Catching every Legendary Fish in Stardew Valley means landing five one-of-a-kind originals and, once you reach Ginger Island, five tougher “Extended Family” versions from Mr. Qi’s quest. Each fish only bites in a specific spot under specific conditions, so knowing the location, season, and weather ahead of time saves you a lot of wasted casts. Here is exactly where and when each one appears.
Quick answer: where and when to find each Legendary Fish
| Fish | Location | Season | Weather / requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimsonfish | Ocean, east pier next to Elliott’s house | Summer | Any weather; Fishing level 5 |
| Angler | River in town, north of JojaMart (by the wooden bridge) | Fall | Any weather; Fishing level 3 |
| Legend | Mountain Lake | Spring | Rainy; Fishing level 10 |
| Mutant Carp | The Sewers | Any | Any weather |
| Glacierfish | South tip of the small island in Cindersap Forest pond | Winter | Any weather; Fishing level 6 |
| Son of Crimsonfish | Same as Crimsonfish (east pier) | Any (Extended Family quest) | Any weather |
| Ms. Angler | Same as Angler (river north of JojaMart) | Any (Extended Family quest) | Any weather |
| Legend II | Same as Legend (Mountain Lake) | Any (Extended Family quest) | Any weather |
| Radioactive Carp | Same as Mutant Carp (The Sewers) | Any (Extended Family quest) | Any weather |
| Glacierfish Jr. | Same as Glacierfish (Cindersap island) | Any (Extended Family quest) | Any weather |
The five original Legendary Fish
Each original Legendary Fish exists only once per save file, so you cannot catch them again once landed (unless you take on the Extended Family quest later). They appear only in their listed season and conditions, between 6:00 a.m. and the late evening.
Crimsonfish. Fish from the east pier next to Elliott’s cabin on the beach during Summer. It can appear in any weather, but you need at least Fishing level 5. Cast as far out to sea as you can.
Angler. Found in the river in Pelican Town just north of JojaMart, near the wooden footbridge, during Fall. Any weather works and the minimum requirement is Fishing level 3, making it the most beginner-friendly of the five.
Legend. The hardest of the originals. It only appears in the Mountain Lake during Spring on rainy days, and you must have Fishing level 10. Aim for open water away from the shore and the bridge so your bobber sits well clear of land.
Mutant Carp. Lives in the Sewers, which you unlock with the Rusty Key after donating 60 items to the Museum. Once you have access, the Mutant Carp can be caught in any season and any weather, with no minimum Fishing level.
Glacierfish. Cast from the southern tip of the small island in the Cindersap Forest pond during Winter. It appears in any weather and requires Fishing level 6.
The Extended Family (Legendary Fish II)
The second set of legendaries is tied to Mr. Qi’s “Extended Family” quest, which you accept from the Walnut Room on Ginger Island. The quest asks you to catch all five relatives within the time limit, and the reward is 20 Qi Gems. The big difference from the originals: while the quest is active, these fish appear at their parent fish’s location regardless of season or weather, so you do not have to wait for the right month or rain.
- Son of Crimsonfish — east pier next to Elliott’s cabin, same spot as the Crimsonfish.
- Ms. Angler — the river north of JojaMart, same spot as the Angler.
- Legend II — the Mountain Lake, same spot as the Legend (cast into open water away from land).
- Radioactive Carp — the Sewers, same spot as the Mutant Carp.
- Glacierfish Jr. — the small island in Cindersap Forest, same spot as the Glacierfish.
These II fish are at least as difficult to reel in as their originals, so bring your best rod and tackle before you start the quest clock.
Gear and buffs to catch them
Legendary fish have very high difficulty values, so the fishing minigame bar moves fast and erratically. Stack as many advantages as you can before you cast:
- Iridium Rod. The top-tier rod lets you equip both bait and tackle at once, which is essential for legendaries.
- Trap Bobber tackle. Slows how quickly the fish escapes the green bar when it slips out, giving you more margin for error on a fast-moving fish.
- Cork Bobber tackle. Makes your catching bar larger, which is a strong alternative for keeping the fish inside it.
- Fishing buffs. Food and drinks that raise your effective Fishing level (such as Dish O’ The Sea, Trout Soup, or Seafoam Pudding) make the bar easier to control. A buff can also push you to the level needed to even hook certain fish.
Tips for landing them
- Reach a high Fishing level first. The Legend specifically needs level 10, and a higher level shrinks the difficulty of every catch.
- For the Legend and Legend II, position your bobber in open water far from shore and the bridge so it does not land on land tiles.
- Eat your buff food right before casting so the timer covers the whole attempt.
- Save before a tricky attempt if you want to retry without losing a day of season-locked time.
- For the Extended Family quest, plan a route between all five locations since you have a limited number of days to catch them all.
Chase legends together
Hunting legendary fish is more fun with friends comparing catches. If you want a persistent farm where everyone can fish on their own schedule, you can run a Stardew Valley server from XGamingServer, and the documentation walks through getting a multiplayer save going.
Frequently asked questions
Can you catch a legendary fish more than once?
The five original legendaries can only be caught once per save. The Extended Family variants are a separate set tied to Mr. Qi’s quest, so completing them is effectively a second chance at “legendary” catches.
Do I need a specific Fishing level for each one?
Yes for some. The Crimsonfish needs Fishing level 5, the Angler level 3, the Glacierfish level 6, and the Legend level 10. The Mutant Carp has no level requirement. Buff food that raises your Fishing level counts toward meeting these thresholds.
Where do I get the Extended Family quest?
From Mr. Qi in the Walnut Room on Ginger Island, which you reach after unlocking the island and its Walnut content. The quest rewards 20 Qi Gems for catching all five relatives.
Do the Extended Family fish need the right season and weather?
No. While the Extended Family quest is active, these fish appear at their parent fish’s location regardless of season or weather, so you do not have to wait for the matching month or rain.
What is the best tackle for legendary fish?
A Trap Bobber or Cork Bobber on an Iridium Rod, combined with a Fishing-level buff from food, gives you the best odds against their high difficulty.
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