8 Most Profitable Pond Fish in Stardew Valley

In the 1.4 update of Stardew Valley, Fish Ponds might not always be the first topic brought up during conversations about making money, yet they serve as an excellent source of passive income that shouldn’t be overlooked.

After fully stocking them, these containers require minimal effort from you, yielding a large amount of caviar-like fish eggs that can significantly boost your primary income stream. You merely need to periodically monitor them for any necessary upkeep.

The final positions will exclusively depend on the daily earnings from a fully upgraded fish pond, yet I’ll make a point of noting if catching that specific fish proves troublesome and whether the effort required might outweigh the potential benefits.

Essentially, the harder and costlier it is to catch a fish, the more valuable its eggs (roe) become. Therefore, if you wish to preserve your peace of mind, you might consider opting for less challenging catches instead.

A Note On Methodology

As a dedicated gamer diving deep into the aquatic world, I’d love to share my secret formula for figuring out the daily average earnings from any specific fish species. Here’s a breakdown:

1. First, I record the total amount of coins earned from selling that particular fish type over a given period (usually 24 hours).

2. Next, I count the number of times that fish was sold during that same timeframe.

3. Then, I divide the total earnings by the number of sales to get an average profit per sale for that specific fish.

4. Finally, I multiply this average profit per sale by the number of unique fish sold within that 24-hour period. This gives me the total daily profit earned from selling that fish type.

5. To find the average daily profit, I repeat steps 1 through 4 for each 24-hour period and then calculate the mean.

6. And there you have it! The intricate dance of calculating the average daily profit of any given fish in my virtual aquarium.

In calculating the cost of Roe, we first obtained the basic prices of each fish from the Stardew Valley Wiki, followed by determining the probability of obtaining extra items which could increase the worth of these products.

If your pond contains 10 fish and you consistently get 95% of the available items, let’s calculate the probability for each item, multiply that probability by the item’s selling price, then add up these amounts to find the expected value for all items. Divide this total by the number of items in the pool to determine the average value per item.

Note that while Legendary Fish differ from others, each pond in the game can only contain one such fish at a time. This results in a 23% chance of receiving an item daily, making them less lucrative than one might initially think. Additionally, all sequels featuring Legendary Fish maintain the same characteristics as their original counterparts.

This provides a somewhat exaggerated and approximated daily amount that doesn’t account for factors such as aging, skill levels, or crafting stages. It serves as an estimate of what you might expect to receive on average.

8.
Lionfish

Numbers Aren’t Lying

Fish Location The Ocean, South side, or Southwest side of Ginger Island
Base Fish Price 100g
Average Daily Income 225g
Items Produced
  • 1

    Roe (71% chance)

  • 2-5

    (27% chance)

  • 1 Tiger Slime Egg (2% chance)

It came as quite a surprise that Lionfish would even be found in this location at all, yet somehow it managed to secure a spot among the top eight due to its possession of Tiger Slime Eggs, however uncommon they may be, since these eggs are extremely valuable, fetching an impressive 8000g.

Winning that jackpot just 2% of the time results in an average daily gain of approximately 160 grams, with Roe and Taro Tubers providing a small additional contribution to your overall income.

By maturing the Roe and cultivating the Taro Tubers, you’ll significantly increase its worth. Plus, hatching Tiger Slime eggs offers a smart investment opportunity as well.

This daily average of 225 grams arises when no additional activities are performed, instead opting to directly sell the items. Yet, this method ensures a substantial amount of passive income with minimal effort. However, if you prefer a more labor-intensive approach, there’s also the option for increased production efforts.

7.
Crimsonfish

Better Than Corruption(fish)

Fish Location East Dock at the Beach during Summer
Base Fish Price 1500g
Average Daily Income 269g
Items Produced
  • 1–2

    Roe

It appears there’s a significant trend emerging: Many of these Legendary Fish seem to make it onto the list despite having a lower daily catch yield than anticipated.

You can obtain just one type of product daily, and while a fish pond containing ten fish has a 95% likelihood of delivering a product each day, a solitary fish pond has a 23% chance.

On approximately one out of four days, you can expect to receive about 780g of Crimsonfish Roe. However, this equates to an average of 269g per day, but due to its irregular occurrence, it offers no consistent nutritional or other benefits aside from the financial aspect.

If you prefer earning passive income from your one-time investment, that’s certainly possible. However, I’d strongly suggest aiming for fish that not only provide daily chances for an item (approximately 95% likelihood), but also offer additional desirable items as well.

6.
Angler

Complete 200 Quests

Fish Location In The River North of JojaMart, During Fall
Base Fish Price 900g
Average Daily Income 276g
Items Produced
  • 1–4

    Roe

In a fresh phrasing, let’s discuss the Angler, an exceptional one-time catch with a consistent 23% production rate. However, its value increases significantly due to the boost in Roe production from 1–2 to 1–4. This means you’ll earn more on average from each sale, despite its lower selling price.

It’s plausible to say…

Given that you’re likely to achieve Fishing Level 3 by your first Fall, and it’s readily accessible in the far north of Pelican town, whereupon you can effortlessly cast it into a pond.

In the beginning stages, this item isn’t fantastic, as it only provides Anglerfish Roe, but having 276 gold as a daily, effortless income can certainly be beneficial.

One of the standout features of Legendary Fish Ponds lies in their simplicity. Once you’ve caught a fish, you just place it back in the pond, and that’s it! Unlike other areas where you might have numerous quests to complete, with this one fish, your responsibilities are significantly reduced.

5.
Sea Urchin

The Strongest

Fish Location Foraged on the Beach
Base Fish Price 160g
Average Daily Income 295g
Items Produced
  • 1–5

    Roe (53% chance)

Though it may seem odd, if my calculations are accurate, a Sea Urchin could turn out to be surprisingly lucrative when added to a Fish Pond, given its common availability as a forageable item.

The reason for this is that it could yield between one and five Roes, each worth approximately 110 grams, and there’s a 53% likelihood of finding one after collecting ten Sea Urchins in your pond.

This situation seems very unusual because almost all other options for gathering resources or using crab pots yield disappointingly low earnings, mainly producing waste, and this is the sole one worth focusing on for its roe production.

Considering how effortless and cost-effective it is to establish, I strongly suggest creating such a pond on your farm. This will provide you with a reliable and hassle-free source of income.

4.
Mutant Carp/Glacierfish

Pick Your Affliction

Fish Location The Sewers/Cindersap Forest in the Winter
Base Fish Price 1000g
Average Daily Income 305g
Items Produced
  • 1–4

    /

    Roe

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that the Mutant Carp and the Glacierfish are remarkably similar in terms of their monetary rewards. If we’re focusing solely on the average earnings, they might as well be the same fish!

These two items share identical characteristics: each has an initial cost of 1000 grams, carries a 23% chance of triggering the Legendary Fish debuff, and yields 1 to 4 roe every time it activates. On average, this equates to approximately 305 grams per day for both items.

If you know where the sewer access is, here’s how to obtain the key: However, acquiring the sewer key isn’t straightforward; it may be necessary to secure the Glacierfish first before you can unlock the sewers.

You can catch the Glacierfish, but make sure you have reached at least fishing level 6. Although this might seem challenging, it’s quite achievable within your initial year, particularly with temporary boosts.

3.
Blobfish

Pearly Whites

Fish Location Night Market Submarine
Base Fish Price 500g
Average Daily Income 409g
Items Produced
  • 1–2

    Roe (96% chance)

  • 1

    (2% Chance)

  • 5

    (2% chance)

The Blobfish ranks as quite a lucrative find, settling comfortably in third place among its peers. Moreover, it’s relatively easy to reel in compared to many other species, and interestingly, it can only be found at the Night Market Submarine, making it one of the rare aquatic creatures exclusive to that unique location.

As a gamer, I can tell you this rare catch isn’t just swimming with the rest, and that makes all the difference. In this smaller pond, the odds are definitely in my favor. It’s just a matter of time until I reel it in!

Moreover, given that it’s not renowned, you could collect as many as ten of these items, and statistically have a 95% chance of obtaining roe weighing approximately 280g, or a stack of Farm Warp Totems, or even a costly Pearl.

As an ardent admirer, I can confidently say that The Pearl stands out among other prized catches, fetching an impressive 2500g on sale and boasting a remarkable 2% probability of capture. This is significantly higher than the chances associated with other pricey fish items, making it my go-to choice for lucrative fishing endeavors!

2.
The Legend

Prince From The Dark

Fish Location The Mountains, during spring, during the rain
Base Fish Price 5000g
Average Daily Income 582g
Items Produced
  • 1

    Roe

In this game, catching the Legendary fish is exceptionally challenging, as it can only be caught during springtime, and players must have reached level 10 or above – a feat that’s quite tough to accomplish within the first year of play.

After catching it, you can place the fish in a pond to obtain Legend Roe, which is valued at 2530g. However, keep in mind that it’s a 23% chance each day, so on average, you’ll earn around 582g per day from it.

If your intention is to maximize profits at the fishing ponds, I would recommend purchasing both “The Legend” and “The Legend 2”, as they are essentially the same product. By aging their Roe for twice as long, you can potentially double your earnings.

This method may make the progress slower, however, given that it’s gradually generating income, and honestly, I can’t imagine a more suitable use for such a renowned fish than capitalizing on it financially.

1.
Lava Eel

Flint And Eel

Fish Location Floor 100 of the Mines
Base Fish Price 700g
Average Daily Income 590g
Items Produced
  • 1–3

    Roe (82% chance)

  • 1–5

    (8% chance)

  • 1–3

    (4% chance)

  • 5

    (4% chance)

  • 5–10

    (2% chance)

As a gamer, I can confirm that the most expensive fish in the game, excluding the legendary ones, reigns supreme. In this case, it’s none other than the Lava Eel that claims the number one spot. The high price tag is its main selling point, making it a coveted catch for many players like myself.

Specifically, the fact that Roe are priced at 380g and you can potentially acquire up to three of them simultaneously is significant, however, the Gold Ore, Cave Jelly, Spicy Eel, and Magma Geodes should not be dismissed as insignificant either.

These items are effortlessly created and fetch a substantial price in addition. However, capturing the elusive Lava Eel is problematic due to its lengthy acquisition time and tendency to evade capture easily.

To match the profitability of the Legend, you’d typically need ten items, while it only demands one fish. However, this item offers a greater potential for earnings, mainly through refining the gold and handling geodes, although the difference isn’t substantial.

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2025-05-25 22:41