Animal Crossing: Complete Fish Guide and Checklist

By | January 3, 2021

Last Edited:

Welcome to IGN’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons Fish guide, which features a complete list of all 80 Fish that are available to catch and collect throughout the game, along with their locations, the best time-frames in which you’re most likely to catch them, their sell price, and the seasons in which they will appear.

Looking for something specific? Click the links below to learn more about Fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

What are Fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Scattered around your island, you will often find unique fish that can be caught and collected.

Upon catching these fish, players will unlock them in the new phone app, Critterpedia. This extensive library will showcase every bug and fish that you have encountered and caught, along with a detailed breakdown of their active hours, most common locations, and the seasons / months in which they will appear.

Once the Museum is open on your island, you will also have the ability to donate your catches. While you won’t receive any rewards for doing so, your Museum will begin to look pretty neat once it begins to fill up with new finds.

Alternatively, if collecting isn’t your thing and you’re after some extra cash, fish can be sold for Bells. While some fish will be worth more than others, players can use these Bells to purchase furniture and other useful items such as tools.

How to Catch Fish

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See the video above for how to catch the most rare and valuable fish worth tons of Bells.

Catching fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is very much the same as previous games in the series, as you will firstly need to equip a Fishing Rod.

In order to obtain the fishing rod, the player can either craft one through DIY crafting or simply purchasing one from the shop in Resident Services.

Once you have your new fishing gear equipped, make your way towards the water and look for the small dark shadows of fish swimming in the nearby area. With the fish located, cast your rod towards the shadow and wait for the fish to hook on!

Fishing Tips and Tricks:

  • Cast your line so that it lands in front of the fish (otherwise it will not see it).
  • Mind the current! If your line is a bit far away, the current could carry it closer (or further) from the fish.
  • Fish will only nibble a max of 5 times before swimming away.
  • Listen: when a fish is just nibbling you’ll hear a light splash. When the fish has latched on you’ll hear a louder, dunking sound. Reel it in by pressing and holding “A.”
  • Look for the bobber to go underwater! Reel it in by pressing and holding “A.”
  • If you have trouble fishing we recommend buying the Colorful Rod from Nook’s Cranny because the bobber is a bit bigger and neon green, making it easier to see. Plus the bobber is actually a rubber ducky.

Fish Available By Month

The types of fish that you can catch in Animal Crossing: New Horizons will largely depend on the particular month, season, and time of day that you are currently experiencing in game. For this reason, we have broken down all of the fish that you can find during each month. Simply click on the links below to learn more!

Looking to catch a specific fish? We have you covered in our complete fish list below that details everything from their locations, active times, prices, and the season / months in which they will appear.

Note that you can hit the check marks below to save your progress in catching ’em all on your phone browser!

Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
900 Tiny Shadow River All Day Northern Hemisphere: November, December, January, February, March
Southern Hemisphere: May, June, July, August, September
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
160 Tiny Shadow River 9am – 4pm Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
160 Small Shadow River All Day Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
240 Medium Shadow River 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
300 Large Shadow Pond All Day Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
4,000 Large Shadow Pond 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
1,300 Tiny Shadow Pond All Day Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
1,300 Tiny Shadow Pond 9am – 4pm Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
4,500 Small Shadow Pond 9am – 4pm Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
300 Tiny Shadow Pond All Day Northern Hemisphere: April, May, June, July, August
Southern Hemisphere: October, November, December, January, February
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
200 Small Shadow Pond All Day Northern Hemisphere: April, May, June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere:October, November, December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
3,750 Large Shadow River 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: August, September
Southern Hemisphere: February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
5,000 Large Shadow River 9pm – 4am Northern Hemisphere: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Southern Hemisphere: October, November, December, January, February, March, April
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
100 Tiny Shadow Pond All Day Northern Hemisphere: March, April, May, June, July
Southern Hemisphere: September, October, November, December, January
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
120 Small Shadow Pond All Day Northern Hemisphere: May, June, July, August
Southern Hemisphere: November, December, January, February
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
400 Small Shadow River 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
400 Small Shadow River All Day Northern Hemisphere: March, April, May
Southern Hemisphere:September, October, November
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
800 Large Shadow Pond 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: May, June, July, August, September, October
Southern Hemisphere:November, December, January, February, March, April
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
5,500 Extra Large Shadow Pond 9am – 4pm Northern Hemisphere: June, July, August
Southern Hemisphere: December, January, February
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
180 Small Shadow River 9am – 4pm Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
300 Medium Shadow River All Day Northern Hemisphere: October, November, December, January, February, March
Southern Hemisphere: April, May, June, July, August, September
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
400 Large Shadow River All Day Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
800 Medium Shadow River All Day Northern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September, October
Southern Hemisphere: December, January, February, March, April
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
1,800 Extra Large Shadow River All Day Northern Hemisphere:September, October, November, December
Southern Hemisphere: March, April, May, June
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
500 Small Shadow River All Day Northern Hemisphere:December, January, February
Southern Hemisphere: June, July, August
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
900 Medium Shadow River All Day Northern Hemisphere:July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
1,000 Medium Shadow River (Clifftop) 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere:March, April, May, June, September, October, November
Southern Hemisphere:March, April, May, September, October, November, December
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
3,800 Medium Shadow River (Clifftop) 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: March, April, May, June, September, October, November
Southern Hemisphere: September, October, November, December & March, April, May
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
15,000 Medium Size River (Clifftop) 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: March, April, May & September, October, November
Southern Hemisphere: September, October, November & March, April, May
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
15,000 Extra Large Shadow River (Clifftop) 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: December, January, February, March
Southern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
700 Large Shadow River (Mouth) All Day Northern Hemisphere:September
Southern Hemisphere:March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
1,800 Largest Shadow River (Mouth) All Day Northern Hemisphere:September
Southern Hemisphere: March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
2,000 Small Shadow River 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: September, October, November
Southern Hemisphere:March, April, May
Fish Icon Price Shadow SIze Location Time Season / Months
1,300 Tiny Shadow River 9am – 4pm Northern Hemisphere: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Southern Hemisphere: October, November, January, February, March, April, May
Fish Icon Price Shadow SIze Location Time Season / Months
1,500 Tiny Shadow River 9am – 4pm Northern Hemisphere: May, June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: November, December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
3,000 Small Shadow River 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: May, June, July, August, September, October
Southern Hemisphere: November, December, January, February, March, April
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
2,500 Small Shadow River 9am – 4pm Northern Hemisphere: May, June, July, August, September, October
Southern Hemisphere: November, December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
500 Tiny Shadow River 9am – 4pm Northern Hemisphere: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Southern Hemisphere: October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
800 Tiny Shadow River 9am – 4pm Northern Hemisphere: May, June, July, August, September, October
Southern Hemisphere:November, December, January, February, March, April
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
2,500 Small Shadow River 9am – 4pm & 9pm – 4am Northern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow SIze Location Time Season / Months
10,000 Large Shadow River 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere:December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
15,000 Extra Large Shadow River 4am – 9pm Northern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere:December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
6,000 Largest Shadow Pond 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere:December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
10,000 Largest Shadow River 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: December, January, February, March, April
Fish Icon Price Shadow SIze Location Time Season / Months
4,000 Large Shadow River 9pm – 4am Northern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
10,000 Largest Shadow River (Mouth) All Day Northern Hemisphere: September, October, November, December, January, February, March
Southern Hemisphere: March, April, May, June, July, August, September
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
1,000 Tiny Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere:December, January, February, March
Southern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
1,100 Tiny Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere:April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Southern Hemisphere:October, November, January, February, March, April, May
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
650 Tiny Shadow Oeacean All Day Northern Hemisphere:April, May, June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere:October, November, December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
1,000 Small Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: April, May, June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: October, November, December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
Butterfly Fish 1,000 Small Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: April, May, June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: October, November, December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
10,000 Largest Size Sea 4am – 9pm Northern Hemisphere: July, August
Southern Hemisphere: January, February
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
500 Medium Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Southern Hemisphere: October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
5,000 Medium Shadow Sea 9pm – 4am Northern Hemisphere: November, December, January, February
Southern Hemisphere: May, June, July, August
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
250 Medium Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
200 Small Shadow Sea 4am – 9pm Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
150 Small Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
5,000 Medium Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Southern Hemisphere:September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
400 Extra Large Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
3,000 Large Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
300 Medium Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: October, November, December, January, February, March, April
Southern Hemisphere: August, September, October
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
800 Extra Large Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
500 Medium Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: December, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August,
Southern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September, October, November, December, January, February
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
2,000 Medium (Narrow) Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere:August, September, October
Southern Hemisphere:February, March, April
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
600 Medium (Narrow) Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere:June, July, August, September, October
Southern Hemisphere: December, January, February, March, April
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
7,000 Largest Shadow Pier All Day Northern Hemisphere: November, December, January, February, March, April
Southern Hemisphere: May, June, July, August, September, October
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
10,000 Largest Shadow Pier All Day Northern Hemisphere: November, December, January, February, March, April & July, August, September,
Southern Hemisphere: January, February, March & May, June, July, August, September, October
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
4,500 Extra Large Shadow Pier All Day Northern Hemisphere: May, June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: November, December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
6,000 Extra Large Shadow Pier All Day Northern Hemisphere: May, June, July, August, September, October
Southern Hemisphere:November, December, January, February, March, April
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
4,000 Largest (Finned) Shadow Sea 4am – 9pm Northern Hemisphere: July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
3,000 Extra Large Shadow Sea 4am – 9pm Northern Hemisphere: August, September, October, November
Southern Hemisphere: February, March, April, May
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
12,000 Largest (Finned) Shadow Sea 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
8,000 Largest (Finned) Shadow Sea 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere:December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
15,000 Largest (Finned) Shadow Sea 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: December, January, February, March

Whale Shark

Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
13,000 Largest (Finned) Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
1,500 Large (Finned) Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: June, July, August, September
Southern Hemisphere: December, January, February, March
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
2,500 Large Shadow Sea 4pm – 9am Northern Hemisphere: November, December, January, February, March
Southern Hemisphere: May, June, July, August, September
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
9,000 Largest Shadow Sea All Day Northern Hemisphere: December, January, February, March, April, May
Southern Hemisphere:June, July, August, September, October, November
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
15,000 Small Shadow Sea 9pm – 4am Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months
Fish Icon Price Shadow Size Location Time Season / Months
15,000 Largest Shadow Sea (Rainy Days) All Day Northern Hemisphere: All Months
Southern Hemisphere: All Months

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