Spring fishing in Stardew Valley is one of the best times to cast your rod — the rivers and ocean carry five fish you can only find during this season, each with its own location, weather requirement, and value. Whether you are chasing the most profitable catch, trying to fill the Spring Fish Bundle at the Community Center, or just leveling up your fishing skill before summer arrives, knowing which fish to target makes every in-game day count.
Below you will find a breakdown of the five most important spring fish: what they are worth, exactly where and when to catch them, and why each one deserves a spot in your fishing rotation. The fish are ordered from highest sell value to most beginner-friendly.
What you need to start fishing in spring
You can begin fishing on the very first day of Spring Year 1. Pick up the Bamboo Pole from Willy's shop (it is free during the introductory cutscene) or buy a Fiberglass Rod for 1,800g once the shop opens on Day 2. Bait and tackle (attached to the Fiberglass or Iridium Rod) dramatically increase your catch rate, especially for harder fish like the Catfish and Eel. Keep an eye on the weather: two of the five fish below only appear when it rains.
The best spring fish in Stardew Valley
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Catfish — the highest-value spring river fish
The Catfish is the crown jewel of spring fishing. It sells for a base price of 200g (up to 300g at Iridium quality) and has the tightest conditions of any river fish: you must fish in the river on a rainy day, between 6am and midnight. The difficulty rating of 75 makes it challenging, but using a Fiberglass Rod with bait dramatically shortens the waiting time. Once your fishing level reaches 4, you unlock the Trap Bobber tackle, which is a game-changer for high-difficulty fish. The Catfish also appears again in Fall, so if you miss a rainy spring day, you get another chance.
Catfish: Spring and Fall, river only, rain required. Difficulty 75 — bring your best rod. -
Shad — the bundle workhorse
The Shad is available in any weather from 9am to 2am, which makes it one of the most flexible fish in the game. It sells for a modest 60g at base quality, but its real value lies in the Spring Fish Bundle — the Shad is one of the three fish required to complete it and earn the reward chest from the Community Center. With a difficulty of only 45, even low-level fishers can catch Shad consistently from the river, making it a great choice for grinding fishing XP on non-rainy days when the Catfish is unavailable.
Shad: Spring through Fall, river, any weather. Essential for the Spring Fish Bundle. -
Sunfish — the perfect beginner catch
The Sunfish is Stardew Valley's friendliest spring fish. It appears in the river on sunny or windy days from 6am to 7pm, has a difficulty of just 30, and it is one of the fish required for the Spring Fish Bundle alongside the Shad and Catfish. Although its base sell price of 30g is low, a Gold or Iridium quality Sunfish is worth 45g–60g, and catching dozens of them is an excellent way to raise your fishing skill quickly in Year 1. If it is a sunny spring morning and you have nothing else planned, spending an in-game hour or two on the river with Sunfish is never wasted time.
Sunfish: Spring and Summer, river, sunny or windy days only. Easiest spring fish to catch. -
Eel — the rainy night beach specialist
The Eel is the Catfish's counterpart at the ocean. It only appears at the Beach during rain, between 4pm and 2am in spring and fall, and has a solid difficulty of 70. Its base sell price of 85g is respectable, and it climbs to 170g at Iridium quality. More importantly, the Eel is one of the three fish needed for the Night Fishing Bundle at the Community Center. On any rainy spring evening, split your time between the river (for Catfish) in the early hours and the beach (for Eel) from 4pm onward to make the most of the weather. The Eel's long, wriggly movement pattern requires a steady hand on the fishing minigame.
Eel: Spring and Fall, ocean beach, rain only from 4pm to 2am. Needed for the Night Fishing Bundle. -
Smallmouth Bass — the reliable all-rounder
The Smallmouth Bass is available in the river in any weather from 6am to 8pm during spring and fall. With a difficulty of 50 and no weather restriction, it is the most reliably catchable mid-tier fish of the season. Its sell price of 50g (up to 100g at Iridium quality) makes it decent income filler on sunny days when you have already caught your Sunfish quota. The Smallmouth Bass also appears in the Lake Fish Bundle, so it has bundle utility as well, and its consistent availability means you can target it any time the weather or hour does not favor the other spring fish.
Smallmouth Bass: Spring and Fall, river, any weather, 6am to 8pm. The dependable fallback fish.
Tips for spring fishing
- Check the weather the night before. On rainy days, prioritize the Catfish (river, morning) and Eel (beach, afternoon and evening) since they only appear in rain. On sunny days, go for Sunfish and Smallmouth Bass.
- Use bait on your rod. Bait reduces the time between bites significantly. Craft it from Bug Meat (5 Bug Meat per bait) or buy it from Willy for 5g each.
- Fish near the mouth of the river. The spot just above the bridge in Pelican Town is a reliable location for Catfish, Shad, Sunfish, and Smallmouth Bass all in one tile.
- Aim for the Spring Fish Bundle early. The bundle requires a Catfish, a Shad, and a Sunfish. Completing it in Year 1 unlocks a reward that helps your farm in the following seasons.
- Sell at the highest quality. Using the Iridium Rod with a Quality Bobber tackle (unlocked at fishing level 6) boosts fish quality by one star, meaningfully increasing your income per catch.
- Train your skill with easy fish first. Sunfish and Shad are ideal for reaching fishing level 4–6, after which the Catfish and Eel become much more manageable.
Troubleshooting
The Catfish isn't appearing in my river
Double-check that the forecast shows rain (check your TV on the previous evening). The Catfish will not bite on cloudy or sunny days — only actual rain counts. Also confirm you are fishing in the river (Town or Mountain area), not the lake or ocean.
I can't catch the Eel — it keeps escaping
The Eel has a jittery movement in the minigame. Use the Trap Bobber tackle, which slows the escape rate of fish when the bar is not touching the fish icon. This makes high-difficulty fish far easier to land.
I missed the Spring Fish Bundle — can I still complete it?
Yes. The Catfish and Shad also appear in Fall, so you can complete the bundle then. The Sunfish appears in Summer as well. None of the three fish are permanently missable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best fish to catch in spring in Stardew Valley?
For raw gold value, the Catfish is the best spring fish — it sells for up to 300g at Iridium quality. For bundle completion, you need the Catfish, Shad, and Sunfish for the Spring Fish Bundle. The Eel is also valuable for the Night Fishing Bundle.
Where do you catch the Catfish in spring?
Fish in the river in Pelican Town or the Mountain area on a rainy day between 6am and midnight. The Catfish does not appear in the lake or ocean.
What fish are in the Spring Fish Bundle in Stardew Valley?
The Spring Fish Bundle at the Community Center requires a Catfish, a Shad, and a Sunfish. Any quality counts.
Does it need to be raining to catch an Eel in spring?
Yes. The Eel only appears during rain, at the ocean beach, between 4pm and 2am in spring or fall. No other weather or time will produce an Eel.
Can I catch spring fish in Year 2 and beyond?
Yes. Spring fish return every spring, indefinitely. If you miss a fish in Year 1, every subsequent spring gives you another opportunity to catch it.
Conclusion
Spring in Stardew Valley is a fantastic season to master fishing. Prioritize the Catfish on rainy days for top earnings, grab the Shad and Sunfish to knock out the Spring Fish Bundle, and head to the beach on rainy evenings for the Eel. Fill the gaps with the ever-reliable Smallmouth BassStardew Valley website is a great reference. Happy fishing!
