Many new Stardew Valley players find completing the Fish Tank bundle at the Community Center surprisingly challenging. It might seem daunting if you’re not familiar with the fishing mechanics, fish locations, and seasonal availability in the game. If you’ve been scratching your head wondering How To Fish Stardew Valley style and complete this bundle efficiently, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will break down everything you need to know to conquer the Fish Tank bundle with ease, making your journey to restore the Community Center smoother and more rewarding.
This guide will walk you through each fish required for the Fish Tank bundle, organized by season and fishing location. We’ll cover the best times and places to cast your line, ensuring you can catch everything you need without spending hours guessing. Let’s dive into the world of Stardew Valley fishing and get those bundles completed!
Understanding Stardew Valley Fishing Locations
Before we get into specific fish, it’s crucial to understand the different fishing locations in Stardew Valley. Each location has unique fish populations, so knowing where to go is half the battle. The primary fishing areas are:
- The River: This includes the river that runs through Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest. Note that the small pond in Cindersnap Forest with the pier and the Secret Woods pond are considered separate locations.
- The Lake: Specifically, this refers to the large lake in the mountains, near the Mines entrance.
- The Ocean: Anywhere you can cast your line from the Beach or the Tidal Pools area counts as the Ocean.
- The Mines: Levels 20 and 60 of the Mines have pools where specific fish can be caught.
- The Secret Woods: This secluded area holds a special pond with unique fish.
- The Desert Oasis: Located in the desert, near the Skull Cavern entrance, this oasis is home to desert-specific fish.
Crab Pot Bundle: Available Anytime
The Crab Pot bundle is arguably the easiest to complete and can be done practically year-round. You don’t even need a fishing rod for most of it!
- Oysters, Clams, Cockles, and Mussels: These can be foraged directly from the beach. Simply walk along the shoreline, and you’ll find these shellfish scattered about. No fishing rod required!
- Crab: Crabs can be obtained by defeating Rock Crabs in the Mines as you progress downwards. Alternatively, you can use Crab Pots baited with any type of bait in any body of water.
This bundle is incredibly straightforward, making it a great early win for completing the Fish Tank.
Specialty Fish Bundle: Location is Key
The Specialty Fish bundle requires fish from more remote and specific locations. These fish cannot be caught with the Training Rod, so you’ll need to upgrade to a Fiberglass Rod or better.
- Ghostfish: Found in the underground lake within the Mines at levels 20 and 60. They can also be dropped as loot from Ghosts enemies on levels 41-79. Fishing in the Mines is essential to catch this elusive fish.
- Woodskip: This fish inhabits the Secret Woods pond. Access to the Secret Woods is gained by breaking the log blocking the path west of your farm, requiring a Steel Axe or better. Once inside, fish in the pond to find Woodskip. It’s also rumored to be catchable on the Forest Farm layout.
- Sandfish: As the name suggests, Sandfish are found in the Oasis pond located in the Desert. You’ll need to repair the bus stop to access the Desert. Once there, fish in the Oasis to catch Sandfish.
These specialty fish require unlocking specific areas, but they are available in any season once you have access.
Lake Fish Bundle: Profitable and Productive
The Lake Fish bundle focuses on fish caught in the Mountain Lake. This area is accessible early in the game and offers a good way to level up your Fishing skill.
- Largemouth Bass: Active from 6 AM to 7 PM in the Lake. This fish is a decent source of income and a common catch in the lake. Note that you cannot catch Largemouth Bass with a Training Rod.
- Carp: Available anytime in the Lake, Secret Woods, and the Sewers. Carp are common and considered low-value fish, but they are incredibly easy to catch, even with a Training Rod. This makes them excellent for practicing your fishing and leveling up your skill early on. However, in the Secret Woods and Sewers, they are only available during Winter.
- Bullhead: Found anytime in the Lake. Bullheads are another easy-to-catch fish that can be caught with a Training Rod. They also sell for a reasonable price, making them a good early-game catch.
Three out of the four Lake fish are available year-round, making this bundle achievable in any season.
Night Fish Bundle: Fishing After Dark
The Night Fish bundle requires venturing out after sunset.
- Bream: This night-time fish is active from 6 PM to 2 AM in the River, regardless of the weather. Bream can be caught with a Training Rod, making them accessible even at low fishing levels. If you’re already fishing in the River during the day, consider staying a bit later to try and catch a Bream.
Bream are available in all seasons, making this bundle easily completable whenever you’re ready to fish at night.
Spring Fish: River and Ocean Catches
Spring introduces a variety of fish, primarily in the River and Ocean.
River Fish (Spring)
- Sunfish: A daytime fish, active from 6 AM to 7 PM on sunny days in the River. The Sunfish is designed to be a very easy first catch. In fact, your very first cast in the game is guaranteed to yield a Sunfish if it would otherwise be trash or a difficult catch. They can also be caught with the Training Rod.
- Catfish: A more challenging fish, Catfish appear from 6 AM to Midnight when it’s raining, in both the River and the Secret Woods. Catfish are great for selling, but they are harder to catch for beginners and cannot be caught with a Training Rod. You might want to wait until you’ve leveled up your Fishing skill before targeting Catfish.
- Shad: Active from 9 AM to 2 AM when it’s raining, in the River. Shad can be caught with a Training Rod, making them a less risky rainy-day River fish compared to Catfish.
Three of the four River fish bundle requirements are technically available in Spring, although Catfish may pose a challenge for new anglers.
Ocean Fish (Spring)
- Sardine: Available from 6 AM to 7 PM at the Beach. Sardines are very easy to catch and can be caught using the Training Rod. If you start your fishing journey at Willy’s Pier, the Sardine might very well be your first catch in the Ocean.
Night Fish (Spring)
- Eel: Eels come out from 4 PM to 2 AM in the Ocean, but only when it’s raining. Eels are notoriously difficult to catch and cannot be caught with a Training Rod. Newer players might want to wait until they have higher Fishing levels and better rods before attempting to catch Eel, even if it rains on Spring 3rd.
Remember, Bream are also available during Spring nights in the River!
Summer Fish: Expanding Your Ocean and Lake Catches
Summer offers opportunities to catch more Ocean and Lake fish needed for the bundle.
River Fish (Summer)
- Sunfish: If you missed the Sunfish in Spring, you can catch them again in Summer. Same conditions apply: daytime, sunny weather, in the River, and catchable with a Training Rod.
- Catfish: In Summer, Catfish move from the River to the Secret Woods and are only available when it rains. They are also found in the Riverlands Farm map river when it’s raining. They remain uncatchable with a Training Rod.
- Shad: Same as Spring – rainy days in the River. Catchable with a Training Rod.
The Catfish location shifts slightly in Summer, but otherwise, the River fish availability is similar to Spring.
Lake Fish (Summer)
- Sturgeon: The final fish needed for the Lake Fish bundle, Sturgeon are found in the Lake from 6 AM to 7 PM. Sturgeon are the most challenging fish in the Lake bundle and cannot be caught with a Training Rod.
With the other three Lake fish being available year-round, Summer is an excellent time to complete the Lake Fish bundle.
Ocean Fish (Summer)
- Tuna: Available at the Beach from 6 AM to 7 PM. Tuna cannot be caught with a Training Rod.
- Red Snapper: Found at the Beach from 6 AM to 7 PM, but only when it’s raining. Red Snapper can be caught with a Training Rod.
- Tilapia: Active at the Beach from 6 AM to 2 PM. Tilapia cannot be caught with a Training Rod and are only available until early afternoon, so plan your fishing trip accordingly.
If you caught Sardines in Spring, Summer is the season to complete the Ocean Fish bundle.
Specialty Fish (Summer)
- Pufferfish: A very specific catch. Pufferfish are found at the Beach from Noon to 4 PM, only during sunny weather in Summer. They cannot be caught with a Fishing Rod and are also quite difficult to reel in. The narrow time window, seasonal restriction, and weather dependency make Pufferfish one of the trickier fish to catch for the Specialty Fish bundle.
If you miss the Pufferfish in Summer, you’ll need to wait until next Summer or hope to find one at the Traveling Cart. The other Specialty Fish remain available year-round in their respective locations.
Fall Fish: Completing River and Night Bundles
Fall offers the last chance for some seasonal fish and a good opportunity to wrap up bundles.
River Fish (Fall)
- Catfish: Available from 6 AM to Midnight, only when raining, in the River or Secret Woods. Still cannot be caught with a Training Rod. If you haven’t caught a Catfish yet, Fall is a good time to try again before the year ends.
- Shad: Rainy days from 9 AM to 2 AM in the River. Catchable with a Training Rod. Fall is your last chance to catch Shad until next Spring.
- Tiger Trout: Active in the River from 6 AM to 7 PM. Tiger Trout cannot be caught with a Training Rod. Fall is the earliest season you can complete the River Fish bundle due to the Tiger Trout’s seasonal availability.
Bundle Completion for the River Fish bundle becomes possible in Fall.
Ocean Fish (Fall)
- Red Snapper: Beach, 6 AM to 7 PM, rainy weather only. Catchable with a Training Rod. If you missed it in Summer, Fall is your last chance this year.
- Tilapia: Beach, 6 AM to 2 PM. Cannot be caught with a Training Rod. Your last chance this year to catch Tilapia if you didn’t get one in Summer. Remember they leave early in the day.
Night Fishing (Fall)
- Walleye: Active from Noon to 2 AM in the River, Lake, and Forest Pond (the one with the pier in Cindersnap Forest, not the Secret Woods pond), only when it’s raining. Walleye can be caught with a Training Rod. Fall is the only season to catch Walleye, so make sure to fish on rainy Fall nights if you need one.
- Eel: Ocean, 4 PM to 2 AM, rainy weather only. Cannot be caught with a Training Rod. If you didn’t have the Fishing skill to catch Eel in Spring, Fall is your last chance this year.
Bundle completion for the Night Fish bundle is possible in Fall, especially if you catch a Walleye.
If you’re aiming to complete the Fish Tank bundle as early as possible, Fall is the season where catching a Tiger Trout and a Walleye can allow you to finish it.
Winter Fish: Last Chance for Lake and Ocean Stragglers
Winter offers fewer new fish but provides opportunities to catch any remaining fish from other seasons.
River Fish (Winter)
- Tiger Trout: Now available during the day from 9 AM to 6 PM in the River. Still cannot be caught with a Training Rod. If you missed the Tiger Trout in Fall, Winter is your chance to catch it when there’s less competition from other fish.
Lake Fish (Winter)
- Sturgeon: Lake, 6 AM to 7 PM. Cannot be caught with a Training Rod. If you missed the Sturgeon in Summer or Fall, Winter is your final opportunity this year.
Ocean Fish (Winter)
- Sardine: Beach, 6 AM to 7 PM. Catchable with a Training Rod. You likely have Sardines by now, but if not, they are available in Winter.
- Tuna: Beach, 6 AM to 7 PM. Cannot be caught with a Training Rod. If you missed Tuna in Summer or Fall, Winter is your last chance to catch it before the year ends.
Conclusion: Plan Your Fishing for Success
Completing the Fish Tank bundle in Stardew Valley isn’t about difficulty, but about planning and knowing where and when to fish. Many fish can be caught with the Training Rod, which is helpful for new anglers. However, some require higher Fishing skill and better rods.
By understanding the seasonal availability, locations, and times for each fish, you can efficiently complete the Fish Tank bundle and reap the rewards. Use this guide as your roadmap, and happy fishing in Stardew Valley!
