How to Catch Sturgeon in Stardew Valley

Sturgeon are one of the most elusive and useful fish in Stardew Valley. If you’ve been searching the rivers, beaches, and ponds of Pelican Town for Sturgeon, you will be out of luck. Sturgeons are only found in one location in Stardew Valley. If you need a Sturgeon to complete the Community Center or to harvest some of the valuable resources they produce, you will find everything you need to know in this Sturgeon guide. 

Where to Find Sturgeon in Stardew Valley

You can find Sturgeon at the Mountain Lake in summer and winter. They are available in any weather but are only active between 6 AM – 7 PM. 

Sturgeon is a valuable catch for those wanting to complete the Lake Fish Bundle at the Community Center and those wanting to harvest and sell Caviar. Caviar is one of the best resources to produce, fetching 500g a piece and requiring next to no effort from you apart from catching the fish in the first place and putting it in a Fish Pond on your farm. 

But none of this is possible without getting your hands on a Sturgeon in the first place, so head over to the Mountain Lake during daylight hours in winter or summer to get your hands on one of these elusive fish. Sturgeons are more common in the deeper parts of the lake, far away from the shore, so the best place to set up shop is on one of the small islands in the middle of the lake. Once you’re situated there, it’s a waiting game until you hook your Sturgeon. 

Sturgeon can be tricky to catch, especially compared to the other docile fish you can find in the Mountain Lake. If you’re struggling to reel one in, you can always use a Training Rod or a Trap Bobber. Training Rods lower the quality of the fish, but they are available early on in the game. Trap Bobbers also make the fishing game easier, but you will need an Iridium Rod or Advanced Iridium Rod to attach one. The Iridium Rod is only available if your Fishing skill is level six or higher, and the Advanced Iridium Rod isn’t available until you Master the Fishing skill at Mastery Cave, which is a late-game mechanic. 

Whichever option you choose will make fishing a little more forgiving, so you can finally hook the Sturgeon you’ve been looking for. Donating your first Sturgeon to the Community Center is highly recommended, but definitely head back to Mountain Lake to hook another one. Sturgeon is one of the best fish to have in a Fish Pond, after all!