Seasonal Contests

There are two contest every season throughout the year. These friendly contests are free to enter and have three different classes each: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Finish in first place in one class to unlock the next highest. Don’t worry about forgetting the date, as the contest organizer pays you a visit each day when you wake up to remind you. All you need to do is attend the contest between 10:00 a.m. and 3:59 p.m. to enter (though we recommend getting to the Fishing Contest bright and early).

Fishing Contest

• Spring 5
• Summer 5
• Fall 5
• Winter 5

Sam organizes the monthly Fishing Contest and stages it in the town square. Stock up on the best bait you can acquire before 10:00 a.m. and make sure your Stamina is full, so you needn’t worry about eating during the contest.

The goal is to catch as many of the biggest fish as you can. Points are awarded based on the size of the fish caught—not the species—and though it’s possible to accumulate a lot of points with numerous smaller fish, you must catch at least a few medium-to-large fish to win. An exceptionally large specimen of a given fish species may yield a few extra points more than normal.

Fishing Contest: Prizes

You likely get your first invitation to a Fishing Contest on Summer 5 of your first year. Follow our tips here to win each class in your first attempt during summer, fall, and winter. But don’t worry if you don’t; there’s always next season!

Fishing Contest: Points per Fish

Beginner Class

Assuming you enter the Beginner Class tournament on Summer 5 of your first year, you should have the Master Fishing Rod or better. Load up on Regular Bait and talk to Sam as soon as the contest begins to have the most time to fish.

Head to the mountain right away and fish in the lake above the waterfall. Here you should be able to catch enough Bluegill, Perch, Piranha, and Barbatus to win first place. Cast your bait and immediately reel it in if you don’t see any fish shadows. Similarly, consider casting again if the only fish shadows are small, meaning they’re likely Mosquitofish.

Intermediate Class

Winning this contest requires quite a few more points, but it can be won without access to the lighthouse overlook pier or the pond in Farm: Eastern Area. Entrants should have acquired the Master or Glorious Fishing Rod upgrade by now, along with a healthy stock of Good Bait, though Excellent Bait is better.

Consider heading to the pond in Farm: Eastern Area if accessible, or the lighthouse overlook if you can, but if not, visit the mountain lake above the waterfall as described for the Beginner Class tournament. The improved rod allows you to catch multiple fish at once, and the Good Bait attracts better fish, reducing the likelihood of catching Mosquitofish.

Advanced Class

The Advanced Class requires a lot more points and is best suited to those who’ve repaired the lighthouse overlook fishing pier and have access to the Glorious Fishing Rod and Delectable Fish Feed. Ideally, you’re taking on the Advanced Class on Winter 5 of your first year. Head to the pier at once and cast off the far southwestern edge, right to where the Tuna lurk. With some luck and patience, you should reel in a thousand points’ worth of Tuna in no time!

Cooking Contest

• Spring 20
• Fall 20

Bastian runs the twice-a-year Cooking Contest at the Beacon Town Square. The contest begins at 10:00 a.m., but you have until 3:59 p.m. to enter, should you need the day to procure some last-minute ingredients. The contest is straightforward: pick a class to enter, then offer up a dish to be judged. Points are awarded based on the complexity of the dish and the quality of ingredients. Recipes requiring higher-grade, rarer ingredients and a larger number of them are worth more points.

Cooking Contest Points & Prizes

You likely enter you first Cooking Contest on Fall 20, as Spring 20 is too soon after your arrival on the island. Bastian shows up at your house when you wake to alert you to the festivities. Make sure you have at least one dish of substance to enter the contest. It needn’t be fancy, as even a higher-quality egg can yield a wealth of points.

Winning Dish Suggestions

Dog Races

• Summer 20
• Winter 20

The Dog Race alternates with the Cooking Contest throughout the year and is organized by Naomi. She visits the morning of the contest to let you know to be at the beach between 10:00 a.m. and 3:59 p.m. to enter your dog in the race. Naturally, you must have a pet dog in order to enter, but you can buy one from Sofia’s Livestock immediately after upgrading your house.

The key to winning the Dog Race is to maintain a good relationship with your dog by petting it each day and remembering to feed it. Consider feeding it with Delicious Animal Feed in the days leading up to the contest to ensure it has a high affection for you.

Dog Race Prizes

Winning the Dog Race is quite simple, regardless of class, as you need only get your dog to follow you to the finish line before the other contestants get there. Advance to the left slowly and turn around every time your dog becomes distracted or stops running. One tactic that works well is to tap left twice, then to the right once. Even this is unnecessary if your dog has a maximum affection rating.

The only difference in the race events is the distance of the course. Tilt the controls gently to run at a slower pace so your dog can keep up, and double back whenever he slows down. Before you know it, you’ll be way out in front and cruising to the finish line!