Animal Crossing: New Leaf Fishing Tips

We'll help you reel in a whopper.

Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Leaf features a handful of leisurely activities to enjoy, chief among them fishing.  There’s always a great opportunity to catch one of many species that automatically appear in your encyclopedia, and it’s our goal to help fill it with these fishing tips. 

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-You can’t go fishing without the rod.  Purchase one at Nookling Junction for a mere 500 bells.   Upon leaving, equip it by accessing your inventory on the touch screen and select the fishing rod, which should instantly appear in your character’s hand.

-To fish, be on the lookout for dark silhouettes in the water.  Approach and tap the A button to cast.  Always remember that the lure must be in front of the creature’s head for the fish to notice it.  Then wait for the fish to swim near the lure.  

This part is most important.  The fish will hit the lure up to five times.  During which, the lure may go underwater.  If this happens, immediately press A to reel it in.

-Pressing A is no guarantee you’ll catch a fish.  It’s all in the timing.

-You don’t need to rapidly press A to reel in a fish.  One tap will do it.

-You don’t have to stand right on the edge of the beach or grass to cast.  You can move back a bit. That said, you must face the water in order to fish. 

-Running too close to water will scare fish away.

-It’s possible to catch other creatures like frogs and crawfish.  You may even reel in a tin can.

-You can sell fish to Re-Tail for profit or donate these creatures to the Museum on Main Street.

-Caught fish automatically appear in the encyclopedia, which you can access from the touchscreen.  Select the desired critter to view the season it appears (year-round, summer, etc.), the location where it was caught and record size.

-Selling fish to Re-Tail does not have any effect on the encyclopedia’s contents.  Once a fish is caught, it’s there forever unless you delete the save file.

-Some villagers may ask to trade a valuable item for a specific fish.  This decision is entirely up to you. You’ll know a villager wants to trade if a musical cue plays as you pass by.

-Visit Tortimer Island to catch more exotic species.  You can even purchase a wetsuit and go for a swim, whereupon which you’re able to dive and pluck fish from the sea.  Look for bubbles that signify a creature’s beneath the surface.

More Animal Crossing Features

Animal Crossing: New Leaf Turnips- Playing the Stalk Market

Animal Crossing: New Leaf Beginner’s Tips

Familiar Faces- Lucky and Jay


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Prima Games Staff
The staff at Prima Games.