Summary
Fishing inStardew Valleytends to divide players: some love it, while others would rather take on the Skull Cavern without a weapon. But regardless of opinion, fishing does get easier with experience, and food can help speed up the process.
The following items are listed based on their effect on fishing level, taking into account both how long they last and how easy they are to acquire. Items not included on this list areChowderandTrout Soup, which while providing +1 fishing, are not the most effective options for improving catches.
1Seafoam Pudding
The Highest Boost To Fishing Level
Seafoam Puddinghas the largest fishing level boost, with a +4 increase. It is highly effective for catching more challenging fish, such as the Legendary Fish, and when paired with a good tackle, it can greatly ease the fishing process.
The recipe for Seafoam Pudding is sent to the player via mail once they achieve level 9 fishing, though it can be won or purchased before then elsewhere. One Seafoam Pudding can be purchased atThe Dance of the Moonlight Jelliesfor 5,000g, and one can randomly appear at the Traveling Merchant for 900-1,500g. Furthermore, players can win the dish as an iridium-tier prize at SquidFest on both days or be gifted one by a pet turtle with maximum friendship.
2Lobster Bisque
Offers An Increase To Max Energy
Lobster Bisquehas a long duration and is fairly simple to make, making it one of the best options for food to use while fishing. The recipe can be acquired either from reaching 9 hearts withWillyor from the Queen of Sauce on Winter 14 of year 2.
It can randomly appear in the Traveling Cart for 615-1,025g or can be found inside aMystery Box. Also, five Lobster Bisques can be purchased fromGus' shop at the Desert Festival for 30Calico Eggeach, which is worth stocking up on if players wish to tackle some of Willy’sfishing challengesat the festival.
3Fish Stew
A Strong Boost With Long Duration
The recipe forFish Stewcan be accessed once players havereached 7 heartswithWilly, but the dish itself is available in other ways. Like many other dishes, one can randomly appear in the Traveling Cart for 525-1,000g.
Fish Stew has a 7% chance of appearing in a Golden Fishing Treasure Chest and can also be found inside aMystery Boxwhen opened atClint’s shop. An average day inStardew Valleylasts around 12 minutes, so eating this dish at the beginning of the day allows players to experience the buff for the whole 20 in-game hours.
4Dish O' The Sea
Easy To Acquire And Simple To Make
Dish O' The Seais one of the easiest recipes to make on this list, as Sardines can be caught at the beach in Spring, Fall, and Winter, and Hashbrowns only require 1Potatoand 1Oil. Additionally, the recipe can be obtained fairly early in the game, as it becomes available at fishing level 3.
The dish can be obtained in several ways. Five can appear in the Skull Cavern treasure room and are rewarded for completing theSpecialty Fish Bundle in the Community Center(or the Master Fisher’s Bundle/Quality Fish Bundle in the remixed version). BothMystery BoxandGolden Mystery Boxhave a chance to hold two Dish O' The Sea, with one guaranteed as the silver tier reward at SquidFest.
5Escargot
A Long Duration And A Simple Recipe
Escargotis not as easy to find as Dish O' The Sea, as it can only be obtained in two ways without cooking. One option is inside a regularMystery Box, and the other is available for 30Calico Eggs atGus' shopduring the Desert Festival.
Like many dishes on this list,Willywill send this recipe via mail, once the player has reached 5 hearts with him. The recipe has only two ingredients, making it fairly simple to prepare around mid-game once theCrab Pothas been unlocked.
6Fish Taco
A Good Boost For Seven Minutes
Fish Tacohasquite a complex recipe, including four ingredients with one only available from Summer, Year 2. The recipe is sent via mail fromLinusat 7 hearts, but the dish is fairly easy to acquire before then.
A Fish Taco can be found randomly inGus' rotating stock at the Saloon for 1,000g, inKrobus' shop on Saturdays for 50-500g, and in the Traveling Cart for 1,500-2,500g. It also has a 7% chance of appearing in Golden Fishing Treasure Chests.
7Shrimp Cocktail
Offers A Boost To Both Fishing And Luck
Shrimp Cocktailbecomes available on Winter 28 of Year 2, so it takes some time to acquire. However, the luck and fishing buffs make it a fantastic recipe, as by that point, players typically have a high enough fishing level that the +1 boost is all they need. There are only two ways to obtain the recipe inStardew Valleyother than cooking it, which is either via a Golden Fishing Treasure Chest or aMystery Box.
