Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Switch has 80 different fish for players to catch. In this guide, we’ll show you how, when, and where to catch them all.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons fish guide and complete list
When and where you catch every fish in your Switch’s Critterpedia
Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon
Julia Lee (she/her) is a guides producer, writing guides for games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Genshin Impact. She helped launch the Rift Herald in 2016.
To become a fishing master, you’ll have to catch one of each fish. This can be a challenge because there are so many places to catch fish, which spawn in various locations and at different times. Some only appear where the ocean connects to rivers, while others swim only in rivers on cliffs. Most fish are available all day or during a specific period of time, which usually changes at 4 a.m., 9 a.m., 4 p.m., and 9 p.m.
Since you can’t see the fish before you catch them, like how you can for bugs, you’ll have to rely on the size of the fish’s shadow to tell you which fish it may be.
All this information is available in your Critterpedia, but only after you’ve caught a fish. The Critterpedia will also note whether or not Blathers has the fish in the museum yet, as denoted by an owl icon that appears to the left of the fish’s name when you highlight it.
We’ve compiled information about all of the fish we know so far in Animal Crossing: New Horizons below.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons fishing guide
Critter # | Fish | Location | Shadow Size | Value | Time | Month (Hemisphere) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bitterling | River | Smallest | 900 | All day | November-March (Northern) / May-September (Southern) |
| 2 | Pale Chub | River | Smallest | 160 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 3 | Crucian Carp | River | Small | 160 | All day | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 4 | Dace | River | Medium | 240 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 5 | Carp | Pond | Large | 300 | All day | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 6 | Koi | Pond | Large | 4,000 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 7 | Goldfish | Pond | Smallest | 1,300 | All day | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 8 | Pop-eyed Goldfish | Pond | Smallest | 1,300 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 9 | Ranchu Goldfish | Pond | Small | 4,500 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 10 | Killifish | Pond | Smallest | 300 | All day | April-August (Northern) / October-February (Southern) |
| 11 | Crawfish | Pond | Small | 200 | All day | April-September (Northern) / October-March (Southern) |
| 12 | Soft-shelled Turtle | River | Large | 3,750 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | August-September (Northern) / February-March (Southern) |
| 13 | Snapping Turtle | River | X Large | 5,000 | 9 p.m. - 4 a.m. | April-October (Northern) / October-April (Southern) |
| 14 | Tadpole | Pond | Smallest | 100 | All day | March-July (Northern) / September-January (Southern) |
| 15 | Frog | Pond | Small | 120 | All day | May-August (Northern) / November-Feburary (Southern) |
| 16 | Freshwater Goby | River | Small | 400 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 17 | Loach | River | Small | 400 | All day | March-May (Northern) / September-November (Southern) |
| 18 | Catfish | Pond | Large | 800 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | May-October (Northern) / November-April (Southern) |
| 19 | Giant Snakehead | Pond | X Large | 5,500 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | June-August (Northern) / December-February (Southern) |
| 20 | Bluegill | River | Small | 180 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 21 | Yellow Perch | River | Medium | 300 | All day | October-March (Northern) / April-September (Southern) |
| 22 | Black Bass | River | Large | 400 | All day | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 23 | Tilapia | River | Medium | 800 | All day | June-October (Northern) / December-April (Southern) |
| 24 | Pike | River | X Large | 1,800 | All day | September-December (Northern) / March-June (Southern) |
| 25 | Pond Smelt | River | Small | 400 | All day | December-February (Northern) / June-August (Southern) |
| 26 | Sweetfish | River | Medium | 900 | All day | July-September (Northern) / January-March (Southern) |
| 27 | Cherry Salmon | River (Clifftop) | Medium | 1,000 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | March-June, September-November (Northern) / March-May, September-December (Southern) |
| 28 | Char | River (Clifftop) | Medium | 3,800 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | March-June, September-November (Northern) / March-May, September-December (Southern) |
| 29 | Golden Trout | River (Clifftop) | Medium | 15,000 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | March-May, September-November (Northern) / March-May, September-November (Southern) |
| 30 | Stringfish | River (Clifftop) | X Large | 15,000 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | December-March (Northern) / June-September (Southern) |
| 31 | Salmon | River (mouth) | Large | 700 | All day | September (Northern) / March (Southern) |
| 32 | King Salmon | River (mouth) | Largest | 1,800 | All day | September (Northern) / March (Southern) |
| 33 | Mitten Crab | River | Small | 2,000 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | September-November (Northern) / March-May (Southern) |
| 34 | Guppy | River | Smallest | 1,300 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | April-November (Northern) / October-May (Southern) |
| 35 | Nibble Fish | River | Smallest | 1,500 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | May-September (Northern) / November-March (Southern) |
| 36 | Angelfish | River | Small | 3,000 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | May-October (Northern) / November-April (Southern) |
| 37 | Betta | River | Small | 2,500 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | May-October (Northern) / November-April (Southern) |
| 38 | Neon Tetra | River | Smallest | 500 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | April-November (Northern) / October-May (Southern) |
| 39 | Rainbowfish | River | Smallest | 800 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | May-October (Northern) / November-April (Southern) |
| 40 | Piranha | River | Small | 2,500 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., 9 p.m. - 4 a.m. | June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern) |
| 41 | Arowana | River | Large | 10,000 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern) |
| 42 | Dorado | River | X Large | 15,000 | 4 a.m. - 9 p.m. | June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern) |
| 43 | Gar | Pond | Largest | 6,000 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern) |
| 44 | Arapaima | River | Largest | 10,000 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern) |
| 45 | Saddled Bichir | River | Large | 4,000 | 9 p.m. - 4 a.m. | June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern) |
| 46 | Sturgeon | River (mouth) | Largest | 10,000 | All day | September-March (Northern) / March-September (Southern) |
| 47 | Sea Butterfly | Sea | Smallest | 1,000 | All day | December-March (Northern) / June-September (Southern) |
| 48 | Sea Horse | Sea | Smallest | 1,100 | All day | April-November (Northern) / October-May (Southern) |
| 49 | Clown Fish | Sea | Smallest | 650 | All day | April-September (Northern) / October-March (Southern) |
| 50 | Surgeonfish | Sea | Small | 1,000 | All day | April-September (Northern) / October-March (Southern) |
| 51 | Butterfly Fish | Sea | Small | 1,000 | All day | April-September (Northern) / October-March (Southern) |
| 52 | Napoleonfish | Sea | Largest | 10,000 | 4 a.m. - 9 p.m. | July-August (Northern) / January-February (Southern) |
| 53 | Zebra Turkeyfish | Sea | Medium | 500 | All day | April-November (Northern) / October-May (Southern) |
| 54 | Blowfish | Sea | Medium | 5,000 | 9 p.m. - 4 a.m. | November-February (Northern) / May-August (Southern) |
| 55 | Puffer Fish | Sea | Medium | 250 | All day | July-September (Northern) / January-March (Southern) |
| 56 | Anchovy | Sea | Small | 200 | 4 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 57 | Horse Mackerel | Sea | Small | 150 | All day | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 58 | Barred Knifejaw | Sea | Medium | 5,000 | All day | March-November (Northern) / September-May (Southern) |
| 59 | Sea Bass | Sea | X Large | 400 | All day | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 60 | Red Snapper | Sea | Large | 3,000 | All day | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 61 | Dab | Sea | Medium | 300 | All day | October-April (Northern) / April-October (Southern) |
| 62 | Olive Flounder | Sea | Large | 800 | All day | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 63 | Squid | Sea | Medium | 500 | All day | December-August (Northern) / June-February (Southern) |
| 64 | Moray Eel | Sea | Narrow | 2,000 | All day | August-October (Northern) / February-April (Southern) |
| 65 | Ribbon Eel | Sea | Narrow | 600 | All day | June-October (Northern) / December-April (Southern) |
| 66 | Tuna | Pier | Largest | 7,000 | All day | November-April (Northern) / May-October (Southern) |
| 67 | Blue Marlin | Pier | Largest | 10,000 | All day | July-September, November-April (Northern) / January-March, May-November (Southern) |
| 68 | Giant Trevally | Pier | X Large | 4,500 | All day | May-October (Northern) / November-April (Southern) |
| 69 | Mahi-mahi | Pier | X Large | 6,000 | All day | May-October (Northern) / November-April (Southern) |
| 70 | Ocean Sunfish | Sea | Largest (Fin) | 4,000 | 4 a.m. - 9 p.m. | July-September (Northern) / January-March (Southern) |
| 71 | Ray | Sea | X Large | 3,000 | 4 a.m. - 9 p.m. | August-November (Northern) / February-May (Southern) |
| 72 | Saw Shark | Sea | Largest (Fin) | 12,000 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern) |
| 73 | Hammerhead Shark | Sea | Largest (Fin) | 8,000 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern) |
| 74 | Great White Shark | Sea | Largest (Fin) | 15,000 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern) |
| 75 | Whale Shark | Sea | Largest (Fin) | 13,000 | All day | June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern) |
| 76 | Suckerfish | Sea | Large (Fin) | 1,500 | All day | June-September (Northern) / December-March (Southern) |
| 77 | Football Fish | Sea | Large | 2,500 | 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. | November-March (Northern) / May-September (Southern) |
| 78 | Oarfish | Sea | Largest | 9,000 | All day | December-May (Northern) / June-November (Southern) |
| 79 | Barreleye | Sea | Small | 15,000 | 9 p.m. - 4 a.m. | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
| 80 | Coelacanth | Sea (rainy days) | Largest | 15,000 | All day | Year-round (Northern and Southern) |
Nintendo Switch Lite
Nintendo Switch consoles are often sold out, but you can still pick up the handheld-only Switch Lite, which is perfect for portable Animal Crossing.
Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy.
By Dave Tach, Jeff Ramos and 1 more
Most Popular
- Grab your friends and tell them about this Adventure Time Bundle
- The Animal Crossing Switch Lite is back on sale for its lowest price ever
- Silent Hill 2 (2024) is most successful when it's doing its best Silent Hill 2 (2001) imitation
- How to watch Gamescom Opening Night Live and what to expect
- Black Myth: Wukong publisher issues bizarre directive on what streamers can (and can’t) say
