Stardew Valley Fishing Guide by Season (Every Fish, Every Time, Every Location)

Fishing in Stardew Valley is one of the deepest mechanics in the game — and one of the most punishing if you don't know the schedule. Each fish has a specific season, time window, location, and sometimes a weather requirement, and missing any one of them means waiting weeks (or a full year) for another shot. This complete Stardew Valley fishing guide by season lays out every fish, when to catch it, and where to find it.

Use this guide as your seasonal fishing calendar. Jump to your current season, check the available fish, and plan your evenings around the rainy ones — that's where the hardest catches live.

How Stardew Valley Fishing Works

Three rules govern every fish in the game:

1. Season. Most fish are locked to one or two of the four seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter). A handful are available year-round, and a small set only appears during the 3-day Night Market (Winter 15–17).
2. Time of day. Some fish only bite between specific hours — the Pufferfish, for example, is only catchable 12pm–4pm on Summer sunny days.
3. Weather. A few key bundle fish (Catfish, Walleye, Eel) only appear on rainy days, and the Pufferfish only on sunny days.

Skip a single rainy Fall day and you might miss Walleye, Catfish, and Eel — three bundle fish — in one stroke. That's why a seasonal checklist matters so much.

Fish Count by Season

Spring Fish

Spring is one of the gentler fishing seasons. Most catches are forgiving, but Catfish and Eel are bundle fish locked behind rainy days — never skip a Spring rainstorm.

Spring priority list: Catfish (rainy days, River Fish Bundle), Sardine (Ocean Fish Bundle), Sunfish (River Fish Bundle), Shad (River Fish Bundle), Eel (rainy nights, Night Fishing Bundle).

Summer Fish

Summer brings the largest pool of catches and two of the toughest bundle requirements: Pufferfish (sunny days only, narrow 12pm–4pm window) and Sturgeon (Mountain Lake, Lake Fish Bundle).

Summer priority list: Pufferfish (Specialty Fish Bundle, sunny only), Sturgeon (Lake Fish Bundle), Tuna and Red Snapper and Tilapia (Ocean Fish Bundle).

Fall Fish

Fall is the single best fishing season. Rainy Fall days unlock Walleye, Catfish, and Eel all at once — block out the entire day. Fall is also when the Angler legendary appears.

Fall priority list: Rainy day → Walleye, Catfish, Eel (three bundle fish in one day). Plus Tiger Trout (River Fish Bundle).

Winter Fish

Winter is the most unique season because of the Night Market (Winter 15–17), a 3-day event with three submarine-only fish you can't catch any other time of year. Don't skip those nights.

Winter 15–17: The Night Market

For three nights only, board the submarine at the Beach and fish in the deep ocean. These fish can ONLY be caught here:

Winter priority list: All three Night Market fish (Winter 15–17 only), Squid (Winter only), Sturgeon (Lake Fish Bundle).

Year-Round Fish (Available Every Season)

These fish appear in every season, so they're flexible — but the bundle ones (Bream, Bullhead, Carp, Largemouth Bass) should still be caught the moment you have the chance, just to check them off.

Special-Location Fish (All Seasons)

Some of the highest-value fish in Stardew Valley aren't tied to a season at all — they live in special locations like the Mines, the Calico Desert, the Sewers, and Ginger Island. You can catch them any day of the year, but you need to unlock the location first.

Legendary Fish by Season

There are 5 original legendary fish — one per season, plus one in the Sewers — and 5 "Extended Family" legendaries unlocked through Mr. Qi's quest line. Each can only be caught once per save file.

Legendary pro tip: Eat a Dish O' The Sea or Seafoam Pudding before your attempt — the +3 fishing buff makes the catching bar far more controllable. Max out fishing skill (level 10), wear the Iridium Rod, and use a Trap Bobber to slow the bar's escape.

Pro Tips for Catching Every Fish

• Level up fishing fast. Cast every morning from Day 1. Fishing level 6 unlocks tackle, level 10 unlocks Mariner's Profession (no junk) or Pirate (double treasure).
• Use tackle. Trap Bobber slows the fish's escape, Cork Bobber widens the green bar, Dressed Spinner (from the Lake Fish Bundle) increases bite rate.
• Eat fishing buff food. Trout Soup (+1), Dish O' The Sea (+3), Seafoam Pudding (+4) — make these in advance for hard catches.
• Watch the weather. A rainy Spring or Fall day is worth more than any other. Plan errands around it.
• The Crab Pot Bundle is forgiving. You only need 5 of 10 items, and crab pots fish for you while you sleep.
• Don't sell bundle fish. Always keep one of every species in your fridge or in storage until you've donated it to the Community Center. Iridium-quality versions sell for far more once the bundle is done.

How Stardew Valley Tracker Makes Fishing Easy

Memorizing 70+ fish, four seasons, dozens of time windows, and the weather requirements for each — while also farming, mining, and gifting — is exactly the kind of task that turns a relaxing game into a part-time job. Stardew Valley Tracker is the best Stardew Valley fishing app, and it's built specifically to solve this.

Here's what it does that a wiki tab can't:

• Today's catchable fish — open the app and instantly see every fish available right now, filtered by your current in-game season, time, and weather.
• Per-fish detail pages — every fish has its location, time window, difficulty, bundle, and recipes in one place. No more cross-referencing.
• Bundle integration — see at a glance which fish you still need for the Fish Tank, with one tap to mark them off.
• Works 100% offline — no internet needed, ever. Take it fishing on the couch, on a plane, or in the woods.
• iOS and Android — same beautifully-designed app on both platforms.

Whether you're chasing the legendary Glacierfish on a Winter morning or trying to remember which rainy Fall day to bring an umbrella, the tracker keeps every detail straight. Download Stardew Valley Tracker and stop missing your fishing windows.

Pair this seasonal guide with Stardew Valley Tracker and you'll catch every fish on your save before the credits roll on Year 2.