Stardew Valley Wiki

Fishing

Revision as of 23:12, 30 January 2020 by Margotbean (talk | contribs) (Edits to the Fishing page are DONE for the day. Thank you for your understanding.)
For a list of fish and their locations, see the Fish page.
For an index to the completed fish collection, see Collections.
For the guide to catch all fish, see Fishing Strategy.
See also: Tackle, Bait
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Last edited by Margotbean on 2020-01-30 23:12:30.

Fishing is a skill associated with catching fish with a fishing rod or by collecting things from crab pots.

Overview & Controls

 
Fishing interface showing normal and Legendary Fish

To cast a fishing rod into a body of water, hold down the Use Tool button (e.g., the left mouse button on PC or the X button on Xbox). A meter appears, indicating how far the line will go. Release to cast. It is also possible to slightly alter the line's placement mid-cast with the movement keys, allowing you better control over aiming the cast.

When a fish bites, the bobble will wiggle and an exclamation point will appear above the player's head. Click the left mouse button (or the X button on Xbox) to start the mini-game.

The mini-game display contains a movable green rectangle that indicates the area of effect for your fishing line. The goal of the fishing mini-game is to keep the small fish icon within the green rectangle until the progress bar to the right is completely filled. If the fish's icon moves above or below the green rectangle, the progress bar decreases, and the fish escapes if the progress bar reaches the bottom.

You can raise the green rectangle by pressing the Use Tool button. Slower clicking holds the green in place when it is not on the bottom. Hold the left mouse button to raise it at increasing speed. Be careful moving it, though, for it gathers momentum quickly and takes time to reverse, making it easy to overshoot the fish and drain the progress bar.

Upon catching a catch, the name of the fish and its size is displayed. Players can keep track of how many fish they have caught and their record lengths in their Collections menu.

Specific Mechanics

Location

The types of fish that you can find at any particular spot are determined by the map and body of water where you are fishing. For example, the forest lake, the forest river, and the town river each contain their own types of fish, though there are some overlaps. You can see the full list on the Fishing Strategy page.

Bar Size

The green rectangle increases in size with higher fishing skill level.

The upgraded fishing rods (e.g. Fiberglass Rod and Iridium Rod) do not affect the bar size. However, using the Training Rod does affect the bar size; it always gives you a bar size equivalent to level 5 fishing.

Casting Distance

For any cast, the casting distance is measured from where the bobber drops to the water to the nearest land tile (any walkable area). The exact distance is determined by how full the mini-game casting meter is when you release the cast. Your maximum possible cast distance depends on your Fishing skill level.

  • If you cast when the meter is filled 90-100%, you get a maximum cast for your skill.
  • Smaller meter levels produce shorter casts.
    • If you cast when the meter is filled 100%, the game displays the "Max" text to indicate a perfect cast. The only benefit of a Max cast over a cast that is between 90-99% of the bar is that it allows the possibility of finding Iridium Ore inside of a treasure chest, but that is extremely rare.

The maximum casting distance automatically increases at Fishing level 1 and at level 4, and only then. Maximum casting distance also depends (initially) on the direction of the cast.

  • At skill level 0:
    • a maximum cast up or down is a distance of 2;
    • a maximum cast left or right is a distance of 3.
  • At skill level 1 to level 3:
    • a maximum cast up or down is a distance of 3;
    • a maximum cast left or right is a distance of 5.
  • At level 4 to level 10, direction no longer matters: a maximum cast is a distance of 5.
 
Pool of Bubbles

Bubbles

Sometimes, a pool of bubbles appears in the water. If you cast into them, sparkles appear to indicate that you have successfully landed in them. Bubbles grant two benefits:

  • Fish bite much more quickly.
  • 1 is added to the "depth" value. Note that:
    • This depth increase does increase the chances to catch rarer types of fish.
    • This depth increase does not increase the quality of the fish (e.g. silver, gold, etc.).

Fish Quality

The game uses water depth (or clearWaterDistance in modding) to assign the quality of a fish you catch. Its name is derived from the casting distance of the bobber: where it drops, to the nearest land (any walkable area). It does not mean distance beneath the water surface. Its base value can also be altered by other factors.

For most catches:

  • Depth 1 or 2 results in normal quality.
  • Depth 3 results in silver.
  • Depth 4 and above results in gold.

Fish quality can also be increased by a perfect catch; see below. Note that counterintuitively, fish quality is not increased by fishing in bubbles.

Perfect Catches

The game displays a "Perfect!" catch if the fish never leaves the green rectangle. Perfect catches grant two benefits:

  • The quality of the fish is increased by one, excluding normal quality fish (i.e., a silver quality fish would become a gold quality fish, or a gold quality fish would become an iridium quality fish.)
  • The amount of experience awarded for catching the fish is multiplied by 2.4.

Energy

At level 0, casting a fishing pole takes 8 energy. Each subsequent fishing level decreases the amount of energy used by 0.1. (While the UI shows whole numbers, the game does not round energy internally.) Thus, this means that at level 1 fishing, the 10th cast will only cost 7 energy instead of 8. At level 10 fishing, all casts will take 7 energy.

Time

  • In single-player:
    • Time is paused while the mini-game is active.
    • Time is not paused during the animation when the casting bar is increasing.
    • Time is not pasued during the animation when the fish is flying back towards you.
    • Time is not paused during the popup that shows you what type of fish that you have caught.
  • In multiplayer, time is not ever paused.

Fishing Poles

Used to catch Fish.

Image Name Cost Improvements Location Requirements
 
 Training Rod data-sort-value="25"> 25g Easier to use (only catches common Fish). Buy from Willy's Fish Shop
 
 Bamboo Pole data-sort-value="500"> 500g Given to you by Willy

Buy from Willy's Fish Shop
 
 Fiberglass Rod data-sort-value="1800"> 1,800g Able to use bait. Buy from Willy's Fish Shop   Fishing Level 2

(You receive a letter the day after it becomes available)

 
 Iridium Rod data-sort-value="7500"> 7,500g Able to use bait & tackle. Buy from Willy's Fish Shop   Fishing Level 6

(You receive a letter the day after it becomes available)

Fishing Skill Icon.png Fishing Skill

Fishing Skill is increased by catching Fish, Trash, Seaweed, Green Algae, or White Algae with a Fishing Rod/Pole or by harvesting Crab Pots.

Each level grants +1 Fishing Rod Proficiency, increases the minimum fish size (in/cm) and bobber bar height, and decreases the max amount of time before fish bite.

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5
Crafting Recipes: Crafting Recipes: Crafting / Cooking Recipes: Crafting Recipes: Choose a Profession:
Casting distance increased by one tile   Bait   Crab Pot  Dish O' The Sea   Deluxe Bait  Worm Bin  Recycling Machine
  • Casting distance increased by one tile
   Fisher
Fish worth 25% more.
   Trapper
Resources required to craft crab pots reduced.
Level 6 Level 7 Level 8 Level 9 Level 10
Crafting Recipes: Crafting Recipes: Crafting Recipes: Crafting / Cooking Recipes: Fisher: Trapper:
  Bait Maker  Spinner  Trap Bobber  Sonar Bobber   Cork Bobber  Treasure Hunter   Deluxe Worm Bin  Barbed Hook  Dressed Spinner   Seafoam Pudding  Magnet   Angler
Fish worth 50% more.
   Mariner
Crab pots no longer produce junk items.
  Pirate
Chance to find treasure doubled.
   Luremaster
Crab pots no longer require bait.

Experience Points

The amount of experience earned for each caught fish is as follows: [1]

XP = (Fish Quality + 1) * 3 + (Fish Difficulty / 3)

Fish Quality = 0 for normal, 1 for silver, 2 for gold, or 4 for iridium
Fish Difficulty is a number from 5-110, listed in the data file Fish.xnb.

For example, a regular quality sardine (difficulty 30) would net you (0 + 1) * 3 + (30 / 3) = 13XP.

XP is multiplied by 2.2 if you also catch a treasure chest, by 2.4 if the catch was "perfect" and by 5 if the catch was a Legendary fish. These multiplications stack, and are performed in order (first treasure chest, then perfect, then Legendary).

For example, catching a perfect Sardine with a treasure chest would earn you 13 * 2.2 = 28.6 (truncated to 28) XP, then 28 * 2.4 = 67.2 (truncated to 67) XP.
Catching a perfect gold quality Crimsonfish (difficulty 95) with a treasure chest would net you (2+1) * 3 + (95 / 3) = 40.67 (truncated to 40) base XP; 40 * 2.2 = 88XP; 88 * 2.4 = 211.2 (truncated to 211) XP; 211 * 5 = 1055 XP.

Crab pots earn you 5XP each time you collect from them, no matter what is collected.

Trash, algae and seaweed caught with the fishing pole earn 3 XP each.

Experience level is increased immediately upon harvesting a Crab Pot or catching an item with a fishing pole, but the "level up" window doesn't appear until after going to sleep.

The XP required for leveling up is the same as for all skills:

Lvl Total
Experience 		Total Sardines
(No stars) 		Total Gold Star Legend Fish
(225XP) 		Total Crab Pot
1 100 8 1 20*
2 380 30 2 76
3 770 60 4 154
4 1300 100 6 260
5 2150 166 10 430
6 3300 254 15 660
7 4800 370 22 960
8 6900 531 31 1380
9 10000 770 45 2000
10 15000 1154 67 3000

*Note: The first level of fishing cannot normally be completed with Crab Pots, because the player does not have access to bait until level 2. If, however, the player befriends Linus, his four heart cutscene will give the recipe for Wild Bait, which can be used to bait crab pots at any Fishing Skill level.

In addition, three crab pots can be earned at any Fishing Level by completing the   Crab Pot Bundle in the Fish Tank. Completing the bundle without playing the fishing mini-game (or using crab pots) requires 4 fish foraged from the beach and 1 crab obtained by killing crabs in the mines.

Note that an alternative method of gaining Fishing XP is by using Fish Ponds.

Food

Certain cooked dishes will temporarily increase fishing level.

Image Name Description Ingredients Energy / Health Buff(s) Buff Duration Recipe Source(s) Sell Price
 
 Chowder A perfect way to warm yourself after a cold night at sea.   Clam (1)  Milk (1)   225
  101 		  Fishing (+1)   16m 47s

  Willy (Mail - 3+  )

 data-sort-value="135"> 135g
 
 Dish O' The Sea This'll keep you warm in the cold sea air.   Sardine (2)  Hashbrowns (1)   150
  67 		  Fishing (+3)   5m 35s   Fishing Level 3 data-sort-value="220"> 220g
 
 Escargot Butter-soaked snails cooked to perfection.   Snail (1)  Garlic (1)   225
  101 		  Fishing (+2)   16m 47s

  Willy (Mail - 5+  )

 data-sort-value="125"> 125g
 
 Fish Stew It smells a lot like the sea. Tastes better, though.   Crayfish (1)  Mussel (1)  Periwinkle (1)  Tomato (1)   225
  101 		  Fishing (+3)   16m 47s

  Willy (Mail - 7+  )

 data-sort-value="175"> 175g
 
 Fish Taco It smells delicious.   Tuna (1)  Tortilla (1)  Red Cabbage (1)  Mayonnaise (1)   165
  74 		  Fishing (+2)   7m

  Linus (Mail - 7+  )

 data-sort-value="500"> 500g
 
 Lobster Bisque This delicate soup is a secret family recipe of Willy's.   Lobster (1)  Milk (1)   225
  101 		  Fishing (+3)  Max Energy (+50)   16m 47s

  The Queen of Sauce
14 Winter, Year 2

  Willy (Mail - 9+  )

 data-sort-value="205"> 205g
 
 Maple Bar It's a sweet doughnut topped with a rich maple glaze.   Maple Syrup (1)  Sugar (1)  Wheat Flour (1)   225
  101 		  Farming (+1)  Fishing (+1)  Mining (+1)   16m 47s

  The Queen of Sauce
14 Summer, Year 2

data-sort-value="300"> 300g
 
 Seafoam Pudding This briny pudding will really get you into the maritime mindset!   Flounder (1)  Midnight Carp (1)  Squid Ink (1)   175
  78 		  Fishing (+4)   3m 30s   Fishing (Level 9) data-sort-value="300"> 300g
 
 Shrimp Cocktail A sumptuous appetizer made with freshly-caught shrimp.   Tomato (1)  Shrimp (1)  Wild Horseradish (1)   225
  101 		  Fishing (+1)  Luck (+1)   10m 2s

  The Queen of Sauce
28 Winter, Year 2

data-sort-value="160"> 160g
 
 Trout Soup Pretty salty.   Rainbow Trout (1)  Green Algae (1)   100
  45 		  Fishing (+1)   4m 39s

  The Queen of Sauce
14 Fall, Year 1

data-sort-value="100"> 100g

Treasure Chests

During the fishing mini-game, a treasure chest will occasionally appear inside the vertical bar. Treasure chests have their own progression bar, fillable by keeping the green bobber bar behind the treasure chest icon  . If obtained, the player is awarded a random bonus loot after catching the fish. Losing the fish also loses the treasure chest.

The base chance of finding a chest is 15%. The probability can be increased with the Magnet (+15%), the Treasure Hunter (+5%) and the Pirate profession (+15%) for a total of 50% chance. It is further increased by daily Luck (+Luck/2).

The following is a list of all items that can be found inside Treasure Chests.

 
 Section Stub

This section is marked as a stub for the following reason:

  • Need to add Rice Shoots, Wild Bait, other new items? Need to reword "one tile less than max distance" in terms of depth.
Item Number in Chest Fishing Level Required Other Requirements
  Treasure Chest 1 2+
  Iridium Ore 1-2 Must cast Max Distance
  Gold Ore 1-24 Must cast Max Distance or one tile less than Max Distance
  Iron Ore 1-24
  Copper Ore 1-24
  Wood 1-24
  Stone 1-24
  Coal 1-24
  Dressed Spinner 1 6+ Must cast Max Distance or one tile less than Max Distance
  Bait 1-15
  Lost Book 1 Only if you've already found 1+ Lost Books, and the Museum's Library collection is not complete
  Skeletal Tail 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Nautilus Fossil 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Amphibian Fossil 1-2 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Ancient Doll 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Elvish Jewelry 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Chewing Stick 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Ornamental Fan 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Dinosaur Egg 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Rare Disc 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Ancient Sword 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Rusty Spoon 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Rusty Spur 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Rusty Cog 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Chicken Statue 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Ancient Seed 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Prehistoric Tool 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Dried Starfish 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Anchor 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Glass Shards 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Bone Flute 1 2+ Only if you've already found 1+ artifacts
  Strange Doll 1 2+
  Strange Doll 1 2+
  Geode 1-6
  Frozen Geode 1-6
  Magma Geode 1-6 Must cast Max Distance or one tile less than Max Distance
  Fire Quartz 1-4 2+ Must cast Max Distance or one tile less than Max Distance
  Ruby 1-4 2+ Must cast Max Distance or one tile less than Max Distance
  Emerald 1-4 2+ Must cast Max Distance or one tile less than Max Distance
  Frozen Tear 1-4 2+
  Jade 1-4 2+
  Aquamarine 1-4 2+
  Earth Crystal 1-4 2+
  Amethyst 1-4 2+
  Topaz 1-4 2+
  Diamond 1-2 2+
  Prismatic Shard 1 6+
  Mixed Seeds 1-3
  Neptune's Glaive 1 2+
  Broken Trident 1 2+
  Small Glow Ring 1 2+
  Small Magnet Ring 1 2+
  Amethyst Ring 1 2+
  Topaz Ring 1 2+
  Aquamarine Ring 1 2+
  Jade Ring 1 2+
  Emerald Ring 1 2+
  Ruby Ring 1 2+
  Iridium Band 1 2+
  Sneakers 1 pair 2+
  Rubber Boots 1 pair 2+
  Leather Boots 1 pair 2+
  Work Boots 1 pair 2+
  Combat Boots 1 pair 2+
  Tundra Boots 1 pair 2+
  Thermal Boots 1 pair 2+
  Dark Boots 1 pair 2+
  Firewalker Boots 1 pair 2+
  Genie Shoes 1 pair 2+

Achievements

There are 4 Achievements related to Fishing. Note that catching Green Algae, White Algae, or Seaweed counts towards these achievements.

  • Fisherman (Catch 10 different fish)
  • Ol' Mariner (Catch 24 different fish)
  • Master Angler (Catch every fish)
  • Mother Catch (Catch 100 fish)

Trivia

  • "Tiles away from land" is referred to as "clearWaterDistance" in modding and referred to as "depth" in the game's internal code.

References

  1. ↑ See Tools/FishingRod::doPullFishFromWater in the game code.

History

  • 1.4: Introduced Training Rod. Removed exploit where clicking the journal icon would pause time but still allow fish to bite.
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