The Anniversary update of Skyrim added the Fishing system to the game. Well, it just introduced a small mini-game where players could catch fish using a fishing rod.
However, along with this update, they also added a bunch of new fish species. The goldfish, in particular, is a rare kind that can be found only in lakes and ponds.
Although they can spawn in any climate, they are more prominent during daylight and when the weather is clear.
There are over nine different locations where the goldfish can spawn. But instead of going through all the places, I’ve listed only those locations that spawn the most gold fishes.
Stony Creek Cave
So the first location where you’ll find goldfish is the pond outside the Stony Creek Cave. The cave is in the eastern part of Skyrim, north of the Ansilvund Ruin. Here, you can find six gold fishes in groups of three.
The pond is relatively small, so you can easily collect all the fish by swimming in the water.
Clearpine Pond
On the opposite end of the map is the Clearpine Pond, located in the far-western part of Skyrim. More specifically, the Clearpine Pond is located east of Pinemoon Cave and north of the Dragon Bridge.
You can get to this location by going past the Dragon Bridge and ten sticking to the path to your left.
Here, you can find six goldfish in total in groups of 3. In addition, we’ve marked two places where the goldfishes are likely to spawn.
- Location 1
- Location 2
Mara’s Eye Pond
Like Stony Creek Cave, Mara’s Eye Pond is located on the east side of Skyrim. It’s located east of Gallows Rock and north of Mixwater Mill. Follow the steps mentioned below to get to this location.
- Fast travel to Gallows Rock.
- Turn to your right and head straight downhill.
Like the other Ponds, you’ll also find six goldfishes here.
Pond near Gallows Rock
Like Mara’s Eye Pond, there’s a second pond located near Gallows Rock. It is located south of Gallows Rock. To reach this pond, fast-travel to Gallows Rock and head east.
Eventually, you’ll come across the pond. Here, you’ll find six goldfish along with a shrine of Talos.
Catching the Goldfish
There are many different ways to catch fish in the game. You can go the traditional route and catch the goldfish using a fishing rod. I’ve even written a whole guide on it.
A much simpler way to catch Goldfish is to catch them with your hands. Then, just head into the water and press the Interact button to catch the fish.
Or, if you want to challenge yourself, you can take the barbaric route and use your weapons like the bow or the “Unrelenting Force” Dragon Shout on the fishes to force them to float on water.
Here’s a video guide of the locations.
Usefulness of Goldfish
The main purpose of Goldfish or any other fish is to be used as an alchemy ingredient for making different kinds of potions. The Goldfish, in particular, has four different effects when used as an alchemy ingredient. They are as follows:
- Restore Stamina
- Water Breathing
- Resist Frost
- Fortify Heavy Armor
