Animal Crossing: New Leaf Fish Guide (Where & When to Find Them)

Here's a list of all the fish available in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Note that you'll find different fish at different times of the day and locations. Also, don't forget to visit the island, as it's amazing how many valued fish you'll find there versus back in your town, especially sharks. Once they're in your museum collection, sell them for crazy loads of cash (I come back from the island every night with 150,000-200,000 bells)!

The names of fish you see with an asterisk (*) are new additions to AC New Leaf, and hard-to-find fish are marked with the flag  icon. 

Where you can you find fish in Animal Crossing: New Leaf?

Obviously, fish are always in the water, but be sure to fish in the river, the sea shore, and ponds. Different fish, different locations! Also, you'll find other creatures like frogs and turtles.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Ocean, Pond, and River Fish List

PictureFish NameLocationSpawn.
ChanceMonthsTimesRe-Tail PriceAverage SizeAngelfishRiver2%May - Oct4pm - 9am3,0004.72 in
12 cmArapaimaRiver1%July - Sept4pm - 9am10,000118.11 in
300 cmArowanaRiver1%June - Sept 154pm - 9am10,00027.56 in
70 cmBarbel SteedRiver16%All YearAll Day20019.69 in
50 cmBarred KnifejawOcean5%March - NovAll Day5,00023.62 in
60 cmBitterlingRiver18%Dec - FebAll Day9003.15 in
8 cmBlack BassRiver16%All YearAll Day30019.69 in
50 cmBlowfish*Ocean5%Nov - FebAll Day1259.84 in
25 cmBlue MarlinOcean2%June - SeptAll Day10,00086.61 in
220 cmBluegillRiver10%All Year9am - 4pm1209.84 in
25 cmButterflyfishOcean8%April - SeptAll Day1,0007.09 in
18 cmCarpRiver15%All YearAll Day30023.62 in
60 cmCatfishLarge Pond / River16%May - Oct4pm - 9am80023.62 in
60 cmCharNear Waterfalls8%March - June

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Sept - Nov4am - 9am
4pm - 9pm

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4am - 9pm3,80019.69 in
50 cmCherry SalmonRiver11%March - June

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Sept - Nov4am - 9am
4pm - 9pm

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4am - 9pm1,00013.78 in
35 cmMitten Crab*River5%Sept 15 - Nov4pm - 9am2,0003.15 in
8 cmClownfishOcean8%April - SeptAll Day6505.91 in
15 cmCrawfishPond13%April - Sept 15All Day2004.72 in
12 cmCoelacanthOcean (rain /snow)2%All Year4pm - 9am15,00059.06 in
150 cmCrucian CarpRiver22%All YearAll Day1207.87 in
20 cmDabOcean14%Oct - AprilAll Day30019.69 in
50 cmDaceRiver16%All Year4pm - 9am20013.78 in
35 cmDoradoRiver2%June - Sept4am - 9pm15,00039.37 in
100 cmEelRiver12%June - Sept 154pm - 9am2,00039.37 in
100 cmFootball FishOcean8%Nov - March4pm - 9am2,50023.62 in
60 cmFreshwater GobyRiver5%All Year4pm - 9am3005.91 in
15 cmFrogPond10%May - AugAll Day1201.57 in
4 cmGarLarge Pond1%June - Sept4pm - 9am6,00074.80 in
190 cmGiant Trevally*Island Ocean2%All YearAll Day4,50070.87 in
180 cmGiant SnakeheadRiver2%June - Aug9am - 4pm5,50033.46 in
85 cmGoldfishRiver2%All YearAll Day1,3005.91 in
15 cmGuppyRiver3%April - Nov9am - 4pm1,3001.57 in
4 cmHammerhead SharkOcean1%June - Sept4pm - 9am8,00098.43 in
250 cmHorse MackerelOcean30%All YearAll Day15015.75 in
40 cmKillifishPond5%April - AugAll Day3001.57 in
4 cmKing SalmonNear River Mouth6%SeptAll Day1,80055.12 in
140 cmKoiRiver2%All Year4pm - 9am4,00023.62 in
60 cmLoachRiver21%March - MayAll Day3007.87 in
20 cmMoray Eel
(rare in your town's ocean)Ocean/Island Ocean2%Aug - Oct (Town)

All Year (Island)All Day2,00031.50 in
80 cmNapoleonfishIsland Ocean1%June - Aug4am - 9pm10,00070.87 in
180 cmNeon TetraRiver3%April - Nov9am - 4pm5000.79 in
2 cmNibble Fish*River2%May - September9am - 4pm1,5003.54 in
9 cmOarfish*Ocean1%Dec - MayAll Day9,000228.35 in
580 cmOlive FlounderOcean8%All YearAll Day80031.50 in
80 cmOcean SunfishOcean2%June - Sept4am - 9pm4,000118.11 in
300 cmPale ChubRiver10%All Year9am - 4pm2005.91 in
15 cmPikeRiver1%Sept - Dec4am - 9pm1,80047.24 in
120 cmPiranhaRiver3%June - Sept 159am - 4pm
9pm - 4am2,50011.81 in
30 cmPond SmeltRiver39%Dec - FebAll Day3005.91 in
15 cmPopeyed GoldfishRiver2%All Year9am - 4pm1,3005.91 in
15 cmPuffer FishOcean/ Island Ocean12%Aug - SeptAll Day24013.78 in
35 cmRainbow TroutRiver11%March - June

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Sept - Nov4am - 9am
4pm - 9pm

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4am - 9pm80023.62 in
60 cmRayIsland Ocean1%June - Nov4am - 9pm3,00047.24 in
120 cmRibbon Eel*Island Ocean5%All YearAll Day60047.24 in
120 cmRed SnapperOcean8%All YearAll Day3,00035.43 in
90 cmSaddled Bichir*River1%June - Sept9pm - 4am4,00023.62 in
60 cmSalmonNear River Mouth40%SeptAll Day70035.43 in
90 cmSaw Shark*Ocean1%June - Sept4pm - 9am12,00059.06 in
150 cmSea BassOcean25%All YearAll Day20039.37 in
100 cmSea ButterflyOcean12%Dec - FebAll Day1,0001.18 in
3 cmSharkOcean3%June - Sept4pm - 9am15,000212.60 in
540 cmSeahorseOcean9%April - NovAll Day1,1003.15 in
8 cmSoft Shelled Turtle*River5%Aug - Sept4pm - 9am3,75011.81 in
30 cmSquidOcean14%Dec - JulyAll Day40013.78 in
35 cmStringfishRiver1%Dec - Feb4pm - 9am15,00055.12 in
140 cmSurgeonfishOcean
Island2%April - SeptAll Day1,00012.20 in
31 cmSweetfishRiver16%July - Sept 15All Day9009.84 in
25 cmTadpole*Pond5%March - JulyAll Day1001.57 in
4 cmTunaOcean4%Nov - MarchAll Day7,00090.55 in
230 cmWhale Shark*Island Ocean1%All YearAll Day13,000236.22 in
600 cmYellow PerchRiver8%Oct - MarchAll Day24013.78 in
35 cmZebra TurkeyfishOcean12%April - NovAll Day40011.81 in
30 cm