The Stardew Valley 1.6 update introduced a game-changing piece of artisan equipment for avid anglers and profit-minded farmers: the Fish Smoker. This new machine offers a powerful way to significantly increase the value of your catches, transforming ordinary fish into highly profitable smoked delicacies. Understanding how to acquire, use, and optimize the Fish Smoker is key to reeling in massive amounts of gold.
What is the Fish Smoker?
The Fish Smoker is artisan equipment that processes any fish (including legendary fish and crab pot catches) into a “Smoked Fish” version. Its primary function is to double the selling price of the fish while retaining its original quality. This means a Gold Quality fish will become a Gold Quality Smoked Fish, and an Iridium Quality fish will become an Iridium Quality Smoked Fish, both with double the base value.
- Processing Time: The Fish Smoker is incredibly fast, taking only 50 in-game minutes to smoke one fish.
- Fuel: Each smoking operation requires 1 piece of Coal.
Acquiring Your Fish Smoker
There are a few ways to get your hands on this valuable machine:
- Starting Farm: Players who choose the Riverland Farm layout at the start of a new game will receive one Fish Smoker for free.
- Purchasing the Recipe: For all other farm types, the crafting recipe can be purchased from Willy’s Fish Shop for 10,000g.
- Crafting Requirements: Once you have the recipe, you’ll need:
- 10 Hardwood
- 1 Sea Jelly
- 1 River Jelly
- 1 Cave Jelly
Note: The three types of jellies (Sea, River, and Cave) are new items introduced in 1.6 and can be caught while fishing in their respective locations or obtained from certain Fish Ponds.
Maximizing Your Profits with the Fish Smoker
The true power of the Fish Smoker comes from its interaction with fishing professions and the Artisan profession. Smoked Fish are considered Artisan Goods, meaning they benefit from the Artisan Profession (Farming Level 10, Tiller path), which increases their sell price by an additional 40%.
Here’s how the profit multipliers stack up:
- Base Fish Value:
X - Smoked Fish (Base):
X * 2(Doubles the value) - Smoked Fish + Fisher Profession (Fishing Level 5):
X * 1.25 * 2 = X * 2.5 - Smoked Fish + Angler Profession (Fishing Level 10, Fisher path):
X * 1.5 * 2 = X * 3 - Smoked Fish + Artisan Profession (Farming Level 10, Tiller path):
(X * 2) * 1.4 = X * 2.8 - Smoked Fish + Angler + Artisan Professions (Combined):
(X * 1.5 * 2) * 1.4 = X * 4.2
It is important to prioritize the collection of valuable new items, such as Moss and Fiddlehead Ferns, which are essential for crafting and Community Center bundles.
Best Fish for Smoking
To maximize your gold, focus on smoking the highest value fish you can consistently catch:
- Lava Eel: With a base value of 900g, an Iridium Quality Lava Eel (1800g) smoked with Angler and Artisan professions can sell for a staggering 7,560g (1800 * 4.2).
- Legendary Fish (e.g., The Legend, Legend II): While most legendary fish are one-time catches, “Legend II” (available during the “Extended Family” quest) is repeatable. An Iridium Quality Legend II (10,000g base) smoked with Angler and Artisan professions can sell for an incredible 42,000g (10000 * 4.2)! This makes dedicated fishing trips for Legend II a top-tier money-making strategy.
- Sturgeon: A valuable fish that produces Roe for Caviar, but also excellent for smoking if you have an excess.
- Any High-Quality Catch: Even common fish caught at Gold or Iridium quality can become quite profitable when smoked, especially with the combined profession bonuses.
Strategic Considerations
- Coal Management: The main bottleneck for the Fish Smoker is Coal. Ensure you have a consistent supply through mining, Charcoal Kilns, or purchasing from Clint.
- Early Game vs. Late Game: While the recipe costs 10,000g, the Fish Smoker can be a great early-to-mid-game investment, especially if you prioritize fishing. In the late game, with maxed professions and access to high-value fish, it becomes an unparalleled money printer.
- Fish Ponds: Set up Fish Ponds for species that produce the jellies needed for crafting more Fish Smokers (e.g., Midnight Carp for River Jelly, Flounder for Sea Jelly, Lava Eel for Cave Jelly).
- Quality Retention: Unlike Preserve Jars or Kegs, the Fish Smoker retains the quality of the input fish. Always smoke your highest quality fish for maximum profit.
- Health and Energy: Smoked fish also provide increased energy and health restoration (1.5x the base fish’s energy/health), making them excellent consumables for long dungeon delves or busy farm days.
This article is a deep dive into the new Deluxe Bait introduced in Stardew Valley’s 1.6 update. It will explain how to craft it (using Moss and regular bait), its powerful benefits like a faster bite rate and an enlarged fishing bar, and how it can be used to significantly improve your fishing success…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I smoke any fish?
Yes, the Fish Smoker accepts any fish, including legendary fish and those caught with crab pots.
Does the Fish Smoker work on crab pot items that aren’t fish (e.g., periwinkle)?
No, it only works on items classified as “fish” in the game.
What’s the best profession combination for Fish Smoker profits?
The Angler profession (Fishing Level 10) combined with the Artisan profession (Farming Level 10) yields the highest profits from smoked fish.
Is the Fish Smoker better than Kegs or Preserve Jars for fish?
Yes, for fish, the Fish Smoker is generally superior in terms of profit multiplier and speed. Kegs and Preserve Jars are for crops.
Where can I get Sea, River, and Cave Jellies?
These jellies can be caught while fishing in their respective bodies of water (oceans, rivers, mines, or cave lakes) or obtained from certain fishponds once they reach a large enough population.
Conclusions
The Fish Smoker is a powerful and welcome addition to Stardew Valley 1.6, offering an incredible opportunity for players to turn their fishing endeavors into a gold mine. Its rapid processing time, quality retention, and synergistic profit multipliers make it an essential piece of artisan equipment for any farmer aiming for maximum efficiency and wealth. So grab your rod, stock up on coal, and start smoking your way to riches!
Disclaimer: Game mechanics, item acquisition methods, and profit calculations are based on Stardew Valley version 1.6. Future game patches may change this information, which was accurate as of the last major update. In-game luck and other factors influence drop rates, specific locations, and perk effects, which may vary.
For the most up-to-date information, always verify current game data.
