Where is the Best Place to Bait Fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The simple answer to where you should use your precious fish bait in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is: anywhere there’s water! However, while you can technically use bait in any body of water – the ocean, rivers, ponds, or even the mysterious clifftop rivers – the “best” place really depends on what you’re trying to achieve. If you’re looking for specific fish, the location is paramount. But if your goal is just to make money or complete your Critterpedia, a few locations tend to yield better results overall. Let’s break down some of the prime fishing spots for when you’re armed with a pocketful of manila clam derived magic.
Prime Fishing Spots for Bait
The Pier: A High-Value Hotspot
Perhaps the most consistently rewarding place to use fish bait is the pier. The pier is located on your island’s beach and is the area where your visitors dock their boats. It’s where you have the best chances of encountering many of the game’s valuable and sought-after fish. Fish that spawn at the pier tend to be larger, and thus, more expensive. It’s not uncommon to hook into rare finds like the Mahi-Mahi, which can sell for a good price.
The pier is especially useful if you’re hunting for specific fish that only appear near it. With a few pieces of bait, you can quickly cycle through fish spawns, giving you a higher chance of finding the elusive ones. It can also be a great spot to fish at night when many rare species are more active.
River Mouths: Where Freshwater Meets the Sea
Another great place to use fish bait is at the river mouth, where the river flows into the ocean. This area can yield both river-exclusive and ocean-exclusive fish, giving you a good variety and increasing your chances of encountering something rare. The river mouth is a hotspot for a number of fish that can fetch a good price and is often overlooked. If you have been fishing around a lot of your island, and things aren’t yielding a result, take your bait to the river mouth!
Clifftop Rivers: The Golden Trout Zone
If you’re specifically after the Golden Trout, you’ll need to head to the clifftop rivers. These are the rivers that are on the highest elevations of your island, often requiring the use of a ladder. The Golden Trout is one of the rarest and most valuable fish in the game, so using fish bait here can increase your odds of finding it, especially during the seasons and times they appear. Keep in mind these fish only spawn in the clifftop rivers and nowhere else, so you’ll want to save your bait for this area if you’re after this particular catch.
The Ocean: A Vast and Varied Catch
While not as consistently lucrative as the pier or river mouth, the ocean is still a great place to use fish bait. It’s where you can catch the largest shadows and the most varied fish. This includes rare finds like the Coelacanth, which only appears when it rains, and various sharks, which can net you a good amount of Bells. The ocean is enormous, so using bait here can save time and effort and increase your chances of encountering one of these prize catches.
Ponds: A Mix of Common and Uncommon
Ponds are also a place where you can use fish bait, though they generally don’t yield as many high-value fish as other spots. They can be a good spot if you’re looking for specific pond fish or if you just want to relax and do some casual fishing. Keep in mind, ponds are where you can catch the Tadpole which is the lowest selling fish in all of New Horizons.
Timing is Key
Remember that using fish bait is just one piece of the puzzle. Knowing when to fish is equally important. Nighttime, particularly between 11 pm and 4 am, is when many of the rarer fish appear, such as sharks. Fishing during the rain is also essential if you want to catch the Coelacanth. So, consider the time of day and the weather when you decide where and when to use your bait.
Fish Bait: A Worthwhile Investment
The recipe for fish bait is obtained after digging up your first manila clam, and you only need one clam to craft one unit of bait. While you could sell the manila clams directly, using them to craft bait is generally more beneficial as it will help to attract more profitable fish. Each piece of fish bait has a maximum stack of 10 in your inventory. Fish bait sells for 200 Bells each, which is double the sell price of a single manila clam. However, you’ll make more money catching rarer fish.
Summary
In summary, while fish bait can be used anywhere, your best bets for consistent high-value catches are:
- The Pier: For large, rare, and high-value fish.
- River Mouth: For a variety of both river and ocean species.
- Clifftop Rivers: Specifically for the Golden Trout.
- The Ocean: For sharks, the Coelacanth (when it rains), and a wide array of fish.
By combining your knowledge of these prime locations with strategic timing and weather, you can significantly increase your fishing success and fill your pockets with Bells!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where do you get fish bait in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
Fish bait is crafted using manila clams. You dig these clams up from the beach using your shovel when you see water shooting up from small areas on the sand. One manila clam will make one piece of fish bait.
2. Is it better to sell clams or make bait?
It is generally better to use manila clams to craft fish bait. The bait will help you catch more valuable fish, which will earn you far more bells. A clam sells for 100 Bells, and fish bait sells for 200 Bells, but you’ll make even more when using the bait for higher value catches.
3. What is the rarest fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
The Coelacanth is widely considered one of the rarest fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It can be caught in the ocean, and requires rain to spawn.
4. How do you catch a Coelacanth?
To catch a Coelacanth, you must fish in the ocean while it is raining. It can be found at any time of day, so using fish bait can help when it does start to rain.
5. What are the most valuable fish to catch?
The most valuable fish to catch are the Stringfish, Dorado, Barreleye, Coelacanth, Golden Trout, and Great White Shark. Each of these fish sells for 15,000 Bells.
6. Where can you find Golden Trout in Animal Crossing?
Golden Trout can be found in the clifftop rivers, the rivers on the highest elevations of your island. They are more likely to be available between 4 pm and 9 am and during the months of March through May and again from September through November in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
7. What is the best time to fish in Animal Crossing?
While fish can be caught at any time of day, many of the rarer fish appear at night, especially between 11 pm and 4 am. Certain fish also have specific time windows, so researching the species you want is always a good idea.
8. Can you buy fish bait in Animal Crossing?
No, fish bait cannot be bought in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You have to craft it from manila clams that you dig up on the beach.
9. How many fish bait can you stack in your inventory?
You can stack up to 10 pieces of fish bait in one inventory slot.
10. Does using fish bait guarantee a rare fish?
No, using fish bait doesn’t guarantee a rare fish, but it will force a fish to spawn, effectively speeding up the process of encountering one.
11. Can you use fish bait on a pier?
Yes, using fish bait on the pier is a very effective strategy to help you catch some of the rarer, and bigger fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
12. Do sea creatures need fish bait?
No, fish bait does not attract sea creatures. Sea creatures are a separate type of critter, and you will catch them when diving in the ocean, without the use of bait.
13. What is the best place to find sharks in Animal Crossing?
Sharks can be found in the ocean, often between the hours of 4 pm to 9 am. The pier is a prime spot to use your fish bait and look for these high-value catches.
14. Why is it so hard to catch sharks?
Sharks can be difficult to catch because their lure goes down quickly. The player needs to be prompt on pressing “A” to catch them. Fish bait can help with this as well.
15. Can I fish during all seasons?
Yes, you can fish during all seasons in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. However, the types of fish you can catch will vary depending on the time of year. Be sure to note the location, time, and season for fish you are trying to catch.