How to Get Squid in Stardew Valley
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How to Get Squid in Stardew Valley
Squid Fishing TipsSquid is one of those fish that punishes players who forget about it — it only appears in a specific season, at night, in a specific location, making it easy to miss entirely on a first playthrough. The Night Fishing Bundle requirement means it is worth catching on your very first Winter regardless of whether you plan to use it for cooking or selling. A single evening fishing session from 6pm to 2am at the Beach pier typically yields 4–8 Squid with Bait equipped at Fishing level 5+, which is more than enough for the bundle, a museum donation, and a few extra to sell or cook. The Squid Ink Pasta recipe is one of the more practical cooking recipes for energy restoration in Winter when few crops are available — keeping a few Squid and their ink is a useful backup food source during the coldest months.FAQ
⚡ Quick Answer
How to Catch SquidSquid is caught by fishing in the Ocean (Pelican Town Beach) during Winter only, between 6pm and 2am in any weather. Use Bait on your rod to reduce bite time and a Cork Bobber to widen the catch bar. Squid sells for 80g base and is the only source of Squid Ink — an ingredient for Squid Ink Pasta and black dye at the sewing machine.
1
Wait for Winter — Squid is a Winter-only fish. Squid only appears in the fishing pool during Winter (Winter 1–28). It cannot be caught in Spring, Summer, or Fall under any circumstances. If you are outside of Winter and need Squid, check the Travelling Cart (visits Fridays and Sundays south of the farm) as it occasionally sells Squid for 120–1,000g depending on the week. Otherwise, plan your fishing sessions around Winter specifically.
2
Fish at the Ocean Beach between 6pm and 2am. Squid only bites at night — specifically from 6pm to 2am. Head to Pelican Town Beach (south of town) after 6pm in Winter. Fish from the pier, the dock near Willy’s shop, or anywhere along the shoreline — the entire ocean area counts. Any weather works including rain and snow. Squid does not appear in rivers, the mountain lake, or any freshwater location — it is strictly an ocean fish.
3
Attach Bait and a Cork Bobber to maximise catch rate. Equip a Fiberglass Rod or Iridium Rod (both accept tackle and bait) before heading to the beach. Attach Bait to reduce the time before a fish bites. Add a Cork Bobber (increases catch bar size by 24%) to make the minigame easier. Squid has a moderately erratic movement pattern in the catch bar — the larger bar from the Cork Bobber is more reliable than the Trap Bobber for a fish that darts frequently.
4
Identify Squid in the catch bar by its movement. Squid moves in sharp, fast bursts up and down the catch bar — it darts to one end then holds briefly before darting again. This pattern is noticeably different from smoother fish like Sardines. Keep your catch bar centered just below where Squid is heading rather than chasing it — anticipating the dart direction is more effective than reacting to it. Fishing level 4+ makes the minigame significantly easier by widening your catch bar naturally.
5
Collect Squid Ink as a bonus drop. When you catch a Squid, there is a chance it also drops Squid Ink as a secondary item in your inventory. Squid Ink is used in cooking recipes (Squid Ink Pasta requires 1 Squid Ink + 1 Pasta) and as a black dye at Emily’s sewing machine. Squid Kids (enemies in The Mines on floors 81–119) also drop Squid Ink independently — so mine and fish in the same Winter for the most efficient collection if you need it for multiple recipes or the Community Centre.
6
Use Crab Pots as a passive alternative (limited). Crab Pots placed in the Ocean during Winter have a small chance to catch Squid overnight without any active fishing. Place several Crab Pots along the Beach dock during Winter for a chance at passive Squid catches each morning. This method is far less reliable than active fishing — Crab Pots have a low Squid rate and can also catch trash — but it is useful for players who run out of fishing time each day and want a supplementary source running in the background.
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Eat food that boosts Fishing before heading to the beach: Fishing-boosting foods increase your effective Fishing level, widening the catch bar and making the Squid minigame noticeably easier. Trout Soup (+1 Fishing, crafted from Rainbow Trout + Algae), Dish o’ the Sea (+3 Fishing), and Seafoam Pudding (+4 Fishing) are the most accessible options. Even +1 Fishing from food makes a clear difference at lower skill levels — cook a batch before each Winter fishing session.
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Squid is needed for the Night Fishing Bundle: the Night Fishing Bundle in the Fish Tank at the Community Centre requires 1 Squid, 1 Walleye, and 1 Eel. All three are night-time catches in different seasons — Squid in Winter, Walleye in Fall, Eel in Spring/Fall. Plan ahead and catch Squid during your first Winter so you have it ready when completing the bundle. Missing it means waiting an entire year for the next Winter season.
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Fish from the far right of the pier for consistent Squid spots: casting further from shore slightly increases the chance of catching ocean-specific fish like Squid compared to shallow-water casts. Stand at the end of the pier and cast at maximum distance (hold cast until the bar is full) for the best Squid rates. This also reduces the chance of catching Seaweed and Algae, which are common near the shoreline and waste your fishing time.
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Bring Warp Totems or the Farm Warp to save travel time: fishing at the beach from 6pm to 2am leaves little time to walk back before passing out. Craft a Warp Totem: Beach (1 Hardwood + 2 Fiber + 2 Coal) to teleport to the beach instantly at 6pm, then walk home or use a Return Scepter to warp back to your farm before 2am. Time management during Winter night fishing sessions is the biggest practical constraint — totems solve it cleanly.
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Donate one Squid to the Museum for Gunther: Squid counts as a fish artifact donation in the Museum’s collection tracker. Donating one to Gunther completes that slot and contributes toward the 60-item donation milestone that unlocks the Sewers and Krobus. Catch at least 2 Squid per Winter — one for donation, one to keep or sell. Iridium-quality Squid sells for 240g and counts identically for donation purposes as base quality.
When and where do you catch Squid in Stardew Valley?
Squid is caught at the Ocean Beach (Pelican Town) during Winter only, between 6pm and 2am in any weather. It cannot be caught in any other season, any freshwater location, or during daytime hours. Use a Fiberglass or Iridium Rod with Bait attached at the Beach pier for the best results.
What is Squid used for in Stardew Valley?
Squid is used in the Night Fishing Bundle in the Community Centre, can be donated to the Museum, and sometimes drops Squid Ink when caught. Squid Ink is used in the Squid Ink Pasta cooking recipe and as black dye at Emily’s sewing machine. Squid sells for 80g base (100g Silver, 120g Gold, 160g Iridium quality).
How do you get Squid Ink in Stardew Valley?
Squid Ink is obtained in two ways: as a random secondary drop when catching Squid at the Ocean Beach in Winter, or as a drop from Squid Kids — enemies found in The Mines on floors 81–119. Farming Squid Kids is more reliable for bulk Squid Ink, but catching Squid at the beach provides both the fish and occasional ink simultaneously.
Can you get Squid outside of Winter in Stardew Valley?
Not through fishing — Squid is strictly a Winter-only catch. Outside of Winter, check the Travelling Cart (visits Fridays and Sundays) as it occasionally sells Squid for 120–1,000g. You can also receive Squid as a gift from villagers or find it in certain containers, but these are unreliable sources. If you miss Winter, you will need to wait for the next year’s Winter season to catch it normally.