Stardew Valley: Fish to Save for Recipes, Gifts, Community Center Bundles

Editor’s note: This article contains gameplay information up-to-date with Stardew Valley 1.6 on PC. This article contains spoilers. 

With the massive 1.6 update for Stardew Valley coming to consoles and mobile on November 4, I wanted to share some of the ways I decide what fish I keep for crafting or cooking recipes, donate, refine into artisan goods, add to fish ponds, or sell. Especially in the pursuit of Perfection since you need to cook every recipe, craft all items, and catch every fish.

I’m including what is possible to get from fish ponds and I’m only including recipes other than (any) which use any fish: Maki Roll, Sashimi, and Quality Fertilizer.

Fish used in cooking recipes.

Fishing pole fish 

Bream

All seasons from 6pm to 2am

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Night Fishing Bundle
• Cooking
  • Baked Fish
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Carp

Spring, Winter, Fall. Also Winter in Secret Woods, Sewers, or Mutant Bug Lair

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Lake Fish Bundle
  • Cooking
    • Carp surprise
• Fish Pond
  • Roe

Eel

Spring and Fall when raining from 4pm to 2am

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Night Fishing Bundle
• Cooking
  • Fried Eel
  • Spicy eel
• Fish Pond
  • Roe

Flounder

Spring and Summer

• Cooking
  • Seafoam pudding 
• Fish Pond
  • Roe
  • Sea Jelly

Largemouth Bass 

All seasons

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Lake Fish Bundle
    • Quality Fish Bundle (Remixed) – needs to be gold or iridium quality
• Cooking
  • Crispy bass
• Fish Pond
  • Roe

Midnight Carp

Fall and Winter from 10pm to 2am

• Cooking
  • Seafoam pudding 
• Fish Pond
  • Roe
  • River Jelly

Rainbow Trout

Summer when its sunny, Trout Derby on Summer 20 and 21

• Cooking
  • Trout soup 
• Fish Pond
  • Roe
  • Rainbow Shell, needs 9-10 population (2%)
  • Prismatic Shard, needs 9-10 population (0.1%)

Salmon

Fall

• Cooking
  • Salmon Dinner 
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Sardine 

Spring, Fall, Winter

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Ocean Fish Bundle
• Cooking
  • Dish o’ The Sea
• Fish Pond
  • Roe

Sea Cucumber

Fall and Winter

• Willy loves
• Cooking
  • Lucky Lunch
• Fish Pond
  • Roe

Squid

Winter from 6pm to 2am or anytime during Squidfest on Winter 12 and 13

• Cooking
  • Fried calamari
  • Fish Pond
    • • Squid Ink

Sunfish

Spring and Summer when its sunny or windy

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • River Fish Bundle
• Cooking
  • Baked fish
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Solar Essence, needs population of 10

Tuna

Summer and Winter, Ginger Island except North

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Ocean Fish Bundle
    • Quality Fish Bundle (Remixed), needs to be gold or iridium quality
• Cooking
  • Fish taco

No special recipes 

Base sell prices will be represented as base/Fisher profession/Angler profession. Fish smokers will double the sell price of all fish and keep quality, as well as multiply health and energy by 1.5. 

Albacore

Fall and Winter

Base 75g/93g/112g to iridium 150g/187g/225g

• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Anchovy 

Spring and Fall

• 30g/37g/45g to iridium 60g/75g/90g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Blue Discus

Ginger Island

• 120g/150g/180g to iridium 240g/300g/360g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Banana, requires minimum population of 4, increases chances up to 16% at 9 population
    • Golden Coconut, requires population of 9

Bullhead 

Any season

• 75g/93g/112g to iridium 150g/187g/225g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Catfish

Spring and Fall when raining in rivers/Spring, Summer and Fall in Witch’s Swamp and Secret Woods when Raining or in Winter with a Rain Totem

• Willy loves
• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • River Fish Bundle

• 200g/250g/300g to iridium 400g/500g/600g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Chub

Any Season

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Field Research Bundle

• 50g/62g/75g to iridium 100g/125g/150g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Dorado 

Summer

• 100g5/125g/150g to iridium 200g/250g/300g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Bug Meat x20, requires population of 9

Ghostfish

The Mines

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
• 45g/56g/57g to iridium 90g/112g/135g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Quartz x1 or x3
    • White Algae x5
    • Refined Quartz
    • Pale Broth x3

Halibut

Ocean

• 80g/100g/120g to iridium 160g/200g/240g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Herring

Spring and Winter

• 30g/37g/45g to iridium 60g/75g/90g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Ice Pip 

The Mines Floor 60

• 500g/625g/750g/ to iridium 1,000g/1,250g/1,500g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Iron Ore x5
    • Frozen Geode x1 or x5
    • Frozen Tear x5
    • Diamond (0.8%), needs minimum population of 9

Lava Eel

Floor 100 of The Mines, Volcano Caldera

•  700g/875g/1,050g to iridium 1,400g/1,750g/2,100g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Gold Ore x5
    • Cave Jelly x1 or x3
    • Spicy Eel x5
    • Magma Geode x5 or x10

Lingcod

Winter

• 150g/150g/180g to iridium 240g/300g/360g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Bug Meat x20

Lionfish 

Ginger Island

• 100g/125g/150g to iridium 200g/250g/300g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Tarotuber x2-5
    • Tiger Slime Egg

Octopus

Summer from 6am to 1pm, Winter Night Market on the Submarine

• Willy loves 
• 150g/187g/225g to iridium 300g/375g/450g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Omni Geode x1, x3, or x10

Perch 

Winter

• 55g/68g/82g to iridium 110g/137g/165g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Pike

Summer and Winter

• 100g/125g/150g to iridium 200g/250g/300g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Bug Meat x20

Pufferfish

Summer from 12pm to 4pm in Ocean

• Abigail Loves
• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Specialty Fish Bundle

• 200g/250g/300g to iridium 400g/500g/600g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Red Mullet

Summer and Winter

•  75g/93g/112g to iridium 150g/187g/225g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Red Snapper

Summer, Fall, Winter when its raining

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Ocean Fish Bundle

• 50g/62g/75g to iridium 100g/125g/150g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Sandfish

• Penny Loves
• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Specialty Fish Bundle

• 75g/93g/112g to iridium 150g/187g/225g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Cactus Seeds x2-5

Scorpion Carp 

The Desert, all seasons

• 150g/187g/225g to iridium 300g/375g/450g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Cactus Seeds x2-5

Shad

Spring, Summer, Fall during rain

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • River Fish Bundle
    • Quality Fish Bundle

• 60g/75g/90g to iridium 120g/150g/180g

Slimejack

Mutant Bug Lair, all seasons

•  100g/125g/150g to iridium 200g/250g/300g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Green Algae
    • Slime x10, x20, x30
    • Green Slime Egg

Smallmouth bass 

Spring and Fall

• 50g/62g/75g to iridium 100g/125g/150g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Stingray

Pirate Cove, all seasons

•  180g/225g/270g to iridium 360g/450g/540g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Magma Cap
    • Cinder Shard x2-5
    • Dragon Tooth, needs minimum population of 9
    • Battery Pack

Stonefish

Floor 20 of the mines

•  300g/375g/450g to iridium 600g/750g/900g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Copper Ore x5
    • Geode x1 or x5
    • Stone x30
    • Diamond

Sturgeon

Summer and Winter

• Willy loves
• Bundle
  • Fish Tank

• 200g/250g/300g to iridium 400g/500g/600g
• Fish Pond
  • • Sturgeon Roe, the only roe that ages into Caviar via Preserving Jars

Super Cucumber

Summer, Fall at Ocean, Winter Night Market in Submarine, every season on Ginger Island

• Wizard loves 
• 250g/312g/375g to iridium 500g/625g/750g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Iridium Ore x1-3 (4-5%), needs minimum population of 9

Tiger Trout

Fall and Winter

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • River Fish Bundle

• 150g/187g/225g to iridium 300g/375g/450g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Tilapia 

Summer and Fall

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Ocean Fish Bundle

• 75g/93g/112g to iridium 150g/187g/225g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Void Salmon

Witch’s Swamp

• Missing bundle, needs to be gold or iridium quality 
• 150g/187g/225g to iridium 300g/375g/450g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Void Essence (x5-10)
    • Void Egg

Walleye

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Night Fishing Bundle
    • Quality Fish Bundle (Remixed), needs to be gold or iridium quality

• 105g/131g/157g to iridium 210g/262g/315g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe

Woodskip

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Specialty Fish Bundle

• 75g/93g/112g to iridium 150g/187g/225g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Wood x1-5 or x5-10
    • Hardwood x5
    • Acorn x1-5
    • Maple Seed x1-5
    • Pine Cone x1-5

Midnight Squid 

•  100g/125g/150g to iridium 200g/250g/300g
• Fish Pond
  • • Squid Ink

Spook Fish

•  220g/275g/330g to iridium 440g/550g/660g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Treasure Chest

Blobfish

•  500g/625g/750g to iridium 1,000g/1,250g/1,500g
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Pearl
    • Warp Totem: Farm, needs population of 9

Crab pot fish 

Lobster

• Elliott loves
• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Crab Pot Bundle
• Cooking
  • Lobster bisque
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Seaweed x1-3
    • Trash
    • Driftwood
    • Broken Glasses
    • Broken CD
    • Soggy Newspaper
    • Coral
    • Sea Urchin
    • Warp Totem: Beach
    • Nautilus Shell

Clam

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Crab Pot Bundle
• Cooking
  • Chowder
• Crafting
  • Speed-Gro fertilizer 
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Seaweed x1-3
    • Trash
    • Driftwood
    • Broken Glasses
    • Broken CD
    • Soggy Newspaper
    • Coral
    • Sea Urchin
    • Warp Totem: Beach
    • Nautilus Shell

Crayfish

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Crab Pot Bundle
• Cooking
  • Fish Stew
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Trash
    • Driftwood
    • Broken Glasses
    • Broken CD
    • Soggy Newspaper
    • Mixed seeds x2-3
    • Warp Totem: Mountains

Crab

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Crab Pot Bundle
• Cooking
  • Crab Cakes 
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Seaweed x1-3
    • Trash
    • Driftwood
    • Broken Glasses
    • Broken CD
    • Soggy Newspaper
    • Coral
    • Sea Urchin
    • Warp Totem: Beach
    • Nautilus Shell

Cockle 

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Crab Pot Bundle
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Seaweed x1-3
    • Trash
    • Driftwood
    • Broken Glasses
    • Broken CD
    • Soggy Newspaper
    • Coral
    • Sea Urchin
    • Warp Totem: Beach
    • Nautilus Shell

Mussel

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Crab Pot Bundle
• Cooking
  • Fish Stew
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Seaweed x1-3
    • Trash
    • Driftwood
    • Broken Glasses
    • Broken CD
    • Soggy Newspaper
    • Coral
    • Sea Urchin
    • Warp Totem: Beach
    • Nautilus Shell

Shrimp

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Crab Pot Bundle
• Cooking
  • Shrimp Cocktail
  • Tom Kha Soup 
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Seaweed x1-3
    • Trash
    • Driftwood
    • Broken Glasses
    • Broken CD
    • Soggy Newspaper
    • Coral
    • Sea Urchin
    • Warp Totem: Beach
    • Nautilus Shell

Snail

• Vincent Loves
• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Crab Pot Bundle
• Cooking
  • Escargot
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Trash
    • Green Algae
    • Driftwood
    • Broken Glasses
    • Broken CD
    • Soggy Newspaper
    • Mixed seeds x2-3
    • Warp Totem: Mountains

Periwinkle

• Bundle
  • Fish Tank
    • Crab Pot Bundle
• Cooking
  • Strange Bun
  • Fish Stew 
• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Trash
    • Green Algae
    • Driftwood
    • Broken Glasses
    • Broken CD
    • Soggy Newspaper
    • Mixed seeds x2-3
    • Warp Totem: Mountains

Oyster 

• Fish Pond
  • • Roe
    • Seaweed x1-3
    • Trash
    • Driftwood
    • Broken Glasses
    • Broken CD
    • Soggy Newspaper
    • Coral
    • Sea Urchin
    • Warp Totem: Beach
    • Nautilus Shell