Shad

Shad

A river fish that runs upstream during certain seasons. Known for its annual spawning migrations.

Spring Summer Fall Easy (45)Rainy
Base Price
60g

Quick answer

Where to catch Shad in Stardew Valley

Catch Shad at River during Spring, Summer, Fall from 9:00 AM - 2:00 AM in rainy weather. It sells for 60g at normal quality and 120g when smoked.

Shad
Where to catch

River

Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Time

9:00 AM - 2:00 AM, rainy weather

Sell price

60g base, 120g iridium

Fish pond value

60g Roe -> 120g 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

60g

Normal quality

Smoke once

120g

+60g before Coal and machine time

One pond product

60g Roe → 120g

Aged Roe; not daily profit

Is Shad worth keeping?

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

When to sell or smoke it

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

Fish Pond and Roe

60g Roe can become 120g Aged Roe. Fish Pond output depends on pond population and random daily production rolls. Formula value: 60g Roe, then 120g 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

Shad 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 Shad

Location

  • River

Found in rivers during spring, summer, and fall. Requires rain.

Time & Conditions

9:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Rainy weather required

Difficulty & Catching Strategy

Difficulty: 45

Easy

Good for building fishing XP

EasyHardLegend (110)

Smooth Behavior

Gradual, predictable movements. The fish moves steadily in one direction before changing.

Tip: Follow the fish smoothly. Anticipate direction changes and move gradually.

Expert Tips for Shad

Requires rainy weather but available across three seasons. Good for rainy day fishing sessions.

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
Normal60g
Silver75g
Gold90g
Iridium120g

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
Normal60g120g
Silver75g150g
Gold90g180g
Iridium120g240g

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

Uses for Shad

  • Sashimi
  • Fish pond
  • Rain-dependent catch

Did You Know?

American shad were once so abundant they were a crucial food source for early colonists.