Sardine

The Sardine is a fish that can be caught in the ocean at The Beach or on the Beach Farm during Spring, Fall, and Winter. It can also be found randomly in Garbage Cans during those seasons, or bought from the Traveling Cart for 100–1,000g. Using Magic Bait, Sardines can be caught regardless of time of day or season.

Sardines have a few useful side roles beyond fishing. They can be placed in a Fish Pond, where they reproduce every 2 days. A Sardine pond starts with room for 3 fish and can be expanded to 10 by completing three quests. The pond only produces blue Sardine Roe, and higher populations greatly improve the chance of daily production. The pond quests ask for items such as Driftwood, Frozen Geodes, Seaweed, Clams, Coral, Aquamarine, Mussels, and Sea Urchins as the population increases.

They are also used in quests. One Sardine may be requested on the Help Wanted board in Spring, Fall, or Winter for an item delivery quest. Demetrius or Willy may ask for 1–5 Sardines for a fishing quest, and you keep the fish you turn in. Demetrius can also request 10 Sardines for the Aquatic Overpopulation special order in Spring, which rewards gold equivalent to selling the fish and the Farm Computer recipe. Two Sardines are also needed for Fish Pond quests for Midnight Squid and Squid when increasing pond capacity.

In crafting and tailoring, a Sardine can be used on the Sewing Machine to create the Sailor Shirt. It is also a blue dye item in dye pots at Emily and Haley's house.

• Caught in: The Beach, Beach Farm
• Seasons: Spring, Fall, Winter
• Catch behavior: available all day and all night with Magic Bait
• Fish Pond output: blue Sardine Roe only
• Sewing Machine result: Sailor Shirt
• Dye use: blue dye

Because Sardines are common and have several practical uses, it is often worth saving a few instead of selling every catch. They are especially handy if you want to progress a Fish Pond, complete fish-related quests, or supply tailoring materials without relying on rarer fish.