Valheim Fishing Guide: All 12 Fish, Every Bait, and the Hat

Fishing in Valheim is one of those systems that looks simple until you realize you've been standing at the wrong shoreline with the wrong bait for twenty minutes. There are 12 fish species spread across 9 different bait types, and the bait on your hook is the only thing that decides what can bite. Get that wrong and nothing will. Get it right, and you're pulling in late-game materials, unlocking powerful food recipes, and working toward one of the best passive skill bonuses in the game.

What do you need to start fishing in Valheim?

You need two things: a Fishing Rod and Fishing Bait. The rod is sold by Haldor the merchant for 350 coins. Basic Fishing Bait is also available from Haldor and works in the Meadows and Black Forest. Every other bait type is crafted at a cauldron using trophies from biome-specific creatures.

Equip the rod, select the bait you want active, and cast near visible fish in the water. Hold the attack button to charge your cast. A 10-15 meter throw is usually enough to keep things manageable.

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How does the hook and reel mechanic work?

Once your bobber is in the water, watch for a yellow pulse around it. The moment you see that pulse, hold the block button to set the hook. From there, use the block button to reel the fish in. If the fish is swimming away from you, tap the button to maintain tension. If it's swimming toward you, hold it to reel faster and close the distance.

The Fishing skill levels up as you fish, and higher skill directly reduces stamina drain per second while reeling. At skill 100, stamina consumption drops by up to 16% and reeling speed improves by 40%. Reeling in an empty line with bait equipped still grants experience, though landing an actual fish doubles the XP gain.

Complete bait guide: what catches what?

The bait system is the backbone of fishing in Valheim. Each bait is tied to a specific biome, and only the fish that live in that biome will bite. Below is every bait type, where it works, and which fish it targets.

All 12 fish locations and bonus loot

Every fish in Valheim has a depth range it occupies, a stamina cost per second while reeling, and a chance to drop bonus materials alongside the catch itself. That bonus loot is one of the best reasons to fish deliberately rather than just grabbing whatever washes ashore.

Perch and Pike (Meadows, Black Forest)

Perch sit at 1.5-3 meters depth and cost only 3 stamina per second to reel, making them the easiest catch in the game. They can drop Stone (16.7% chance) or Amber (3.3%). Pike go a bit deeper at 2-4 meters, pull harder, and drain 5 stamina per second. Their bonus drops are Flint (16.7%) and Amber Pearl (3.3%). Both species use basic Fishing Bait.

Trollfish (Black Forest)

Mossy Fishing Bait is required here, crafted from a Troll Trophy. Trollfish sit at 1.5-3 meters and cost 9 stamina per second. Bonus loot includes Troll Hide and Copper Ore, each at a 10% drop rate.

Giant Herring (Swamp)

The Swamp is not a relaxing place to fish. Clear nearby enemies before casting, or build a small protected platform along the shoreline. Sticky Fishing Bait is required. Giant Herring sit at 1.5-3 meters and drain 10 stamina per second. The bonus drops are Iron Ore (16.7%) and Chain (3.3%), which makes this one of the more useful early mid-game fishing targets.

Tetra (Frost Caves, Mountain biome)

Tetra are the most annoying fish to locate in the entire game. They don't appear in open Mountain water. They only spawn in underground lakes inside certain Frost Caves, and not every cave has one. Once you find a cave with the right lake structure, Tetra reliably spawn there, so mark it immediately on your map.

Cold Fishing Bait is required, crafted from a Fenring Trophy. Tetra are shallow at 0.5-1 meters and cost 11 stamina per second. Bonus drops are Obsidian (16.7%) and Coins (3.3%).

Grouper (Plains)

Stingy Fishing Bait, crafted from a Fuling Trophy, is needed here. Watch for Fulings and Deathsquitos while you're standing on the Plains coast. Grouper sit at 1.5-3 meters and cost 12 stamina per second. Bonus drops include Black Metal Scrap and Barley, both at 10%.

Tuna and Coral Cod (Ocean)

Both use Heavy Fishing Bait, crafted from a Serpent Trophy. Tuna sits deep at 4 meters or more, which means you need a boat to reach them. They drain only 7 stamina per second and can drop Tin Ore (16.7%) or Ruby (3.3%). Coral Cod sits at 1.5-3 meters but costs 12 stamina per second, considerably more than Tuna despite being shallower. Bonus drops are Chitin (13.3%) and Onion Seeds (6.7%).

Anglerfish and Pufferfish (Mistlands)

Misty Fishing Bait, made from a Lox Trophy, covers both species. Anglerfish are particularly valuable because they feed into powerful late-game food recipes. Both fish sit at 1.5-3 meters and drain 14 stamina per second. Anglerfish drop Soft Tissue and Blue Jute (both 10%). Pufferfish drop Sap and Ooze (both 10%). One practical note: don't stand directly on top of a freshly caught Pufferfish. They can poison you on contact.

Magmafish (Ashlands)

Hot Fishing Bait is crafted from a Surtling Trophy. Magmafish drain 18 stamina per second while reeling, so strong stamina food is non-negotiable here. The bonus drops make this worth the effort: Surtling Core (7.7%), Grausten (7.7%), and Flametal Ore (4.6%). That makes Magmafish a dual-purpose resource farm while you're in the Ashlands.

Northern Salmon (Deep North)

The final fish in current Valheim progression uses Frosty Fishing Bait, crafted from a Drake Trophy. Northern Salmon drain the most stamina of any fish at 20 per second. If your stamina build isn't solid before heading to the Deep North, this catch will frustrate you. Bonus drops are Carrot Seeds (13.3%) and Silver (6.7%).

How does fish quality work?

Fish spawn at quality levels 1 through 5. Higher quality fish are physically larger and produce significantly more Raw Fish when processed. Quality 1 gives 1 Raw Fish. Quality 2 gives 4. Quality 3 gives 7. Quality 4 gives 10. Quality 5 gives 13. Some species add a flat bonus on top of that.

The A Catch Worthy of Njord achievement requires landing a quality 4 fish. Any species counts, so targeting a large Perch or Pike in a safe early biome is far smarter than attempting a quality 4 Magmafish or Northern Salmon. Cast as close to the target fish as possible to reduce the stamina drain from a long reel.

How do you unlock the Fishing Hat?

Catch all 12 species and the Fishing Hat recipe unlocks at your workbench. The base version grants +20 to your Fishing skill, which feeds directly into the stamina reduction and reel speed bonuses mentioned above. Upgrading the hat increases armor and durability, but the +20 skill bonus stays constant regardless of upgrade level.

The Fisherman achievement tracks this goal and requires every species: Perch, Pike, Trollfish, Giant Herring, Tetra, Grouper, Tuna, Coral Cod, Pufferfish, Anglerfish, Magmafish, and Northern Salmon. Tetra is almost always the last one players are missing.

Common mistakes players make

The mistake most players make is treating fishing as a passive activity. Standing in the right biome with the wrong bait wastes time. Fishing in dangerous biomes like the Plains or Ashlands without clearing the area first gets you killed mid-reel. And skipping the Fishing Hat because it looks cosmetic means missing out on a passive skill bonus that makes every future catch easier.

A few practical habits that help:

• Cast as close to the visible fish as possible to minimize reel distance and stamina cost
• Drag fish into very shallow water rather than reeling the full distance. Once they hit land, press E to pick them up
• Pick up fish washed ashore by waves instead of spending bait on them
• Keep every bait type near your portal hub if you're working toward the full collection
• Mark every Frost Cave that contains a fishing lake the moment you find one

Is fishing worth it in Valheim?

Short answer: yes, especially once you're past the Swamp. The food recipes that use fish, including fish wraps and fish and bread, are among the strongest stamina and health buffs available. The bonus loot system turns fishing into a quiet way to farm Iron Ore, Black Metal Scrap, Flametal Ore, and other materials you'd otherwise grind for in their respective biomes. Pair that with the Fishing Hat's skill bonus and the whole system becomes self-reinforcing.

For everything else you need to progress through the game's biomes and bosses, the Valheim guides collection covers the full picture, from all boss locations and summon requirements to a complete beginner's guide for new and returning players.

FAQ

Do I need to catch all 12 fish myself? Yes for the achievement and hat, but fish washed ashore by waves or stranded on your boat count as caught when you pick them up. You don't always need a rod for every single species.

Why does my line keep breaking? Two causes: straying more than 30 meters from the bobber, or running out of stamina while the fish is actively struggling. Keep your stamina topped up and stay close to your cast.

Can you fish without a rod? Fish occasionally jump out of water and can be picked up directly from the ground. You can also sometimes grab them from very shallow water with the interact button, though they usually swim away when approached. Enclosed shoreline structures can trap fish pushed inland by waves.

What happens if you drop a fish back in the water? It becomes active again and swims away. Don't drop fish from your inventory near water unless you want to lose them.

Which fish needs a boat to catch? Tuna. It lives at 4 meters depth or deeper, which makes it unreachable from any shoreline. Every other fish can technically be reached on foot with the right coastal position.