Can I Sell My Fish in Animal Crossing?

Yes, you absolutely can sell the fish you catch in Animal Crossing for bells! In fact, fishing and bug catching are two of the best ways to make money in the game.

As an avid Animal Crossing player for years, I‘ve made millions of bells from fishing alone. Once you understand the ins and outs of the fishing trade, you can earn some serious profits too. In this guide, I‘ll share everything you need to know about selling fish in Animal Crossing.

Where Should You Sell Your Fish?

The primary place to sell your fish is at the Nook‘s Cranny store run by Tom Nook‘s nephews Timmy and Tommy. Simply walk up to either one and select the "I want to sell" option when prompted. They will buy any fish in your inventory for bells.

According to the Animal Crossing wiki Nookipedia, Nook‘s Cranny is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. So make sure you get your fishing done during store hours so you can cash in!

When Nook‘s Cranny is closed for the night, you can still sell your fish by using the drop box located just outside the store. But here‘s the catch – the drop box only gives you 80% of the fish‘s normal value. So it‘s always better to wait and sell during regular hours if you can.

Now, on special days when the beaver character C.J. visits your island, you can sell fish directly to him for a premium price – 1.5 times the normal value! So for rare fish that are already worth thousands of bells, the bell return from C.J. can be astronomical.

Always be on the lookout for C.J. wandering around on your island because you absolutely want to take advantage of his generosity whenever possible. The patience will pay off hugely.

When Should You Cash In Your Fish?

Timing is everything when it comes to getting the highest price for your fish. Here are some key tips:

• Fish prices fluctuate daily in the game, sometimes drastically. A fish might be worth 1,000 bells one day and 5,000 bells the next. Pay attention to the price trends.

• Prices also spike randomly at certain times of day. You might want to catch fish in the morning but sell them at night when the prices jump up.

• Certain seasons drive up the value of seasonal fish like the stringfish in winter. Fish prices also vary by hemisphere.

• Special events like Fishing Tourneys or the arrival of a new month can suddenly increase prices.

• Again, C.J. buying fish for 1.5X makes a huge difference. Plan to sell only when he‘s in town.

As you can see, there‘s a definite strategy to maximize profits by timing your fish sales correctly. Keep an eye out for great selling opportunities!

What Fish Sell For the Most Bells?

While any fish can be sold for bells, there are certain ultra rare and valuable fish that will earn you a ton of money, especially when C.J. is buying. Here are the top high value fish you should always be on the lookout for:

As you can see, fish like the marlins, tuna, and oarfish that appear as the largest sea shadows are incredibly valuable. Rare fish like the elusive coelacanth and barreleye fetch big bells too.

And catching a Great White shark in the summer can earn you a fortune! Keep these top fish in mind as you plan your daily fishing routine.

How Many Fish Should You Catch Each Day?

As a general rule of thumb, I aim to catch 20-30 fish each day in Animal Crossing when actively fishing. This takes around 30-60 minutes depending on your luck. Here‘s why I think that‘s the ideal amount:

• It‘s enough to easily spot the valuable rare fish shadows but not too repetitive.

• You can earn 10,000-300,000 bells per day depending on your catches.

• It fits nicely into the early morning and late night prime fishing times.

• You‘ll finish donating new catches to the museum relatively quickly.

Of course, on days when C.J. is buying fish for premium prices, I‘ll fish non-stop for hours to take advantage! But in general, 20-30 fish keeps fishing fun and profitable each day.

What Should You Do With Extra Fish?

Once you‘ve donated one of each species of fish to the museum, extra fish become pure profit! But other than selling them, there are creative things you can do with your surplus fish as well:

• Give them as gifts to villagers – this raises your friendship level with them!

• Use fish to decorate your island – place them on tables, shelves, etc for a fun touch.

• Use fish as ingredients in cooking recipes – your villagers will share various fish recipes with you.

• Trade fish with other players – you can exchange fish for items you want from others.

• Craft fish bait – use extra fish to craft fish bait and catch even more rare fish!

So don‘t just sell every single fish you catch. Be sure to also donate them to the museum and build relationships along the way.

Is Fishing Profitable in Animal Crossing?

In my opinion, fishing is one of the most profitable and worthwhile activities in the entire Animal Crossing game.

Here‘s a quick back-of-the-napkin on how profitable 30 minutes of fishing can be:

• Catch 20 fish in 30 minutes
• Half are common small fish worth 100-500 bells = 5,000 bells
• The other half are larger shadow fish worth 1,000-4,000 bells = 20,000 bells
• Total of 25,000 bells in 30 minutes

That‘s a rate of 50,000 bells per hour! Not too shabby at all.

Of course, this can be drastically higher if you catch rare fish worth 10,000-15,000 bells each. A single coelacanth could earn you more in one catch than an entire day of common fish.

Overall, I highly recommend dedicating time every morning and evening to catching fish. It‘s a relaxing way to earn tons of bells and complete your museum collection along the way.

So grab your fishing rod and go land that big one – your island riches await! I hope this guide gives you the knowledge to turn fishing into bell profits in Animal Crossing. Let me know if you have any other fish selling questions!