How to catch sturgeon in Stardew Valley

As with most games, it seems, Stardew Valley employs a fishing mechanic and one of the more challenging, and elusive, fish in the game is the Sturgeon. There are a lot of things to consider when trying to catch this fish, but don’t worry I’ve got all the details. 

When trying to catch a Sturgeon, players must take into account the following things:

• Time of year
• Time of day
• Location
• Weather
• Rod and accessories
• Fishing skill level

I know, it seems like a lot at first glance but I’ll take you through it.

How to catch a Sturgeon in Stardew Valley

One of the biggest things to consider when aiming to catch a Sturgeon is the fact that it has a 78 difficulty rating, which means that if you do manage to hook one it’s going to flop around long before it’s out of the water and give you a hard time. In order to maximise your chances of success, it’s a good idea to reach at least level seven before trying to fish for Sturgeon. 

Technically, you could catch a Sturgeon once you reach level six and are able to equip the correct bait and bobber, but level seven is a safe bet. 

Next up: Location and time frame

Sturgeon can usually only be caught during Summer and Winter in the Mountain Lake (pictured above) or on the Wilderness Farm. Wherever you choose to fish, Sturgeon will only show up in daylight hours (between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.). Sturgeon has the lowest chance of showing up during rainy Winter days and the highest chance of showing up during rainy Summer days. 

Alternatively, you can use Magic Bait, which enables you to catch any fish in Stardew Valley at any time, regardless of normal time constraints. 

I’d recommend that you get your hands on either a Fiberglass or Iridium Rod if you’re aiming to catch Sturgeon. They cost 1,800 gold and 7,500 gold respectively.

Other ways to get Sturgeon in Stardew Valley

There are a couple of other ways that you could possibly get some Sturgeon, although neither of these are guaranteed. 

Occasionally, Sturgeon show up being sold in Krobus’ shop on Wednesdays. If you’re lucky enough and this happens for you, a Sturgeon will cost you 200 gold. 

Sturgeon also sometimes show up on the Traveling Cart for between 600 and 1000 gold each.