Carp

Carp

A common pond fish. Hardy and adaptable, carp have spread to waters around the world.

Spring Summer Fall Winter Very Easy (15)
Base Price
30g

Quick answer

Where to catch Carp in Stardew Valley

Catch Carp at Mountain Lake or Secret Woods or Sewers during Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter from Any in any weather. It sells for 30g at normal quality and 60g when smoked.

Carp
Where to catch

Mountain Lake or Secret Woods or Sewers

Season

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Time

Any, any weather

Sell price

30g base, 60g iridium

Fish pond value

45g Roe -> 90g Aged Roe

Best tackle

Spinner or Barbed Hook

Keep or sell

Keep only if needed for bundles, gifts, cooking, or ponds

All fish locationsBest fish by seasonFish pond valuesBest fish ponds

Price decision

Sell, smoke, or use a Fish Pond?

Change professions to compare the same fish without changing the page or URL.

Sell directly

30g

Normal quality

Smoke once

60g

+30g before Coal and machine time

One pond product

45g Roe → 90g

Aged Roe; not daily profit

Is Carp worth keeping?

Keep Carp if it fills a bundle, recipe, gift, Fish Pond, or collection goal.

When to sell or smoke it

Sell or smoke extra Carp when you need gold and do not have a specific use for it.

Fish Pond and Roe

45g Roe can become 90g Aged Roe. Fish Pond output depends on pond population and random daily production rolls. Formula value: 45g Roe, then 90g Aged Roe.

Fish Pond output depends on pond population and random daily production rolls. The exact max-population output table and first capacity quest are shown below.

Verified 1.6.15 pond rules

Carp Fish Pond output

Final daily chances at population 10; each value already includes the pond's 95% base output check and ordered item rolls.

Open calculator

Any item per day

95%

Maximum population

10

Population growth

Every 1 day

Possible itemQuantityOverall daily chance
Roe1 minimum95%
First capacity quest: at 3 fish, bring one of 2 Green Algae to unlock capacity 4. Roe quantities are minimums before the repeated 20% extra-Roe roll; a Golden Animal Cracker doubles the final quantity, not these probabilities.

Where & When to Find Carp

Location

  • Mountain Lake
  • Secret Woods
  • Sewers

Found in the mountain lake and other still waters year-round.

Time & Conditions

Any
Any weather

Difficulty & Catching Strategy

Difficulty: 15

Very Easy

Perfect for beginners

EasyHardLegend (110)

Mixed Behavior

Unpredictable movement that alternates between different patterns. Requires adaptability.

Tip: Stay centered and react to changes. Don't commit too heavily to one direction.

Expert Tips for Carp

The easiest fish in the game! Perfect for absolute beginners or when you need a guaranteed catch.

Recommended Tackle

Spinner

Faster bite rate

Best for: Farming XP quickly

Barbed Hook

Clinging to fish

Best for: Smooth/mixed behavior fish

Tackle requires an Iridium Rod. Purchase from Willy's shop at Fishing Level 6.

Sell Prices by Quality

Fish bonus: Inactive
QualityPrice
Normal30g
Silver37g
Gold45g
Iridium60g

Smoked Fish Value

Artisan: Inactive

The Fish Smoker uses 1 Coal and doubles the fish sell price while preserving quality. Fisher or Angler changes the fish value first; Artisan then increases the smoked product.

Input QualityFish ValueSmoked Value
Normal30g60g
Silver37g74g
Gold45g90g
Iridium60g120g

Formula: fish sell price x 2. See the formula audit for source notes.

Uses for Carp

  • Fish pond
  • Sashimi
  • Very easy catch

Did You Know?

Carp are one of the most widely introduced fish species globally and can live over 40 years.