Sick of catching sea bass and horse mackerel? Yeah, we know the one.
Whilst common fish are a great earner at Nook’s Cranny and with CJ, catching rare fish will get you further when it comes to making those bells ring in your ABD.
Catching out-of-the-orindary fish will also help you complete the Fish section in your museum, much to Blathers’s delight!
Finding rare fish in ACNH
When looking for rare fish, there are a few factors to consider:
- Season
- Time of day
- Location
- Weather
These four factors dictate which fish (including rare ones!) you will or won’t be able to get on any given day or month.
Let’s delve into it a little deeper, shall we?
Different fish during different seasons
Not all fish are available to catch all year round. Whilst common types like horse mackerel or the humble sea bass are available 24/7, 365 days a year, certain fish aren’t.
For example, during fall months in the northern hemisphere, you can catch Golden Trout, but once it hits December, you’ll have to wait until the spring to be in with a chance of catching it.
Or in summer, you can catch a Giant Snakehead worth 5,500 bells. But from September onwards, you’ll need to wait another year to fish it out of your island’s waters.
Time of day impacts which fish are available
Time of day also impacts what fish you can catch. There are four different time frames for rare fish:
- All day
- 9am – 4pm
- 6pm – 4am
- 9pm – 4am
Each fish will have one of these timeframes associated it. So, other than the fish available all day, what you catch at 10am will be drastically different to what shows up at 9pm.
Keep this in mind when trying to find rare fish, as you might have to time travel to get the specific fish you’re after.
Location of fish on your ACNH island
Fish can spawn in most bodies of water (providing they’re big enough). From ponds, clifftops, cliffsides, and rivers to river mouths, piers, or in the surrounding ocean.
Many players have commented that fishing by the pier is a great spot for rare fish-finding, so if you’ve got any extra bait, make sure to use it there first!
Weather-dependant fishing
Some fish will only rear their heads (or shadows) when it’s raining. If it’s not raining, you’ll likely never see them.
Most fish don’t fall under the weather-dependent category, but if you’re looking for a particularly rare fish, such as the Coelacanth, rain is a must.
Although there’s no official documentation to support the theory that rain means more rare fish, anecdotally players have noticed a rise in rare fish during wet periods.
Spotting rare fish on your island
Not sure if that shadow by your pier is another sea bass? We know the feeling. When in doubt, cast your line.
It’s not always easy to tell whether a fish will be rare or not, but there are a few consistent things we know about rare fish-spotting.
The first is that sharks – part of the rare fish clan – mostly always have a fin. If you see a fin above the shadow, you know what you’re getting yourself into!
Secondly, larger-than-normal shadows typically indicate rare fish. If it looks like a sea bass size or bigger, get your fishing rod ready.
Lastly, the ocean and pier have the highest concentration of rare fish, so if you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, head to your beaches and pier with fish bait (keep reading for more on using bait).
Where can I find rare fish in Animal Crossing?
Other than the areas we’ve already spoken about on your island, you can also find rare fish on Mystery Islands.
One, in particular, is a dream for those who want to get their hands on as many rare fish as possible:
Rare fish island!
Just like scorpion island, rare fish island is a once-in-a-blue-moon island you can be dropped off at on your Mystery Tours. This player landed on rare fish island and got catch after catch of rare fish!
Rare fish island is rare in itself, so don’t write off other Mystery Islands! The spawn rate for fish is double compared to your island, so there are double the chances to get your hands on a new species!
How to catch rare fish in Animal Crossing
You know how to find rare fish, but how do you catch them?
There are two things to consider when catching rare fish:
- Bait
- Fishing technique
Use bait to catch rare fish
Whilst using bait isn’t a necessity to catch rare fish in ACNH, it can help speed up the process.
Throwing bait out onto water spawns new fish, so use manila clams to create bait for your fishing adventures. If you do this, for example, by the pier – which is a location a lot of rare fish spawn – you can increase your chances of catching a rare fish.
Remember the conditions have to be right i.e time of the year, time of the month, and weather, but using bait saves time running around areas that might not be as opportune for rare fish.
Nail your fishing technique
In order to increase your chances of catching rare fish, you need to be able to, well, catch fish.
We wrote about the tried and tested techniques to catch fish every time to achieve the Cast Master challenge, but these tips don’t just help you achieve Nook Miles; being able to catch whatever fish lurks in your waters means more rare fish for you!
The secret to finding and catching rare fish in ACNH
Taking the season, time of day, location, and weather conditions into account, you can fast-track your fishing success by being in the right place at the right time. Use guides, like Nookipedia’s complete list of ACNH fish, to ensure you get your timing and location right.
Don’t forget to craft bait to increase fish spawn rates in your desired location, and get good at fishing to make sure every catch is a success!
Struggling with Animal Crossing burnout recently? Check out our guide on how to overcome burnout and restore your love of ACNH in the process.