How to Find (& Catch) Mahi-Mahi in Animal Crossing

As the months change, Animal Crossing: New Horizons players can always expect to see new bugs and fish arriving to their islands. The Mahi-Mahi has been spotted off the piers of the Northern hemisphere islands since May and will be available until October. The Mahi-Mahi is a decently valuable fish, bringing in 6,000 bells each when sold at Nook’s Cranny and 9,000 bells when sold to CJ. The Mahi-Mahi has never appeared in any other Animal Crossing games, and it is worth the catch if players can find it.

In real life, the Mahi-Mahi is a large fish found throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Its name in Hawaiian means “very strong.” In the game, catching the Mahi-Mahi is extremely rare. Catching this elusive fish will help players complete their collection for the Museum. Once a player has caught all 80 available fish species, they will also receive the DIY recipe for a Gold Fishing Rod. Here’s how to find and catch the Mahi-Mahi.

Find the Mahi-Mahi in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

While the Mahi-Mahi is among the rarest fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, it is still one of only four fish that can be caught off the Pier in New Horizons. The other fish available at this location are the Blue Marlin, Tuna, and Giant Trevally. These all cast shadows of similar sizes, either Very Large or Huge, so it’s not always possible to tell when one is nearby. Instead, players will just need to check the Pier often.

In the Northern hemisphere, the Mahi-Mahi appears from May until November. In the Southern hemisphere, it will arrive in November and stay through April.

The Mahi-Mahi is active all day, like all the other fish that spawn off the Pier. Despite this, it takes a while for players to finally reel one in. They don’t make a great way to farm for bells due to their scarcity in the game and how much work it will likely take the player to catch one.

Catch the Mahi-Mahi in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

To increase their chances of a Mahi-Mahi spawning, players should craft plenty of fish bait. Some players recommend at least 15-20 packets to all but guarantee one spawns. Players will need to be patient and persistent, pulling in as many fish as they can.

Some players have suggested that rarer fish spawn more often when it is raining. Players are encouraged to take their rods out on a rainy day to test this theory and try to catch a Mahi-Mahi.

Sometimes, it helps for a player to save up Nook Miles and go on a Mystery Island Tour. The islands represented on these tours often have better resources and critters that spawn more often. If players decide to take a trip, they should be sure to bring some bait and stop at the Pier wherever they land. They may have a better chance of catching a Mahi-Mahi here.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available for the Nintendo Switch.

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