You might expect fish to be segregated between freshwater and saltwater, and that holds true for some species, but there’s a good deal of overlap. Primarily, fish species are restricted more or less by geographic zones, with the most exclusive fish confined to the marsh ponds east of the beach. Similarly, some of the saltwater fish can only be caught off the pier at the lighthouse overlook and don’t appear near the fishing pier at the beach.
Though it can be confusing, and the randomness may lead you to believe otherwise, all of the waters within a certain area contain the same fish. These can be broken into the following zones, which we use to plot fish location in our associated table.
Farm: This includes the rivers running through the main farm area, as well as the large pond in Farm: Eastern Area. We recommend fishing near the bridge by the Windmill or in the large pond to the east.
Mountain: This area includes both the river beneath the waterfall and the lake near Harvest Goddess Spring. We recommend fishing in the lake, though some fish do prefer the mountain stream, such as the Akame.
Beach: Fish can only be caught off the concrete fishing pier that wraps around Azure Rock. Though it’s possible to cast a fishing line from the sand, you won’t catch any fish this way. The river to the east of the sound (near the river mouth) is considered farm territory. Fish species vary on different sides of the pier so be sure to experiment.
Lighthouse Overlook: The only place you can cast a line at the lighthouse overlook is off the wooden fishing pier, which may well be one of the last structures you repair on the island. Note that some fish prefer to swim along certain sides of the pier. Fish from all sides to increase your chances.
Marsh Ponds: The tiny ponds in the marsh area contain some elusive—and highly prized—fish, including the rumored Electric Eel. Though technically part of the “beach” according to the map, the marsh environment is its own fishing zone.
Legend: Season and Time of Day
| Icon | Definition |
|---|---|
|
Spring |
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Summer |
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Fall |
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Winter |
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Morning (6:00 a.m. to 10:59 a.m.) |
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Daytime (11:00 a.m. to 3:59 p.m.) |
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Evening (4:00 p.m. to 6:59 p.m.) |
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Night (7:00 p.m. to 4:59 a.m.) |
Fish Species (listed as they appear in the Encyclopedia)
| Species | Name | Season | Time of Day | Recommended Bait | Farm | Mountain | Beach Pier | Lighthouse Pier | Marsh Ponds | Sell (Sam) | Sell (Bastian) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rainbow Trout |
Good |
X |
X |
X |
X |
— |
900G |
1,350G |
|||
|
Mosquitofish |
Regular |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
200G |
— |
|||
|
Perch |
Regular |
X |
X |
— |
— |
— |
100G |
150G |
|||
|
Yellow Perch |
Regular |
X |
X |
— |
— |
— |
200G |
300G |
|||
|
Goby |
Good |
X |
— |
X |
— |
— |
600G |
900G |
|||
|
Barbatus |
Regular |
X |
X |
— |
— |
— |
2,000G |
— |
|||
|
Bullhead |
Delectable |
X |
— |
X |
X |
— |
1,700G |
2,550G |
|||
|
Arowana |
Good |
X |
X |
— |
— |
— |
2,000G |
— |
|||
|
Bluegill |
Regular |
— |
X |
— |
— |
— |
600G |
900G |
|||
|
Crucian Carp |
Regular |
X |
X |
— |
— |
— |
500G |
— |
|||
|
Alligator Gar |
Tropical |
X |
X |
— |
— |
— |
11,300G |
— |
|||
|
Akame |
Ragnarok |
— |
X |
— |
— |
— |
8,500G |
— |
|||
|
Green Arowana |
Good |
X |
X |
— |
— |
— |
4,700G |
— |
|||
|
Banjar Arowana |
Excellent |
X |
X |
— |
— |
— |
11,300G |
— |
|||
|
Golden Arowana |
Excellent |
X |
— |
X |
— |
— |
14,500G |
— |
|||
|
Super Red Arowana |
Ragnarok |
— |
— |
— |
— |
X |
18,500G |
— |
|||
|
White Crucian Carp |
Regular |
X |
X |
X |
— |
— |
1,300G |
— |
|||
|
Goldfish |
Good |
— |
X |
— |
— |
X |
4,200G |
— |
|||
|
Calico Goldfish |
Good |
— |
X |
— |
— |
X |
7,600G |
— |
|||
|
Spotted Gar |
Fertilizer |
X |
X |
— |
— |
X |
4,000G |
— |
|||
|
Black Bass |
Regular |
X |
X |
— |
— |
— |
1,000G |
— |
|||
|
Tilapia |
Regular |
X |
X |
X |
X |
— |
400G |
600G |
|||
|
Redbelly Tilapia |
Good |
X |
X |
X |
X |
— |
1,000G |
1,500G |
|||
|
Arapaima |
Tropical |
X |
— |
— |
— |
— |
12,700G |
— |
|||
|
Piranha |
Regular |
X |
X |
— |
— |
— |
600G |
900G |
|||
|
Piraya Piranha |
Delectable |
X |
X |
— |
— |
— |
1,600G |
2,400G |
|||
|
Electric Eel |
Tropical |
— |
— |
— |
— |
X |
18,000G |
— |
|||
|
Tuna |
Tropical |
— |
— |
X |
X |
— |
6,000G |
9,000G |
|||
|
Sardine |
Regular |
— |
— |
X |
X |
— |
300G |
450G |
|||
|
Cod |
Good |
— |
— |
X |
X |
— |
1,300G |
1,950G |
|||
|
Sea Bream |
Excellent |
— |
— |
X |
X |
— |
2,000G |
3,000G |
|||
|
Striped Beakfish |
Excellent |
— |
— |
— |
X |
— |
2,000G |
3,000G |
|||
|
Righteye Flounder |
Delectable |
— |
— |
X |
— |
— |
2,500G |
3,750G |
|||
|
Olive Flounder |
Delectable |
— |
— |
X |
— |
— |
2,500G |
3,750G |