Eel Stardew Valley (2025 Guide): How & Where to Catch It
Catching an Eel Stardew Valley isn’t as simple as dropping your line in the water. This nocturnal fish only appears during rainy nights, making it one of the trickier seasonal catches in the game. But despite the effort, it’s worth hunting down—Eel is essential for the Night Fishing Bundle, used in high-value recipes like Spicy Eel, and can bring in solid profit when sold.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Eel in Stardew Valley—its location, seasons, catching steps, uses, profits, and pro tips to make the process smoother.
What Makes Eel Special in Stardew Valley
The Eel stands out among fish for a few key reasons:
- Bundle Requirement: It’s needed for the Night Fishing Bundle in the Fish Tank at the Community Center.
- Valuable Recipes: Used in Fried Eel (boosts Luck) and Spicy Eel (boosts Luck & Speed). Both are excellent for dungeon runs.
- Profitable Catch: A base sell price of 85g can climb up to 255g for an iridium-quality Eel, and even higher with the Fisher or Angler profession.
- Seasonal Challenge: Only catchable in Spring and Fall, during rainy nights from 4 PM – 2 AM.
This combination of rarity, utility, and profit makes the Eel a must-know fish for every Stardew Valley farmer.
Where to Catch Eel Stardew Valley
Finding an Eel is all about being in the right place at the right time.
Detail | Requirement |
|---|---|
Location | Ocean (The Beach, Beach Farm) |
Seasons | Spring & Fall |
Weather | Rain only |
Time | 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
Other Sources | Traveling Cart, Garbage Cans, Magic Bait |
- Main Spot: The Ocean (bottom of the map near Willy’s shop).
- Rain Dependency: You can only catch Eels on rainy nights. Sunny weather = no chance.
- Magic Bait: If you have Magic Bait, you can catch Eel in any season, at any time, and in any weather.
- Alternative Sources: Rarely appears in Garbage Cans (Spring/Fall) and sometimes sold at the Traveling Cart (255g–1,000g).
💡 Tip: Don’t confuse it with the Lava Eel, which lives deep inside the mines. They are completely different fish.
Sturgeon and Red Snapper are also famous Fish in Stardew Valley.
How to Catch Eel Stardew Valley (Step-by-Step)
Catching an Eel can be frustrating due to its limited spawn conditions, but here’s a reliable step-by-step method:
- Check the Weather Forecast: Make sure it’s going to rain in Spring or Fall.
- Head to the Beach/Ocean: Arrive after 4:00 PM and stay until 2:00 AM.
- Equip the Right Rod: Use at least a Fiberglass Rod (or Iridium Rod) with bait to improve bite rate.
- Use Tackles for Help: Trap Bobber or Cork Bobber helps if you’re struggling.
- Eat Buff Foods: Dishes like Dish o’ the Sea (Fishing +3) or Spicy Eel (Speed & Luck) make catching easier.
- Cast Farther Out: The farther you cast into deeper water, the better your chances for higher-quality fish.
🎯 Pro Catching Trick: If you’re farming Eels, stack rainy days by using the Rain Totem (craftable at Foraging Level 9).
Uses of Eel in Stardew Valley
The Eel isn’t just another fish—it’s surprisingly useful across bundles, cooking, and crafting.
🔹 Bundles
- Required for the Night Fishing Bundle (Community Center).
🔹 Cooking Recipes
| Recipe | Ingredients | Buffs | Sell Price | Source |
| Fried Eel | Eel (1) + Oil (1) | +1 Luck (7 mins) | 120g | George (Mail, 3+ Hearts) |
| Spicy Eel | Eel (1) + Hot Pepper (1) | +1 Luck, +1 Speed (7 mins) | 175g | George (Mail, 7+ Hearts) |
Other general recipes like Maki Roll, Sashimi, and Quality Fertilizer can also use Eel.
🔹 Gifting
- Neutral Reaction: Demetrius, Elliott, Leo, Linus, Pam, Sebastian, Willy
- Disliked by Most Villagers (so avoid gifting randomly).
🔹 Fish Pond
- Eels reproduce every 3 days in a Fish Pond.
- Produces Eel Roe (can be aged into Aged Roe for more profit).
Eel Stardew Valley Sell Price
Here’s what you can expect when selling Eel:
| Quality | Base Price | Fisher (+25%) | Angler (+50%) |
| Normal | 85g | 106g | 127g |
| Silver | 106g | 132g | 159g |
| Gold | 127g | 159g | 190g |
| Iridium | 170g | 212g | 255g |
With the Angler profession, an Iridium Eel can net 255g each—making it a solid fishing income.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Fishing on sunny nights (Eel only spawns in rain).
- ❌ Going in Winter/Summer (Eel is Spring/Fall only).
- ❌ Confusing Lava Eel with Ocean Eel.
- ❌ Forgetting to check the weather report before planning.
- ❌ Ignoring buff foods that make catching much easier.
Quick Reference (Eel Stardew Valley)
| Attribute | Details |
| Location | Ocean (Beach, Beach Farm) |
| Season | Spring, Fall |
| Weather | Rain only |
| Time | 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Bundle Use | Night Fishing Bundle |
| Recipes | Fried Eel, Spicy Eel, Maki Roll, Sashimi, Quality Fertilizer |
| Fish Pond | Produces Roe, capacity up to 10 |
| Sell Price | 85g–255g (depends on quality & profession) |
FAQs: About Eel Stardew Valley
Q. Where to catch Eel in Stardew Valley?
You can catch Eel at the Ocean during rainy nights in Spring and Fall, from 4 PM – 2 AM.
Q. How to catch Lava Eel vs Eel?
The Eel is found in the Ocean, while the Lava Eel is a rare fish found in The Mines.
Q. What recipes use Eel?
Main recipes include Fried Eel (+Luck) and Spicy Eel (+Luck +Speed), both highly valuable for combat and exploration.
Conclusion
The Eel in Stardew Valley is one of the most rewarding seasonal fish—needed for bundles, recipes, and great profits. Though limited to rainy nights in Spring and Fall, players who prepare with the right gear, bait, and timing can farm Eels efficiently. Whether you’re after the Spicy Eel’s dungeon buffs or just looking to fill your Community Center bundles, this slippery catch is well worth your effort.
