How to Get Eel in Stardew Valley
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Stardew Valley
How to Get Eel in Stardew Valley
Eel Tips
Eel is one of Stardew Valley’s more restrictive fish — the combination of rain, ocean location, evening timing, and Spring/Fall season creates a narrow window that many players miss entirely in Year 1. The key insight is that when all conditions align (rainy Spring or Fall evening at the beach after 4pm), Eel appears reliably alongside Octopus and other evening ocean fish. Bring Bait, aim for Fishing level 5+ for a manageable catch bar, and be patient — a single good rainy evening session typically yields 3–6 Eel. If you are on a Community Center run, catching one Eel early in Spring Year 1 during the first rainy evening saves significant frustration later when Bundle completion becomes urgent. See our legendary fish guide for the ultimate fishing challenge in the game once you have mastered standard catches like Eel.
FAQ
⚡ Quick Answer
How to Catch Eel
Eel is caught by fishing in the ocean during Spring or Fall, specifically between 4pm and 2am on rainy days. It does not appear on sunny days at all. Fish at Pelican Town’s beach or Willy’s dock during rain in Spring (floors 1–40 of the ocean area) or Fall for the best chance of catching one.
1
Wait for a rainy day in Spring or Fall. Eel only appears in rainy weather — it never spawns on sunny days regardless of location or time. Check the TV weather forecast every morning and plan your Eel fishing sessions specifically for rainy days. Spring and Fall both work; Summer and Winter do not. Rain is less common than sun, so be ready to fish the moment rain is forecast.
2
Fish in the ocean between 4pm and 2am. Even on rainy days, Eel only bites between 4pm and 2am — it does not appear in the morning or early afternoon. Spend the first half of a rainy day on other tasks (farming, mining, socialising) and head to the beach after 4pm. Fish at the south beach of Pelican Town or the dock near Willy’s shop for ocean fishing access.
3
Use a higher fishing level for better catch rates. Eel has a moderately difficult catch bar — at Fishing level 1–3 it frequently escapes. Level up your Fishing skill to at least level 5 before targeting Eel seriously. Each Fishing level increases your rod’s bar length and catch speed. Using Trap Bobber or Cork Bobber fishing tackles also makes the bar easier to hold.
4
Use Bait to increase bite speed. Attach Bait to your fishing rod (right-click the rod in inventory, then click the bait) to reduce wait time between casts. With Bait you get more fishing attempts per hour — important when Eel’s window is limited to rainy evenings. Craft Bait using 1 Bug Meat each (dropped by cave bugs in The Mines floors 1–29) or buy it from Willy’s shop.
5
Check Willy’s shop as an alternative. Willy occasionally stocks Eel in his Fish Shop on rainy days — if you need Eel for a Bundle or recipe and fishing is failing you, check his shop on the next rainy morning. The price is higher than selling one yourself but guarantees acquisition if you are struggling with the catch timing or fishing difficulty.
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Eel is needed for the Night Fishing Bundle: the Night Fishing Bundle in the Fish Tank room of the Community Center requires 1 Eel alongside Walleye and Catfish. Prioritise catching Eel during your first rainy Spring or Fall evening — it is the hardest of the three to obtain due to its strict rain + night + season requirements.
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Eel sells for 85g base — process it for more: raw Eel sells for 85g (170g Iridium quality). For better returns, cook it into Fried Eel (Eel + Oil) which sells for 120g and restores energy — useful for long mining days. Alternatively give it to George or Pam as a liked gift to build friendship while it has no Bundle use remaining.
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Fisher profession doubles Eel value: the Fisher profession at Fishing level 5 increases all fish sell prices by 25% — Eel goes from 85g to 106g base. At Fishing level 10 choosing Angler (200% sell price for fish) makes Eel worth 255g — a significant income boost for a fish that only requires rainy evening sessions to catch in bulk.
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Spring 13–14 and Fall 13–14 are typically rainy: Stardew Valley has fixed weather seeds per save — certain dates tend toward rain in many common seeds. Spring 13–14 and Fall 13–14 are frequently rainy in default world generation. Mark these dates on your in-game calendar and plan Eel fishing sessions around them if you haven’t caught one yet in those seasons.
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Rain Totem guarantees a rainy next day: craft a Rain Totem (1 Hardwood, 1 Truffle Oil, 5 Pine Tar) and use it the night before a non-rainy day to force rain the following day. This lets you manufacture Eel-catching conditions on demand rather than waiting for natural rain. Rain Totems are unlocked through the Forager profession upgrade at level 10 Foraging.
When and where do you catch Eel in Stardew Valley?
Eel is caught in the ocean during Spring or Fall, between 4pm and 2am, only on rainy days. Fish at Pelican Town’s south beach or Willy’s dock. It does not appear in Summer or Winter, does not appear on sunny days regardless of season, and does not appear before 4pm even on qualifying rainy days.
What is Eel used for in Stardew Valley?
Eel is required for the Night Fishing Bundle in the Community Center’s Fish Tank room. It can be cooked into Fried Eel (with Oil) for an energy-restoring dish worth 120g. It is a liked gift for George and Pam. Raw Eel sells for 85g base (255g with Angler profession at Fishing level 10).
Can you buy Eel in Stardew Valley?
Yes — Willy’s Fish Shop occasionally stocks Eel on rainy days in Spring and Fall. The price is higher than catching one yourself but guarantees acquisition if you are struggling with the fishing difficulty or timing. Check his shop on rainy mornings if you need Eel for the Community Center Bundle urgently.
How do you make it rain in Stardew Valley to catch Eel?
Craft a Rain Totem (1 Hardwood, 1 Truffle Oil, 5 Pine Tar — requires level 10 Foraging with the Forager profession) and use it the evening before a non-rainy day to force rain the following day. This lets you create Eel-catching conditions on demand. Without a Rain Totem, check the TV weather forecast daily and plan fishing for naturally rainy days.