth – they move with a steady, slower pattern
- Sinker – they move with a faster downwards acceleration
- Floater – they move with a faster upwards acceleration
- Dart – they move with a random pattern, and are more difficult to predict and catch
Every Stardew Valley Fish
Name | Price | Location/time |
Pufferfish | 200g, 250g, 300g, 400g | ocean – 12pm-4pm on a sunny summer day (or during all seasons on Ginger Island) |
Anchovy | 30g, 37g, 45g, 60g | ocean – at any time in the spring or fall |
Tuna | 100g, 125g, 150g, 200g | ocean – 6am – 7pm during summer and winder (or all seasons on Ginger Island) |
Sardine | 40g, 50g, 60g, 80g | ocean – 6am-7pm, during summer or winter (all seasons on Ginger Island) |
Bream | 45g, 56g, 67g, 90g | river, (town and forest) – 6am-7pm during spring, fall and winter |
Largemouth bass | 100g. 125g. 150g, 200g | mountain lake – 6am-7pm during all seasons |
Smallmouth bass | 50g, 62g, 75g, 100g | river (town) and forest pond – any time during spring and fall |
Rainbow trout | 65g, 81g, 97g, 130g | river (town and forest) and mountain lake – 6am-7pm on a sunny summer day |
Salmon | 75g, 93g, 112g, 150g | river (town and forest) – 6am – 7pm during fall |
Walleye | 105g, 131g, 157g, 210g | river (town and forest), forest pond and mountain lake – 12pm-2am during fall and winter with rain totem |
Perch | 55g, 68g, 82g, 110g | river (town and forest) forest pond, mountain lake – anytime during winter |
Carp | 30g, 37g, 45g, 60g | mountain lake, secret woods, pond, the sewers – any time during any season |
Catfish | 200g, 250g, 300g, 400g | river (town and forest), secret woods pond, witch’s swamp – 6am-12am, on a rainy say during spring or fall (or spring and summer in secret woods pond) |
Pike | 100g, 125g, 150g, 200g | river (town and forest), forest pond – anytime during summer and winter |
Sunfish | 30g, 37g, 45g, 60g | river (town and forest) – 6am-7pm during spring and summer in sun or wind |
Red mullet | 75g, 93g, 112g, 150g | ocean – 6am-7pm during summer or winter |
Herring | 30g, 37g, 45g, 60g | ocean – any time during the spring or winter |
Eel | 85g, 106g, 127g, 170g | ocean – 4pm-2am during rain in the spring or fall |
Octopus | 150g, 187g, 225g, 300g | ocean – 6am-1pm in the summer |
Red snapper | 50g, 62g, 75g, 100g | ocean – 6am-7pm – during the rain in summer, fall, or winter with a rain totem |
Squid | 80g, 100g, 120g, 160g | ocean – 6pm – 2am any time during winter |
Sea cucumber | 75g, 100g, 120g, 160g | ocean – 6am-7pm during fall and winter |
Super cucumber | 250g, 312g, 375g, 500g | ocean, ginger island oceans – 6pm-2am in summer or fall |
Ghostfish | 45g, 56g, 67g, 90g | mines, ghost drops – anytime during all seasons |
Stonefish | 300g, 375g, 450g, 600g | mines – anytime during all seasons |
Ice pip | 500g, 625g, 750g, 1,000g | mines – anytime during all seasons |
Lava eel | 700g, 875g, 1,050g, 1,400g | mines, volcano caldera – anytime during all seasons |
Sandfish | 75g, 93g, 112g, 150g | the desert – 6am-8pm during all seasons |
Scorpion carp | 150g, 187g, 225g, 300g | the desert – 6am-8pm during all seasons |
Flounder | 100g, 125g, 150g, 200g | ocean, ginger island oceans – 6am-8pm in spring or summer |
Midnight carp | 150g, 187g, 225g, 300g | mountain lake, cindersap forest pond, ginger island pond and river – 10pm-2am in fall or winter |
Sturgeon | 200g, 250g, 300g, 400g | mountain lake – 10pm -2am in fall or winter |
Tiger trout | 150g, 187g, 225g, 300g | river (town and forest) – 6am-7pm in fall and winter |
Bullhead | 75g, 93g, 112g, 150g | mountain lake – anytime in all seasons |
Tilapia | 75g, 93g, 112g, 150g | ocean, ginger island rivers – 6am-2pm in summer and fall |
Chub | 50g, 62g, 75g, 100g | forest river, mountain lake – anytime during all seasons |
Dorado | 100g, 125g, 150g, 200g | river (forest) – 6am-7pm in summer |
Albacore | 75g, 93g, 112g, 150g | ocean – 6am-11am, 6pm-2am in fall and winter |
Shad | 60g, 75g, 90g, 120g | river (town and forest) – 9am-2am in rain during spring, summer, and fall |
Lingcod | 120g, 150g, 180g, 240g | river (town and forest), mountain lake – anytime in winter |
Halibut | 80g, 100g, 120g, 160g | ocean – 6am-11am, 7pm-2am any time during spring, summer, and winter |
Woodskip | 75g, 93g, 112g, 150g | secret woods pond, forest farm – any time during all seasons |
Void salmon | 150g, 187g, 225g, 300g | witch’s swamp – anytime during all seasons |
Slimejack | 100g, 125g, 150g, 200g | mutant bug lair – anytime in all seasons |
Stingray | 180g, 225g, 270g, 360g | pirate cove (ginger island) – anytime in all seasons |
Lionfish | 100g, 125g, 150g, 200g | ginger island, ocean – anytime in all seasons |
Blue discus | 120g, 150g, 180g, 240g | ginger islands pond and rivers – anytime in all seasons |
Midnight squid | 100g, 125g, 150g, 200g | submarine ride during Night Market, south-west corner of the beach when using magic bait – 5pm-2am in winter, whenever the Night Market is open |
Spook fish | 220g, 275g, 330g, 440g | submarine ride during Night Market, south-west corner of the beach when using magic bait – 5pm-2am in winter, whenever the Night Market is open |
Blobfish | 500g, 625g,750g, 1,000g | submarine ride during Night Market, south-west corner of the beach when using magic bait – 5pm-2am in winter, whenever the Night Market is open |
Legendary Stardew Valley fish
Legendary fish are tough catches that can only be found in specific places. They are distinguished by the little crown that appears on the fish icon in the fishing mini-game, and once they have been caught once, they will not appear on the same save file again. Due to their intense difficulty, don’t be surprised if they take quite a few attempts to snag.
Name | Price | Location/time |
Crimsonfish | 1,500g, 1,875g, 2,250g, 3,000g | east pier on the beach – any time during the summer |
Angler | 900g, 1,125g, 1,350g, 1,800g | north of jojamart on the wooden plank bridge – any time during the fall |
Legend | 5,000g, 6,250g, 7,500g, 10,000g | the mountain lake, near the log – any time in the rain during the spring |
Glacierfish | 1,000g, 1,250g, 1,500g, 2,000g | on the south end of Arrowhead Island in Cindersap forest – any time during the winter |
Mutant carp | 1,000g, 1250g, 1,500g, 2,000g | any time in any season |
Legendary Stardew Valley fish II
Legendary fish II can be caught during Mr. Qi’s quest ‘Extended Family’. They are the younger generation of the original legendary fish, but can only be caught while this quest is active.
Name | Price | Location/time |
Son of Crimsonfish | 1,500g, 1,875g, 2,250g, 3,000g | east pier on the beach – any time during the summer |
Ms. Angler | 900g, 1,125g, 1,350g, 1,800g | north of jojamart on the wooden plank bridge – any time during the fall |
Legend II | 5,000g, 6,250g, 7,500g, 10,000g | the mountain lake, near the log – any time in the rain during the spring |
Glacierfish Jr. | 1,000g, 1,250g, 1,500g, 2,000g | on the south end of Arrowhead Island in Cindersap Forest – any time during the winter |
Radioactive Carp | 1,000g, 1250g, 1,500g, 2,000g | the sewers – any time in any season |
Crab pot Stardew Valley fish
Some critters can be caught by a crab pot or foraged on the beach – and all of these can be used in the crab pot bundle. While fish foraged on the beach can be normal, silver, gold, or iridium quality, those caught in a crab pot will always be normal quality.
Name | Price | Location |
Lobster | 120g | ocean |
Clam | 50g, 62g, 75g, 100g | ocean |
Crayfish | 75g | freshwater |
Crab | 100g | ocean |
Cockle | 50g, 62g, 75g, 100g | ocean |
Mussel | 30g, 37g, 54g, 60g | ocean |
Shrimp | 60g | ocean |
Snail | 65g | freshwater |
Periwinkle | 20g | freshwater |
Oyster | 40g, 50g, 60g, 80g | ocean |
Other Stardew Valley catchables
There are also a few items you can catch while fishing that don’t count as junk, but aren’t quite fish either! You will get some EXP for each of these, and can use them in certain recipes, so don’t be too sad if you reel one of them in.
Name | Price | Location |
Seaweed | 20g, 25g, 30g, 40g | found in the ocean via fishing or the beach by foraging |
Green algae | 15g | can be found everywhere but the farm pond of the standard farm |
White algae | 25g | mines, sewers, mutant bug lair, witch’s swamp |
Stardew Valley Fish Pond
The fish pond is a farm building that you can buy from Robin at the Carpenter’s shop in the mountains. It costs 5,000g, 200 stone, five seaweed, and five green algae, takes two days to make, and will take up a 5×5 square. The fish pond can raise most fish – even those from the Night Market and crab pots (except clams), though legendary fish aren’t allowed.
Each pond can only hold one type of fish at a time, and the standard capacity to start with is three fish. Certain rare fish like blobfish, ghostfish, woodskips etc are limited to one per pond, whereas tiger trout, sea urchins, and coral have an initial capacity of ten. Fish kept in the fish pond produce roe and random items, and can produce up to their max limit (except tiger trout, which can’t reproduce).
You can harvest the fish from your pond by casting your fishing pole. They will always be of regular quality, even if you threw in a higher quality initially, so keep that in mind! Energy is consumed when casting your line, but fish are caught instantly from the pond without the need for a minigame, no bait is consumed, and your tackle isn’t affected.
Stardew Valley Fish bundles – how to fix the fish tank
If you’re hoping to complete the Community Centre bundles, you’ll of course, need to gather the fish bundles. The fish tank in the Community Centre requires six fish bundles to be completed, after which the glittering boulder to the left of the mine entrance will be removed. This will lead Willy to giving you a copper pan that can be used to collect ore and other items from water, whenever glittering patches appear.
We’ve listed all the bundles below, and you can look at the chart above to see when and where you can snag these fishy friends.
Stardew Valley river fish bundle
- Sunfish
- Catfish
- Shad
- Tiger trout
Reward: 30 bait
Stardew Valley lake fish bundle
- Largemouth bass
- Carp
- Bullhead
- Sturgeon
Reward: one dressed spinner
Ocean fish bundle
- Sardine
- Tuna
- Red snapper
- Tilapia
Reward: five warp totem: beach
Stardew Valley night fishing bundle
- Walleye
- Bream
- Eel
Reward: one small glow ring
Stardew Valley Crab pot bundle
- Lobster
- Crayfish
- Crab
- Cockle
- Mussel
- Shrimp
- Snail
- Periwinkle
- Oyster
- Clam
Reward: three crab pot
Stardew Valley specialty fish bundle
- Pufferfish
- Ghostfish
- Sandfish
- Woodskip
Reward: five dish o’ the sea
Remember, you can look at your bundles and how many items you’ve submitted at any point from the inventory page. Also, items in your inventory that are needed for bundles will pulse gently, so keep an eye out for that before selling them all off.
Stardew Valley fishing professions – fisher or trapper?
As with all professions in Stardew Valley, leveling them up allows you to access certain proficiencies. For fishing, you can either become a fisher or a trapper, which decides what perks you get access to later down the line. At level ten, you will have a choice between two perks. Here’s what you get for each one.
Fisher path
Perk | Level | Description |
Fisher | Five | Increases sell price for all fish, including crab pot fish, by 25% |
Angler | Ten | Increases sell price for all fish by 50% |
Pirate | Ten | Chance to find treasure when fishing is doubled |
Trapper path
Perk | Level | Description |
Trapper | Five | Reduced requirements to make crab pots |
Mariner | Ten | Crab pots never catch trash |
Luremaster | Ten | Crab pots no longer need to be baited |
Most perks won’t make a massive difference by late game, but can offer a nice boost in the early stages. The fisher/angler path is always a good choice, as raking in that extra cash is always welcome. Going with fisher/pirate can also really help your museum collections. However, if you’re a big fan of just walking to the shore and harvesting all your crab pot spoils, the trapper/mariner path has its bonuses – though luremaster is a little pointless, as bait is super cheap, and can be made from bug meat which is plentiful in the early levels of the mines.
We usually choose fisher/angler, but you do you!
If you want to put these fishing skills to practice, you can grab Stardew Valley for mobile over on the App Store or Google Play, or for Switch at the Nintendo eShop today.
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