How to Catch an Anchovy in Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is filled with items to find, resources to collect, and fish to catch. Collecting everything in Stardew Valley is incredibly satisfying, but some of the fish, in particular, can be pretty slippery and difficult to get your hands on. If you’ve been searching for an Anchovy to no avail, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we will go over everything you need to know about the humble Anchovy and how to get one in Stardew Valley.  

Where to Find Anchovies in Stardew Valley 

You can catch Anchovies at the Beach or on the Beach Farm in Spring or Fall in Stardew Valley. Some fish can only be caught in certain weather conditions or at certain times of the day, but thankfully, Anchovies can be caught in any weather and at any time. If you’re struggling to find an Anchovy, head down to the Beach at the southern end of Pelican Town and start fishing in the morning in Spring or Fall. By the end of the day, you should have hooked yourself at least one Anchovy!  

Anchovies can be tricky fish to catch, which might be why you’re having trouble finding one. The fishing mini-game in Stardew Valley is notorious for being very polarizing. When you hook a fish, a bar appears with both the fish and a green marker in it. The fish will start moving up and down the bar, and it’s your job to follow it around, making sure your green marker is making constant contact with the fish. This is fine for lazier fish that don’t move around much, but the Anchovy has a darting pattern to its behavior that can make it difficult to reel in. 

The trick to catching an Anchovy in Stardew Valley is to act fast and make sure not to hold the action button down for too long. Holding the button down makes the marker harder to control, especially when your Anchovy is erratically flopping up and down the bar. Lots of quick button presses give you far more control when fishing in Stardew Valley.  

If you find you’re struggling with the fishing mechanic in Stardew Valley, don’t hesitate to buy a Training Rod or a Trap Bobber from Willy at the Fish Shop. Both of these items make the fishing mini-game much easier to play, so you can finally catch that Anchovy you’ve been searching for.  

Once you’ve caught your Anchovy, you can sell it, use it to make Maki Rolls, Sashimi, or Quality Fertilizer, use it to create a Sailor Shirt, or place it in a Fish Pond to harvest Roe. Anchovies also make decent gifts for Demetrius, Elliott, Sebastian, Willy, Linus, Leo, and Pam.