Many players find the Fish Tank bundle in Stardew Valley surprisingly challenging to complete. This often stems from not knowing when and where to find specific fish, or preferring not to constantly consult the Stardew Valley Wiki. This guide aims to simplify completing the Fish Tank bundle, offering an easy-to-follow, economical approach to catching every fish you need. Instead of sorting by bundle, we’ll break it down by season and fishing location, making it clear when and where to cast your line.
There are several key fishing locations in Stardew Valley, each with unique catches:
- River: This includes the river in Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest. Note that the pond in Cindersnap Forest with the pier and the Secret Woods pond are separate locations.
- Lake: Specifically refers to the mountain lake near the Mines entrance.
- Ocean: Encompasses all fishable areas at the Beach and the Tide Pools.
- Oasis: The pond in the Desert, near the Skull Cavern entrance.
Let’s dive into the fish you’ll need, organized by availability and location.
Fish Available in Any Season
Some fish aren’t tied to seasons, making them accessible year-round once you unlock their specific locations.
Specialty Fish
These unique fish require venturing to specific, often less common, fishing spots.
- Ghostfish: Found in the Mines at level 20 and 60 in the underground lake. They are also dropped by Ghosts (level 41-79 in the Mines). Important: Ghostfish cannot be caught using a Training Rod.
- Woodskip: обитает in the Secret Woods pond and reportedly on the Forest Farm. Woodskip also cannot be caught with a Training Rod.
- Sandfish: Resides in the Oasis pond within the Desert, close to the Skull Cavern entrance. Sandfish cannot be caught with a Training Rod either.
These three specialty fish can be caught in any season, provided you have access to their respective locations.
Lake Fish
The lake offers a consistent fishing spot with several year-round residents.
- Largemouth Bass: Active from 6 AM to 7 PM in the Lake. A popular sport fish that sells for a decent price. However, Largemouth Bass cannot be caught with a Training Rod.
- Carp: Available at any time in the Lake, Secret Woods, and Sewers. Carp are very common, often considered low-value, but you’re likely to catch many unintentionally. The good news is, Carp can be caught with a Training Rod, making them useful for leveling up your Fishing skill early on. Note: In the Secret Woods and Sewers, Carp are only available during Winter.
- Bullhead: Can be caught at any time in the Lake. Bullhead can be caught with a Training Rod and offer a reasonable selling price.
Three out of the four Lake fish are available in all seasons, and all are relatively easy to catch. Fishing in the Lake is a reliable way to improve your Fishing skill and earn some gold.
Night Fish
- Bream: Active from 6 PM to 2 AM in the River, regardless of weather. Bream can be caught with a Training Rod. If you’re fishing in the River during the day in Spring for Shad (especially on Spring 3rd, which is guaranteed to rain), consider staying into the night to catch Bream as well.
Spring Fish
Spring introduces seasonal fish, especially in the River and Ocean.
River Fish (Spring)
- Sunfish: Available from 6 AM to 7 PM on sunny days in the River. Notably, your very first fishing cast in the game is designed to guarantee a Sunfish catch, bypassing trash or difficult fish and serving as a tutorial.
- Catfish: Active from 6 AM to Midnight, but only when it’s raining, in both the River and the Secret Woods. Catfish are valuable but challenging for beginner anglers. They cannot be caught with a Training Rod, so you might want to wait until your Fishing skill is higher before targeting them.
- Shad: Found from 9 AM to 2 AM, exclusively when it’s raining, in the River. Shad can be caught with a Training Rod, making them a safer option in rainy Spring weather if you want to avoid the difficulty of Catfish.
Technically, three of the four River Fish bundle fish are available in Spring, although Catfish might pose a challenge for newer players.
Ocean Fish (Spring)
- Sardine: Available from 6 AM to 7 PM at the Beach. Sardines can be caught with a Training Rod and are generally very easy to catch. If you start your fishing journey at Willy’s Pier, a Sardine might very well be your first ever catch!
Night Fish (Spring)
- Eel: Active from 4 PM to 2 AM in the Ocean, but only when it’s raining. Eels cannot be caught with a Training Rod and are considered a difficult “fish” to reel in. Expert anglers might try for them on Spring 3rd, but most new players should wait until they have leveled up their Fishing skill.
Remember, Bream are also available year-round in the River, including Spring nights.
Summer Fish
Summer brings some shifts in fish locations and availability.
River Fish (Summer)
- Sunfish: If you missed it in Spring, Sunfish are again available in Summer, during sunny days. They can be caught with a Training Rod.
- Catfish: In Summer, Catfish are found only in the Secret Woods when it is raining. (There is another location, but it’s post-Community Center content and not relevant for this guide). They still cannot be caught with a Training Rod.
- Shad: Similar to Spring, Shad are in the River when it’s raining, during the daytime. They can be caught with a Training Rod.
Catfish move from the main River to the Secret Woods in Summer, but otherwise, their conditions remain the same as in Spring.
Lake Fish (Summer)
- Sturgeon: Available from 6 AM to 7 PM in the Lake. Sturgeon is the final fish needed for the Lake Fish Bundle and is also the most challenging catch within this bundle. Sturgeon cannot be caught with a Training Rod.
The other three Lake fish (Largemouth Bass, Carp, Bullhead) are also available in Summer, making it an excellent time to complete the Lake Fish bundle.
Ocean Fish (Summer)
- Tuna: Available from 6 AM to 7 PM at the Beach. Tuna cannot be caught with a Training Rod.
- Red Snapper: Active from 6 AM to 7 PM at the Beach, but only when it’s raining. Red Snapper can be caught with a Training Rod.
- Tilapia: Found from 6 AM to 2 PM at the Beach. Tilapia cannot be caught with a Training Rod and are only available until early afternoon, so plan your fishing trip accordingly.
If you caught a Sardine in Spring, Summer is the season to complete the Ocean Fish bundle.
Specialty Fish (Summer)
- Pufferfish: Available from Noon to 4 PM at the Beach, only on sunny days. Pufferfish cannot be caught with a Fishing Rod (this is likely a typo in the original text and should read “Training Rod” or “any rod”). Pufferfish are tricky because they require summer, sunny weather, and a narrow 4-hour window. They are also known to be difficult to catch.
If you miss the Pufferfish in Summer, you’ll have to wait until next year to complete this part of the bundle, unless you get lucky with the Traveling Cart vendor. The other Specialty Fish (Ghostfish, Woodskip, Sandfish) are available year-round in their specific locations.
Fall Fish
Fall presents the last chance to catch some seasonal fish before winter sets in.
River Fish (Fall)
- Catfish: Available from 6 AM to Midnight, only when raining, in the River or Secret Woods. Still cannot be caught with a Training Rod. If you struggled to catch it in Spring, Fall is your next opportunity.
- Shad: Found from 9 AM to 2 AM, only when raining, in the River. Can be caught with a Training Rod. As with Spring, this is your last chance to catch Shad until next year.
- Tiger Trout: Active from 6 AM to 7 PM in the River. Tiger Trout cannot be caught with a Training Rod. Fall is the earliest you can complete the River Fish bundle due to the Tiger Trout’s seasonal availability, unless you get lucky and find one at the Traveling Cart.
Bundle completion for River Fish becomes possible in Fall with the Tiger Trout.
Ocean Fish (Fall)
- Red Snapper: Available from 6 AM to 7 PM at the Beach, only when raining. Can be caught with a Training Rod. If you missed it in Summer, this is your last chance this year.
- Tilapia: Found from 6 AM to 2 PM at the Beach. Cannot be caught with a Training Rod. This is also your last opportunity to catch Tilapia until next Summer. Remember they leave early in the day.
Night Fishing (Fall)
- Walleye: Active from Noon to 2 AM in the River, Lake, and Forest Pond (the pond with the pier in Cindersnap Forest, not the Secret Woods), only when raining. Walleye can be caught with a Training Rod. Fall is the only season to catch Walleye.
- Eel: Available from 4 PM to 2 AM in the Ocean, only when raining. Cannot be caught with a Training Rod. If you lacked the skill to catch Eel in Spring, Fall is your final chance this year.
Bundle completion for Ocean Fish is also possible this season if you’ve caught everything else.
If you’ve been catching fish as soon as they become available, you can complete the Fish Tank bundle as early as Fall, once you catch a Tiger Trout and a Walleye.
Winter Fish
Winter fishing becomes more focused as fewer fish are available.
River Fish (Winter)
- Tiger Trout: Active from 9 AM to 6 PM in the River. Cannot be caught with a Training Rod. If you missed it in Fall, Winter gives you another chance, and with fewer fish competing for your hook, it might be easier to find.
Lake Fish (Winter)
- Sturgeon: Available from 6 AM to 7 PM in the Lake. Cannot be caught with a Training Rod. If you missed it in Summer or Fall, Winter is your final chance this year to catch Sturgeon for the Lake Fish bundle.
Ocean Fish (Winter)
- Sardine: Available from 6 AM to 7 PM at the Beach. Can be caught with a Training Rod. You should likely have caught a Sardine by now, but if not, they are still available in Winter.
- Tuna: Active from 6 AM to 7 PM at the Beach. Cannot be caught with a Training Rod. If you missed Tuna in Summer or Fall, Winter is your last chance to catch it before the year ends.
Conclusion
The Fish Tank bundle in Stardew Valley isn’t truly difficult; it simply requires planning and knowing where to fish at the right time. While some fish require a higher Fishing skill and better rod, many can be caught even with the Training Rod, making it accessible to new anglers. By following this guide and understanding the seasonal and location patterns of fish, you’ll be well-equipped to complete the Fish Tank bundle efficiently and enjoy the rewards. Happy fishing in Stardew Valley!
