Stardew Valley, the hit indie farming RPG from solo developer Concerned Ape, remains one of the most popular titles in its genre. Having inherited their grandfather's run-down farm, players must revitalize the land as they farm, mine, and fish their way to riches. Fishing can be an extremely lucrative activity in Stardew Valley, though a lot depends on which kind of fish is caught.
The Lava Eel is one of the most difficult non-legendary fish in Stardew Valley, but also one of the most valuable. Unfortunately, the difficulty in catching the Lava Eel isn't just in its jerky, unpredictable behavior in Stardew Valley's fishing minigame, but also in reaching its home in the first place.
How to Catch a Lava Eel in Stardew Valley
Unlike the vast majority of fish in Stardew Valley, the Lava Eel doesn't actually live in water. Instead, it can only be found on level 100 of the Mines and the Volcano Caldera on Ginger Island. This means that new players looking to catch one will need to descend all the way through the Mines dungeon before they find the lava pool where the Eel can be caught.
- Location: Level 100 of the Mines, or the Volcano Caldera (The Forge)
- Season: Any
- Time of Day: Any
- Weather: Any
This process should also give players plenty of time to acquire a good rod, preferably Iridium, as well as a variety of bait and tackle. The Curiosity Lure is especially useful when fishing for Lava Eels, as it considerably boosts the odds of hooking one. Players will find it much easier to hook a Lava Eel in the Volcano Caldera, but are unlikely to reach the Ginger Island Dungeon until late in the game.
What To Do With a Lava Eel in Stardew Valley
As one of the most valuable fish in Stardew Valley, the Lava Eel would be wasted if used in any of the recipes that can use any fish, like the Maki Roll, Quality Fertilizer, or Sashimi. Instead, the Eel is best either sold directly, or used in a Fish Pond. Lava Eel placed in a Fish Pond will reproduce at a rate of 1 every 5 days and regularly produce Roe, as well as having a slight chance to produce Gold Ore, Spicy Eels, and Magma Geodes.
None of the villagers in Stardew Valley loves or even likes to receive a Lava Eel as a gift, with most actively disliking or hating them. Therefore, the only other uses for Lava Eels are either Tailoring or in the Master Fisher's Bundle, which can be fulfilled at the Community Center Fish Tank for players who've chosen to play with remixed bundles.
Stardew Valley is out now on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch.