Fishing is one of the most rewarding activities in Stardew Valley, allowing players to catch a variety of fish that can be used in recipes, sold for gold, or donated to the Community Center. One of the most sought-after fish is the Eel, a slippery and valuable catch that players often need for crafting, cooking, and completing quests.
But catching an Eel in Stardew Valley isn’t as easy as casting a line into any body of water. You need to know when and where to fish, as well as how to improve your chances of reeling one in. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know, including the best fishing spots, important tips, the Stardew Valley Eel ID, and where you can use Eel in the game.
Where to Catch an Eel in Stardew Valley
Season and Weather Requirements
Eels are not available all year round. To catch one, you need to fish under the right conditions:
- Season: Spring and Fall
- Time: 4:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- Weather: Rainy
This means you won’t find an Eel on bright, sunny days, and you’ll have to wait until evening to start fishing for one. If you’re in a season where it doesn’t rain often, you can use a Rain Totem to force rainy weather, improving your chances.
Best Fishing Spots to Catch an Eel
Eels are ocean fish, meaning you need to fish in the ocean at the Beach in Pelican Town.
Recommended Fishing Locations:
- Pier near Willy’s Fish Shop – Stand at the farthest end of the dock for deeper waters, increasing the chance of catching an Eel.
- Right Side of the Beach – Cast your line near the rocks where the water is darker.
- Ginger Island (Non-Applicable) – Unlike other ocean fish, Eels are not found in the waters of Ginger Island.
Fishing in deeper waters increases the quality of the fish, meaning you could get silver, gold, or even iridium-quality Eels, which sell for a higher price.
Stardew Valley Eel Tips for Easy Catching
Eels are more difficult to catch than common fish because of their erratic movement in the mini-game. Here are some essential fishing tips to improve your chances:
1. Upgrade Your Fishing Rod
Starting with the Training Rod won’t help much, as it limits the fish you can catch. Instead, use a Fiberglass Rod (Level 2 Fishing) or a Iridium Rod (Level 6 Fishing) for a better chance of catching an Eel.
2. Use Bait and Tackle
- Bait (Required for Fiberglass and Iridium Rods) – Increases the bite rate, reducing wait times.
- Trap Bobber – Slows down the movement of the catch bar, making it easier to keep the fish inside.
- Cork Bobber – Expands the size of the green bar in the fishing mini-game, making it easier to reel in tricky fish like Eels.
3. Level Up Your Fishing Skill
Higher fishing levels increase the size of your catch bar, making it easier to control difficult fish. Eat food that boosts fishing, such as:
- Dish o’ The Sea (+3 Fishing Skill)
- Seafoam Pudding (+4 Fishing Skill)
- Chowder (+1 Fishing Skill)
4. Fish on Rainy Days with a Luck Boost
Your luck affects how often rare fish like the Eel appear. Eating Lucky Lunch or Spicy Eel increases luck, giving you a better shot at catching an Eel faster.
Stardew Valley Eel ID
In Stardew Valley, every item has a unique ID number used for spawning items via debug commands or cheat codes.
- Eel Item ID: 148
If you’re using item spawn commands in the PC version (with mods or cheats enabled), you can enter:
/ei 148
This will instantly spawn an Eel in your inventory. However, using cheats may affect your game experience, so it’s best to catch the Eel naturally for the full challenge.
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How to Use Eel in Stardew Valley
Once you’ve caught an Eel, you might wonder: What should I do with it? There are several important uses for Eel in the game.
1. Completing the Night Fishing Bundle
One of the most crucial uses for an Eel is donating it to the Night Fishing Bundle at the Community Center. This bundle requires:
- Eel
- Walleye
- Bream
Completing the bundle rewards you with a Small Glow Ring, which provides light around your character at night.
2. Cooking Recipes Using Eel
Eel is an ingredient in two important recipes:
- Fried Eel (Eel + Oil) – Gives +1 Luck for 7 minutes.
- Spicy Eel (Eel + Hot Pepper) – Boosts Speed and Luck, making it one of the best dishes for mining and combat.
3. Selling Eel for Profit
Eel isn’t the most expensive fish, but if you catch high-quality versions, you can make a decent profit:
Quality | Sell Price | Fisher Bonus | Angler Bonus |
Normal | 85g | 106g | 127g |
Silver | 106g | 132g | 159g |
Gold | 127g | 158g | 190g |
Iridium | 170g | 212g | 255g |
If you want to maximize profits, use the Angler profession (Fishing Level 10), which increases the sell price of fish by 50%.
4. Gifting Eel to Villagers
Most villagers dislike Eel as a gift. The only exceptions are:
- Linus – Neutral reaction
- Willy – Neutral reaction
Since Eel is not a great gift, it’s better to cook or sell it instead.
5. Crafting Quality Fertilizer
Eels can be turned into Quality Fertilizer, which helps grow better crops. Simply place an Eel in a Compost Bin with Sap to produce high-quality fertilizer.
Final Thoughts
Catching an Eel in Stardew Valley is challenging but rewarding. Whether you’re trying to complete the Night Fishing Bundle, cook Spicy Eel for extra luck, or simply make some gold, knowing where to fish, when to fish, and how to improve your chances makes the process much easier.
By fishing at the ocean during rainy evenings in Spring or Fall, using the right bait and tackle, and leveling up your fishing skill, you’ll soon have plenty of Eels in your inventory.
Now that you know everything about Eel in Stardew Valley, grab your Iridium Rod, head to Willy’s dock, and start fishing!