You’re standing on the pier at 2:00 AM. It’s raining. Your pockets are full of Manila clams because you’ve been crafting fish bait for forty minutes straight. You toss another scoop into the ocean, a shadow appears, and you pray it’s finally the Blue Marlin. It’s a Sea Bass. Again. We’ve all been there. Completing the animal crossing fish list in New Horizons isn’t just a checklist; it’s a test of patience that pits you against RNG, seasonal rotations, and the sheer frustration of "C-plus" puns.
Honestly, the hardest part isn't even catching the rare stuff. It’s remembering that a Stringfish disappears after March or that the Giant Trevally only hangs out by the pier. If you miss that window, you’re looking at a months-long wait or the "shame" of time traveling.
The Pier and the River Mouth: Where Dreams Go to Die
Most players struggle with the specific spawns. You can fish the shoreline for hours and never see a Sturgeon. Why? Because the Sturgeon only shows up at the river mouth—that awkward spot where the river water meets the salty ocean waves. It’s a tiny hitbox. If you aren't aiming your lure exactly where the texture of the water changes, you're just catching more Black Bass.
Then there’s the pier. This is arguably the most annoying spot on the entire island. The animal crossing fish list features heavy hitters like the Tuna and the Mahi-mahi that only spawn here. But the game’s logic is finicky. "At the pier" includes the wooden planks and the rocky outcroppings near the airport, but it doesn't count the beach five feet to the left. If you’re hunting the Great White Shark, don't waste your bait at the pier; sharks prefer the open ocean.
I’ve seen people burn through 200 bags of bait trying to get a Napoleonfish. It’s brutal. The trick most people miss is checking the shadow size. A Blue Marlin has a "Size 6" shadow—the largest in the game. If you see something slightly smaller, don't even reel it in. Scare it away by running or tossing your line elsewhere. Save your reflexes for the big ones.
Timing is Everything (And Most People Get It Wrong)
You can't just fish whenever you feel like it and expect to fill the Blathers museum. The game operates on a strict 24-hour clock. Some fish are "night owls," appearing only between 9:00 PM and 4:00 AM. If you’re a morning person, you are never going to see a Saddled Bichir.
Rain is your best friend. Seriously. In the ocean, rain increases the spawn rate of the Coelacanth, that prehistoric-looking beast that's been a staple of the series since the GameCube days. It’s always available, but only when it’s pouring. If a storm hits your island, drop everything. Put on your rain hat. Get to the beach.
The Seasonal Shift
The animal crossing fish list is split between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This was a massive change for New Horizons. If you’re in the North, September is "King Salmon" month. They only appear for 30 days. If you miss them, you’re waiting a year.
- Spring: Watch for the Tadpole and the Loach. They’re common but easy to overlook.
- Summer: This is shark season. Look for fins. If the shadow doesn't have a dorsal fin poking out of the water, it isn't a shark.
- Winter: It's mostly about the Oarfish and the Stringfish. The Stringfish is notoriously picky; it only lives in the clifftop rivers. If you don't have a pond or river on your second or third tier, you’re out of luck.
Why the Golden Trout is Actually a Nightmare
Let's talk about the Golden Trout. It’s small. It’s worth 15,000 Bells. And it hates you. It only spawns in "clifftop" water. This means any river or pond that isn't at sea level. Most players build a tiny waterfall and hope for the best, but the spawn rates are abysmal.
I’ve found that the best way to cheese this is to use a Nook Miles Ticket. Fly to a mystery island. If that island has a high-elevation river, stay there. Mystery islands often have slightly tweaked spawn rates compared to your home base. If you find "Big Fish Island" or "Fin Island," stay until your inventory is screaming.
The animal crossing fish list labels the Golden Trout as appearing from March to May and September to November. It’s a narrow window. And it only shows up from 4:00 PM to 9:00 AM. If you’re fishing at noon, you’re wasting your time.
Bells vs. Bragging Rights
Is it worth it? From a purely financial standpoint, maybe not. Catching a Barreleye (which only appears at night and has a tiny shadow) nets you 15,000 Bells. That’s great, but you could make way more money farming pumpkins or playing the Stalk Market with turnips.
Completionists don't care about the money, though. We want that Golden Fishing Rod recipe. To get it, you have to catch every single one of the 80 species. Some of them, like the Pop-eyed Goldfish, are purely for aesthetics. They look cool in a bowl on your table. Others, like the Arapaima, take up a massive amount of space and look terrifying in a tank.
Shadow Sizes: A Quick Reference
Understanding shadow sizes is the "pro" way to navigate the animal crossing fish list. Stop guessing.
- Tiny (Size 1): Think Neon Tetras and Sea Butterflies.
- Small (Size 2): Crawfish and Frog vibes.
- Medium (Size 3): Yellow Perch and Dabs. The "boring" tier.
- Large (Size 4): Black Bass (the bane of our existence) and Carp.
- Very Large (Size 5): Snappers and Barred Knifejaws. Good money here.
- Huge (Size 6): Sharks, Oarfish, Coelacanths, and Tuna.
If you are looking for a specific rarity, memorize its size. Don't waste your "A" button durability on a Size 4 shadow if you are hunting a Size 6 Marlin. It sounds mean, but you have to be efficient.
Common Misconceptions About Bait
People think Manila clams are a suggestion. They aren't. They are a requirement for the rare stuff. While fish will spawn naturally, they do so at a slow crawl. Throwing bait forces a new spawn instantly.
Does bait increase the rarity of the fish? No. That’s a myth. It simply forces the game to "roll the dice" again. You could throw 50 bags of bait and get 50 Sea Bass. It’s just about volume. The more rolls you get, the higher the chance the RNG lands on that elusive Mahi-mahi.
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Also, don't bother fishing in the rain if you're looking for Pond fish like the Gar. Rain mostly affects the ocean and river spawns. Ponds are pretty much static regardless of weather.
Final Steps for the Dedicated Angler
To actually finish your animal crossing fish list, you need a strategy that goes beyond "toss and hope."
First, go to your Critterpedia. Check the "Leaving Soon" section. Anything with a pulsing icon needs to be caught now. If it’s the end of the month, prioritize those. Second, clear out your inventory. Carry only your rod and about 30 bags of bait. You don't want to be dropping valuable tools on the sand because you finally caught a Whale Shark.
Third, listen. Don't just watch the bobber. The sound of the "plop" when a fish bites is much more reliable than the visual cue. Many high-tier players close their eyes and wait for the splash sound. It prevents "itchy trigger finger" where you pull back too early because you got nervous.
Go craft twenty more shovels. You're going to be digging up a lot of clams. But once that final museum wing is full, and Blathers gives you that long-winded speech of appreciation, it’ll feel worth it. Probably.
Unless you catch one more C-plus. Then all bets are off.
Next Steps for Completionists
- Check your Critterpedia for anything missing in the current month’s rotation.
- Craft at least 50 bags of bait before heading to the pier for the Tuna or Blue Marlin.
- Visit a Nook Miles island after 4:00 PM if you are still hunting for clifftop rarities like the Golden Trout.