Knowing how to catch Stardew Valley fish is important but, much like anything else in the game, there’s a knack to it. The type of fish you catch depends on different factors in the game, like the time of year you’re in, the weather, where you’re fishing, and what time of day it is in Stardew Valley. 

Luckily, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to all the fish in Stardew Valley, how to catch them, and when and where they appear. From red snapper to catfish, if you’re looking to catch all the fish in the game, here’s how you do it. When you’re finished hunting for fish, why not try a bountiful mission to find the Stardew Valley Golden Walnuts or Stardew Valley Prismatic Shards? 

How to catch fish in Stardew Valley

When you’re fishing, there’s a mini-game you need to partake in before you can catch a fish. A small window will appear with a fish icon and a bar; you need to tap a button to move the bar up and down, while keeping the fish inside the bar. A meter to the side will start to fill when it’s inside, but will decrease when the bar and the icon don’t overlap. Completely fill the meter to catch the fish, but if it decreases completely, the fish will escape.

Stardew Valley fish: Fishing rod

There’s certain fish in Stardew Valley that can only be caught by using the Fishing Rod. To increase your chances of catching fish such as the Sturgeon, Lava Eel, Catfish, and Red Snapper, you’ll also want to consider upgrading your Fishing Rod. There’s the standard Bamboo Pole that you’ll receive on your second day, the Fiberglass Rod that you can buy from Willy’s Fish Shop once you’ve reached level 3 fishing, and the Iridium Rod that can also be bought once you obtain level 6 status.

Stardew Valley fish: Crab pot

Like the Fishing Rod, there’s certain fish that can only be caught by using a Crab Pot. To acquire a Crab Pot, you can either craft one using 40 Wood and 3 Iron Bar, or purchase one at the Fish Shop for 1,500g once you’ve reached level 3 fishing status. You also obtain three Crab Pots from completing the Crab Pot Bundle in the Fish Tank, by catching a lot of Crab Pot fish, or you can receive one as a prize during the Trout Derby mini festival on the 20th and 21st of Summer. 

Stardew Valley fish: Night market

Three types of fish can be caught exclusively on the submarine during the Night Market festival, which takes place between 5pm-2am, although the submarine closes at 11pm so jump on beforehand, during the 15th to 17th of Winter. You’ll need to pay 1,000g for a tour that’ll allow you to fish. You’ll need to equip either the Fiberglass or Iridium Rod for a chance at catching them though.

• Midnight Squid
• Blobfish
• Spook Fish

Stardew Valley fish: Legendary

Stardew Valley legendary fish are much harder to catch than normal fish, but you can get them by using a Fishing Rod. There are five in total – one per season, plus one extra – and you may need to use items that give you a fishing buff in order to catch them. Each legendary fish can only be caught once per save file, unless you’re playing co-op, in which case each player can catch it once. Where and when to catch them is outlined below.

Aside from insta-catches like Seaweed, Green Algae, and White Algae, these are all the things you can catch when fishing in Stardew Valley (except for junk). Good luck catching them all!

Looking to get clued up in Stardew Valley? Try our guides to Stardew Valley tips, Stardew Valley cheats, and Stardew Valley mods.

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