Fish Bundle Guide

I classified the fish types by the season and weather in which they can be caught. This guide only includes the fish needed for the Fish Tank bundles + Field Research Bundle in the Community Center.

Honestly, I've created this guide just for myself in order to have an easier access to the info as I play. But I hope it will be useful for you too.

Spring

Only on sunny days:

Sunfish

6AM-7PM

River

Only on rainy days:

	Catfish	6AM-12AM	River, Secret Woods
	Shad	9AM-2AM	River
	Eel	4PM-2AM	Ocean

In any weather:

	Sardine	6AM-7PM	Ocean
	Largemouth Bass	6AM-7PM	Mountain Lake
	Carp	Anytime	Mountain Lake
	Bullhead	Anytime	Mountain Lake
	Chub	Anytime	Mountain Lake, Forest River
	Bream	7PM-2AM	River

Summer

Only on sunny days:

	Pufferfish	12PM-4PM	Ocean
	Sunfish	6AM-7PM	River

Only on rainy days:

	Red Snapper	6AM-7PM	Ocean
	Shad	9AM-2AM	River
	Catfish	6AM-12AM	Secret Woods

In any weather:

	Tilapia	6AM-2PM	Ocean
	Tuna	6AM-7PM	Ocean
	Largemouth Bass	6AM-7PM	Mountain Lake
	Carp	Anytime	Mountain Lake
	Bullhead	Anytime	Mountain Lake
	Chub	Anytime	Mountain Lake, Forest River
	Sturgeon	6AM-7PM	Mountain Lake
	Bream	7PM-2AM	River

Fall

Only on rainy days:

	Catfish	6AM-12AM	River, Secret Woods
	Shad	9AM-2AM	River
	Eel	4PM-2AM	Ocean
	Walleye	12AM-2AM	Mountain Lake, River, Forest Pond

In any weather:

	Tilapia	6AM-2PM	Ocean
	Sardine	6AM-7PM	Ocean
	Tiger Trout	6AM-7PM	River
	Largemouth Bass	6AM-7PM	Mountain Lake
	Carp	Anytime	Mountain Lake
	Bullhead	Anytime	Mountain Lake
	Chub	Anytime	Mountain Lake, Forest River
	Bream	7PM-2AM	River

Winter

Normally it doesn't rain in winters. If you want to catch a fish that can be only caught in rainy weather, you need to use a Rain Totem the day before.


Rain Totem recipe becomes available after reaching Foraging Level 9. It can be crafted with 1 hardwood, 1 truffle oil and 5 pine tar.


When rain totem is used:

	Catfish	6AM-12AM	River, Secret Woods
	Walleye	12AM-2AM	Mountain Lake, River, Forest Pond

In any weather:

	Tuna	6AM-7PM	Ocean
	Sardine	6AM-7PM	Ocean
	Tiger Trout	6AM-7PM	River
	Largemouth Bass	6AM-7PM	Mountain Lake
	Sturgeon	6AM-7PM	Mountain Lake
	Carp	Anytime	Mountain Lake
	Bullhead	Anytime	Mountain Lake
	Chub	Anytime	Mountain Lake, Forest River
	Bream	7PM-2AM	River

Crab Pot Bundle

Creatures required for this bundle cannot be caught with a fishing rod but with a crab pot. Also all of them are available in any season and weather.

Crab pots can be bought from Willy for 1500g or crafted with 40 wood and 3 iron bars after reaching Fishing Level 3.

Note that it is possible to complete the crab pot bundle without using any crab pots since 4 of them can be foraged at the beach and 1 of them (crab) can be dropped from a Rock Crab or Lava Crab in the Mines. 

• First 4 creature in the table below are the ones that can also be foraged from the Beach.

	Clam	Saltwater
	Mussel	Saltwater
	Cockle	Saltwater
	Oyster	Saltwater
	Lobster	Saltwater
	Crab	Saltwater, Dropped from rock and lava Crabs
	Shrimp	Saltwater
	Crayfish	Freshwater
	Snail	Freshwater
	Periwinkle	Freshwater

Other

	Sandfish	6AM-8PM	The Desert
	Woodskip	Anytime	Secret Woods
	Ghostfish	Anytime	The Mines, 20th and 60th floor

Advices

I have some advice (mostly for new players) before I finish:

• As the fishing level increases, the size of the green bar in the mini-game also increases. So don't worry if you have a hard time catching the fish that move like crazy. It will be easier later when your fishing level is increased.
  
  
• If you find fishing REALLY difficult in the early game you can buy a Training Rod from Willy for 25g. This rod's bar is bigger (its bar size is normally achieved on fishing level 5) so you can catch more fish and level up more quickly. However don't forget that you can only catch basic fish with this rod.
  
  
• If you have an iridium rod (the only rod you can use bait and tackle), I recommend you to use a Trap Bobber. You can buy it from Willy for 500g or craft it yourself with 1 copper bar and 10 sap after reaching fishing level 6. It causes fish to escape slower when it's on the bar. It's a lifesaver.
  
  
• Some cooked dishes give you a temporary fishing buff which makes your bar bigger. However, you can only get them from Willy's Fish Shop in the early game since you don't have a kitchen in your home yet.
  
  
• According to Stardew Valley Wiki, daily luck (which can be learned by watching "fortune teller" on your TV) doesn't effect the fishing difficulty. So you don't need to make your plans according to your luck.
  
  
• Catching difficulty differs from fish to fish and every one of them has its own behavior pattern. So sometimes you can guess which fish is on the bait before catching it. For example, the only river fish moving really fast on a rainy day is Catfish. So I prefer catching it on the following seasons when my level is higher.
  
  
• If you have NPC Adventures Mod created by PurrplingCat, having Elliot as a companion gives you +3 fishing skill (which, again, makes your bar bigger) AND he gives you some fish he caught when you talk with him after fishing for a bit. However, if you are new to the game I don't recommend adding any mods.
  
  
• Lastly, Stardew Valley Wiki [stardewvalleywiki.com] is your best friend. You can search for anything on that website.

If you have a question, feel free to ask. But don't forget to check the comment section later since users cannot be tagged in the comments on Steam.

[Ämmi]

this helps a lot, thanks!

[Woofthr]

Thanks for this guide, always return to it when I'm doing a new playthrough.

[Auroraphrenic]

@geekgirl101 dunno it's probably just a coincidence. It should be available in all seasons according to stardew valley wiki.

But I remember someone saying they caught lobsters more often when they placed their crab pot near the pier on the eastern side of the beach. I can't confirm this since I have never tried it, but you can give it a try :')

[geekgirl101]

I swear the lobsters are only catchable in Winter, that's the only time my traps seem to get them.

[Auroraphrenic]

@god(real) The creatures required for crab bundle cannot be caught with a fishing rod. You can get those by foraging them at the beach, placing a crab pot in water or killing monsters in the Mines. Beach foraging itself is enough though.

If you're going to use crab pots, I recommend placing one or two crab pots in the ocean since more diverse creatures live in salty water. You can find more info about crab pots on this page [stardewvalleywiki.com].

[Akashi]

what about the crab bundle? where can you get it?

[Fiji Blue]

thank you

[Auroraphrenic]

@LokiPokiSaurus This guide only includes the fish needed for Fish Tank bundles in community center. Since lingcod isn't required for completing the bundles, I didn't mention it. You can find info about other fish on this page [stardewvalleywiki.com].

[Screaming_Vampire]

What about Lingcod?