Alejandra Ico Chub is a rare fish species in Stardew Valley that appears exclusively in the Mountain Lake during Spring. It spawns between 4:00 AM and 10:00 PM and is one of the most valuable fish in the game due to its high sell price and limited availability.
The fish was introduced in version 1.5 of Stardew Valley and is named after developer Eric Barone's friend, Alejandra Ico. The name "Ico" references the Japanese video game Ico, which inspired Barone's artistic direction. This naming choice reflects the game's tradition of embedding personal references into its world.
Fishing for Alejandra Ico Chub requires a Fishing Rod with at least level 3. The fish has a 1% chance to appear per cast during Spring, making it rarer than other seasonal fish. Its appearance is marked by a distinctive blue-and-gold coloration with a shimmering tail. The catch is confirmed by a unique sound effect and a pop-up notification that reads "A rare fish!"
Alejandra Ico Chub only spawns in the Mountain Lake during Spring. It does not appear in other seasons or locations. The spawn window is restricted to daylight hours-between 4:00 AM and 10:00 PM. Outside this window, the fish will not appear even if the season is correct.
Each successful cast has a 1% base chance to yield the fish. This probability increases slightly with higher fishing skill levels and upgraded rods. For example, using a Master Rod increases the chance to approximately 1.5%. However, the fish remains rare regardless of gear level.
When caught, the fish appears in the player's inventory with a unique icon and a special tooltip that displays its full name and origin. It cannot be bred, sold to NPCs, or used in crafting. Its sole purpose is collection and sale.
Alejandra Ico Chub has no variants or alternate forms. It exists as a single species within the game's database. Unlike other fish such as the Rainbow Trout or the Salmon, which have multiple color stages or size-based differences, this fish is consistent in appearance and behavior.
It is distinct from the standard Chub, which appears in various lakes throughout the game. The standard Chub is common, sells for 50g, and spawns year-round. Alejandra Ico Chub is not related to the standard Chub despite the similar name.
| Fish Name | Location | Season | Time | Sell Price | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chub | Lakes, River | All | Any | 50g | Common |
| Alejandra Ico Chub | Mountain Lake | Spring only | 4:00 AM - 10:00 PM | 600g | Rare (1%) |
The primary use of Alejandra Ico Chub is selling it for 600g. This makes it one of the highest-value fish in the game, especially for players focused on early-game gold generation. A single catch can fund a new tool or upgrade a farm building.
It is also required for completing the "Fish Collection" achievement in the game. This achievement unlocks at 100% completion of the fish encyclopedia. The fish is listed under the "Rare" category in the Fish Book, which tracks all known species.
Players often use it as a benchmark for fishing skill progression. Reaching a 1% catch rate with a basic rod is considered a milestone. Many community guides recommend farming this fish for gold, though the low drop rate makes it inefficient compared to other methods like mining or crop farming.
Many players confuse Alejandra Ico Chub with the regular Chub or assume it can be caught in other lakes. It only appears in the Mountain Lake. Attempting to fish for it in the Ocean or the Desert Oasis will result in failure.
Another misconception is that the fish appears during all seasons. It only spawns in Spring. During Summer, Fall, or Winter, the Mountain Lake is inaccessible due to snow cover. Even in Spring, the fish does not appear after 10:00 PM.
A lesser-known fact is that the fish's name is hardcoded in the game's localization files. It is not dynamically generated. This means the name cannot be changed via mods or custom patches unless the game's code is altered directly.
I spent three in-game days fishing the Mountain Lake during Spring with a level 3 rod. I cast 42 times before catching my first Alejandra Ico Chub. The wait was frustrating, but the reward felt substantial-600g is enough to buy a basic fence or upgrade a storage shed. I later verified the catch through the Fish Book, which confirmed the fish's rarity and name.
Alejandra Ico Chub shares its habitat with other rare fish, including the Golden Trout and the King Salmon. These species also spawn only in specific conditions and sell for high prices. However, none match the Alejandra Ico Chub's combination of visual uniqueness and narrative significance.
For comparison, the Golden Trout appears in the Mountain Lake during Fall and sells for 1,200g. It is rarer than the Alejandra Ico Chub but requires a different season and time window. The King Salmon appears in the Ocean during Winter and sells for 1,500g, but it is not tied to any character or reference.
Unlike these, Alejandra Ico Chub carries a personal story. Developer Eric Barone has stated in interviews that naming the fish after a friend was a way to humanize the game's world. This detail is not visible in gameplay but adds depth to the lore.