Catching all of the Animal Crossing New Horizons fish is a task that will take you a considerable amount of time, in fact due to variations in the seasons it'll take the best part of a year all told. However, you'll need to power through this if you want to complete the collection for Blathers' museum, along with the separate Animal Crossing: New Horizons sea creatures which we've covered in another guide. It's the fish we're focused on here, so we've got a comprehensive listing of the times and locations where they can be found so you can catch them all in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
As we mentioned, what fish you can catch varies across the time of day, year and locations. When we first started this guide we worked across two Animal Crossing islands to discover all the fish available across the north and south hemispheres to speed up the year's discoveries. While that helped work all this out, you'll still need to keep fishing for most of a whole year if you want to find everything you can. So good luck and happy reels, here's how to catch every Animal Crossing New Horizons fish is the following locales:
- River
- River (Mouth)
- River (Clifftop)
- Pond
- Pier
- Sea
How to fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
If you're new to the series and are wondering how to fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, what you need to do is get a fishing rod, and then aim to drop your hook ahead of where the fish is facing. Next, wait until the fish spots it – they will nose the hook, but hold off until it pulls the float under the water with a satisfying plop. Then press A immediately to reel it in.
Below you'll find the Northern Hemisphere fish, but you can skip straight to the Southern Hemisphere using this quick link:
Animal Crossing New Horizons Fish in the Southern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere Fish
Animal Crossing New Horizons Fish in the Northern Hemisphere
Header Cell - Column 0 | Name | Seasonality (North Hem) | Availability | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bitterling | Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec | All hours | River |
2 | Pale Chub | All months | 9AM - 4PM | River |
3 | Crucian Carp | All months | All hours | River |
4 | Dace | All months | 4PM - 9AM | River |
5 | Carp | All months | All hours | Pond |
6 | Koi | All months | 4PM - 9AM | Pond |
7 | Goldfish | All months | All hours | Pond |
8 | Pop-eyed Goldfish | All months | All hours | Pond |
9 | Ranchu Goldfish | All months | 9AM - 4PM | Pond |
10 | Killifish | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug | All hours | Pond |
11 | Crawfish | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | All hours | River |
12 | Soft-shelled Turtle | Aug, Sept | 4PM - 9AM | River |
13 | Snapping Turtle | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct | 9PM - 4AM | River |
14 | Tadpole | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, July | All hours | Pond |
15 | Frog | May, Jun, Jul, Aug | All hours | Pond |
16 | Freshwater Goby | All months | 4PM - 9AM | River |
17 | Loach | Mar, Apr, May | All hours | River |
18 | Catfish | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct | 4PM - 9AM | Pond |
19 | Giant Snakehead | Jun, Jul, Aug | 9AM - 4PM | Pond |
20 | Bluegill | All months | 9AM - 4PM | River |
21 | Yellow Perch | Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | River |
22 | Black Bass | All months | All hours | River |
23 | Tilapia | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct | All hours | River |
24 | Pike | Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | River |
25 | Pond Smelt | Jan, Feb, Dec | All hours | River |
26 | Sweetfish | Jul, Aug, Sept | All hours | River |
27 | Cherry Salmon | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sept, Oct, Nov | 4PM - 9AM | River (Clifftop) |
28 | Char | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sept, Oct, Nov | 4PM - 9AM | River (Clifftop) |
29 | Golden Trout | Mar, Apr, May, Sept, Oct, Nov | 4PM - 9AM | River (Clifftop) |
30 | Stringfish | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | 4PM - 9AM | River (Clifftop) |
31 | Salmon | Sept | All hours | River (mouth) |
32 | King Salmon | Sept | All hours | River (mouth) |
33 | Mitten Crab | Sept, Oct, Nov | 4PM - 9AM | River |
34 | Guppy | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov | 9AM - 4PM | River |
35 | Nibble Fish | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | 9AM - 4PM | River |
36 | Angelfish | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct | 4PM - 9AM | River |
37 | Bettta | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct | 9AM - 4PM | River |
38 | Neon Tetra | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov | 9AM - 4PM | River |
39 | Rainbowfish | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct | 9AM - 4PM | River |
40 | Piranha | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | 9AM - 4PM, 9PM - 4AM | River |
41 | Arowana | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | 4PM - 9AM | River |
42 | Dorado | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | 4AM - 9PM | River |
43 | Gar | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | 4PM - 9AM | Pond |
44 | Arapaima | Jun, July, Aug, Sept | 4PM - 9AM | River |
45 | Saddled Bichir | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | 9PM - 4AM | River |
46 | Sturgeon | Jan, Feb, Mar, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | River (Mouth) |
47 | Sea Butterfly | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | All hours | Sea |
48 | Seahorse | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov | All hours | Sea |
49 | Clown Fish | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | All hours | Sea |
50 | Surgeonfish | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | All hours | Sea |
51 | Butterfly Fish | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | All hours | Sea |
52 | Napoleonfish | Jul, Aug | 4AM - 9PM | Sea |
53 | Zebra Turkeyfish | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov | All hours | Sea |
54 | Blowfish | Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec | 9PM - 4AM | Sea |
55 | Puffer Fish | Jul, Aug, Sept | All hours | Sea |
56 | Anchovy | All months | 4AM - 9PM | Sea |
57 | Horse Mackerel | All months | All hours | Sea |
58 | Barred Knifejaw | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov | All hours | Sea |
59 | Sea Bass | All months | All hours | Sea |
60 | Red Snapper | All months | All hours | Sea |
61 | Dab | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | Sea |
62 | Olive Flounder | All months | All hours | Sea |
63 | Squid | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Dec | All hours | Sea |
64 | Moray Eel | Aug, Sept, Oct | All hours | Sea |
65 | Ribbon Eel | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct | All hours | Sea |
66 | Tuna | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec | All hours | Pier |
67 | Blue Marlin | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Jul, Aug, Sept, Nov, Dec | All hours | Pier |
68 | Giant Trevally | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | All hours | Pier |
69 | Mahi-mahi | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct | All hours | Pier |
70 | Ocean Sunfish | Jul, Aug, Sept | 4AM - 9PM | Sea |
71 | Ray | Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov | 4AM - 9PM | Sea |
72 | Saw Shark | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | 4PM - 9AM | Sea |
73 | Hammerhead Shark | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | 4PM - 9AM | Sea |
74 | Great White Shark | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | 4PM - 9AM | Sea |
75 | Whale Shark | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | 4PM - 9AM | Sea |
76 | Suckerfisk | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | All hours | Sea |
77 | Football Fish | Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec | 4PM - 9AM | Sea |
78 | Oarfish | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Dec | All hours | Sea |
79 | Barreleye | All months | 9PM - 4AM | Sea |
80 | Coelacanth | All months | All hours | Sea (Rainy Days) |
Southern Hemisphere Fish
Animal Crossing New Horizons Fish in the Southern Hemisphere
Header Cell - Column 0 | Name | Seasonality (South Hem) | Availability (April) | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bitterling | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | All hours | River |
2 | Pale Chub | All months | 8AM - 4PM | River |
3 | Crucian Carp | All months | All hours | River |
4 | Dace | All months | 4PM - 9AM | River |
5 | Carp | All months | All hours | Pond |
6 | Koi | All months | All hours | Pond |
7 | Goldfish | All months | All hours | Pond |
8 | Pop-eyed Goldfish | All months | 9AM - 4PM | Pond |
9 | Ranchu Goldfish | All months | 9AM - 4PM | Pond |
10 | Killifish | Jan, Feb, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | Pond |
11 | Crawfish | Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | River |
12 | Soft-shelled Turtle | Feb, Mar | 4PM - 9AM | River |
13 | Snapping Turtle | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct,Nov, Dec | 9PM - 4AM | River |
14 | Tadpole | Jan, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | Pond |
15 | Frog | Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec | All hours | Pond |
16 | Freshwater Goby | All months | 4PM - 9AM | River |
17 | Loach | Sept, Oct, Nov | All hours | River |
18 | Catfish | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec | 4PM - 9AM | Pond |
19 | Giant Snakehead | Jan, Feb, Dec | 9AM - 4PM | Pond |
20 | Bluegill | All months | 9AM - 4PM | River |
21 | Yellow Perch | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | All hours | River |
22 | Black Bass | All months | All hours | River |
23 | Tilapia | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec | All hours | River |
24 | Pike | Mar, April, May, June | All hours | River |
25 | Pond Smelt | Jun, Jul, Aug | All hours | River |
26 | Sweetfish | Jan, Feb, Mar | All hours | River |
27 | Cherry Salmon | Mar, Apr, May, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec | 4PM - 9AM | River (Clifftop) |
28 | Char | Mar, Apr, May, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec | 4PM - 9AM | River (Clifftop) |
29 | Golden Trout | Mar, Apr, May, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec | 4PM - 9AM | River (Clifftop) |
30 | Stringfish | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | 4PM - 9AM | River (Clifftop) |
31 | Salmon | Mar | All hours | River (mouth) |
32 | King Salmon | Mar | All hours | River (mouth) |
33 | Mitten Crab | Mar, April, May | 4PM - 9AM | River |
34 | Guppy | Jan, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov | 9AM - 4PM | River |
35 | Nibble Fish | Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec | 9AM - 4PM | River |
36 | Angelfish | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec | 4PM - 9AM | River |
37 | Bettta | Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec | 9AM - 4PM | River |
38 | Neon Tetra | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec | 9AM - 4PM | River |
39 | Rainbowfish | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec | 9AM - 4PM | River |
40 | Piranha | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | 9AM -4PM, 9PM - 4AM | River |
41 | Arowana | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | 4PM - 9AM | River |
42 | Dorado | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | 4AM - 9PM | River |
43 | Gar | Jan, Feb, Mar | 4PM - 9AM | Pond |
44 | Arapaima | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr | 4PM - 9AM | River |
45 | Saddled Bichir | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | 9PM - 4AM | River |
46 | Sturgeon | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | All hours | River (Mouth) |
47 | Sea Butterfly | Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | Sea |
48 | Seahorse | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | Sea |
49 | Clown Fish | Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | Sea |
50 | Surgeonfish | Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | Sea |
51 | Butterfly Fish | Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | Sea |
52 | Napoleonfish | Jan, Feb | 4AM - 9PM | Sea |
53 | Zebra Turkeyfish | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | Sea |
54 | Blowfish | May, Jun, Jul, Aug | 9PM - 4AM | Sea |
55 | Puffer Fish | Jan, Feb, Mar | All hours | Sea |
56 | Anchovy | All months | 4AM - 9PM | Sea |
57 | Horse Mackerel | All months | All hours | Sea |
58 | Barred Knifejaw | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec | All hours | Sea |
59 | Sea Bass | All months | All hours | Sea |
60 | Red Snapper | All months | All hours | Sea |
61 | Dab | Aug, Sept, Oct | All hours | Sea |
62 | Olive Flounder | All months | All hours | Sea |
63 | Squid | All months | All hours | Sea |
64 | Moray Eel | Feb, Mar, April | All hours | Sea |
65 | Ribbon Eel | Jan,Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec | All hours | Sea |
66 | Tuna | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct | All hours | Pier |
67 | Blue Marlin | Jan, Feb, Mar, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct | All hours | Pier |
68 | Giant Trevally | Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec | All hours | Pier |
69 | Mahi-mahi | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec | All hours | Pier |
70 | Ocean Sunfish | Jan, Feb, Mar | 4AM - 9PM | Sea |
71 | Ray | Feb, Mar, Apr, May | 4AM - 9PM | Sea |
72 | Saw Shark | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | 4PM - 9AM | Sea |
73 | Hammerhead Shark | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | 4PM - 9AM | Sea |
74 | Great White Shark | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | 4PM - 9AM | Sea |
75 | Whale Shark | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | 4PM - 9AM | Sea |
76 | Suckerfish | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | All hours | Sea |
77 | Football Fish | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept | 4PM - 9AM | Sea |
78 | Oarfish | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov | All hours | Sea |
79 | Barreleye | All months | 9PM - 4AM | Sea |
80 | Coelacanth | All months | All hours | Sea (Rainy Days) |
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