Key Takeaway
You can catch Eel at the Beach between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m. when it’s raining during the Spring or Fall.
The Eel is a difficult Fish to catch in Stardew Valley, but it’s in high demand. The eel sells for a decent price and is a required item for tailoring, a quest, and various recipes.
Table Of Contents
Eel Basics
Eel is a bit difficult to catch, especially early during the game when you only have a basic rod. However, catching Eel early in the game is a good investment of time, as it will quickly net you some much-needed cash.
| Grade | Base Price | Fisher (+25%) | Angler (+50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | 85g | 106g | 127g |
| Silver | 106g | 132g | 159g |
| Gold | 127g | 158g | 190g |
| Iridium | 170g | 212g | 255g |
It’s also good to have handy when exploring the Mine, as it is a good source of energy and contains healing properties.
| Grade | Healing Effect |
|---|---|
| Normal |
|
| Silver |
|
| Gold |
|
| Iridium |
|
When, Where, and How to Catch Eel
The Eel is an ocean-dwelling Fish, so you can only catch it at the Beach. Additionally, Eel only appear between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m. on rainy days during the Spring and Fall. If you have at least the Fiberglass Rod, you can attach bait to it to increase the frequency of a bite–something that’s important since there’s only a small window of opportunity to catch Eel.
With a bit of luck, you can also find Eel for sale at the Traveling Cart for 255-1000g or in a Trash Can during the Spring or Fall.
Recipes That Require Eel
There are two recipes that strictly require Eel. However, there are three other recipes that accept any Fish, so you can use Eel for those recipes, as well. In total, you can use Eel in five different recipes.
| Recipe | Ingredients | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fried Eel |
| Greasy but flavorful. |
| Spicy Eel |
| It's really spicy! Be careful. |
| 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 Eel
You should avoid gifting Eel to villagers in Stardew Valley. Most villagers either dislike or hate Eel, with Demetrius, Elliot, Leo, Linus, Pam, Sebastian, and Willy feeling neutral toward it. No villager likes or loves Eel.
Eel in Fish Ponds
You can place Eel in a Fish Pond. The initial capacity is 3 Eel, though you can increase this capacity by completing certain quests. You’ll earn 35 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 |
|
When it comes to produce, Eel will only produce Roe (1).
Other Uses of Eel
Eel has many other uses in Stardew Valley, as well. For starters, Eel is required for the Night Fishing Bundle in the Community Center. Eel is also randomly requested on the “Help Wanted” board outside of Pierre’s General Store. This request will only appear during the Spring or Fall.
Interestingly enough, you can also use Eel to tailor the Sailor Shirt. Throw it in the spool and get to sewing.
