- Animal Crossing New Leaf monthly fish rotate by season, location, and time of day across the mainland and Tortimer Island.
- Seasonal windows: Many high-value fish like the Stringfish and Tuna appear only in winter months.
- Rain matters: The Coelacanth only appears while it rains or snows in the ocean.
- Best farming period: Late September evenings (9 PM – 4 AM) offer sharks, Coelacanths, and Salmon together.
- Sell smart: Re-Tail pays full price; Timmy and Tommy pay only 80% of listed values.
How Monthly Fish Rotation Works
In Animal Crossing: New Leaf, the fish available in your town change with the real-world calendar. Every fish has a set of months when it spawns, a location (river, pond, waterfall, river mouth, or ocean), and often a time window within the day. Mastering this rotation is the key to completing your encyclopedia and earning Bells efficiently.
The day is split into fishing windows based on common spawn boundaries: 9 AM, 4 PM, and 9 PM. Treat these as ranges—a fish listed as "9 AM – 4 PM" stops spawning when the afternoon window begins. Some fish, like the Sea Bass and Crucian carp, are available all day year-round, while rare ones like the Coelacanth are locked behind weather conditions.
A fish with "4 PM – 9 AM" listed is an overnight spawner. If you only play during the day, you will never see it—plan a short evening session to catch night-exclusive species like the Arapaima.
New fish arrive and depart at the start of each month. For example, in July the Sweetfish (900 Bells, river, all day) newly arrives, while the Arapaima (10,000 Bells, river, 4 PM – 9 AM) joins the summer lineup. The lowly Tadpole (100 Bells, pond) leaves after July, so catch one for your encyclopedia before the month ends. For the full monthly breakdown, refer to the Nookipedia fish calendar.
Monthly Fish Calendar Highlights
Below is a seasonal overview of the most valuable fish and when to target them. Sell prices shown are Re-Tail values.
| Season | Months | Top Fish | Price (Bells) | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Mar – May | Golden Trout | 15,000 | River (clifftop) | 4 PM – 9 AM |
| Spring | Mar – Jun | Stringfish season ends | 15,000 | River | 4 PM – 9 AM |
| Summer | Jun – Aug | Arapaima | 10,000 | River | 4 PM – 9 AM |
| Summer | Jun – Sep | Shark family | 10,000–15,000 | Ocean | 4 PM – 9 AM |
| Fall | Sep | Salmon / King Salmon | 700 / 1,800 | River mouth | All day |
| Winter | Nov – Feb | Tuna | 7,000 | Ocean | All day |
| Winter | Nov – Feb | Stringfish | 15,000 | River | 4 PM – 9 AM |
| Winter | Nov – Feb | Coelacanth | 15,000 | Ocean | All day (rain/snow) |
River Fishing
- Salmon: 700 Bells, very common in September
- Char at the waterfall: 3,800 Bells
- Sweetfish in summer: steady 900-Bell filler
Ocean Fishing
- Coelacanth: 15,000 Bells, rain or snow only
- Red Snapper: 3,000 Bells, frequent spawner
- Barred Knifejaw: 5,000 Bells, reliable value
Tortimer Island
- Fixed summer season year-round
- Exclusive fish: Ribbon Eel, Giant Trevally, Whale Shark
- Best window: 9 PM – 4 AM alongside beetle farming
In New Leaf, the Salmon moves from the river mouth to the river in mid-September, which shifts spawn rates for other fish. Late September (16th–30th) evenings on a rainy day are among the most lucrative fishing windows in the game—sharks spawn at roughly a 3% rate and Coelacanths at about 2%.
Step-by-Step: Building Your Monthly Fishing Routine
Follow this routine each month to fill your encyclopedia and maximize income without wasting play sessions.
Check the Monthly List
On the first of each month, review which fish are new and which are leaving. Prioritize departures first—they may not return for several months.
Plan Your Time Window
Split your session around the 9 AM / 4 PM / 9 PM boundaries. Evening sessions (after 9 PM) cover the most high-value species, including sharks and the Arapaima.
Watch the Weather
Rainy or snowy days unlock the Coelacanth in the ocean. If rain is forecast, dedicate the session to ocean fishing.
Fish the Right Spot
Move between the river mouth, waterfall, and ocean rather than camping one spot. Huge shadows in the ocean signal sharks, tuna, or the Coelacanth.
Sell at Re-Tail
Sell everything at Re-Tail for full price. Timmy and Tommy only pay 80%, and Leila on Tortimer Island pays a mere 5%—avoid both for serious income.
Fish availability ends exactly at the listed time. If you start at 8:50 PM chasing a day-only fish, you have minutes left before night spawners take over the pool.
Value Comparison: Best Fish per Location
| Fish | Price (Bells) | Location | Time | Availability Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coelacanth | 15,000 | Ocean | All day | Rain/snow only |
| Stringfish | 15,000 | River | 4 PM – 9 AM | Nov – Feb |
| Golden Trout | 15,000 | River | 4 PM – 9 AM | Mar – May, Sep – Nov |
| Great White Shark | 15,000 | Ocean | 4 PM – 9 AM | Jun – Sep |
| Arapaima | 10,000 | River | 4 PM – 9 AM | Jun – Sep |
| Tuna | 7,000 | Ocean | All day | Nov – Mar |
| Barred Knifejaw | 5,000 | Ocean | All day | Mar – Nov |
| Red Snapper | 3,000 | Ocean | All day | Year-round |
| Salmon | 700 | River | All day | Sep |
Do not chase only the 15,000-Bell fish. A Red Snapper spawning at a 7% rate often out-earns a Coelacanth at 1–2%. Weigh price against spawn frequency to maximize Bells per hour.
Monthly Fishing Checklist:
- Catch all fish leaving at the end of the month
- Catch every fish new to this month
- Fish during rain or snow for the Coelacanth
- Run one evening session (after 9 PM) for night spawners
- Sell the haul at Re-Tail, not Timmy and Tommy
FAQ
Q: Do Animal Crossing New Leaf monthly fish change at the start or middle of the month?
Most fish rotate on the first day of the month, but September is an exception: the Salmon moves from the river mouth to the river partway through the month, which slightly shifts spawn rates. Otherwise, treat the 1st as the changeover date for arrivals and departures.
Q: Where is the best place to catch high-value monthly fish?
The ocean offers the highest ceiling, with Coelacanths (15,000 Bells, rain/snow) and summer sharks. The river hosts the Arapaima (10,000 Bells) in summer and the Stringfish (15,000 Bells) in winter. Tortimer Island keeps a fixed summer season year-round with exclusive fish like the Whale Shark.
Q: What is the best month for fishing income in New Leaf?
Late September (16th–30th) is a standout window. On rainy evenings between 9 PM and 4 AM, sharks spawn at roughly 3% and Coelacanths at 2%, with reliable Red Snappers and Barred Knifejaws filling the gaps. Half-hour ocean sessions can regularly net close to 100,000 Bells.
Q: Should I sell fish at Tortimer Island?
No. Leila on the island pays only 5% of a fish's value. Always bring your catch back to the mainland and sell at Re-Tail for the full listed price—Timmy and Tommy pay only 80% as a fallback.