The gentle lapping of waves against the pristine shore, the satisfying plunk of the fishing line, and the cheerful melody of the hourly music—these are the serene constants of life on your Animal Crossing: New Horizons island. But four times a year, this tranquility is punctuated by the frantic, exhilarating energy of the Fishing Tourney. For dedicated anglers in 2024, the tourney represents the ultimate challenge: a quest not just for points, but for the mythic, the elusive, the truly rare catches that transcend the event itself.
While the core mechanics of C.J.'s competition remain unchanged—a three-minute frenzy to catch as many fish as possible for points toward unique swag—the seasoned fisher understands that the 2024 tourney is a deeper game. It’s a test of knowledge, patience, and strategic preparation, all aimed at hooking the aquatic crown jewels of your island’s ecosystem.
The Strategic Angler’s Preparation: Bait is King
The single most critical factor in targeting rare fish during the tourney is the liberal use of Manila Clams. Crafting fish bait is no longer a tedious chore but an essential pre-tourney ritual. The random nature of fish spawns works against you in a timed event. By scattering bait at your feet, you force the game to generate a new fish shadow instantly, effectively maximizing your three-minute window. Without bait, you risk precious seconds running up and down the coastline waiting for a spawn. With a pocket full of bait, you are in control.
Location is your second weapon. While fish spawn off the pier, the ocean, and the river mouths, your strategy should be focused. The pier is hallowed ground for the rarest ocean fish. Setting up your tourney station right on the end of the pier allows you to use your bait to specifically target the unique species that only spawn from that wooden structure.
The Pantheon of Rare Tourney Catches
So, what are you hoping to see when that large shadow emerges from your scattered bait? Here are the legendary catches that make veteran players gasp.
1. The Coelacanth: The Prehistoric Prize The undisputed king of rare fish. This ancient, enormous blue fish is the ultimate badge of honor. It only appears when it is raining or snowing on your island. A Fishing Tourney coinciding with precipitation is a divine gift. During the tourney, if the skies have opened up, every large ocean shadow has the potential to be the Coelacanth. Its rarity is immense, but the concentrated effort of a tourney, especially with bait, offers the best chance you might ever have to catch one. The thrill of reeling one in during the high-pressure timer is unmatched.
2. The Mahi-Mahi & The Giant Trevally: The Pier Masters These two are the reason you stand on the pier. Both the Mahi-Mahi and the Giant Trevally only spawn off the pier and are notoriously finicky, with a very low spawn rate. The tourney is the perfect storm to hunt them. You are using bait to constantly spawn new fish, and you’re doing it from their exclusive location. Catching either during the three-minute round is a huge victory; catching both is a legendary feat. They are smaller shadows than the Coelacanth but larger than the common Horse Mackerel, requiring a keen eye to identify them quickly.
3. The Stringfish: The Mountain Myth For the winter and early spring tourneys, a journey to the highest clifftop river is a necessary pilgrimage. The Stringfish, a massive river dweller, is only available from December to March in the Northern Hemisphere (June-Sept in the Southern). It appears in the elevated river sources between 4 PM and 9 AM, making some tourney windows perfect for hunting it. This requires a more complex setup, involving bait crafted and used atop your cliffs. Catching a Stringfish during a tourney round is a testament to excellent time management and terrain navigation.
4. The Golden Trout: The High-Altitude Artist Another clifftop resident, the Golden Trout, shares the same spawn location and months as the Stringfish but is even rarer. It’s a medium shadow, making it easy to mistake for a common Cherry Salmon or Char. Catching this beautifully spotted fish amidst the tourney pressure, while differentiating shadow sizes on the waterfall-disrupted water surfaces of the cliffs, is a task for the most discerning angler.
5. The Barreleye & The Football Fish: The Nocturnal Niche For tourneys that extend into the evening (after 4 PM), the rare deep-sea creatures emerge. The Barreleye, with its transparent head, is a tiny shadow that appears in the sea from 9 PM to 4 AM and is infuriatingly rare. The Football Fish, a large, ugly-cute fish with a glowing lure, also appears from 4 PM to 9 AM. A night-time tourney adds a layer of difficulty and a chance to add these bizarre beauties to your tourney haul.
Beyond the Points: The True Reward
While earning points for a coveted Fish Print or Anchor Statue is rewarding, the true veteran’s goal is the Nook Miles Achievement. The game tracks your "Biggest Fish" for each species. Catching a personal best Coelacanth or Stringfish during the tourney doesn’t just net you 5 points; it permanently etches your name in the island’s record books.
The 2024 Fishing Tourney, therefore, is more than a seasonal event. It is a curated opportunity, a convergence of preparation, knowledge, and luck. It’s about transforming a random, passive process into a targeted hunt. It’s the pulse-quickening moment when a large shadow appears from your bait on the rainy pier—is it a Red Snapper, or is it the legendary Coelacanth? That moment of anticipation, that hope for a digital miracle, is what keeps us casting our lines, season after season, in the wonderful world of Animal Crossing.
