Among the many tasks you can do in Animal Crossing: City Folk, fishing is popular with fans for the wide variety of things you can do with them. Whether it be donating it to a museum, selling it, or keeping a friend for your aquarium, fishing is essential for the full Animal Crossing experience.
Though keep in mind that there are two things to consider when looking for specific fish: location and time. Players can catch fish in either the river, ocean, pond, or lake (or if you're looking for specifically char, the waterfall). But fish travel in and out of the area based on the seasons so here's a schedule so you know when to get that specific catch.
9 All Year Round
While most fish come and go based on the seasons, some stay for the long haul. So unlike the jellyfish that prefer those hot summery days, players can find the fish in this first category all throughout the year. The fish that can be found all day are as follows: Barbel Steed in the river, Black Bass in the river, Carp in the river, Crucian Carp in the river, Goldfish in the river, Horse Mackerel in the ocean, Olive Flounder in the ocean, Red Snapper in the ocean, and Sea Bass in the ocean.
From 9am - 4pm, the following fish can be found at their various locations: Bluegill in the river, Pale Chub in the river, and Popeyed Goldfish in the river. From 4pm - 9am players can collect these fish: Dace in the river, Freshwater Goby in the river, Koi in the river, and Coelacanth in the ocean on a rainy day.
8 Spring (February 18th - May 31st)
Ah, finally. The snow's melting away and the frosty breeze fades into a gentle warmth at the start of the spring season. Though, while players are up and about, fish are still reeling awake from their winter torpor so they won't find that many new fish at the start of the season.
The daily fish to collect would be the Loach, found in the river.
7 Spring - Summer
Slowly but surely, more seasoned fishes are returning to their usual activities as the waters warm up even more. All found in the pond, these are the fishes specific in both spring and summer periods.
All day long, players can collect these specimens: Killifish in the pond, Crawfish in the pond, and Frog in the pond.
6 Summer (June 1st - August 31st)
Suns out, rods out! Summer is here so slap on your sunscreen because players now have access to the summer-specific fishes, including the napoleon fish which is one of the more expensive in the list.
Jellyfish can be found in the ocean all day. The Giant Snakehead can be found in the lake from 9am to 4pm. The Napoleon Fish can be found in the ocean from 4am to 9pm.
5 Summer - Fall
Throughout these summer to fall months is when players can really earn the most. With most of the pricier fish now in season, make sure to sell that shark to Tom Nook if you're looking for some serious pocket bells for the year. The Blue Marling, Moray Eel, and Puffer Fish can be found all day in the ocean.
From 4pm to 9am, river specimens Arapaima, Arowana, and Eel can be found in the river. In the lake, Gar can be collected. At the same time, Hammerhead Sharks and regular Sharks can be found in the ocean. From 9am to 4am, players can catch Piranhas in the river. Lastly, from 4am to 9pm, Dorado and Sweetfish can be found in the river, and Ocean Sunfish and Rays can be found in the ocean.
4 Fall (September 1st - November 30th)
A little chillier compared to summer's beach weather, but that doesn't mean the fishing has to stop. And if you're craving your classic sashimi platter, now's the time because all the salmon is ready for a catch.
All day, King Salmon and regular Salmon can be found in the river.
3 Fall - Winter
Players can only find two catches between the fall to winter period, which is quite telling of the obvious slow down of additional fish due to Animal Crossing's accurate depiction of torpor. But hey, at least you won't have to spend all your bells for some fresh high quality lobster.
Players can catch lobsters all the livelong day in the ocean. From 4am to 9pm, Pike can be found in the river.
2 Winter (December 1st - February 18th)
Even though players won't exactly be ice fishing, it's still pretty frosty out. And since you don't want to risk hypothermia, bundle up in your snow boots and gloves to keep those digits toasty because winter is here and so are its fishes.
Bitterling and Pond Smelt can be found in the river all day, while the Sea Butterfly can be found in the ocean all day. From 4pm to 9am, Stringfish can be found in the river.
1 Special
Unlike the other fishes that swim with the seasons, some fish just don't. Instead of following weather patterns, these fish that like to live by their own time and schedule.
Spring - Fall:
- Angelfish: Found between 4pm - 9am in the river.
- Barred Knifejaw: Found all day in the ocean.
- Butterfly Fish: Found all day in the ocean.
- Catfish: Found between 4pm - 9am in the lake.
- Clownfish: Found all day in the ocean.
- Guppy: Found between 9am - 4pm in the river.
- Neon Tetra: Found between 9am - 4pm in the river.
- Seahorse: Found all day in the ocean.
- Surgeonfish: Found all day in the ocean.
- Zebra Turkeyfish: Found all day in the ocean
Spring - Early Summer, Fall (March - June, September - November)
- Char: Found all day except between 9pm - 4am in the waterfall.
- Cherry Salmon: Found all day in the river.
- Rainbow Trout: Found all day in the river.
Fall - Spring
- Dab: Found all day in the ocean.
- Football Fish: Found between 4pm - 9am in the ocean.
- Tuna: Found all day in the ocean.
- Yellow Perch: Found all day in the river.
Winter - Summer
- Squid: Found all day in the ocean.
Other
- Octopus (All year-round, except for Feb & August): Found all day in the ocean. 500.