InStardew Valley,Crabsare aquatic creatures found in both The Mines and the Ocean. They’re described in-game as “marine crustaceans with two powerful pincers.”
These lovely crustaceans aren’t especially useful unless you’re a gourmet looking to cook up some ofStardew Valley’s specialty dishes. That said, Crabs are also required to complete the Crab Pot Bundle in the Fish Tank.
The good news for fans of “crabbing” is that there are now multiple ways to catch or reproduce them. And with the 1.6 update, maximizing Crab production is easier than ever, thanks to new tools like Targeted Bait for Crab Pots.
Updated on June 19, 2025, by Mohsen Baqery:Stardew Valley 1.6 brought some much-needed improvements to Crab Pots, adding specialized baits and making it easier to harvest Crabs without removing the Pot itself. With these updates in mind, we’ve revised this guide to cover the new mechanics and highlight a few additional ways to acquire Crabs in Pelican Town.
Every Method for Catching Crabs
You can catch Crabs in the Ocean by placing aCrab Potin the water. Alternatively, you can get them by defeating Crab-type monsters in The Mines or purchasing them from the Traveling Cart. Another method is to reproduce Crabs in a Fish Tank. InStardew Valley 1.6, Crabs can also be gifted by a pet Turtle with maximum Friendship. You can also buy up to five Crabs from Elliott’s Shop at the Desert Festival.
Catch Crabs with a Pot
Upon hitting Level 3 in yourFishing Skill, you get the Crab Pot recipe. (You can also opt to buy one from Willy for 1,500g.) Position these pots in saltwater areas, such as The Ocean, and bait them. Return the following day to check if you’ve nabbed any Crabs.
A Mariner has a 14% chance of catching a Crab with a pot. However, the spawn rate for normal players is only 8%.
Kill Rock and Lava Crabs
Rock Crabs boast a 15% drop rate for Crabs, while Lava Crabs have a higher probability at 25%. Find Rock Crabs on Floors 1–29in The Mines, and for Lava Crabs, delve into Floors 80–119.
Buy Crabs from the Traveling Cart
Make it a routine to explore the Cindersap Forest every Friday and Sunday to peruse theTraveling Cart’s inventory. Occasionally, you’ll find the opportunity to buy Crabs at a price ranging from 300g to 1,000g.
Purchase Crabs at the Desert Festival
Elliott’s shop offers up to five Crabs at his Desert Festival booth, each costing 30 Calico Eggs—for a total of 150 if you want them all. WhileCalico Eggdoesn’t have much use outside the festival, it’s still not ideal to spend it on Crabs unless you have no other way to get them or urgently need some for a specific reason.
Reproduce Crabs in a Fish Pond
Using one ofStardew Valley’s Fish Ponds, you can reproduce one Crab every three days. The default Pond can only contain up to three of these creatures. However, if you complete the missions, the capacity is increased to 10, allowing you to farm Crabs passively.
Maximize Your Friendship with a Pet Turtle
SinceStardew Valley1.6, a pet Turtle may gift you a Crab once you’ve maxed out its Friendship. Given how long it takes to reach max Friendship with pets, this is probably the least efficient way to get Crabs. Still, it’s worth mentioning for players who enjoy quirky or unconventional methods of collecting common items.
Crab Pot Baits and Their Effects
With the 1.6 update, different types of Bait now have unique effects when used in Crab Pots. Players looking to maximize theirCrabyield should take advantage of these new mechanics. Gone are the days when you were stuck with basic lures offering minimal efficiency.
Below is a table detailing how each new Bait affects Crab Pot performance:
Wild Bait
The Deluxe and Wild Bait will not affect the Crab Pot performance if the player has the Mariner profession.
How The Art O' Crabbing Power Book Works
Another feature introduced in the 1.6 update isThe Art O' Crabbing, one ofStardew Valley’s 19 Books of Power that grants a permanent bonus. Reading it for the first time gives you a lifetime 25% increased chance of getting a doubled item from the Crab Pot.
The best part is that The Art O' Crabbing stacks with the effect of Wild Bait. After reading the book, using Wild Bait in a Crab Pot will give you a 50% chance to catch two Crabs (or other sea creatures), which is an incredible advantage to have compared to the default catch rates.
What to Do With Crabs
You need one Crab tocomplete the Fish Tank Bundleatthe Community Center. Once it’s done, you’re able to use the excess Crabs to cook food, produce fertilizer, or tailor the Sailor Short. The following table shows all the recipes for this sea creature.
With over 50 active Crab Pots, you have the option to sell them for a profit. The standard price for a regular Crab is 100g, potentially yielding a minimum daily profit of 400g, considering an assumed 8% catch rate for Crabs in your pots.
