Fishing in Stardew Valley is a huge component of the game, which may come as a surprise to some who only know it as a farming RPG. But fishing is integral to several different quests and character relationships in Pelican Town. So to break it down, we've compiled an extensive hub for all things fish.
If you're just learning the ropes, though, we do have a handy fishing guide that can teach you how to be a fish master.
Seasonal fishing in Stardew Valley
Much like crops in Stardew Valley, there are fish that are unique to certain seasons. Even certain times of the day as well as different weather conditions. So we'll break down where and when you can find each fish in the game. But first, let's tackle fishing in Stardew Valley all year round.
Fish for all seasons
Here are the fish in Stardew Valley that can be caught all year, and we've organised them alphabetically so it's easier to pick and choose what you need. We've included the times of day that these fish appear, as well as their locations, so you can schedule your fishing trip accordingly!
| Fish name | Location | Time | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue discus | Ginger Island, in ponds and rivers | Any | Any |
| Bream | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest | 6pm to 2am | Any |
| Bullhead | Mountain lake | Any | Any |
| Carp | Mountain lake, secret woods pond, the sewers | Any | Any |
| Chub | Cindersnap forest river, mountain lake | Any | Any |
| Ghostfish | Mines between level 20 and 60, occasionally dropped by ghosts | Any | Any |
| Ice Pip | Mines from level 60 - requires fishing level 5 | Any | Any |
| Largemouth Bass | Mountain lake | 6am to 7pm | Any |
| Lava eel | Mines from level 100 - requires fishing level 7 | Any | Any |
| Lionfish | Ocean at Ginger Island | Any | Any |
| Sandfish | Calico Desert | 6am - 8pm | Any |
| Scorpion Carp | Calico Desert - requires fishing level 4 | 6am - 8pm | Any |
| Slimejack | Mutant bug lair | Any | Any |
| Stingray | Pirate cove at Ginger Island | Any | Any |
| Stonefish | Mines from level 20 - requires fishing level 3 | Any | Any |
| Void salmon | Witch's swamp | Any | Any |
| Woodskip | Pond in secret woods | Any | Any |
Spring fish
Here is our list of fish in Stardew Valley that will only appear during the month of Spring.
| Fish name | Location | Time | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchovy | Ocean | Any | Any |
| Catfish | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest, the pond in secret woods, witch's swamp | 6am - 12am | Rain |
| Eel | Ocean | 4pm - 2am | Rain |
| Flounder | Ocean | 6am - 8pm | Any |
| Halibut | Ocean | 6am - 11am 7pm - 2am | Any |
| Herring | Ocean | Any | Any |
| Sardine | Ocean | 6am - 7pm | Any |
| Shad | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest | 9am - 2am | Rain |
| Smallmouth bass | River in Pelican town, pond in Cindersnap Forest | Any | Any |
| Sunfish | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest | 6am - 7pm | Sun, wind |
Summer fish
Here you'll find a table detailing where and when to find fish in Stardew Valley that are specific to the month of summer, as well as the year-round fish.
| Fish name | Location | Time | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest, secret woods pond, witch's swamp | 6am - 12am | Rain |
| Dorado | River in Cindersnap Forest | 6am - 7pm | Any |
| Flounder | Ocean | 6am - 8pm | Any |
| Halibut | Ocean | 6am - 11pm 7pm - 2am | Any |
| Octopus | Ocean | 6am - 1pm | Any |
| Pike | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest, mountain lake | Any | Any |
| Pufferfish | Ocean | 12pm - 4pm | Sun |
| Rainbow trout | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest, mountain lake | 6am - 7pm | Sun |
| Red mullet | Ocean | 6am - 7pm | Any |
| Red snapper | Ocean | 6am - 7pm | Rain |
| Shad | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest | 9am - 2am | Rain |
| Sturgeon | Mountain lake | 6am - 7pm | Any (most common on rainy summer days) |
| Sunfish | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest | 6am - 7pm | Sun, wind |
| Super cucumber | Ocean | 6am - 2pm | Any |
| Tilapia | Ocean | 6am - 2pm | Any |
| Tuna | Ocean | 6am - 7pm | Any |
Fall fish
Here are the times, locations, and weather conditions needed to catch these Stardew Valley fish in the fall.
| Fish name | Location | Time | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albacore | Ocean | 6am - 11am 6pm - 2am | Any |
| Anchovy | Ocean | Any | Any |
| Catfish | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest, witch's swamp | 6am - 12am | Rain |
| Eel | Ocean | 4pm - 2am | Any |
| Midnight carp | Mountain lake, Cindersnap Forest pond | 10pm - 2am | Any |
| Red snapper | Ocean | 6am - 7pm | Rain |
| Salmon | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest | 6am - 7pm | Any |
| Sardine | Ocean | 6am - 7pm | Any |
| Sea cucumber | Ocean | 6am - 7pm | Any |
| Shad | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest | Any | Any |
| Smallmouth bass | River in Pelican Town, pond in Cindersnap Forest | Any | Any |
| Super cucumber | Ocean | 6am - 2pm | Any |
| Tiger trout | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest | 6am - 7pm | Any |
| Tilapia | Ocean | 6am - 2pm | Any |
| Walleye | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest, pond in Cindersnap Forest, mountain lake | 12pm - 2am | Rain |
Winter fish
Below you can find a handy table detailing the fish in Stardew Valley that can be caught during winter.
| Fish name | Location | Time | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albacore | Ocean | 6am - 11am 6pm - 2am | Any |
| Halibut | Ocean | 6am - 11am 7pm - 2am | Any |
| Herring | Ocean | Any | Any |
| Lingcod | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest, mountain lake | Any | Any |
| Midnight carp | Mountain lake, pond in Cindersnap Forest | 10pm - 2am | Any |
| Perch | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest, pond in Cindersnap Forest, mountain lake | Any | Any |
| Pike | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest, pond in Cindersnap Forest | Any | Any |
| Red mullet | Ocean | 6am - 7pm | Any |
| Red snapper | Ocean | 6am - 7pm | Rain (must use Rain Totem) |
| Sardine | Ocean | 6am - 7pm | Any |
| Sea cucumber | Ocean | 6am - 7pm | Any |
| Squid | Ocean | 6pm - 2am | Any |
| Sturgeon | Mountain lake | 6am - 7pm | Any |
| Tiger trout | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest | 6am - 7pm | Any |
| Tuna | Ocean | 6am - 7pm | Any |
| Walleye | River in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest, pond in Cindersnap Forest, mountain lake | 12pm - 2am | Rain (use Rain Totem) |
So, there's everything you need to know about seasonal fishing in Stardew Valley, whether you're after the wily walleye, or looking to fill a pond with sturgeon to make caviar.
click to enlarge
+ 2Legendary fish
As well as the standard array of fish in Stardew Valley, there are also five types of fish considered legendary. Only the strongest fishermen (or women!) can catch these fish, and they each have a specific location. The fishing minigame for these legendary creatures will really test your mettle, but they're worth catching just for the sake of bragging rights.
It is easily recognisable in the fishing mini-game whether or not you have a legendary fish hooked, because the image of the fish you're battling will be wearing a tiny crown.
But be warned, there is only one of each legendary fish permitted per save file in Stardew Valley. So be sure to not accidentally eat or sell them! Unless you want to cash in the hefty price tag they fetch, of course.
Below you'll find all the details for the location and requirements needed to catch the five legendary fish in Stardew Valley.
| Fish name | Location and requirements | Season | Time | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angler | North of JojaMart on the wooden plank bridge that crosses the river. Requires level 3 fishing. | Fall | Any | Any |
| Crimsonfish | East pier on the beach. Requires level 5 fishing. | Summer | Any | Any |
| Glacierfish | South tip of the arrow shaped island in Cindersnap Forest. Requires level 6 fishing. | Winter | Any | Any |
| Legend | Mountain lake near the sunken log. Requires level 10 fishing. | Spring | Any | Rain |
| Mutant carp | The sewers. Doesn't require a specific fishing level (but we suggest seafoam pudding!). | Any | Any | Any |
Night market fishing in Stardew Valley
The Night Market runs between the Winter 15 and 17 at the beach, from 5 pm until 2 am. There are a bunch of different activities to choose from (plus free coffee!), but it's the submarine ride we're interested in when it comes to fish.
The submarine ride closes at 11 pm, so be sure to get there before that time. It also takes a total of an in-game hour to descend and rise from your deep-sea fishing adventure, so make sure to factor that time in so you don't pass out in the submarine.
The ride costs 1,000g per ticket, but it's worth doing because there are 3 Stardew Valley fish that can only be caught by diving into the depths. We've listed them below, along with other items up for grabs.
Exclusive fish to the night market submarine
- Blobfish
- Midnight squid
- Spookfish
Other fish and items available to catch
- Octopus
- Sea cucumber
- Super cucumber
- Pearl
- Seaweed
click to enlarge + 2Crab pots
Crab pots are another way to secure aquatic catches without having to play the mini-game. It's also the only way to catch these types of creatures. You can load a crab pot with some bait and leave it in the ocean, mountain lake, rivers, and ponds all around Stardew Valley. The next morning, there should be something trapped in there for you to claim.
As always, there's a chance you might simply catch some form of rubbish, like driftwood, but occasionally it can end up being something a lot more worthwhile. It's worth investing some time in since there's a crab pot bundle in the repair the community center quest.
We've created a handy table below detailing what you can catch in your crab pots and where.
| Creature | Location |
|---|---|
| Crayfish | Freshwater (mountain lake, Cindersnap Forest river and ponds, pelican town river) |
| Clam | Ocean |
| Cockle | Ocean |
| Crab | Ocean |
| Lobster | Ocean |
| Mussel | Ocean |
| Oyster | Ocean |
| Perwinkle | Freshwater (mountain lake, Cindersnap Forest river and ponds, pelican town river) |
| Shrimp | Ocean |
| Snail | Freshwater (mountain lake, Cindersnap Forest river and ponds, pelican town river) |
Fish ponds
Fish ponds can be placed anywhere on your farm, and most fish can be bred within them. Not only do you get more fish, but when they live in a pond they produce a variety of products, including roe, which can then be placed in a preserves jar to create the ultimate artisanal goods.
Each pond will give you capacity quests, where they ask for small favours to help them grow, and you can request a pond to be built from Robin like with any other farm building. You'll need 200 stone, 5 seaweed, 5 green algae, and 5,000g to build one.
So, there's everything you need to know about fishing in Stardew Valley! They can be gifted, used in cooking recipes, bred, and sold for hefty profits. Fishing is as lucrative as farming crops, so it's always worth spending some time on.
If you want to share the load, though, you can set up a co-op multiplayer farm with friends. And while you're running about town fishing, be sure to check out our character hub so you can work out what you need to impress your other villagers.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Stardew Valley page.