Want to do some fishing? Here is our Animal Crossing New Horizons fishing guide that will help you to learn about every fish in the game.

To become a fishing master, you must catch one of each type of fish. Because there are so many various sites to catch fish, each of which spawns in a different area and at a different time, this might be difficult. Some may only be observed swimming in rivers on cliffs, while others can only be spotted swimming in rivers where rivers meet the ocean. 

The majority of fish are accessible throughout the day or during a certain time period, which varies from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m., 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Because you can’t see the fish before catching them as you can with bugs, you’ll have to guess which one it is by the size of the fish’s shadow. Read our Animal Crossing New Horizons Fishing guide to learn more.

Using proper technique for fishing
Fishing (YouTube)
Read What is Nookazon in Animal Crossing New Horizons?

Animal Crossing New Horizons Fishing guide

Players will be able to unlock these fish in the new phone app after capturing them. Every insect and fish you’ve seen and captured will be featured in this huge library, along with a thorough description of their active hours, most popular places, and the seasons/months in which they’ll occur.

Once your island’s Museum is operational, you’ll be able to contribute your catches. While there are no incentives for doing so, your Museum will start to look very nice once it starts to fill up with fresh discoveries. Fish may also be sold for Bells if collecting isn’t your thing and you need some additional cash. While certain fish will be worth more than others, these Bells may be used to buy furnishings and other essential stuff like tools.

How to catch a fish

A very big fish
Fishing (YouTube)

Fishing in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is similar to other games in the series, in that you must first equip a Fishing Rod. To get the fishing rod, the player may either DIY create one or just purchase one from the shop in Resident Services.

Make your way to the water and check for little black shadows of fish swimming in the area once you’ve set up your new fishing gear. Cast your rod into the shadow once you’ve spotted the fish and wait for it to hook on!

Read Animal Crossing New Horizons Terraforming Guide

Animal Crossing New Horizons Fishing Guide

NameShadow sizeLocationTimeMonth & HemisphereValue
BitterlingSmallestRiverAll-dayNovember-March (Northern) / May-September (Southern)900
Pale ChubSmallestRiver9 a.m. – 4 p.m.Year-round (Northern and Southern)160
Crucian CarpSmallRiverAll-dayYear-round (Northern and Southern)160
DaceMediumRiver4 p.m. – 9 a.m.Year-round (Northern and Southern)240
CarpLargePondAll-dayYear-round (Northern and Southern)300
KoiLargePond4 p.m. – 9 a.m.Year-round (Northern and Southern)4,000

Goldfish
SmallestPondAll-dayYear-round (Northern and Southern)1,300

Pop-eyed Goldfish
SmallestPond9 a.m. – 4 p.m.Year-round (Northern and Southern)1,300
Ranchu GoldfishSmallPond9 a.m. – 4 p.m.Year-round (Northern and Southern)4,500
KillifishSmallestPondAll-dayApril-August (Northern) / October-February (Southern)300
CrawfishSmallPondAll-dayApril-September (Northern) / October-March (Southern)200
Soft-shelled TurtleLargeRiver4 p.m. – 9 a.m.August-September (Northern) / February-March (Southern)3,750
Snapping TurtleX LargeRiver9 p.m. – 4 a.m.April-October (Northern) / October-April (Southern)5,000
TadpoleSmallest
PondAll-dayMarch-July (Northern) / September-January (Southern)100
FrogSmallPondAll-dayMay-August (Northern) / November-Feburary (Southern)120
Freshwater GobySmallRiver4 p.m. – 9 a.m.Year-round (Northern and Southern)400
LoachSmallRiverAll-dayMarch-May (Northern) / September-November (Southern)400
CatfishLargePond4 p.m. – 9 a.m.May-October (Northern) / November-April (Southern)800
Giant SnakeheadX LargePond9 a.m. – 4 p.m.June-August (Northern) / December-February (Southern)5,500
BluegillSmallRiver9 a.m. – 4 p.mYear-round (Northern and Southern)180
Yellow PerchMediumRiverAll-dayOctober-March (Northern) / April-September (Southern)180
Black BassLargeRiverAll-dayYear-round (Northern and Southern)400
TilapiaMediumRiverAll-dayJune-October (Northern) / December-April (Southern)800
PikeX LargeRiverAll-daySeptember-December (Northern) / March-June (Southern)1,800
Pond SmeltSmallRiverAll-dayDecember-February (Northern) / June-August (Southern)500
SweetfishMediumRiverAll-dayJuly-September (Northern) / January-March (Southern)900
Cherry SalmonMediumRiver (mouth)4 p.m. – 9 a.m.March-June, September-November (Northern) / March-May, September-December (Southern)1,000
CharMediumRiver (mouth)4 p.m. – 9 a.m.March-June, September-November (Northern) / March-May, September-December (Southern)3,800
Golden TroutMediumRiver (mouth)4 p.m. – 9 a.m.March-May, September-November (Northern) / March-May, September-November (Southern)15,000
StringfishX LargeRiver (mouth)4 p.m. – 9 a.m.December-March (Northern) / June-September (Southern)15,000
SalmonLargeRiver (mouth)All-daySeptember (Northern) / March (Southern)700
King SalmonLargestRiver (mouth)All-daySeptember (Northern) / March (Southern)1,800
Mitten CrabSmallRiver4 p.m. – 9 a.m.September-November (Northern) / March-May (Southern)2,000
GuppySmallestRiver9 a.m. – 4 p.m.April-November (Northern) / October-May (Southern)1,300
Nibble FishSmallestRiver9 a.m. – 4 p.m.May-September (Northern) / November-March (Southern)1,500
AngelfishSmallRiver4 p.m. – 9 a.m.May-October (Northern) / November-April (Southern)3,000
BettaSmallRiver9 a.m. – 4 p.m.May-October (Northern) / November-April (Southern)2,500
Neon TetraSmallestRiver9 a.m. – 4 p.m.April-November (Northern) / October-May (Southern)500
RainbowfishSmallestRiver9 a.m. – 4 p.m.May-October (Northern) / November-April (Southern)800
PiranhaSmallRiver9 a.m. – 4 p.m.June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern)2,500
ArowanaLarge
River4 p.m. – 9 a.m.June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern)10,000
DoradoX Large
River4 a.m. – 9 p.m.June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern)15,000
GarLargestPond4 p.m. – 9 a.m.June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern)6,000
ArapaimaLargestRiver4 p.m. – 9 a.m.June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern)10,000
Saddled BichirLargeRiver9 p.m. – 4 a.m.June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern)4,000
SturgeonLargestRiver (mouth)All-daySeptember-March (Northern) / March-September (Southern)10,000
Sea ButterflySmallestSeaAll-dayDecember-March (Northern) / June-September (Southern)1,000
Sea HorseSmallestSeaAll-dayApril-November (Northern) / October-May (Southern)1,100
Clown FishSmallestSeaAll-dayApril-November (Northern) / October-May (Southern)650
SurgeonfishSmallSeaAll-dayApril-November (Northern) / October-May (Southern)1,000
Butterfly FishSmallSeaAll-dayApril-November (Northern) / October-May (Southern)1,000
NapoleonfishLargestSea4 a.m. – 9 p.m.July-August (Northern) / January-February (Southern)10,000
Zebra TurkeyfishMediumSeaAll-dayApril-November (Northern) / October-May (Southern)500
BlowfishMediumSea9 p.m. – 4 a.m.November-February (Northern) / May-August (Southern)5,000
Puffer FishMediumSeaAll-dayJuly-September (Northern) / January-March (Southern)250
AnchovySmallSea4 a.m. – 9 p.m.Year-round (Northern and Southern)200
Horse MackerelSmallSeaAll-dayYear-round (Northern and Southern)150
Barred KnifejawMediumSeaAll-dayMarch-November (Northern) / September-May (Southern)5,000
Sea BassX LargeSeaAll-dayYear-round (Northern and Southern)400
Red SnapperLargeSeaAll-dayYear-round (Northern and Southern)3,000
DabMediumSeaAll-dayOctober-April (Northern) / April-October (Southern)300
Olive FlounderLargeSeaAll-dayYear-round (Northern and Southern)800
SquidMediumSeaAll-dayDecember-August (Northern) / June-February (Southern)500
Moray EelNarrowSeaAll-dayAugust-October (Northern) / February-April (Southern)2,000
Ribbon EelNarrowSeaAll-dayJune-October (Northern) / December-April (Southern)600
TunaLargestPierAll-dayNovember-April (Northern) / May-October (Southern)7,000
Blue MarlinLargestPierAll-dayJuly-September, November-April (Northern) / January-March, May-November (Southern)10,000
Giant TrevallyX LargePierAll-dayMay-October (Northern) / November-April (Southern)4,500
Mahi-mahiX LargePierAll-dayMay-October (Northern) / November-April (Southern)6,000
Ocean SunfishLargest (Fin)Sea4 a.m. – 9 p.m.July-September (Northern) / January-March (Southern)4,000
RayX LargeSea4 a.m. – 9 p.m.August-November (Northern) / February-May (Southern)3,000
Saw SharkLargest (Fin)Sea4 p.m. – 9 a.m.June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern)12,000
Hammerhead SharkLargest (Fin)Sea4 p.m. – 9 a.m.June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern)8,000
Great White SharkLargest (Fin)Sea4 p.m. – 9 a.m.June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern)15,000
Whale SharkLargest (Fin)SeaAll-dayJune-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern)13,000
SuckerfishLargest (Fin)SeaAll-dayJune-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern)1,500
Football FishLargeSea4 p.m. – 9 a.m.November-March (Northern) / May-September (Southern)2,500
OarfishLargestSeaAll-dayDecember-May (Northern) / June-November (Southern)9,000
BarreleyeSmallSea9 p.m. – 4 a.m.Year-round (Northern and Southern)15,000
CoelacanthLargestSea (rainy days)All-dayYear-round (Northern and Southern)15,000

Some Extra Tips for fishing

Animal Crossing New Horizons Fishing scene
Catching a fish (YouTube)
  • Fish appear like shadows beneath the water’s surface. The size corresponds to the sort of fish, but just like in real life, you won’t know what you’ve snagged until you bring it out of the water.
  • To prevent frightening away your fish, approach the riverbank or coast slowly. Cast your line such that the bait lands inside the visual range of the fish.
  • Once you’ve got the fish’s attention, it’ll start looking at the bait. It will sometimes consume it right away, and other times it may probe and poke at it numerous times before consuming it.
  • Wait until you hear a ‘plop’ and watch the lure vanish beneath the surface of the water. You just have a short time to hit ‘A’ and capture the fish immediately. Both the visual and audible clues will assist you, so make sure the volume is cranked up if you’re having problems.
  • Before you hoist your capture out of the water, the fish will begin swimming fast in a circle if you do this in time. You may unwind once this starts. It won’t make a difference if you pound ‘A’; you’ve already won. The fish will swim away if you click the button too late.

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Published by Omer Khan

Omer has a proven track record in the online media industry as a Content Writer. He holds a bachelor's degree in international journalism and mass communication and enjoys sports and video games.