10 Most Expensive & Rare Fish in Animal Crossing (& How to Find Them)

Bug collecting and fishing in Animal Crossing: New Horizons are two of the quickest ways to earn bells so that you can upgrade your island. Since fish are also one of the many seasonal aspects of Animal Crossing, certain seasons may provide a pricier catch, especially summer when many of the rare fish become available.

Luckily, several of the most valuable fish in the game are newcomers and have decently long seasons. Typically, these fish go for between 10,000 and 15,000 bells at Nook’s Cranny. However, keep in mind that you can also sell any of these fish to CJ, who will pay around 30% more per creature, greatly increasing your reward.

10 Napoleonfish

Sells For 10,000 Bells

The Napoleonfish of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of many that appear as a huge shadow and can be found in the ocean. This particular fish is active from 4 a.m. until 9 p.m. and can only be found for two summer months out of the whole year. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is only available in July and August, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it is only available in January and February.

9 Sturgeon

Sells For 10,000 Bells

The Sturgeon is one of the few rare and valuable fish found in the mouth of the River. It is new as of New Horizons and appears as a large shadow that can appear at any time, day or night. It also has a fairly large season, available in the Northern Hemisphere from September through March and the Southern Hemisphere from March through September.

8 Saw Shark

Sells For 12,000 Bells

The Saw Shark is the last of the slightly lower-value sharks in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but still worth more than most general fish. Like the other sharks, it is fairly rare and first appears as a huge shadow with a dorsal fin. Players can catch it in the sea during summer evenings from 4 p.m. until 9 a.m. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is active from June through September. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is available from December through March.

7 Whale Shark

Sells For 13,000 Bells

The Large Whale Shark returns to Animal Crossing: New Horizons from New Leaf, but it isn’t any easier to catch. Despite its rarity, players can look for it at any time, day or night, by keeping an eye out for its huge shadow with a very apparent dorsal fin. In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears from June through September. In the Southern Hemisphere, it appears from December through March.

6 Dorado

Sells For 15,000 Bells

The Golden Dorado fish is known for its gold coloring and is one of the most valuable river fish. Unlike others, the Dorado is found everywhere in the river, not just on the clifftop, during the day from 4 a.m. until 9 p.m., and it is a huge shadow. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is available from June through September, and in the Southern Hemisphere, it is available from December through March.

5 Great White Shark

Sells For 15,000 Bells

Players can find the Great White Shark in the sea and will be able to recognize it, along with all the other sharks in the game, by its very large shadow’s obvious dorsal fin. The Great White Shark is active during summer nights from 4 p.m. until 9 a.m. In the Northern Hemisphere, players can catch it between June and September. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is available from December to March.

While it can be tempting to sell this fish and all the other rare fish,
it’s important not to forget that you need at least one for your collection at the museum
. So, unless you’re short on funds, it’s highly recommended the first one goes to the museum, and you only sell duplicates.

4 Barreleye

Sells For 15,000 Bells

The Barreleye is another rare fish player that can be found during any month of the year, regardless of which hemisphere you are in, North or South. It is new to the Animal Crossing franchise in New Horizons and is active daily from 9 p.m. until 4 a.m. Keep an eye out for it when fishing in the ocean by looking for small shadows swimming in the water.

3 Coelacanth

Sells For 15,000 Bells

The Coelacanth is another very rare fish that can be found during the same months, regardless of whether you’re in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, because it is available all year long. It can also be caught at any point, day or night, but the catch is that it is one of the few fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons that can only be caught in rainy weather. Look for it in the sea by looking for huge shadows.

2 Stringfish

Sells For 15,000 Bells

The Stringfish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of the most valuable river fish that players can hope to catch. It can be spotted by keeping an eye out for very large shadows swimming around. It’s found in the River at the Clifftop from 4 p.m. until 9 a.m. each day. It’s available in the Northern Hemisphere from December through March and the Southern Hemisphere from June through September.

1 Golden Trout

Sells For 15,000 Bells

The Golden Trout Fish is one of the most valuable fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and was a brand-new addition to the franchise. Players can typically find it in the River at their Clifftop from 4 p.m. until 9 a.m. each day as a medium shadow. It is one of a handful of species found during the same months, regardless of whether you’re in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere. So look for it between March and May and September through November.

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