One of the reasons why Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a massive hit is because there are tons of activities to do. Whether you enjoy collecting art, digging up fossils, or decorating your house, there’s plenty of entertainment to go around!
Fishing is one of my favorite ways to pass the time in New Horizons! Not only is it fun but it’s also lucrative. Fishing can be cumbersome since a lot of thought goes into the process.
That’s why we’ve created this guide to show you the ropes! You’ll learn a plethora of valuable information, such as where to find fish and how to use them. You’ll be an Animal Crossing fishing pro in no time!
Bottom Line Up Front
- Total number of fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons: 80
- Where to locate them: Ponds, oceans, and rivers
- What to do with them: Sell, cook, gift, display, or donate them to the museum
- There’s a comprehensive chart that shows each fish’s shadow size, location, price, and availability below
Introduction to Fish
In New Horizons, fish are creatures that are collected from bodies of water on different islands, including your own. The latest game has 80 fish, but there weren’t always this many. Dobutsu no Mori, the first Animal Crossing game, only has 32 fish. That number slowly increased over time with each game by increments of 8.
When you catch a fish, it will appear in your Crittepedia. This feature is an app that displays information about all organisms you’ve snagged. The details range from the creature’s active months to their location, which is perfect if you need to catch the same fish again.
A few “fish” in New Horizons aren’t classified as fish in real life. Here’s a list of the organisms that belong to other species:
- Crawfish
- Soft-shelled turtle
- Snapping turtle
- Frog
- Mitten crab
- Sea butterfly
- Squid
Some may think seahorses aren’t classified as fish, but they are! Although we usually associate fish with scales and fins, seahorses are part of the Syngnathidae family, known for their tubular snouts and lack of fins.
Where to Get Fish
Fish spawn in three aquatic habitats: ponds, oceans, and rivers. With each habitat comes wildlife that is exclusive to that body of water. For example, koi can only be found in ponds, not rivers or oceans. Luckily, every default map comes with all three bodies of water.
If the placements of your ponds or rivers are unpleasing, use the Island Designer app to adjust or move them! I don’t recommend removing all ponds and rivers because you’d be missing out on several fish.
If you get bored fishing on your island, set sail with Kapp’n to another one! It’ll cost 1,000 Nook Miles for him to take you to a random island where you can fish to your heart’s content.
Remember that you can also visit a friend’s island via Dodo Airlines so long as you all have a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Maybe you’ll discover a rare creature in a different environment!
Knowing the locations where certain fish spawn is only part of the equation. You must also be aware of the hour, season, and daily weather conditions since some come out during specific circumstances.
For example, many fish are only available from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Furthermore, Ceolacanths spawn during rainy or snowy days, making them particularly hard to catch. More information is in the guide near the end of this article.
How to Fish
The first step to fishing is obtaining a rod. Players can get these types of rods in New Horizons:
Rod Name | Price | Buy From |
Flimsy Fishing Rod | 400 Bells
100 Nook Miles |
Resident Services Tent
Nook’s Cranny Wilbur Crafting |
Fishing Rod | 600 Bells | Crafting |
Fish Fishing Rod | 2,500 Bells | Nook’s Cranny (upgraded) |
Colorful Fishing Rod | 2,500 Bells | Nook’s Cranny (upgraded) |
Outdoorsy Fishing Rod | 2,500 Bells | Nook’s Cranny (upgraded) |
Golden Fishing Rod | Not for sale | Crafting |
I recommend crafting a flimsy fishing rod with 5 tree branches, and then crafting a fishing rod so that you can save your Bells.
Now that you have a rod, you’re ready to learn how to fish! It’ll be effortless once you’ve mastered the basics. First you need to find a shadow of a fish in any body of water. Press A to cast your line out.
Once the fish sees the lure, it’ll take the bait immediately or nibble at it first. When the fish bites the lure, the bobber sinks, and a loud splash occurs. At this point, you must smash the A button to reel the creature in or it’ll escape. Your character will celebrate the catch with a huge smile and cheesy pun!
Tips for Fishing
Although fishing itself is fairly straightforward, it’ll be easier if you follow these tips:
- You can make random fish spawn in any body of water by using fish bait. All you need are manilla clams, which are scattered across the beach. Keep your eyes peeled for dark spots that squirt out water, and start digging once you see them!
- Each fish comes in a specific size that casts a shadow in the water. The sizes of most fish are: tiny, small, medium, large, very large, and huge. The longer, more snake-like shadows indicate eels, whereas the finned shadows indicate sharks and ocean sunfish.
- Fish are easily startled. Don’t run up to them, push a snowball into a spot that’s near them, or use tools near them. There’s plenty of fish in the water, but you don’t want to miss out on a rare catch!
- Fish can nibble on the line up to four times, then they have to bite.
- Be sure to cast your line in front of the creature, or they won’t notice it.
- You have to react quickly when a fish finally bites. I react faster when I listen for the splash rather than looking at the bobber. Everyone is different, but I recommend trying this if visual cues don’t work well for you.
What to Do With Fish
Donate to the Museum
If you’ve caught a fish for the first time, I recommend donating the animal to the museum because it may take a while to capture another one. You’ll know you’ve caught a fish for the first time when your character shouts, ‘Yes!’
You have to talk to Blathers if you want to donate a fish to the aquarium. Simply press A to speak to the owl and then select ‘Make a donation.’ If you have a fish that’s never been donated to the museum before, you can select it from your pocket. Blathers will gladly take the creature and share an interesting fact about it!
Sell
You have three options for selling fish: the drop-off box, Nook’s Cranny, or C.J. I recommend waiting until C.J., the beaver, shows up on your island since he buys fish for 150% of the normal price.
Therefore, you’ll make the most money selling fish to this guy. C.J. will also provide you with a model fish if you give him three of the same critter.
If you can’t wait for C.J., you can sell your fish at Nook’s Cranny. Timmy and Tommy will buy your fish at the normal sell price, which is better than nothing.
If you’re extremely desperate for Bells and Nook’s Cranny is closed, you can sell your fish using the drop-off box located in front of the shop. The downside is you’ll only get 80% of the regular sell price since 20% of it goes to fees.
On top of that, you won’t get the money immediately. You’ll have to wait until the next day when it’s deposited into your bank account.
Cook
In the latest update of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, players can now cook! This means that you can create as many delicious fish recipes as you want! I’ve become quite the virtual chef since this update came out, so here’s an alphabetized list of all fish recipes below. Feel free to try them out!
Name of Recipe | Ingredients |
Aji Fry | 1 Horse Mackerel, 1 Flour |
Anchoas al Alillo | 2 Anchovies |
Barred-Knifejaw Carpaccio | 1 Barred-Knifejaw |
Carpaccio Di Marlin Blu | 1 Blue Marlin |
Carpaccio Di Salmone | 1 Salmon |
Fish and Chips | 1 Dab, 2 Potatoes |
Grilled Sea Bass With Herbs | 1 Sea Bass, 5 Clumps of Weeds |
Karei no Nitsuke | 1 Dab |
Olive-Flounder Meuniere | 1 Olive Flounder, 2 Flours |
Pesce All’acqua Pazza | 1 Red Snapper, 1 Tomato, 1 Manila Clam |
Poke | 1 Salmon, 1 Tomato |
Salmon Bagel Sandwich | 2 Flours, 1 Salmon |
Salmon Sandwich | 2 Whole-Wheat Flours, 1 Salmon |
Sardines in Oil | 1 Anchovy |
Sautéed Olive Flounder | 1 Olive Flounder |
Sea-Bass Pie | 3 Flours, 1 Sea Bass |
Seafood Ajillo | 1 Tiger Prawn, 1 Squid, 1 Scallop |
Seafood Salad | 1 Squid, 1 Sweet Shrimp |
Squid-Ink Curry | 3 Flours, 1 Squid |
Squid-Ink Spaghetti | 3 Flours, 1 Squid |
Gift
You can give a fish to any villager, and it’s no different from gifting a resident any other present. You just have to talk to a resident, select ‘Here’s a gift’, and pick the fish you want to give away. Your character will hand over the fish and the resident will gleefully show their appreciation.
Display
One of my favorite things to do with fish is using them as decoration in my home. You can place your fish on furniture, such as kitchen tables and side tables, to give your abode extra oomph! Some fish go best with a particular style compared to others. For example, adding a koi to a Japanese garden would definitely fit the Zen aesthetic!
All Fish Details
Some of this information is displayed in the game, but you’ll only see a fish’s details once you’ve caught it. On top of that, it only shows a fish’s monthly availability, active hours, and location.
Below is a complete chart that displays each creature’s shadow size, location, price, monthly availability, and active hours. The structure of this chart is based on the order of the in-game Critterpedia.
Creature Name | Shadow Size | Location | Price (Nook’s Cranny’s Price = NC, C.J’s Price = CJ) | Monthly Availability (Northern Hemisphere = N, Southern Hemisphere = S) | Active Hours |
Bitterling | Tiny | River | NC: 900 Bells
CJ: 1,350 Bells |
N: November – March
S: May – September |
All day |
Pale Chub | Tiny | River | NC: 160 Bells
CJ: 240 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Crucian Carp | Small | River | NC: 160 Bells
CJ: 240 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
All day |
Dace | Medium | River | NC: 240 Bells
CJ: 360 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Carp | Large | Pond | NC: 300 Bells
CJ: 450 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
All day |
Koi | Large | Pond | NC: 4,000 Bells
CJ: 6,000 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Goldfish | Tiny | Pond | NC: 1,300 Bells
CJ: 1,950 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
All day |
Pop-eyed Goldfish | Tiny | Pond | NC: 1,300 Bells
CJ: 1,950 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Ranchu Goldfish | Small | Pond | NC: 4,500 Bells
CJ: 6,750 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Killifish | Tiny | Pond | NC: 300 Bells
CJ: 450 Bells |
N: April – August
S: October – February |
All day |
Crawfish | Small | Pond | NC: 200 Bells
CJ: 300 Bells |
N: April – September
S: October – March |
All day |
Soft-shelled Turtle | Medium | River | NC: 3,750 Bells
CJ: 5,625 Bells |
N: August and September
S: February and March |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Snapping Turtle | Medium | River | NC: 5,000 Bells
CJ: 7,500 Bells |
N: April – October
S: October – April |
9 p.m. – 4 a.m. |
Tadpole | Tiny | Pond | NC: 100 Bells
CJ: 150 Bells |
N: March – July
S: September – January |
All day |
Frog | Small | Pond | NC: 120 Bells
CJ: 180 Bells |
N: May – August
S: November – February |
All day |
Freshwater Goby | Small | River | NC: 400 Bells
CJ: 600 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Loach | Small | River | NC: 400 Bells
CJ: 600 Bells |
N: March – May
S: September – November |
All day |
Catfish | Large | Pond | NC: 800 Bells
CJ: 1,200 Bells |
N: May – October
S: November – April |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Giant snakehead | Large | Pond | NC: 5,500 Bells
CJ: 8,250 Bells |
N: June – August
S: December – February |
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Bluegill | Small | River | NC: 180 Bells
CJ: 270 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Yellow Perch | Medium | River | NC: 300 Bells
CJ: 450 Bells |
N: October – March
S: April – September |
All day |
Black Bass | Large | River | NC: 400 Bells
CJ: 600 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
All day |
Tilapia | Medium | River | NC: 800 Bells
CJ: 1,200 Bells |
N: June – October
S: December – April |
All day |
Pike | Very Large | River | NC: 1,800 Bells
CJ: 2,700 Bells |
N: September – December
S: March – June |
4 a.m. – 9 p.m. |
Pond Smelt | Small | River | NC: 300 Bells
CJ: 450 Bells |
N: December – February
S: June – August |
All day |
Sweetfish | Medium | River | NC: 900 Bells
CJ: 1,350 Bells |
N: July – September
S: January – March |
All day |
Cherry Salmon | Medium | River (Clifftop) | NC: 1,000 Bells
CJ: 1,500 Bells |
N: March – June, September – November
S: March – May, September – December |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Char | Medium | River (Clifftop) | NC: 3,800 Bells
CJ: 5,700 Bells |
N: March – June, September – November
S: March – May, September – December |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m |
Golden Trout | Medium | River (Clifftop) | NC: 15,000 Bells
CJ: 22,500 Bells |
N: March – May, September – November
S: March – May, September – November |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Stringfish | Huge | River (Clifftop) | NC: 15,000 Bells
CJ: 22,500 Bells |
N: December – March
S: June – September |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Salmon | Large | River | NC: 700 Bells
CJ: 1,150 Bells |
N: September
S: March |
All day |
King Salmon | Huge | River (Mouth) | NC: 1,800 Bells
CJ: 2,700 Bells |
N: September
S: March |
All day |
Mitten Crab | Small | River | NC: 2,000 Bells
CJ: 3,000 Bells |
N: September – November
S: March – May |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Guppy | Tiny | River | NC: 1,300 Bells
CJ: 1,950 Bells |
N: April – November
S: October – April |
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Nibble Fish | Tiny | River | NC: 1,500 Bells
CJ: 2,250 Bells |
N: May – September
S: November – March |
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Angelfish | Small | River | NC: 3,000 Bells
CJ: 4,500 Bells |
N: May – October
S: November – April |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Betta | Small | River | NC: 2,500 Bells
CJ: 3,750 Bells |
N: May – October
S: November – April |
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Neon Tetra | Tiny | River | NC: 500 Bells
CJ: 750 Bells |
N: April – November
S: October – May |
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Rainbowfish | Tiny | River | NC: 800 Bells
CJ: 1,200 Bells |
N: May – October
S: November – April |
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Piranha | Small | River | NC: 2,500 Bells
CJ: 3,750 Bells |
N: June – September
S: December – March |
9 a.m. – 4 p.m., 9 p.m. – 4 a.m. |
Arowana | Medium | River | NC: 10,000 Bells
CJ: 15,000 Bells |
N: June – September
S: December – March |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Dorado | Very Large | River | NC: 15,000 Bells
CJ: 22,500 Bells |
N: June – September
S: December – March |
4 a.m. – 9 p.m. |
Gar | Huge | Pond | NC: 6,000 Bells
CJ: 9,000 Bells |
N: June – September
S: December – January |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Arapaima | Huge | River | NC: 10,000 Bells
CJ: 15,000 Bells |
N: June – September
S: December – March |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Saddled Bichir | Large | River | NC: 4,000 Bells
CJ: 6,000 Bells |
N: June – September
S: December – March |
9 p.m. – 4 a.m. |
Sturgeon | Very Large | River (Mouth) | NC: 10,000 Bells
CJ: 15,000 Bells |
N: September – March
S: March – September |
All day |
Sea Butterfly | Tiny | Ocean | NC: 1,000 Bells
CJ: 1,500 Bells |
N: December – March
S: June – September |
All day |
Seahorse | Tiny | Ocean | NC: 1,100 Bells
CJ: 1,650 Bells |
N: April – November
S: October – May |
All day |
Clownfish | Tiny | Ocean | NC: 650 Bells
CJ: 975 Bells |
N: April – September
S: October – March |
All day |
Surgeonfish | Small | Ocean | NC: 1,000 Bells
CJ: 1,500 Bells |
N: April – September
S: October – March |
All day |
Butterfly Fish | Small | Ocean | NC: 1,000 Bells
CJ: 1,500 Bells |
N: April – September
S: October – March |
All day |
Napoleonfish | Huge | Ocean | NC: 10,000 Bells
CJ: 15,000 Bells |
N: July and August
S: January and February |
4 a.m. – 9 p.m. |
Zebra Turkeyfish | Medium | Ocean | NC: 500 Bells
CJ: 750 Bells |
N: April – November
S: October – May |
All day |
Blowfish | Medium | Ocean | NC: 5,000 Bells
CJ: 7,500 Bells |
N: November – February
S: May – August |
9 p.m. – 4 a.m. |
Puffer Fish | Medium | Ocean | NC: 250 Bells
CJ: 375 Bells |
N: July – September
S: January – March |
All day |
Anchovy | Small | Ocean | NC: 200 Bells
CJ: 300 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
4 a.m. – 9 p.m. |
Horse Mackerel | Small | Ocean | NC: 150 Bells
CJ: 225 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
All day |
Barred Knifejaw | Medium | Ocean | NC: 5,000 Bells
CJ: 7,500 Bells |
N: March – November
S: September – May |
All day |
Sea Bass | Very Large | Ocean | NC: 400 Bells
CJ: 600 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
All day |
Red Snapper | Large | Ocean | NC: 3,000 Bells
CJ: 4,500 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
All day |
Dab | Medium | Ocean | NC: 300 Bells
CJ: 450 Bells |
N: October – April
S: April – October |
All day |
Olive Flounder | Large | Ocean | NC: 800 Bells
CJ: 1,200 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
All day |
Squid | Medium | Ocean | NC: 500 Bells
CJ: 750 Bells |
N: December – August
S: June – February |
All day |
Moray Eel | Thin | Ocean | NC: 2,000 Bells
CJ: 3,000 Bells |
N: August – October
S: February – April |
All day |
Ribbon Eel | Thin | Ocean | NC: 600 Bells
CJ: 900 Bells |
N: June – October
S: December – April |
All day |
Tuna | Huge | Ocean (pier) | NC: 7,000 Bells
CJ: 10,500 Bells |
N: November – April
S: May – October |
All day |
Blue Marlin | Huge | Ocean (pier) | NC: 10,000 Bells
CJ: 15,000 Bells |
N: November – April, July – September
S: January – March, May – October |
All day |
Giant Trevally | Very Large | Ocean (pier) | NC: 4,500 Bells
CJ: 6,750 Bells |
N: May – October
S: November – April |
All day |
Mahi-mahi | Very Large | Ocean (pier) | NC: 6,000 Bells
CJ: 9,000 Bells |
N: May – October
S: November – April |
All day |
Ocean Sunfish | Huge (with fin) | Ocean | NC: 4,000 Bells
CJ: 6,000 Bells |
N: July – September
S: January – March |
4 a.m. – 9 p.m. |
Ray | Very Large | Ocean | NC: 3,000 Bells
CJ: 4,500 Bells |
N: August – November
S: February – May |
4 a.m. – 9 p.m. |
Saw Shark | Huge (with fin) | Ocean | NC: 12,000 Bells
CJ: 18,000 Bells |
N: June – September
S: December – March |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Hammerhead Shark | Huge (with fin) | Ocean | NC: 8,000 Bells
CJ:12,000 Bells |
N: June – September
S: December – March |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Great White Shark | Huge (with fin) | Ocean | NC: 15,000 Bells
CJ: 22,500 Bells |
N: June – September
S: December – March |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Whale Shark | Huge (with fin) | Ocean | NC: 13,000 Bells
CJ: 19,500 Bells |
N: June – September
S: December – March |
All day |
Suckerfish | Huge (with fin) | Ocean | NC: 1,500 Bells
CJ: 2,250 Bells |
N: June – September
S: December – March |
All day |
Football Fish | Large | Ocean | NC: 2,500 Bells
CJ: 3,750 Bells |
N: November – March
S: May – September |
4 p.m. – 9 a.m. |
Oarfish | Huge | Ocean | NC: 9,000 Bells
CJ: 13,500 Bells |
N: December – May
S: June – November |
All day |
Barreleye | Small | Ocean | NC: 15,000 Bells
CJ: 22,500 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
9 p.m. – 4 a.m. |
Coelacanth | Huge | Ocean (raining) | NC: 15,000 Bells
CJ: 22,500 Bells |
N: Year-round
S: Year-round |
All day |
FAQs
Question: What are the Rarest Fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
Answer: The rarest fish are the Football Fish, Coelacanth, Oarfish, Golden Trout, Blue Marlin, and the shark species. They tend to scare easily compared to other creatures, so be careful!
Question: What Happens when You Catch All Fish?
Answer: You’ll receive a Golden Rod recipe in the mail when you’ve caught all fish. The recipe entails a gold nugget and a fishing rod. Keep in mind that the rod is sturdy, but it can still break!
Question: Is There a Silver Rod in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
Answer: No, there is no silver rod in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It’s only in City Folk and New Leaf.
Conclusion
As you can see, acquiring fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons isn’t always simple. When you take seasonality, active hours, weather, and location into account, catching every one of them can take months.
It’ll be difficult, but picture the look on Blathers’ face when you finally finish the aquatic section in the museum. He’ll be ecstatic!
Continue reading:
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