Stardew Valley: Ultimate Fishing Guide
Everything you need to know about fishing is here in our Ultimate Guide to Fishing in Stardew Valley. We explain how to play the fishing mini-game, how to get fishing poles and the advantages of each one, where to find all the fish in the game and the best rods to catch them with, how to increase your fishing level and more information about bait and tackle than you probably need!
By the time you've read our fishing guide you'll be well on your way to mastering this skill armed with the knowledge that you need to catch all sorts of creatures.
How does fishing work in Stardew Valley?
Play the fishing mini-game
Is fishing as simple as other games where you can cast your rod and reel in a fish? In Stardew Valley, fishing will let you play a mini-game in order to catch a fish. An interface will appear where you will have to tap or hold in order to match the green bar with the fish icon. The longer the bar remains matched to the fish icon, a progress bar will fill up on the right side. Completing this bar will let you catch the fish successfully.
If the progress bar empties, it will mean that the fish will be able to escape. When starting out with the basic rod, it may be harder to control, but you'll be able to purchase better rods later on that will help you catch easier. You can also improve your fishing skill in the game to aid with your catches.
Note: Aside from using fishing rods, there are other ways where you can catch creatures and it's still considered as fishing. Crab pots are items you can place next to water, and you can fill it with bait. This doesn't have a mini-game, since you will only need to let time pass until you're able to get a catch.
[h3]Learn their behavior[/b]:
The fish icon that you see in the mini-game will move around. Since your goal is to match the green bar, knowing which behavior will help you out. The fish icon can bob up and down at a steady pace, or perhaps it will stay in one location. Here are the different types of behaviors you can find when trying to fish with a rod:
- Smooth: This behavior has a steady pattern where the icon doesn't move as much.
- Mixed: This behavior has a basic pattern where the icon can go up and down normally.
- Sinker: This behavior has the fish icon have a fast downward acceleration.
- Floater: This behavior has the fish icon have a fast upward acceleration.
- Dart: This behavior has unpredictable movement and it can move up and down very quickly.
Different fish types in Stardew Valley and how to catch them
Fishing Pole Fish
As the name implies, these are the fish that you can catch using the fishing pole. You can purchase better fishing rods from Willy using money, and once your fishing skill is at level 6, you can buy the best rod which is the Iridium Rod. Here is the list of fish you can get, as well as the seasons and conditions to catch them:
| Name | Season | Location | Time | Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chub | All Seasons | Mountain Lake, River (Forest) | Anytime | Dart |
| Largemouth Bass | All Seasons | Mountain Lake | 6 am - 7 pm | Mixed |
| Carp | All Seasons | Mountain Lake, Secret Woods Pond, The Sewers | Anytime | Mixed |
| Bullhead | All Seasons | Mountain Lake | Anytime | Smooth |
| Ghostfish | All Seasons | Mines (Levels 20 or 60), Ghost drops | Anytime | Mixed |
| Ice Pip | All Seasons | Mines (Level 60) | Anytime | Dart |
| Lava Eel | All Seasons | Mines (Level 100), Ginger Island Volcano Caldera | Anytime | Mixed |
| Stonefish | All Seasons | Mines (Level 20) | Anytime | Sinker |
| Bream | All Seasons | River (Town or Forest) | 6 pm - 2 am | Smooth |
| Sandfish | All Seasons | The Desert | 6 am - 8 pm | Mixed |
| Scorpion Carp | All Seasons | The Desert (Fishing level 4 required) | 6 am - 8 pm | Dart |
| Woodskip | All Seasons | Secret Woods Pond, Forest Farm | Anytime | Mixed |
| Slimejack | All Seasons | Mutant Bug Lair | Anytime | Dart |
| Void Salmon | All Seasons | Witch's Swamp | Anytime | Mixed |
| Blue Discus | All Seasons | Ginger Island Pond and Rivers | Anytime | Dart |
| Lionfish | All Seasons | Ginger Island Ocean | Anytime | Smooth |
| Stingray | All Seasons | Ginger Island Pirate Cove | Anytime | Sinker |
| Anchovy | Spring, Fall | Ocean | Anytime | Dart |
| Eel | Spring, Fall | Ocean | 4 pm - 2 am (Raining) | Smooth |
| Halibut | Spring, Summer, Winter | Ocean | 6 am - 11 am, 7 pm - 2 am | Sinker |
| Herring | Spring, Winter | Ocean | Anytime | Dart |
| Sardine | Spring, Fall, Winter | Ocean | 6 am - 7 pm | Dart |
| Flounder | Spring, Summer (All seasons on Ginger Island) | Ocean, Ginger Island Ocean | 6 am - 8 pm | Sinker |
| Shad | Spring, Summer, Fall | River (Town or Forest) | 9 am - 2 am (Raining) | Smooth |
| Sunfish | Spring, Summer | River (Town or Forest) | 6 am to 7 pm (Sunny or Windy) | Mixed |
| Catfish | Spring, Fall (Spring and Summer in Secret Woods Pond) | River (Town or Forest) , Secret Woods Pond, Witch's Swamp | 6 am - 12 am (Raining) | Mixed |
| Smallmouth Bass | Spring, Fall | River (Town), Forest Pond | Anytime | Mixed |
| Octopus | Summer | Ocean | 6 am - 1 pm | Sinker |
| Pufferfish | Summer (All Seasons on Ginger Island) | Ocean, Ginger Island Ocean | 12 pm - 4 pm (Sunny) | Floater |
| Dorado | Summer | River (Forest) | 6 am - 7 pm | Mixed |
| Rainbow Trout | Summer | River (Town or Forest), Mountain Lake | 6 am - 7 pm (Sunny) | Mixed |
| Super Cucumber | Summer, Fall (All Seasons on Ginger Island) | Ocean, Ginger Island Ocean | 6 pm - 2 am | Sinker |
| Tilapia | Summer, Fall (All Seasons on Ginger Island) | Ocean, Ginger Island Rivers | 6 am - 2 pm | Mixed |
| Red Snapper | Summer, Fall, Winter (Rain Totem) | Ocean | 6 am - 7 pm (Raining) | Mixed |
| Pike | Summer, Winter | River (Town or Forest), Forest Pond | Anytime | Dart |
| Red Mullet | Summer, Winter | Mountain Lake | 6 am - 7 pm | Smooth |
| Sturgeon | Summer, Winter | Mountain Lake | 6 am - 7 pm | Mixed |
| Tuna | Summer, Winter (All Seasons on Ginger Island) | Ocean, Ginger Island Ocean | 6 am - 7 pm | Mixed |
| Salmon | Fall | River (Town or Forest) | 6 am - 7 pm | Mixed |
| Albacore | Fall, Winter | Ocean | 6 am - 11 am, 6 pm - 2 am | Mixed |
| Sea Cucumber | Fall, Winter | Ocean | 6 am - 7 pm | Sinker |
| Tiger Trout | Fall, Winter | River (Town or Forest) | 6 am - 7 pm | Dart |
| Walleye | Fall, Winter (Rain Totem) | River (Town or Forest), Forest Pond, Mountain Lake | 12 pm - 2 am (Raining) | Smooth |
| Midnight Carp | Fall, Winter (All Seasons on Ginger Island) | Mountain Lake, Forest Pond, Ginger Island Pond and River | 10 pm - 2 am | Mixed |
| Perch | Winter | River (Town or Forest), Forest Pond, Mountain Lake | Anytime | Dart |
| Lingcod | Winter | River (Town or Forest), Mountain Lake | Anytime | Mixed |
| Squid | Winter | Ocean | 6 pm - 2 am | Sinker |
Night Market Fish
The Night Market is an event during Winter 15-17 where you can visit the market at the pier in the beach area from 5 pm to 2 am. These fish can be caught during the submarine ride at the Night Market, or you can fish them during any weather in the southwest corner of the beach (lower left most side of the pier) using magic bait (Qi's Walnut Room in Ginger Island). Here is the list of Night Market fish available:
| Name | Season | Location | Time | Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midnight Squid | All Seasons | Southwest area of the Beach Pier | Anytime (With Magic Bait only) | Sinker |
| Spook Fish | All Seasons | Southwest area of the Beach Pier | Anytime (With Magic Bait only) | Dart |
| Blobfish | All Seasons | Southwest area of the Beach Pier | Anytime (With Magic Bait only) | Floater |
Legendary Fish
The Legendary Fish are unique in a way since they can only be caught once per save file. They have a high difficulty in terms of catching, and when you play the fishing mini-game, you'll see that the fish icon will have a crown on it. These fish will only be available as long as you don't have Mr. Qi's Extended Family Quest is active, so be careful. Here is the list of all legendary fish:
| Name | Season | Location | Time | Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mutant Carp | All Seasons | The Sewers | Anytime | Dart |
| Legend | Spring | The Mountain Lake (Near the log, requires level 10 fishing) | Anytime | Mixed |
| Crimsonfish | Summer | The Beach (East Pier, requires level 5 fishing) | Anytime | Mixed |
| Angler | Fall | North of JojaMart (Wooden plank bridge, requires level 3 fishing) | Anytime | Smooth |
| Glacierfish | Winter | Arrowhead Island south end (Cindersap Forest, requires level 6 fishing) | Anytime | Mixed |
Legendary Fish II
If you are able to get Mr. Qi's Extended Family quest, you can catch 5 more types of legendary fish. These have the same locations as the regular legendary fish, but they do not have the crown icon. Also, you can catch these fish multiple times. Here is the list of Legendary Fish II:
| Name | Season | Location | Time | Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radioactive Carp | All Seasons | The Sewers | Anytime | Dart |
| Legend II | Spring | The Mountain Lake (Near the log, requires level 10 fishing) | Anytime | Mixed |
| Son of Crimsonfish | Summer | The Beach (East Pier, requires level 5 fishing) | Anytime | Mixed |
| Ms. Angler | Fall | North of JojaMart (Wooden plank bridge, requires level 3 fishing) | Anytime | Smooth |
| Glacierfish Jr. | Winter | Arrowhead Island south end (Cindersap Forest, requires level 6 fishing) | Anytime | Mixed |
Crab Pot Fish
The creatures you catch from the Crab Pot aren't really fish. Some of them can be foraged from other sources such as defeating Rock Crabs and Lava Crabs. However, if you want to complete the Fish collection, you will need to catch these creatures using the Crab Pot.
This item is different from a fishing rod and you place them near the water and add bait. Using the Crab Pot is available for all seasons . Here's the list of creatures you can get from Crab Pots, as well as the locations you need to place them in.
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Crayfish | Freshwater |
| Periwinkle | Freshwater |
| Snail | Freshwater |
| Clam | Ocean |
| Cockle | Ocean |
| Crab | Ocean |
| Lobster | Ocean |
| Mussel | Ocean |
| Oyster | Ocean |
| Shrimp | Ocean |
When fishing with either poles or crab pots, there may be times where you can get other things such as Seaweed, Green Algae, or even trash. Leveling up your fishing skills and getting professions can help you in earning money as well. If you're a completionist, we hope this list helps you in learning their locations as well as the seasons they are available.
How can you increase your fishing level in Stardew Valley?
Fishing is one of the skills available in Stardew Valley alongside other ones such as farming, foraging, etc. And in order to increase your fishing level, you guessed it, you just need to keep on fishing!
When starting out, you have a bamboo pole from Willy. You can get better rods as your fishing levels increase. With this in mind, you will want to level up your skill faster by fishing the types that have a steady behavior. Once your fishing level increases, you'll get the following bonuses:
| Name | Unlocks |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Increase casting distance by one tile |
| Level 2 | Unlock Bait crafting, Unlock Fiberglass Rod and Bait in Willy's shop |
| Level 3 | Unlock Crab Pot crafting, Unlock Dish O' The Sea recipe, Unlock Crab Pot in Willy's shop |
| Level 4 | Unlock Recycling Machine crafting, Increase casting distance by one tile |
| Level 5 | Choose between the Fisher or Trapper profession |
| Level 6 | Unlock Spinner, Trap Bobber in crafting, Unlock Iridium Rod, Lead Bobber, Spinner, and Trap Bobber in Willy's shop |
| Level 7 | Unlock Cork Bobber, Treasure Hunter in crafting and in Willy's Shop |
| Level 8 | Unlock Worm Bin, Barbed Hook, Dressed Spinner in crafting, Unlock Barbed Hook and Dressed Spinner in Willy's shop, Increase casting distance by one tile |
| Level 9 | Unlock Seafoam Pudding, Magnet in crafting, Unlock Magnet in Willy's shop |
| Level 10 | Choose between Angler and Pirate under the Fisher profession, or choose between Mariner and Lure master under the Trapper profession. |
The Different Fishing Rods in Stardew Valley Explained
Fishing Rods make catching fish easier in the game, there are four different roads that can be purchased, and all of them can be obtained from Willy's Fish Ship which is located on the beach in Pelican Town and open every day from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Increase your fishing skill to be able to purchase the better rods and keep an eye on the store inventory so you can see when any of the rods become available for purchase
| Fishing Rod | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Training Rod | 25 Gold | No bait or tackle can be attached to this rod but it will increase your fishing skill level to five while fishing if you've not got there yet. It just makes catching fish easier. |
| Bamboo Rod | 500 Gold | You can get one after completing the To The Beach quest. Then it will be available in the shop. You cannot attach bait or tackle to it. |
| Fiberglass Rod | 1,800 Gold | You can purchase this rod after reaching Fishing Level 2. You can add bait to it but not tackle. |
| Iridium Rod | 7,500 Gold | This is the best rod in the game and should be available in the shop after reaching Fishing Level 6. You can add both bait and tackle to this rod as well as being able to cast further. |
If you are serious about fishing in Stardew Valley, aim to get the Iridium Rod, it makes catching those legendary fish a bit easier. The only tough thing is getting enough gold to make that purchase.
The Tackles for your Iridium Rod in Stardew Valley
Fishing level 6 will let you use the Iridium Rod, this is the best upgrade you can get because you can attach both bait as well as tackles in order to get a better catch. You might be wondering, what is a tackle? When checking your crafting list, you will notice that increasing your fishing level unlocks different tackles that can be created.
Once you unlock tackles, not only can you craft them, but they'll also be available at Willy's shop for purchase. Tackles help in catching fish and it has its own durability. They get used up after 20 nibbles (whenever HIT appears when getting a fish). This means that it doesn't wear out if you get items such as trash, algae, etc. Here is the list of tackle as well their price, and crafting requirements.
| Tackle | Cost | Crafting Materials | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spinner | 500 Gold | Iron Bar x2 | This is one of the basic tackles available. It slightly increases the bite-rate when you fish. It reduces the maximum delay before a nibble by 3.75 seconds. |
| Dressed Spinner | 1,000 Gold | Iron Bar x2, Cloth x1 | This is the next tackle available after the spinner. It increases the bite-rate when you fish. It reduces the maximum delay before a nibble by 7.75 seconds. |
| Cork Bobber | 750 Gold | Wood x 10, Hardwood x5, Slime x10 | A bobber that slightly increases the size of your fishing bar that appears in the fishing mini-game. The bar will increase to 24 pixels which makes it easier to match it to the moving fish icon. |
| Lead Bobber | 200 Gold | N/A | This adds weight to your fishing bar and it prevents it from bouncing along the bottom if you let go of your rod during the mini-game. |
| Treasure Hunter | 750 Gold | Gold Bar x 2 | This prevents fish from escaping (the bar won't deplete) if you're trying to collect treasures. It also slightly increases the chance of you finding treasure from 15% base chance to 20%. |
| Barbed Hook | 1,000 Gold | Copper Bar x 1, Iron Bar x 1, Gold Bar x 1 | This lets your fishing bar cling on to your catch. You can still move the bar on your own, but your bar will try to stay in the middle of the fish icon. Best used on fish with steady behavior. |
| Curiosity Lure | N/A | N/A | Increases your chance to catch rare fish such as the Legendary ones. You can obtain this item from boxes or barrels in the Quarry Mine, Skull Cavern, Volcano Dungeon or by defeating Mummies in Skull Cavern. |
| Quality Bobber | N/A | Copper Bar x 1, Sap x 20, Solar Essence x 5 | Increases the quality of the fish you caught by one level meaning you can get Iridium quality fish without doing a perfect catch. Can be crafted by completing the "Juicy Bugs Wanted!" special order. |
Different tackles can help you with your goals. Quality bobber can help you in getting rich while the Barbed hook can help you in catching fish easier. If your goal is to get all Legendary fish, then the Curiosity lure is your go to. Try out different tackles to help your collection!
Tips for Fishing in Stardew Valley
There may be a sentiment early on in the game where you might think that fishing is too hard. The fish icon may move too quickly, and it's hard to control the bar as well. Things may be hard at first, but it can get better! Here are some general tips that can help you out in fishing:
- Once you have enough money available, don't hesitate to purchase a higher leveled rod. Higher rods will require increased fishing skill, so keep on fishing to increase those skill points.
- Once you hit fishing level 5, you can opt for a profession. The fisher profession lets you sell your fish for 25% more, while the Trapper profession reduces the resources required to make Crab Pots. Hitting level 10 for your fishing skill lets you improve your profession further.
- Check your fishing rod if you can add lure or tackle. This can increase the chances of getting better fish, so try adding bait that you can craft, as well as different types of tackle.
- Aim for deeper water when fishing. You can hold your rod and cast far away from you, this will reduce the chance of getting garbage, as well as increase your chances of getting higher quality fish.
- Leave crab pots in both freshwater and seawater. There are a variety of species you can get in both areas. Add bait to the crab pot and then check on the next day. If you used the Trapper profession, you can improve this in skill level 10 so you won't get junk from crab pots. You can craft crab pots from fishing skill level 3 onward.
- Eat food for buffs. Some food that you can cook in the game can help out with your fishing skill by temporarily increasing its level. Make dishes such as Dish O' The Sea, Fish Stew, Lobster Bisque, and Seafoam Pudding.
- If you are aiming for a specific fish, make sure that it's available for the current season. Some fish only appear at a given season, time, as well as weather condition. You can check our tables on this page to see their availability.
- If a treasure chest appears, be mindful of the fish's behavior as well. Some fish will have their icons move up or down quickly. If your goal is catching fish, focus on that first. Treasure chests can be obtained later in the game. A lot of fish are needed for the Community Center for example, or perhaps you need to catch all fish for the Master Angler profession.
Hopefully this Ultimate Guide to fishing in Stardew Valley has helped you out in catching the different types of fish that you can find in the game. We also have other guides, so please don't hesitate to check them out