Catfish can be a tricky catch in Stardew Valley, but players have the opportunity to get them if they know how, when, and where they show up. And if they can get a bit lucky, too.
Many players feel like fishing is a blight upon the game due to the frustratingly slow progression and the pressure. Because of that, catching tiger trout and other fish that are season-exclusive can easily induce ragequitting if a player misses out. The catfish isn’t one of those, though.
Different items can be obtained in different ways in Stardew Valley, but few can be found in as many ways as the catfish. Though the fish is technically season-exclusive, there are several other ways to obtain it that don’t require a rod.
How to catch a catfish in Stardew Valley
Catfish can be caught by fishing in the river in the spring or fall before midnight. The fish is described as “uncommon” in its description, but it isn’t rare by any means. Once players hook one, it’s not particularly difficult to reel in due to its manageable movement pattern.
The catfish also has a rare mechanic that allows it to be caught in other locations across Stardew Valley. Though catfish are categorized as a river fish, they can be caught on rainy days in the witch’s swamp north of the railroad tracks and in the pond in the secret woods. Players can potentially catch a glimpse of Bigfoot while they’re trying to catch catfish.
If the player uses a Rain Totem, they can be caught year-round to avoid that troublesome spring or fall prerequisite in the river. The time requirement of only being available before midnight remains in place, however.
All this said, catfish are also one of the easiest fish to acquire without actually casting a line.
How to get catfish without fishing
Catfish can be obtained in Stardew Valleys in several ways beyond fishing. For players who attempt no-fishing runs, they’re one of the easiest fish to get for the bundles.
Though rare items like Ancient Seeds can’t be obtained from the traveling cart, catfish can. This is an unreliable method for getting them as the inventory of the traveling cart is subject to RNG and can’t be reliably influenced by the player without editing their save.
Getting fish from the traveling cart is standard fare for no-fishing players, but that isn’t the only way to get a catfish. Players can also “fish” them out of garbage cans during the spring and fall. Once again, this is subject to RNG and is locked to specific seasons but players who routinely rummage through trash will likely be able to get one during the year.
For players who stick around long enough in a save, the last method to get a catfish without fishing is by picking a cat at the start of the game and raising its friendship level to the maximum. A friendly cat has a small chance of bringing catfish to the player.
Finally, Stardew Valley players who befriend Linus can also get a catfish from him through the mail.
Though the easiest way to get a catfish is by fishing one out of the river, there are so many different ways to get them that players can afford to get creative.
