Key Takeaway
You can catch Catfish during the spring and fall on rainy days between 6 a.m. and 12 a.m. in the Pelican Town and Cindersap Forest river, the Secret Woods, the Witch’s Swamp, and the Hill-top Farm or Riverlands Farm. They also appear during the summer in the Secret Woods and Witch’s hut.
The Catfish is an uncommon Fish that’s a bit difficult to catch in Stardew Valley. However, Catfish are used for various purposes in the valley, such as completing a bundle in the Community Center and satisfying requests made by villagers.
Table Of Contents
Catfish Basics
Catfish are quite difficult to catch if you don’t have much Fishing XP. Fish as much as you can to level up, making it a bit easier to snag a Catfish. Catfish sell for a good price, especially during the early game.
| Grade | Base Price | Fisher (+25%) | Angler (+50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | 200g | 250g | 300g |
| Silver | 250g | 312g | 375g |
| Gold | 300g | 375g | 450g |
| Iridium | 400g | 500g | 600g |
Catfish are also a great source of Energy and Health. If you’re exploring the Mine or other dangerous areas in the valley, carrying a Catfish or two with you is a good move.
| Grade | Healing Effect |
|---|---|
| Normal |
|
| Silver |
|
| Gold |
|
| Iridium |
|
When, Where, and How to Catch Catfish
While Catfish are difficult to catch, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to reel one in. Catfish appear in the Pelican Town and Cindersap Forest river, the Secret Woods, the Witch’s Swamp, and the Hill-top Farm or Riverlands Farm.
They appear during the spring and fall during rainy weather. However, they can be caught in the Secret Woods or Witch’s Swamp during spring, summer, or fall. You can catch Catfish between 6 a.m. and 12 a.m.
Catfish are a difficult adversary, so you’ll want to fish as much as you can to get Fishing XP and level up. This makes catching Catfish a bit easier. You can also attach bait to your fishing rod (if you have the Fiberglass rod or better) to increase the frequency of a bite.
If you’re not interested in fishing, you can randomly find Catfish for sale at the Traveling Cart for 600-1000g. You can occasionally find a Catfish in a Garbage Can around town, too.
Finally, you can catch Catfish any time, any day if you’re using Magic Bait.
Recipes That Require Catfish
There aren’t any recipes that strictly require Catfish. However, there are three recipes that accept any Fish as an ingredient, so you can use Catfish for those recipes.
| Recipe | Ingredients | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Maki Roll |
| Fish and rice wrapped in seaweed. |
| Quality Fertilizer |
| Improves soil quality, increasing your chance to grow quality crops. Mix into tilled soil. |
| Sashimi |
| Raw fish sliced into thin pieces. |
Gifting Catfish
You should avoid gifting Catfish to villagers in Stardew Valley, with Willy being the only exception. Willy loves Catfish, so gift as many as you can to quickly increase Friendship Points with him. Everyone else feels neutral, dislikes, or hates Catfish.
Catfish in Fish Ponds
You can place Catfish in a Fish Pond. The initial capacity is 3 Catfish, though this can be increased by completing quests. You’ll earn 40 Fishing XP for each quest you complete. Here’s what you can expect.
| Capacity Before Quest | Capacity After Quest | Quest Item (One of): |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5 |
|
| 5 | 7 |
|
| 7 | 10 |
|
The Catfish will produce 1 Catfish Roe.
Other Uses of Catfish
Catfish has a couple of other uses in Stardew Valley. It’s a required item in the River Fish Bundle in the Community Center. Catfish can also be used in the Sewing Machine to tailor the Fish Shirt, which you can later dye other colors.
Catfish is also a required item in two different quests. If you check the Help Wanted board in the spring or fall, you may find a request from a random villager asking for Catfish. If you complete this quest, it will net you 600g and 150 Friendship points. Also at the Help Wanted board in the spring or fall, Willy or Demetrius may request between 1-4 Catfish. This will net you 200g, but you get to keep the Catfish.
