Fishing

Learn how to fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons! Discover how to get a fishing rod, find fish shadows, and reel them in to catch every type of fish.

Alright, let's get you set up with fishing in Animal Crossing: New Horizons! It's a super chill way to catch fish, get some extra Bells, and even find some rare critters. First things first, you'll need a fishing rod.

You'll get the DIY recipe for a fishing rod from Tom Nook himself after you finish his initial DIY Workshop. The most basic rod is made with just five tree branches. Don't worry too much if it breaks – tree branches are everywhere, so you can whip up a new one in no time!

Now, find any body of water – a pond, a river, the sea, it all works! Keep your eyes peeled for a fish-shaped shadow in the water. They come in all sorts of sizes, and the type of fish you'll find totally depends on the time of year and even the time of day. Some fish are around all year, but most are seasonal or only show up during specific hours, so you might need to do a little fishing at different times to catch 'em all.

Once you spot a shadow, get close and press the A button to cast your line. It might take a few tries to get your lure right in front of the fish's face. Usually, they'll notice it when it's directly in their line of sight. Some fish are pickier than others and might just poke at your lure at first.

Here's the key part: don't reel in just yet! Wait until the fish actually grabs the lure. You'll know this has happened because you'll see a splash and hear a distinct 'sploosh!' sound. This usually happens after a couple of pokes, but it can vary. As soon as you hear that sound and see the splash, you've got a small window – maybe a second or two – to press A again to reel it in. The bigger the fish, the longer that reeling animation will be. Good luck, and happy fishing!