How to Catch Catfish in Stardew Valley

There are upwards of 70 fish to catch in Stardew Valley, and while some are relatively easy to find, the same cannot be said of all of them. Catfish are some of the harder fish to get your hands on, and since you need one to complete the River Fish Community Center Bundle, you are going to need to find one at some point in your adventure. If you’ve found yourself needing a Catfish but not knowing when or how to reel one in, we’ve got everything you need to know in this Stardew Valley Catfish guide.

When to Catch a Catfish in Stardew Valley

Catfish are uncommon fish that can be found in streams, ponds, and rivers throughout Pelican Town. You can only catch them in Spring and Fall, and they only spawn between the hours of 6 AM to 12 AM when it’s raining. The weather conditions that Catfish require to spawn make it one of the tricker fish to find. You can either wait until it’s raining naturally or, if the season is almost over and you still haven’t caught a Catfish yet, you can use a Rain Totem to summon the rain for you.

Rain Totems are craftable items you unlock when reaching level 9 in foraging. They require 1x Hardwood, 1x Truffle Oil, and 5x Pine Tar to craft, these are relatively valuable materials, but Rain Totems are perfect in situations where you need reliable rain in the Valley. When you craft and use a Rain Totem, it ensures that it will rain in Pelican Town the next day. So make sure you have your Fishing Pole and Bait ready to go and catch your Catfish in the morning.

Where to Catch a Catfish in Stardew Valley

There are a couple of places you can fish to find Catfish. You can find them in rivers like the Pelican Town or Cindersap Forest River, the Witch’s Swamp, or the pond in the Secret Woods. The Witch’s Swamp is a late-game area that you might not have access to, making the rivers and Secret Woods pond the most accessible places to search. Out of all the locations to find Catfish, the Secret Woods is the best since it also has a secret gift you can fish up. That way, you will end up with your Catfish and another little surprise.

Once you catch your Catfish, use it for the River Fish Bundle at the Community Center, cook with it, sell it, or place it in a Fish Pond to harvest Roe.