Summary
InStardew Valley, Fishing is more than just an enjoyable pastime. It rewards players with valuable resources and opportunities to explore the game world deeply. Fish serve as cooking ingredients and can even be sold to make quick money. The game features different varieties of fish, each with its unique characteristics.
The availability of fish canchange with the seasonsand even vary depending on the time of day, weather conditions, and the location of the fishing spot. With numerous locations for fishing inStardew Valley, players have plenty of chances to cast their lines and discover the treasures beneath the waters.
Updated Jun 11, 2025 by Stephanie Harris:Fishing in Stardew Valley hasn’t changed much recently, but some recent updates and patches have fixed errors and enhanced the player’s fishing experience.
New events like the Trout Derby and SquidFest offer great rewards, and new content like the Bait Maker and Fish Smoker enhance the gameplay options for keen fishermen. Nonetheless, finding the right fish in the right places can still be tricky. Factors like time, season, and weather still play a big role, and some fish are only available after reaching certain fishing levels.
1Other/General Areas Ideal For Fishing
Bubbles, Frenzies, Bobber Placement
While Stardew Valley has many locations that are great for fishing, other mechanics affect how good these typical fishing spots are.
Bubble Pools
Areas where the water is bubbling are perfect fishing spots and appear randomly in-game. When players throw the bobber into the pool, their chance of catching fish is quadrupled.
Fish Frenzies
A message will appear on the right corner of the player’s screen when a fish frenzy is happening, along with its location (it can be one of four areas: the Forest, the Mountain, the Town, or the Beach). Frenzies are marked by pools of bubbles, with a specific type of fish jumping in and out of the water (for example,Rainbow Trout). The chance to catch that specific fish is increased for that spot.
Bobber Placement
Outside of frenzies and bubble pools, players should always try to throw a bobber as far away as possible from the land tile they are standing on. This increases one’s chance of getting better-quality fish. Bobbers can be purchased from the Fish Shop, with the Advanced Iridium Rod allowing players to stack two pieces of tackle.
Winter
The River flowing through Pelican Town is an optimal place for newfarmers to catch river fish. During Fall, players have the opportunity to catchThe Angler,one of the five Legendary Fish at thenorth end of the river.Additionally, they can reel in a Legendary Fish II -Ms. Anglerin the same spot. Players need to reachFishing Level 3before they can reel in these legendary fish.
3Cindersap Forest
The Forest By Marnie’s Farm Has A River, A Pond, And The Secret Woods Pond
The Cindersap Forest is the only map featuring different bodies of water, each home to adifferent variety of fish. These water bodies are: a river and a pond.
The River is the primary fishing location in Cindersap Forest. Being an extension of the river in Pelican Town, it typically contains the same river fish – with a few exceptions.ChubandDoradoare two kinds of fish that are not found in the town’s river but are common in the forest river. During Winter, players can catch theGlacierfish,another Legendary Fish. They also have the opportunity to catch aGlacierfish Jr.– one of the Legendary Fish II. However, to reel in these fish, players must reachFishing Level 6.
A large pond is available for fishing at the northwest corner of the Cindersap Forest. It has a limited selection of fish as compared to the river. Depending on the season, players can find Carp, Catfish, Midnight Carp, Perch, Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye in the pond.
Secret Woods
TheSecret Woods are locatednorthwest of the Cindersap Forest. A small pond, hidden in the western area is home to a unique fish calledThe Woodskip.Players can also catch Carp and Catfish here.
The Beach is a valuable spot for fishing since it serves as one of the few sources of saltwater fish. Players who go fishing at the east end of the Beach can catch one of the five Legendary Fish -the Crimsonfishand another Legendary Fish II - theSon of the Crimsonfish.These fish can be caught once players reachFishing Level 5.
There is a large lake in the middle of the Mountain map. It is one of the best spots to practice fishing early in the game. Players can find many types of fish in The Mountain Lake, namelythe Carp,the Legend(one of five Legendary Fish), andthe Legend II(one of five Legendary Fish II). However, the Legendary Fishes can only be caught whenplayers reachFishing Level 10.
6The Desert
Unlock The Bus To Access Two Exotic Fish
TheCalico Desert contains a pondin the northwest section. It is a prime location for players to catch two unique fish –The SandfishandThe Scorpion Carp. These can be caught during all seasons in the Desert.
Players can also try their hand at fishing in the small pond located at the southern edge, provided their Fishing Level is sufficiently high. It’s worth noting that this pond primarily contains low-quality fish.
7The Mines
Holds Several Exclusive Fish Types
While theMines may not seemlike an ideal fishing spot, certain levels of the Mines are home to unique fish. At Level 20, players can findGhostfishandStonefish. Progressing to Level 60 introduces theIce PipandGhostfish. On reaching Level 100, players can catch theLava Eel.
8The Sewers
The Go-To Area For Mutant Carp, Once The Key Is Earned
Onceplayers have unlocked The Sewers, they’ll find that it’s one of the best spots for fishing inStardew Valley. The Sewers are home to theMutant Carp, a Legendary Fish, and theRadioactive Carp, a Legendary Fish II. Players can also catch Carp, Green Algae, and White Algae in the Sewers. The only other item that can be caught in the Sewers is Trash.
9Witch’s Swamp
A Perfect Spot For Void Salmon, Once Players Begin The Wizard’s Quest Line
The dark and mysterious Witch’s Swamp is home to the uniqueVoid Salmon. Players can also catch Catfish, Green Algae, White Algae, and even Void Mayonnaise here.
10Ginger Island
Help Willy Repair The Boat To Access The Island’s Exotic Fish
Ginger Island is dividedinto the following areas, each containing exotic varieties of fish.
