How to Fish in Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley offers a diverse range of activities for players to explore beyond farming, and one such engaging option is fishing. This activity presents both rewarding opportunities and a challenging learning curve. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the how to fish in Stardew Valley, helping you master this skill.
How to Unlock Fishing
To start fishing in Stardew Valley, you’ll need a to acquire a specific tool, the Fishing Rod. On Spring 2, you get a letter from Willy telling you to come visit. Visit Willy’s bait shop on the Beach to the south of Pelican Town. His shop opens at 6:00 AM and closes at 5:00 PM. You’ll receive a Bamboo Fishing Pole from Willy during a short cutscene in his cozy beachfront shop.
How to Fish
Once you’ve received the fishing rod from Willy, you’re ready to dive into fishing in Stardew Valley. Follow these in-game steps to get started:
- Place Fishing Rod on Toolbar: Add the Fishing Rod to your toolbar for easy access.
- Equip the Rod and Cast It: Equip the rod and use the designated tool button to cast it into the water.
- Wait for a Hit: Be patient and keep an ear out for a distinct sound – this signals a fish biting, and you’ll notice a “!” above your character.
- Hook the Fish or Junk: Push the use tool button again to hook the fish or, in some cases, a piece of junk.
Once you’ve hooked something, prepare for the challenging fishing mini-game, which can be quite tricky, especially if your Fishing skill isn’t leveled up.
Fishing Mini-Game Explained
In Stardew Valley’s fishing mini-game, a bar appears on the right side of your screen with a green rectangle, a fish icon, and a catching meter. Your goal is to keep the green rectangle behind the fish by tapping or clicking. As the rectangle stays behind the fish, the catching meter on the right side fills up. Once the meter is full, you’ll successfully catch the fish.
Failing to keep the green rectangle behind the fish causes the catching meter to drop. When it reaches the bottom, the fish will escape, leaving you empty-handed.
Fishing is one of those activities you will need to spend time doing if you want to get better at it. The more you fish in-game, the more the mini-game makes sense. It can also be a very rewarding way to spend your early time in the game. For additional help see our list of 5 tips to make fishing easier in Stardew Valley.
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