Salmon

Salmon

Swims upstream to spawn. This iconic fish makes one of nature's most challenging migrations.

Fall Medium (50)
Base Price
75g

Quick answer

Where to catch Salmon in Stardew Valley

Catch Salmon at River during Fall from 6:00 AM - 7:00 PM in any weather. It sells for 75g at normal quality and 150g when smoked.

Salmon
Where to catch

River

Season

Fall

Time

6:00 AM - 7:00 PM, any weather

Sell price

75g base, 150g iridium

Fish pond value

67g Roe -> 134g 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

75g

Normal quality

Smoke once

150g

+75g before Coal and machine time

One pond product

67g Roe → 134g

Aged Roe; not daily profit

Is Salmon worth keeping?

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

When to sell or smoke it

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

Fish Pond and Roe

67g Roe can become 134g Aged Roe. Fish Pond output depends on pond population and random daily production rolls. Formula value: 67g Roe, then 134g 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

Salmon 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

86%

Maximum population

10

Population growth

Every 2 days

Possible itemQuantityOverall daily chance
Roe1 minimum86%
First capacity quest: at 3 fish, bring one of 3 Acorn; 3 Maple Seed; 3 Pine Cone; 10 Bug Meat 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 Salmon

Location

  • River

Found in rivers during fall. One of the more accessible fall fish.

Time & Conditions

6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Any weather

Difficulty & Catching Strategy

Difficulty: 50

Medium

Moderate challenge

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 Salmon

A relatively easy fish that's common in fall. Great for building up fishing experience or completing bundles.

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
Normal75g
Silver93g
Gold112g
Iridium150g

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
Normal75g150g
Silver93g186g
Gold112g224g
Iridium150g300g

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

Uses for Salmon

  • Salmon Dinner ingredient
  • Sashimi
  • Quality fertilizer

Did You Know?

Real salmon are anadromous, meaning they're born in freshwater, live in the ocean, and return to freshwater to spawn.