Stardew Valley: The Best Fish For The Fish Smoker And Where To Catch Them

The 1.6 update for Stardew Valley brought with it more craftable recipes that you can buy, learn, and, well, craft. One of these is the Fish Smoker. If you play on the Riverland Farm, you gain one of these machines without needing to purchase the recipe for it, which costs a whopping 10,000g at Willy's Shop.
RelatedStardew Valley: Every Fish And Where To Find It
Here's our complete guide for every fish in Stardew Valley, with how and where you can catch them.
PostsIf you play on any other farm map, you can save up and eventually craft one (or a lot of them) for yourself. And you may want to seriously consider it as this can be a way to turn the fish you've caught into big piles of money.
This list will exclude Legendary Fish. You only get to catch one of each Legendary Fish per save file, so smoking them may not be the best option. Fish ranked on the list are done so by profit and availability.
10 The Stingray
Mod Used In Image: Visible Fish by shekurikaLocation(s)
Season(s)
Weather
Time of Day
Ginger Island's Pirate Cove
Any
Any
Any
You won't come across one of these fish until you've unlocked Ginger Island, and with it, the Pirate Cove to the Southeast of the Island. But once you do, instead of sell them as is, you can throw them into the Fish Smoker with a piece of coal. In 50 minutes, you'll have a nice, smoked Stingray to either consume or sell.
Without any additional professions, a smoked Stingray will make 360g. If you have the Fisher, Angler, and Artisan professions, however, you will instead make 755g from this particular fish.
If you want to use fishing as a new money-making avenue, selling smoked fish benefits not only from the Fisher and Angler professions, which makes fish worth more. Smoked fish also count as Artisan goods, allowing you to sell them for even higher prices.
9 The Pufferfish
Mod Used In Image: Visible Fish by shekurikaLocation(s)
Season(s)
Weather
Time of Day
Ocean
Ginger Island
Summer
Any
Sunny
12 pm - 4 pm
The Pufferfish is much easier to find than the Stingray. You can catch them in the Summer at the Ocean near Willy's Shop. Though you can hook them on Ginger Island as well.
If you decide to smoke a Pufferfish, do not eat it. They are still toxic, even after the cooking process. But it makes your decision to sell them even easier. Without any professions, you'll stand to make 400g per fish. If you do have the three aforementioned professions, you'll instead make 839g per Pufferfish.
8 The Catfish
Mods Used In Image: Visible Fish by shekurika and Flower Valley by KAYALocation(s)
Season(s)
Weather
Time of Day
River
Secret Woods and Witch's Swamp
Spring and Fall
Spring, Summer, and Fall (Winter with a Rain Totem)
Rain
6 am - 12 am
The Catfish is the bane of many a new farmer. You need one for the Community Center, and they are available to catch in the Spring, when you first start, but they are difficult if you don't have at least a few levels in your fishing skill.
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PostsBut, if one's made you angry by staying on the line for minutes at a time, you can take out your anger by smoking it. Without any of the assisting professions, they will bring home 400g. If you have the big three money-making professions, then it will be 839g per Catfish.
7 The Sturgeon
Mod Used In Image: Visible Fish by shekurikaLocation(s)
Season(s)
Weather
Time of Day
Mountain Lake
Summer And Winter
Any
6 am - 7 pm
If you've played Stardew Valley before, you are bound to be familiar with the Sturgeon. Not only do you need this Summer and Winter fish for the Community Center, but it's also a great ingredient for the Luau. Plus, it's the only fish that can produce Caviar.
Like the Pufferfish and Catfish, you'll make 400g from selling a smoked Sturgeon without any of the professions that increase its value. But if you do go down those routes, you'll make 839g, which is more than you would make on Caviar.
6 Spook Fish
Mod Used In Image: Visible Fish by shekurikaLocation(s)
Season(s)
Weather
Time of Day
Submarine During Night Market
Winter
Any
5 pm - 2 am
The Spook Fish is unique in that it is one of three fish that can only be caught during the Night Market. If you've finished looking at the stock of all the different shops that open up during this three-day event, you can spend the rest of your time seeing how many of these you can bring to the surface with you.
If you smoke the Spook Fish, it will make you 440g. Though, again, if you wait to do this until you have the Fisher, Angler, and Artisan professions, you'll instead be making 923g. Since this is a Winter fish, you can decide to smoke any you do catch to help pad out your Winter profits.
5 The Super Cucumber
Mod Used In Image: Visible Fish by shekurikaLocation(s)
Season(s)
Weather
Time of Day
Ocean and Ginger Island
Submarine During Night Market
Summer and Fall
Winter
Any
6 pm - 2 am
5 pm - 2 am
This strange purple 'fish' can be caught in three different locations, though you'll have the best time looking for it at the Beach in Stardew Valley. Along with turning the water in fish ponds purple, they can make you a nice little profit at the end of a fishing spree.
4:46 RelatedStardew Valley: The Best Fish For Fish Ponds
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PostsIf you smoke the Super Cucumber, you'll make a neat and tidy 500g. But if you have Fisher, Angler, and Artisan, you will instead bring home the sum of 1,050g per Cucumber.
4 The Stonefish
Mod Used In Image: Visible Fish by shekurikaLocation(s)
Season(s)
Weather
Time of Day
Floor 20 of Mines
Any
Any
Any
The Stonefish looks like it belongs to Minecraft, but instead belongs to The Mines. But, being from The Mines, means that it can take a while to hook without the help of any special bobbers or bait.
But if you do decide to spend time fishing in The Mines, you may want to throw them in the Smoker. They sell for 600g without the money-making professions and 1,260g with them.
3 The Blobfish
Mod Used In Image: Visible Fish by shekurikaLocation(s)
Season(s)
Weather
Time of Day
Submarine During Night Market
Winter
Any
5 pm - 2 am
This is another of the fish that can only be caught at the Night Market in the Winter. Even on its own, it's a very profitable fish. And is a very goofy goober to boot.
If you want to add to your Winter profits, you can catch as many of these fish as you can and throw them all into the Fish Smoker. Without aid from the professions, you can stand to make 1,000g each. If you do have the three professions that benefit smoked fish, you'll be making 2,100g a blob.
2 The Ice Pip
Mod Used In Image: Visible Fish by shekurikaLocation(s)
Season(s)
Weather
Time of Day
Floor 60 of Mines
Any
Any
Any
This fish also yearns for The Mines. It's the only place they can be found, but that does make it easier to find than the Blobfish, which can only be caught during a three-night span.
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PostsThe smoked Ice Pip also sells for 1,000g without the help of any professions, which means they also sell for 2,100g when you are getting those benefits.
1 The Lava Eel
Mod Used In Image: Visible Fish by shekurikaLocation(s)
Season(s)
Weather
Time of Day
Floor 100 of Mines and the Volcano Dungeon
Any
Any
Any
The fish so difficult to catch, it may as well be legendary. The Lava Eel is, well, slippery when it comes to actually catching very many. But if you can stick with it, or gain some support from bait, bobbers, and food items, they are an incredibly useful fish.
If you have some extra, or decide to empty out a fish pond full of them, you could always smoke them. A regular smoked Lava Eel nets you 1,400g. If you have the three professions that help your profits, then they instead make you 2,939g.
NextStardew Valley: All Legendary Fish, Ranked
Want to prove you're the very best farmer, like no farmer ever was? Then catch these fish!
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