Does CJ Pay More for Fish in Animal Crossing?
The short answer is a resounding yes! CJ, the cool beaver who randomly visits your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, will purchase your fish for a whopping 150% of their usual selling price at Nook’s Cranny. This makes him an invaluable asset for any aspiring angler looking to maximize their Bell profits. If you’re serious about reeling in some serious cash, knowing when and how to leverage CJ’s visits is key. He’s the fishing equivalent of Flick, the bug connoisseur, offering significantly better deals than the standard store.
Understanding CJ’s Role in the Island Economy
CJ is not a permanent fixture on your island. He is a visiting character who randomly appears and will stick around until the next day. Unlike your regular Nook’s Cranny shop, where the prices are fixed, CJ introduces a dynamic element to the fish-selling process. This makes fishing more strategic; instead of just catching and selling immediately, you can store fish to sell when CJ’s in town for a significant payout.
How Much More Does CJ Actually Pay?
To quantify CJ’s value, let’s look at a few examples. Suppose you’ve caught a Coelacanth, a rare fish worth 15,000 Bells at Nook’s Cranny. When CJ is visiting, he’ll purchase it for 22,500 Bells (15,000 x 1.5 = 22,500). Similarly, a Golden Trout, also worth 15,000 Bells normally, will fetch the same 22,500 Bells from CJ. This markup applies to every fish you sell him, making it always advantageous to wait for his arrival.
Maximizing Your Profits With CJ
Beyond knowing that he pays more, there are a few strategies for maximizing your earnings with CJ. Firstly, hoarding valuable fish is essential. When you catch rare or expensive fish like the Oarfish or Dorado, it’s best not to sell them right away. Store them in your home or on your island until CJ shows up. Secondly, knowing what fish sell for the most at base value will give you the best return when selling to CJ. Knowing CJ is around is usually discovered while walking around the island or sometimes when Isabelle announces island visitors.
The Most Valuable Fish to Sell to CJ
While CJ boosts the value of every fish, knowing which ones are inherently valuable is key to maximizing your earnings. Here are some of the top-tier fish to hold onto for CJ:
- Coelacanth: 15,000 Bells base, 22,500 Bells with CJ
- Great White Shark: 15,000 Bells base, 22,500 Bells with CJ
- Golden Trout: 15,000 Bells base, 22,500 Bells with CJ
- Stringfish: 15,000 Bells base, 22,500 Bells with CJ
- Dorado: 15,000 Bells base, 22,500 Bells with CJ
- Barreleye: 15,000 Bells base, 22,500 Bells with CJ
These fish will consistently earn you the most Bells when you sell them to CJ. Focusing your fishing efforts on these species, when available, is a great way to make fast progress in your game.
Why Not Sell Fish to Tom Nook?
While Tom Nook’s store provides a convenient location for selling, doing so is typically the less financially sound choice when CJ visits. It may be tempting to offload your catch quickly, but the 50% bonus from CJ is too significant to ignore. Think of it like this: selling to Nook’s is the “everyday” option, while selling to CJ is the “premium” option. You’ll make more if you can hold off for the bigger payout and selling to CJ gives you more bang for your buck.
Beyond Just Selling: CJ’s Fishing Challenges
In addition to buying fish at boosted prices, CJ also provides the opportunity to participate in fishing challenges. He will give you a fish-catching quota to meet within a time frame. These challenges offer another way to earn rewards. While not always as profitable as simply selling valuable fish, these challenges can still be worthwhile for both the added bonuses and the fun.
Is There Anything CJ Won’t Buy?
It’s important to note that CJ only buys fish. He will not purchase sea creatures, which you can collect by diving. Sea creatures must be sold to Nook’s Cranny or stored. The same applies to bugs, which must be sold to Flick. This division of critter purchasing provides different avenues for profitability in the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About CJ and Fish Prices
Here are some frequently asked questions to provide a comprehensive understanding of CJ and fish selling mechanics in Animal Crossing: New Horizons:
1. Does Isabelle announce when CJ is visiting?
No, Isabelle does not announce when CJ is visiting your island. You will have to look around the island yourself to find him. This makes it important to check the island frequently, especially if you’re trying to maximize your fish sales.
2. Does CJ buy all sizes of fish for 1.5x the price?
Yes, CJ buys all sizes of fish for 1.5 times their usual price at Nook’s Cranny. Whether it’s a tiny tadpole or a massive Oarfish, he offers the same 50% bonus.
3. Is it better to sell fish to CJ or cook with them?
Generally, it’s better to sell fish to CJ than to cook with them if your goal is to make Bells. Cooking is typically better for completing recipes and obtaining furniture. When it comes to optimizing profits, CJ is the way to go.
4. What are the six most expensive fish to sell?
The six most expensive fish that sell for 15,000 Bells each at Nook’s Cranny and 22,500 Bells at CJ are the Stringfish, Dorado, Barreleye, Coelacanth, Golden Trout, and the Great White Shark.
5. Does CJ buy fish for the same price as Flick buys bugs?
Yes, both CJ and Flick buy their respective items (fish and bugs) for 1.5 times their usual value. This makes both of them essential for maximizing profits.
6. What is the lowest selling fish in Animal Crossing?
The lowest selling fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the Tadpole, which only sells for 100 Bells at Nook’s Cranny and 150 bells when sold to CJ.
7. Does CJ ever host a fishing tourney?
CJ does host a fishing tourney, a special event where players can participate in a fishing competition, and usually, special prizes are awarded.
8. Are there certain times that CJ will visit?
CJ’s visits are random, meaning there isn’t a set pattern of when he’ll show up. Just like other visiting characters, he will be on your island until the next day.
9. What’s the rarest fish in the game?
The Coelacanth is often cited as one of the rarest fish, though several fish with the same 15,000 base sell price are equally rare.
10. What are some of the hardest fish to catch?
Some of the hardest fish to catch include the Great White Shark, Golden Trout, Coelacanth, and Oarfish. They are very rare and need a good deal of patience, persistence, and luck to acquire.
11. Is it worth keeping some fish to donate to the museum?
Yes, definitely! Donating fish to the museum to complete your collection is worthwhile. But if your goal is to maximize Bell profits, you should only donate the fish first to the museum and sell any duplicates to CJ.
12. Can CJ turn fish into models?
No, CJ does not create models. He is known for buying fish, but you need to wait for Flick to create models of your caught fish.
13. Do you have to speak to CJ to initiate his increased prices?
No, CJ’s prices are automatically in effect when he’s on your island. Simply interact with him to sell your fish. There is no specific trigger to activate the bonus.
14. What is the most expensive item to sell in Animal Crossing?
The Trophy Case is the most expensive item you can sell in the game. But, this excludes special items that can be crafted using special items, including hybrid flowers.
15. What is the rarest animal in real life?
The rarest animal in real life is the vaquita, a critically endangered porpoise found in the Gulf of California. There are only around 18 left in the world.
Conclusion: CJ is Your Fishing Friend
In conclusion, CJ is absolutely essential for maximizing your Bell earnings through fishing. His 1.5x price boost makes him the most profitable option for selling your fish, and learning to work with his visits is key to mastering the Animal Crossing economy. By holding onto your valuable catches and waiting for CJ to arrive, you will see a substantial increase in your profits. So, keep your eyes peeled for the cool beaver and happy fishing!