Best Fishing Spots In Stardew Valley

Summary

• Stardew Valley fishing offers valuable resources & exploration opportunities based on time, location, and conditions.
• Optimal fishing spots like bubble pools & fish frenzies provide higher chances of rare catches.
• Various areas like Pelican Town & the Mountain offer unique fish and legendary catches at different fishing levels.

In Stardew 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 can change with the seasons and even vary depending on the time of day, weather conditions, and the location of the fishing spot. With numerous locations for fishing in Stardew Valley, players have plenty of chances to cast their lines and discover the treasures beneath the waters.

Updated December 16, 2024 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.

1 Other/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.

2 Pelican Town

The River Running Through Town Is Filled With Bounty

The River flowing through Pelican Town is an optimal place for new farmers to catch river fish. During Fall, players have the opportunity to catch The Angler, one of the five Legendary Fish at the north end of the river. Additionally, they can reel in a Legendary Fish II – Ms. Angler in the same spot. Players need to reach Fishing Level 3 before they can reel in these legendary fish.

3 Cindersap 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 a different variety of fish. These water bodies are: a river and a pond.

River

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. Chub and Dorado are 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 the Glacierfish, another Legendary Fish. They also have the opportunity to catch a Glacierfish Jr. – one of the Legendary Fish II. However, to reel in these fish, players must reach Fishing Level 6.

Pond

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

• Available All Season: Carp, Woodskip, and Catfish (Rain).

The Secret Woods are located northwest of the Cindersap Forest. A small pond, hidden in the western area is home to a unique fish called The Woodskip. Players can also catch Carp and Catfish here.

4 The Beach

Located South Of Pelican Town, With Two Piers Ideal For Fishing

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 Crimsonfish and another Legendary Fish II – the Son of the Crimsonfish. These fish can be caught once players reach Fishing Level 5.

5 The Mountain

Up North From Pelican Town, East Of Robin’s And Demetrius’ Home

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, namely the Carp, the Legend (one of five Legendary Fish), and the Legend II (one of five Legendary Fish II). However, the Legendary Fishes can only be caught when players reach Fishing Level 10.

6 The Desert

Unlock The Bus To Access Two Exotic Fish

• Available All Year: Sandfish and Scorpion Carp

The Calico Desert contains a pond in the northwest section. It is a prime location for players to catch two unique fish – The Sandfish and The 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.

7 The Mines

Holds Several Exclusive Fish Types

• Floor 20: Ghostfish, Stonefish (All year)
• Floor 60: Ghostfish, Ice Pip (All year)
• Floor 100: Volcano Caldera (All year)

While the Mines may not seem like an ideal fishing spot, certain levels of the Mines are home to unique fish. At Level 20, players can find Ghostfish and Stonefish. Progressing to Level 60 introduces the Ice Pip and Ghostfish. On reaching Level 100, players can catch the Lava Eel.

8 The Sewers

The Go-To Area For Mutant Carp, Once The Key Is Earned

• Available All Year: Mutant Carp, Carp

Once players have unlocked The Sewers, they’ll find that it’s one of the best spots for fishing in Stardew Valley. The Sewers are home to the Mutant Carp, a Legendary Fish, and the Radioactive 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.

9 Witch’s Swamp

A Perfect Spot For Void Salmon, Once Players Begin The Wizard’s Quest Line

• Available All Year: Void Salmon, Catfish (Rain)

The dark and mysterious Witch’s Swamp is home to the unique Void Salmon. Players can also catch Catfish, Green Algae, White Algae, and even Void Mayonnaise here.

10 Ginger Island

Help Willy Repair The Boat To Access The Island’s Exotic Fish

Ginger Island is divided into the following areas, each containing exotic varieties of fish.

11 Fishing Submarine

A Main Attraction At The Night Market

• Submarine-exclusive Fish: Blobfish, Spook Fish, and Midnight Squid.

At the Night Market festival, players can find a unique Fishing Submarine that takes the farmer on deep-sea fishing trips. The Submarine is available from 5 PM to 11 PM and is home to a Captain who gives fishing tours for 1,000 gold. Upon accepting the tour, the Submarine drops for around 30 minutes.

When it’s deep in the sea, a hatch opens, allowing players to catch fish to their heart’s content. The Submarine is the only place to find the Spook Fish, Blobfish, and Midnight Squid, unless players use the Magic Bait in other fishing areas. Other fish that players can catch here include Sea Jelly, Seaweed, Octopus, Super Cucumber, and Sea Cucumber. Players can now also catch the Son of Crimsonfish, one of the five legendary fish in the game, during the night market.

Using an Iridium Rod equipped with a Curiosity Lure can significantly boost the chances of catching Blobfish, Super Cucumber, Spook Fish, or Pearl.

12 Caldera – The Forge

The 10th Floor Of The Ginger Island Volcano

Located on Floor 10 of the Volcano Dungeon, the Forge is used to upgrade weapons and tools. Additionally, it is also the only floor of the Volcano Dungeon where players can fish. The Forge is one of two spots where players can catch Lava Eels.

13 Farm Pond

The Pond Lets Fish Be Caught From The Comfort Of Home

Players can place ponds on their farms which offer variable fishing opportunities. While some farms offer valuable catches, others are more disappointing. Nonetheless, crab pots can be used in all ponds, offering freshwater catches, even in ponds where fishing only results in trash.

There is also the opportunity to build fish ponds, which can be purchased from Robin’s Carpentry Shop in Pelican Town. Players can place fish into these man-made ponds, where they can reproduce and create Roe, which can be turned into artisan products like Caviar.