The Ultimate Stardew Valley Fishing Guide: Reel in Success!

Fishing in Stardew Valley can be both relaxing and rewarding, offering a great way to earn money, complete bundles, and even uncover hidden treasures. For newcomers to the game, mastering the art of angling can seem a bit daunting. Many players find the Fish Tank bundle, a crucial early-game objective in the Community Center, to be surprisingly challenging. This comprehensive fishing guide for Stardew Valley is designed to transform you from a novice into a seasoned fisher, making the Fish Tank bundle and beyond a breeze.

Getting Started with Fishing in Stardew Valley

Before you can start reeling in impressive catches, understanding the basics of fishing in Stardew Valley is key. Let’s dive into the essential aspects that every aspiring angler needs to know.

Prime Fishing Locations

Stardew Valley boasts diverse fishing spots, each teeming with unique aquatic life. Knowing where to cast your line is the first step to success.

The River: Flowing through Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest, the river is a versatile location for catching a variety of fish throughout the seasons. Remember, the small pond in Cindersnap Forest with the pier and the Secret Woods pond are separate fishing zones, distinct from the main river.
The Mountain Lake: Situated near the Mines, this large lake is another excellent spot, particularly known for Lake fish.
The Ocean: The beach and tidal pools are your gateways to ocean fishing. Saltwater species abound here.
The Secret Woods Pond: This secluded location holds special fish that you won’t find elsewhere, like the Woodskip.
The Mines (Levels 20 & 60): Within the Mines, you’ll find underground pools where unique fish like the Ghostfish reside.
The Desert Oasis: Venture into the desert, near the Skull Cavern entrance, to discover the Oasis and catch desert-dwelling fish such as the Sandfish.

Essential Fishing Gear: Rods and Tackle

Your fishing rod is your most crucial tool. As you level up your Fishing skill, you’ll gain access to better rods, improving your casting distance, and making it easier to catch tougher fish.

Training Rod: Perfect for beginners to get a feel for fishing. It can only catch common fish, helping you level up your skill without the frustration of losing valuable catches.
Bamboo Pole: The standard starting rod, acquired early in the game.
Fiberglass Rod: An upgrade from the Bamboo Pole, allowing the use of bait to increase fish bite rate.
Iridium Rod: The best rod in the game, enabling the use of both bait and tackle. Tackle enhances your fishing in various ways, such as increasing the fishing bar size, slowing down fish movement, or increasing treasure chest appearance.

Bait and tackle can significantly improve your fishing efficiency. Bait increases the rate at which fish bite, while tackle offers various bonuses, making it easier to hook and reel in fish, or find treasure.

Understanding Fish Behavior and Seasons

Each fish in Stardew Valley has its own preferences for location, season, time of day, and weather. Some fish are only active during specific seasons, while others prefer certain weather conditions like rain. Paying attention to these factors is crucial for targeting specific fish, especially for completing bundles like the Fish Tank.

Conquering the Fish Tank Bundle: A Seasonal Catch Guide

The Fish Tank bundle in the Community Center requires a variety of fish from different locations and seasons. This section provides a seasonal breakdown to guide you through catching each required fish efficiently.

Fish Available in Any Season

Certain fish can be caught regardless of the season, making them a great starting point for completing the Fish Tank bundle.

Crab Pot Bundle

This bundle is incredibly easy to complete and can be done at any time of the year. Simply forage for Oysters, Clams, Cockles, and Mussels on the beach. For the Crab, venture into the Mines and defeat Rock Crabs – no crab pots needed!

Specialty Fish Bundle

These unique fish require access to specific, sometimes remote, locations but are available throughout the year once you can reach their habitats.

Ghostfish: Found in the underground pools of the Mines at levels 20 and 60. They can also be dropped by Ghosts (level 41-79). Note: Training Rods cannot catch Ghostfish.

Alt Text: Ghostfish, a pale white fish found in the mines of Stardew Valley, part of the Specialty Fish Bundle.

Woodskip: Cast your line in the Secret Woods pond or, reportedly, even on the Forest Farm if you choose that farm layout. Training Rods are ineffective for Woodskip.

Alt Text: Woodskip, a brown and orange fish caught in the Secret Woods pond in Stardew Valley, important for the Specialty Fish Bundle.

Sandfish: Head to the Desert Oasis near the Skull Cavern entrance to catch Sandfish. Training Rods will not work for these desert dwellers.

Alt Text: Sandfish, a yellow fish found in the Desert Oasis of Stardew Valley, required for the Specialty Fish Bundle.

Spring Fishing Focus

Spring offers a fresh start for fishing. Here’s what to target during this season.

River Fish (Spring)

Sunfish: These cheerful fish are active from 6 AM to 7 PM on sunny days in the river. As a helpful tip for beginners, your very first cast in the game is guaranteed to yield a Sunfish if it would otherwise be trash or a difficult catch, perfect for the tutorial!

Alt Text: Sunfish, a bright yellow fish easily caught in the river during sunny spring days in Stardew Valley.

Catfish: A more challenging catch, Catfish appear from 6 AM to Midnight when it’s raining, in both the river and the Secret Woods. These fish are good for selling, but you’ll need a decent Fishing skill and rod as Training Rods can’t catch them.
Shad: Look for Shad in the river from 9 AM to 2 AM during rainy weather. Fortunately, Shad can be caught with a Training Rod, making them a less risky target than Catfish for newer anglers during Spring rains.

Ocean Fish (Spring)

Sardine: The easiest ocean fish to catch in Spring, Sardines are available from 6 AM to 7 PM at the beach. They can be caught with a Training Rod, and might even be your very first catch if you start fishing at Willy’s Pier!

Night Fish (Spring)

Eel: Eels emerge in the ocean from 4 PM to 2 AM, but only when it rains. These slippery creatures are tough to reel in and cannot be caught with a Training Rod. Spring 3, with its guaranteed rain, could be a tempting but potentially frustrating time for novice anglers to try for Eel.

Remember, Bream, a night fish available in all seasons, can also be caught in Spring rivers from 6 PM to 2 AM in any weather.

Summer Fishing Adventures

Summer brings new fishing opportunities and continues some from Spring.

River Fish (Summer)

Sunfish: If you missed them in Spring, Sunfish are still around in the river during sunny summer days.
Catfish: In Summer, Catfish relocate primarily to the Secret Woods and are still only available when it rains. They can also be found in the Riverlands Farm map’s river during rain. Training Rods remain ineffective against Catfish.
Shad: Just like in Spring, Shad are in the river during rainy days in the Summer.

Lake Fish (Summer)

Sturgeon: The prize of the Lake Fish bundle and the most challenging lake fish to catch, Sturgeon are available from 6 AM to 7 PM in the lake. They cannot be caught with a Training Rod. Summer is an ideal time to target Sturgeon and complete the Lake Fish bundle, as the other required fish (Largemouth Bass, Carp, Bullhead) are also available in Summer.

Ocean Fish (Summer)

Tuna: Find Tuna at the beach from 6 AM to 7 PM. Training Rods won’t work for these.
Red Snapper: Red Snapper appear at the beach from 6 AM to 7 PM, but only when it’s raining. They can be caught with a Training Rod.
Tilapia: Tilapia are beach dwellers, active from 6 AM to 2 PM. They retire early in the day, so fish for them in the morning. Training Rods are not effective for Tilapia.

Specialty Fish (Summer)

Pufferfish: A tricky summer specialty fish, Pufferfish are found at the beach from noon to 4 PM, but only on sunny days. They are also notoriously difficult to catch and cannot be caught with a Training Rod. Summer is your only seasonal window to catch Pufferfish unless you get lucky with the Traveling Cart.

Fall Fishing Fortunes

Fall presents the last chance for some seasonal fish before winter arrives.

River Fish (Fall)

Catfish: Fall brings Catfish back to the river (and Secret Woods) from 6 AM to Midnight during rainy weather.
Shad: Fall is your last chance to catch Shad in the river (9 AM – 2 AM, rainy).
Tiger Trout: Tiger Trout appear in the river from 6 AM to 7 PM. Fall marks the earliest season you can complete the River Fish bundle because of the Tiger Trout, unless you’ve already acquired one from the Traveling Cart. Training Rods cannot catch Tiger Trout.

Ocean Fish (Fall)

Red Snapper: If you missed them in Summer, Fall is your last chance for Red Snapper at the beach during rainy mornings (6 AM – 7 PM).
Tilapia: Similarly, Fall is the final season for Tilapia at the beach (6 AM – 2 PM).

Night Fishing (Fall)

Walleye: Fall is the only season to catch Walleye. They are available from noon to 2 AM in the river, lake, and forest pond (the one with the pier, not the Secret Woods pond) during rainy weather. Walleye can be caught with a Training Rod.
Eel: If you didn’t catch an Eel in Spring, Fall is your last chance for this ocean night fish (4 PM – 2 AM, rainy).

By Fall, if you’ve been fishing strategically, you can complete the Fish Tank bundle as soon as you catch a Tiger Trout and a Walleye!

Winter Fishing Wonders

Winter fishing can be quieter, but still rewarding.

River Fish (Winter)

Tiger Trout: If you missed them in Fall, Tiger Trout are still in the river during winter days (9 AM – 6 PM).

Lake Fish (Winter)

Sturgeon: Winter is your final opportunity this year to catch Sturgeon in the lake (6 AM – 7 PM) if you missed them in Summer.

Ocean Fish (Winter)

Sardine: Sardines are available year-round, so if you somehow haven’t caught one yet, they’re still at the beach in Winter.
Tuna: Winter provides another chance to catch Tuna at the beach (6 AM – 7 PM) if you missed them in Summer.

Tips for Becoming a Stardew Valley Fishing Master

Level Up Your Fishing Skill: The higher your Fishing skill, the larger your fishing bar becomes, making it easier to catch fish. Level up by simply fishing! Even catching common fish with the Training Rod helps early on.
Utilize Bait and Tackle: Once you upgrade to the Fiberglass or Iridium Rod, use bait to increase fish bite rate and tackle to further enhance your fishing abilities. Experiment with different tackles to see what works best for you.
Observe Fish Behavior: Pay attention to fish movement patterns during the fishing mini-game. Predicting their movements will help you keep the fishing bar aligned and successfully catch the fish.
Eat Fishing Buff Foods: Foods like Dish O’ The Sea and Seafoam Pudding temporarily boost your Fishing skill, making it easier to catch tougher fish and increasing the chance of finding treasure.

Conclusion: Reel in the Rewards

Fishing in Stardew Valley is a skill that improves with practice and knowledge. This Stardew Valley fishing guide provides you with the information you need to effectively target fish for the Fish Tank bundle and beyond. By understanding fish locations, seasons, times, and using the right gear and techniques, you’ll be reeling in catches like a pro in no time. Happy fishing, and good luck completing the Fish Tank bundle!