Stardew Valley's 1.6 update, which dropped back in 2024, has truly been a game-changer for the community, introducing a plethora of fresh content that keeps players coming back to their farms. Among the new additions, anglers received some special love with new bobbers, lures, bait, and of course, new aquatic life to hunt. One of the most intriguing and elusive newcomers is the Goby, a slippery little fish that has become a unique challenge for completionists and fishing fanatics alike. This guide dives deep into everything you need to know about this exclusive catch.

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The Goby's One and Only Home: The Twin Waterfalls 🏞️

Forget casting your line just anywhere. The Goby is a creature of habit with a single, specific habitat. Unlike many other fish that can be found in multiple spots, the Goby is a true homebody. You can only find this fish in the twin waterfalls located in the southeastern corner of Cindersap Forest.

To get there, head south from your farm and make your way to the forest. Navigate to the bottom-left area, near where the spring onions grow and close to the entrance of the sewer grate. You'll see the two cascading waterfalls side-by-side. That's your spot! The good news? This spot works every single day, in any season, and under any weather condition. No need to wait for a stormy day or a specific season—your hunt can begin whenever you have the time and patience.

Mastering the Catch: Gear and Strategy 🎣

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Here's the catch (pun intended): the Goby has a notoriously low base catch rate of just 15%. That means you're competing with all the common lake fish that also inhabit those waters. You need to come prepared with the right tools and techniques.

  • Location is Key: You must cast your line directly into the small pools at the very bottom of the twin waterfalls. Casting into the main lake area is futile—you'll only hook regular lake fish.

  • Essential Gear: Don't even bother with the bamboo pole. Bring your best rod, ideally the Iridium Rod, to equip both bait and a tackle.

Optimizing Your Odds: Bait & Lure Deep Dive 🪱

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To turn the odds in your favor, you need to leverage the new 1.6 specialty items.

Best Bait: Goby Bait

This specialized bait is tailor-made for the Goby and will boost your catch chance from 15% to a much more manageable 35%. There are two ways to get it:

  1. Buy it from Willy: His shop inventory randomizes daily, so check back often.

  2. Craft it using the Bait Maker: This is the more reliable method... once you have your first Goby. Pop a Goby into the Bait Maker, and it will produce 5-10 pieces of Goby Bait.

Top Lure Choices

Lure Effect Best For...
Curiosity Lure 🎯 Doubles your chance of catching rare fish. For the Goby, this means 15% → 30%. Pure efficiency. Maximizing your chance per cast.
Sonar Lure 📡 Reveals the type of fish you've hooked before you start the mini-game. Saving stamina & patience. Let's you skip fish you don't want.

Pro Tip: If you're struggling to get that first Goby, the Curiosity Lure is your best bet. Once you have one and can make Goby Bait, combine Goby Bait + Curiosity Lure for the absolute highest chance of catching more!

So, What's the Goby Good For? 🤔

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The Goby isn't tied to any Community Center bundles or special quests, but it has several versatile uses:

  • Cooking & Crafting: It can be used as a generic fish in any recipe that calls for "any fish," such as:

    • Quality Fertilizer (For better crops!)

    • Maki Roll (A loved gift for many villagers)

    • Sashimi (A cheap, effective food item)

  • Fashion: Run it through the Sewing Machine with a piece of Cloth to craft the stylish Fish Shirt! 👕

  • Farming: Place a Goby in a Fish Pond to start farming Goby Roe.

  • Gifting: ⚠️ Caution! It's not a great gift. Most villagers are neutral, but Evelyn, Haley, and Pierre absolutely HATE it. Best to keep it for yourself.

Goby Stats & Profit Breakdown 💰

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Here's what you get for your effort when you reel one in:

Quality Fishing XP Energy Restored Base Sell Price
Regular 21 62 150g
Silver 24 87 187g
Gold 27 112 225g
Iridium 33 162 300g

Profession Price Boosts:

  • Fisher Profession: Sell price increases by 25%.

  • Angler Profession: Sell price increases by 50%!

The Goby Roe Gold Mine 🤑

The real long-term value comes from fish pond farming. Goby Roe can be processed in a Preserves Jar to make Aged Roe, which doubles its value.

Item Base Sell Price With Artisan Profession (+40%)
Goby Roe 105g 147g
Aged Goby Roe 210g 294g

Final Tips for 2025 Goby Masters 🏆

  1. Patience is Your Best Bait. That 15% base rate is no joke. Set aside a good chunk of time.

  2. Gear Up. Iridium Rod + Curiosity Lure is the starter combo. Upgrade to Goby Bait as soon as you can.

  3. Fish Pond for Profit. Once caught, breeding Gobies is a great passive income stream, especially with the Artisan profession.

  4. Check Willy's Daily. You might get lucky and buy Goby Bait before you even catch one!

  5. Don't Gift It! Seriously, just make Sashimi or a cool shirt instead.

The Goby embodies the spirit of Stardew Valley's 1.6 update: a rewarding challenge for dedicated players. It might test your patience, but the satisfaction of finally seeing that unique fish on your line, and the profitable uses it unlocks, make the hunt thoroughly worthwhile. Happy fishing, farmers! 🐟