In Stardew Valley, Squid is a winter ocean fish you catch from the Beach (or the Beach Farm) between 6pm and 2am, in any weather. It has a difficulty of 75 with “sinker” movement, sells for 80g at base quality, and is worth catching for Willy’s quest, the Fried Calamari recipe, Squid Ink from a Fish Pond and, above all, the SquidFest festival on Winter 12 and 13. This guide covers where and when to find it, how to land it, and every use worth knowing, based on the current 1.6 version of the game.
Squid at a glance
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Location | Ocean (The Beach, Beach Farm) |
| Season | Winter (any season with Magic Bait) |
| Time | 6pm to 2am |
| Weather | Any |
| Difficulty and behavior | 75, sinker |
| Size | 12 to 49 inches |
| Sell price | 80g base, 100g silver, 120g gold, 160g iridium |
| Edible | 25 energy and 11 health at base quality |
| Crab pot | No |
The Fisher profession raises sell prices by 25% and Angler by 50%, so an iridium-quality Squid sells for up to 240g with Angler. That is respectable but not exceptional, which is why most players value Squid more for its uses than its price.
Where and when to catch Squid
Squid lives in the ocean, so head to the Beach south of Pelican Town during winter evenings. Fishing from the end of the pier or the far eastern dock gives you deeper water, which tends to improve fish quality. If you chose the Beach Farm layout, you can also catch it in the ocean on your own farm.
- Season: Winter only, unless you use Magic Bait, which ignores season, time and weather restrictions.
- Time: from 6pm until 2am. Plan to be at the beach once the sun sets and fish until you need to head home.
- Weather: any. Snowy days do not matter.
- SquidFest: during the festival on Winter 12 and 13, Squid can be caught at the Beach throughout the day, not just in the evening.
There is no Fishing level requirement to catch Squid, although a higher level makes the minigame much easier. You cannot get Squid from crab pots.
How to catch Squid more easily
A difficulty of 75 makes Squid one of the trickier non-legendary fish. Its “sinker” behavior means it tends to drift toward the bottom of the fishing bar, so it is more forgiving than “dart” fish but still punishes early-game setups. These steps help:
- Use a rod that takes tackle. The Fiberglass Rod allows bait, and the Iridium Rod allows both bait and tackle.
- Equip a Trap Bobber or Cork Bobber. The Trap Bobber slows the fish’s escape when it is outside your bar, and the Cork Bobber makes your bar larger.
- Craft Squid Bait. Since version 1.6, the Bait Maker (unlocked at Fishing level 6, made from 3 Iron Bars, 3 Coral and 1 Sea Urchin) turns any fish into 5 to 10 targeted bait for that species. Squid Bait increases your chance of hooking Squid.
- Eat a fishing buff. Dishes such as Dish O’ The Sea or Trout Soup temporarily raise your Fishing level.
- Hold steady at the bottom. Because Squid sinks, keep your bar low and tap gently to follow it upward rather than holding the button.
SquidFest: the best reason to catch Squid
SquidFest was added in update 1.6. It takes place at the Beach on Winter 12 and 13 and runs from 6:10am to 2am each day. Unlike most festivals, time keeps moving and shops stay open. Your squid count resets each day, and you earn prizes for reaching each tier.
| Tier | Winter 12 | Winter 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | 1 squid: 20 Deluxe Bait | 2 squid: Trap Bobber |
| Iron | 3 squid: Dish O’ The Sea plus 10 Winter Seeds or 2 Mystery Boxes | 5 squid: Dish O’ The Sea plus 15 Winter Seeds or 3 Mystery Boxes |
| Gold | 5 squid: Pearl and 3 Coffee | 7 squid: Treasure Chest and 3 Triple Shot Espresso |
| Iridium | 8 squid: Squid Kid and The Art O’ Crabbing | 10 squid: Squid Hat and The Art O’ Crabbing |
If you already own The Art O’ Crabbing book, the iridium tier gives Mystery Boxes or Seafoam Pudding instead. To hit the iridium tier on both days, prepare in advance: craft a stack of Squid Bait, equip your best rod and bobber, and place a chest on the beach so you are not running home when your inventory fills. Wild Bait, which can occasionally hook two fish at once, is another option.
What to do with Squid
Quests and orders
- “Catch a Squid”: Willy sends this request by mail on Winter 2. Completing it pays 800g and one heart of friendship with Willy.
- Aquatic Overpopulation: a Special Order from Demetrius that can ask for 10 Squid and rewards gold plus the Farm Computer recipe.
- Help Wanted: random delivery requests for Squid on the board outside Pierre’s shop pay three times the base price plus friendship.
Cooking
Squid’s signature dish is Fried Calamari, made from 1 Squid, 1 Wheat Flour and 1 Oil. Jodi mails you the recipe once you reach 3 hearts with her. It restores 80 energy and 36 health at base quality and sells for 150g. Squid also works as the “any fish” ingredient in Sashimi and Maki Roll, and in Quality Fertilizer.
Fish Pond and Squid Ink
Put a Squid in a Fish Pond and, instead of roe, it produces Squid Ink. The pond starts with a capacity of 3 and can be expanded to 10 by completing the squids’ item requests. Squid Ink sells for 110g and is used in Squid Ink Ravioli (a Combat level 9 recipe that protects you from debuffs for a time), Seafoam Pudding (a Fishing level 9 recipe) and tailoring. It is also one of the options for the Fish Farmer’s Bundle in the remixed bundles. A steady Squid Ink supply is handy later in the game, especially for Squid Ink Ravioli on long mining runs.
Tailoring and gifting
At the sewing machine, Squid makes a dyeable Sailor Shirt. As a gift, Elliott loves Squid. Demetrius, Leo, Linus, Sebastian and Willy like it. Avoid giving it to Evelyn, Haley, Pam or Pierre, who hate it, and note that most other villagers dislike it. Squid is not required for any standard Community Center bundle.
A simple winter plan for Squid
- Winter 1 to 2: catch your first Squid on an early evening and keep it for Willy’s “Catch a Squid” request, which arrives on Winter 2.
- Before Winter 12: if you have the Bait Maker, turn one Squid into Squid Bait so you start SquidFest with a full stack.
- Winter 12 and 13: fish all day at the festival and aim for the iridium tier on both days.
- Rest of winter: stock a Fish Pond with Squid for Squid Ink, and save a few Squid for Fried Calamari once Jodi sends the recipe.
Squid versus Midnight Squid
Do not confuse Squid with Midnight Squid, a different fish caught from the submarine at the Night Market (Winter 15 to 17). Fried Calamari requires regular Squid specifically, so a Midnight Squid will not work in that recipe. Both species produce Squid Ink in a Fish Pond.
About Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a farming and life simulation game created by Eric Barone (ConcernedApe), inspired by the Harvest Moon series. It launched on Windows on February 26, 2016, and has since come to PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android. The free 1.6 update in 2024 added SquidFest, the Bait Maker and many other features. Because ConcernedApe still patches the game, numbers such as prices and festival rewards can change in future updates, so check the in-game details if something looks different.
If you enjoy crafting-focused games, see our guides to the Minecraft furnace recipe and how to make a Weaponsmith villager in Minecraft.
Frequently asked questions
When can you catch Squid in Stardew Valley?
In winter, from 6pm to 2am, in the ocean at the Beach or Beach Farm, in any weather. Magic Bait lets you catch it in any season.
How much does Squid sell for?
80g at base quality, 100g silver, 120g gold and 160g iridium. Fisher adds 25% and Angler adds 50%.
When is SquidFest?
SquidFest runs on Winter 12 and 13 at the Beach, from 6:10am to 2am, with prize tiers based on how many squid you catch each day.
How do you get Squid Ink?
Put a Squid or Midnight Squid in a Fish Pond. Squid Ink also drops from Squid Kids in the Mines.
Can you catch Squid in a crab pot?
No. Squid can only be caught with a fishing rod.
