To catch fish more reliably in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, walk up quietly, cast the bobber where the fish can see it, and press A only when the bobber goes underwater. Shadow size and shape, the fishing location, and the island’s date and time help narrow down what may be available—but none guarantees a particular catch.
How to fish reliably
- Get a fishing pole. Craft one at a DIY workbench if you have the recipe and gathered sticks, or buy one with in-game Bells. Nintendo’s fishing guide covers the pole and basic controls.
- Choose a place to fish. Fish appear in rivers, ponds, and the ocean. Walk toward the water rather than running; running can scare fish away.
- Read the shadow. Its size and shape offer clues about the fish. A fin-shaped shadow may indicate a shark, but silhouettes are clues, not a guarantee of species.
- Cast where the fish can notice the bobber. Press A and aim in front of the fish. If the bobber lands beyond it or the fish does not react, pull in the line and cast again.
- Wait for the bobber to go under. Fish may nibble before they bite. Press A when the bobber disappears underwater and you hear the splash-like cue; pressing too early can make the fish swim away. Nintendo’s instruction is: “Press the A Button right when the bobber goes under.”
How to tell which fish might be available
Fish availability depends on season and time of day, and some species have additional conditions. Check the Critterpedia for information on fish you have caught, then use the island’s current date and time to decide when and where to search. The game follows the console’s real-time date and time. Nintendo’s game overview and fishing tips explain these in-game systems.
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Use clues to narrow the search, not guarantee a catch
Combine the body of water, the shadow’s size or shape, and the species’ seasonal and time-of-day availability to choose what to try. These clues make searching more focused, but the official guidance does not establish a trick that guarantees a rare fish or a specific catch rate. For a fish you are targeting, check its conditions in your Critterpedia and fish in the matching location and time window.
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Rank #3
![Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51JAzQozLgL._SL160_.jpg)
- Take in-game photos of your designs and add them to your portfolio. Show them to other characters and you may get more requests to create vacation homes. Share the photos with other players using the in-game Showroom in the Happy Home Network app and they can tour your personally-designed resort islands or go tour theirs for some relaxation and inspiration.
- Purchase the Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise DLC from Nintendo eShop, or download and play it as part of an active Nintendo Switch Online plus Expansion Pack membership at no extra cost.
Rank #2
- Share Your Paradise - Show off your island utopia to family and friends - or pack your bags and visit theirs.
- Get Building - Experience a robust new crafting system - collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools!
- Create Your Perfect Getaway - Craft everything from tools to creature comforts as you create and customize your island community.
- Explore Your Island - Collect bugs, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean.
- Play Together - Up to eight players can reside on an island; four residents of the same island can play together simultaneously on a single system.
#1 Best Overall
![Animal Crossings New Horizons - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ErvUL40zL._SL160_.jpg)
- Build your community from scratch on a deserted island brimming with possibility; Create your personal getaway and customize your character, home, decorations, and even the landscape itself
- Collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools. Then, use what you create to give your island a personal touch
- Watch as the time of day and seasons match real life—even your hemisphere. Each day holds potential for surprises and discoveries
- Get to know the island residents, garden, fish, decorate, hunt for fossils, and more.
- Show off your paradise – play on the same system with a total of 4 people, or play together online or over local wireless for fun with up to 8 players
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