Most Difficult Fish To Catch In Stardew Valley

Summary

• Some fish, like the Lava Eel, require specific locations and conditions, making them hard to catch.
• Eels and Octopus are challenging due to limited availability and specific behaviors.
• Legendary Fish, including Angler and Crimsonfish, can only be caught once per save file and are very difficult.

Fishing is considered one of the hardest mechanics in Stardew Valley. The green bar is small, and the fish move quickly and escape easily. Of course, there are ways to improve your fishing abilities. You can level up your fishing skills, upgrade your rod, use bobbers and bait, and even eat foods that will make fishing just a bit easier.

Regardless of this, some fish are still easier to catch than others. There are some that are only available in certain seasons, at a specific time of day, or only in one kind of weather, such as sunshine or rain. Other fish are difficult because of how hard they are to catch. These are the toughest catches.

Updated December 21, 2024 by Noura Costany: We’ve updated this article to add some fish that are difficult to catch, including ones that you can only fish for late at night. Fishing is one of the best minigames in the game, and knowing how to capture rare and elusive fish will help you catch them all.

13

Pufferfish

Puffiest Boy

The Pufferfish
can be caught in the Ocean during Summer (or on the Beach Farm if you chose it). It can also be found during any season on Ginger Island, which makes it a bit easier than others to catch. The weather has to be sunny, and you can only catch these fish between 12pm and 4pm.

This fish is difficult because of the limited time period and the fact that you have to unlock Ginger Island to increase your chances of catching it. Its difficulty is level 80.

12

Eel

Slippery Slope

Eel
s are hard to reel in because of how small your window is to catch them. You can only catch Eels at night from 4pm – 2am when it’s raining. You also can only find an Eel during Spring or Fall, which means it’s only available twice a year.

You can use a rain totem to make it rain!

Once you find an Eel, it’s not impossible to catch. It’s got smooth behavior, which means that it’s pretty steady and easy to follow. It is considered 70 in difficulty, and is only found in the Ocean.

11

Lava Eel

This Eel Is On Fire

The Lava Eel
is one of the hardest fish to catch for multiple reasons. First and foremost, the location. You can only get the Lava Eel by fishing in the hundredth floor of the mine, or at the Volcano on Ginger Island. Both locations require a lot of work to unlock. Secondly, you can pull up a lot of trash from both places, and it takes a while for a Lava Eel to actually appear.

Once you’ve managed to find a Lava Eel, you have to actually catch it. It moves incredibly quickly, and it’s very easy to lose the fish. It’s best to go after them when you have at least one of the following: A high fishing level, a high luck day, a great rod, or fishing boosts from food.

10

Octopus

Ocean Octopus

Octopus
can be found in the Ocean, on Ginger Island from 6am – 1pm, or anytime during the Nightmarket Submarine Ride. Octopus don’t appear very often, the likelihood of one appearing being between four and 18 percent, depending on season, location, and weather.

The fish in Stardew Valley have different behaviors, and Octopus are sinkers. This means that they have a fast downward acceleration. This makes it difficult to catch this fish without using a bobber that increases the size of the green bar.

9

Stingray

Pirate’s Cove

Stingray
s can be rough, because you have a lot to unlock before you can get to them. You have to finish the community center, which unlocks Willy’s boat. From there, you can go to Ginger Island.

After that, you have to unlock the Pirates Cove, which can take a decent amount of time. Finally, you can fish in the Pirate’s Cove, the only place the Stringray is located.

8

Catfish

Meow

Catfish
can only be found in the morning from 6am – 12am. If you’re not on the river farm, this means you have to run to the river as quickly as possible. Catfish only appear when it is raining in the Spring and Fall, or in the Secret Forest during Summer, Spring or Fall.

Catfish have mixed behavior, which means it can be sporadic. It can sink, move quickly, be more fluid, and there’s no way to know if the fish you have on your rod is a catfish or not.

7

Super Cucumber

Super Duper

Super Cucumber
is an elusive fish that can only be found in the evening from 6pm – 2am. It has Sinker Behavior, which means it sinks downwards quickly, making it difficult to catch. This fish only appears in the Summer or during Fall.

You can use a tent to sleep outside your house without crashing and falling asleep in order to fish later into the evening.

If you’re looking for other ways to find Super Cucumbers, check your trash cans! They occasionally appear when digging through the trash. You also have a very low chance of finding Super Cucumber in the Night Market Deep Sea Submarine Ride.

6

Lingcod

Lingcod Difficulties

Lingcod
are winter fish with mixed behavior. This means that sometimes Lingcod might be easy to catch, and other times, impossible. Its difficulty level is 85.

Luckily, Lingcod is one of the fishes that can be found in other ways. You can buy it occasionally from Krobus, or from the traveling cart.

5

Midnight Carp

Late Night Friend

The Midnight Carp
can be an elusive fish to catch. It is available during two seasons, Winter and Fall, and is a freshwater fish. The main difficulty with our midnight friends is that you can only catch them from 10pm – 2am. That’s a short window, and with one that late at night, it’s less likely you’re going to get home to bed safely.

The Midnight Carp’s difficulty is 55, which isn’t that bad, but it has mixed behavior, so it’s hard to track when you’ve got it on your line. A Sonar Bobber
might help you if you’re trying to pursue it.

Keep these guys when you get them! They can be used in the Seafoam Pudding
recipe.

4

Scorpion Carp

Ooh, Sharp!

The Scorpion Carp
is a fish that is often considered one of the most difficult to catch. This fish can be found in the Desert Pond during all seasons. The Scorpion Carp is hard to acquire because it has a pretty low bite rate, and you have to unlock the desert in order to go after it.

The Scorpion Carp is one of the few fish that require you to be of a certain fishing level. You can’t catch it unless you’re at least fishing level four (though you can reach this level through boosts). Its difficulty is 90.

3

Void Salmon

Witchy Fish

The Void Salmon
is a cool looking fish that can only be found in the Witch’s Swamp. It’s a level 80 difficulty to catch, but it can be found in any season during any weather.

The real difficulty with the Void Salmon is that you have to unlock the Witch’s Swamp in order to catch it. You have to complete the Dark Talisman quest to get it open, and from there have a high enough fishing level to catch this unique fish.

2

Ice Pip

Icy Fish

Ice Pip
are located on the 60th floor of the mines. One of the reasons this fish is so difficult to catch is because its behavior is to dart. This means it moves erratically up and down the fishing bar, which makes it much harder to catch.

Ice Pip do not bite easily. To help catch this elusive fish, consider using a curiosity lure, which increases your chances of catching rare fish.

1

Legendary Fish

The Man, The Fish, The Legend

There are multiple Legendary Fish in Stardew Valley. These fish are unique because you can only catch them once per save file. These fish can only be caught during specific seasons, and are all difficulty level 80 or harder. These fish include the Angler, Crimsonfish
, Glacierfish
, Legend, and Mutant Carp
.

There is a Qi challenge where you can catch the relatives of these fish. They are just as difficult to catch level wise, but don’t have the same restrictions when it comes to season or weather. These fish include Glacierfish jr, Ms. Angler, Legend II, Radioactive Carp and son of Crimsonfish.