If you’re still hunting for that last shadow in your Critterpedia, the ACNH November sea creatures update is basically your last stand before winter really sets in. Honestly, it’s a weird month. For Northern Hemisphere players, the ocean is getting cold, but the variety is actually peaking in a way that feels frantic. You’ve got these massive, fast-moving shadows that will absolutely ruin your day if you aren't prepared to corner them against the boundary fence.
I’ve spent way too many hours chasing bubbles around my island. It’s a grind. But if you want that gold diving trophy, you have to understand that November isn't just about "new" stuff; it's about what is leaving. If you miss the Spiny Lobster or the Venus' Flower Basket now, you're looking at a long wait. Or time travel. And let's be real, some of us prefer the slow burn.
The ocean floor in Animal Crossing: New Horizons isn't just a place for bells. It’s a tactical environment. In November, the water clarity changes subtly, and the spawns shift toward high-value, high-speed targets.
The Northern Hemisphere November Hustle
Most people think summer is the best time for diving. They’re wrong. November is where the real money is. This month, we see the return of some of the most iconic (and expensive) creatures in the game.
Take the Dungeness Crab, for instance. It’s back. It’s medium-sized. It’s not particularly fast, but it’s a staple for your DIY cooking recipes if you’ve unlocked the kitchen mechanics from the 2.0 update. You need these for the Sautéed Olive Flounder and other seafood platters. Without a healthy stock of November crabs, your Thanksgiving—err, Turkey Day—prep is going to be a nightmare when Franklin rolls into town.
But the real star of the ACNH November sea creatures roster is the Red King Crab.
It’s huge. It moves in short, violent bursts. If you see a large shadow that seems to be zig-zagging away from you with a sense of purpose, that’s your target. The Red King Crab sells for 8,000 Bells. That is a significant chunk of change when you’re trying to pay off a basement or a storage expansion.
Don't Ignore the Sea Pig
I have a love-hate relationship with the Sea Pig. It’s small. It looks like a pink blob with legs. It’s also incredibly fast. This is one of those creatures that requires you to stop mashing the 'A' button. If you swim directly at a Sea Pig, it’s gone. You have to sneak. Tilt that analog stick just a tiny bit, hover over the bubbles, and then dive.
The Sea Pig is only available from 4 PM to 9 AM. It’s a night owl’s prize. If you’re a casual player who only logs on during your lunch break, you are never going to see this thing. It’s a 10,000 Bell creature. It’s rare. It’s annoying. And it’s quintessential November.
Southern Hemisphere: The Spring Bloom
If you’re playing in the Southern Hemisphere, your experience with ACNH November sea creatures is the polar opposite. You’re moving into late spring. The water is warming up. You’re losing the Spider Crab (thank goodness, those things are terrifying) and gaining the Vampire Squid.
The Vampire Squid is a 10,000 Bell haul. It’s available from 4 PM to 9 AM. Much like the Northern Hemisphere's Sea Pig, it demands a nocturnal schedule. It has a long, glowing trail when it moves. It’s beautiful, in a creepy, deep-sea sort of way. Blathers has some truly fascinating—if slightly panicked—dialogue about it if you take the time to read his entries.
The Gigas Giant Clam Factor
Southern Hemisphere players also have to deal with the Gigas Giant Clam this month. This is the hardest creature to catch in the game. Period.
Its shadow is enormous. It moves faster than you can swim. If you chase it in a straight line, you will lose. The trick is to herd it toward the corners of the map. The yellow mesh fence is your only friend here. By forcing the clam into a corner, you limit its escape routes. It’s a battle of wills. It’s worth 15,000 Bells, making it the highest-value sea creature you can pull out of the water.
The Physics of Bubbles
Ever noticed how some bubbles go straight up and others sway? That’s not random.
- Steady, slow bubbles: Usually a stationary or slow creature like Seaweed or an Anemone.
- Erratic, frequent bubbles: High-speed movers like the Lobster or the Gigas Giant Clam.
- Sparse bubbles: Often rare, small creatures like the Sea Pig or Pearl Oyster.
In November, the bubble patterns for the Venus' Flower Basket are particularly distinct. They come in straight, thin lines. This creature is a "large" shadow but doesn't move as fast as a crab. It’s a masterpiece of nature, literally a silica skeleton that traps shrimp inside for life. Dark? Yes. Essential for a completed museum? Absolutely.
How to Optimize Your November Diving Runs
Stop diving blindly. It’s a waste of time and durability (well, if tools broke underwater, which they thankfully don't).
First, empty your pockets. You need all 40 slots. November’s loot pool is heavy on high-value items, and you don’t want to be swapping out a Snow Crab for a Sea Grapes every two minutes.
Second, focus on the perimeter. Rare creatures in November tend to spawn more frequently near the buoy lines. I’ve found that doing laps around the edge of the swim zone is significantly more productive than crisscrossing the middle of the ocean.
Third, use the "Sneak Method." I cannot stress this enough. Most players fail to catch the fast November creatures because they dive too early. When you dive, your surface speed translates into your underwater speed for a few seconds, but the splash alerts the creature. If you swim slowly using only the analog stick (no 'A' button), you can get almost directly on top of the bubbles before you submerge. This cuts the chase time by 70%.
The Turkey Day Connection
Let's talk about the 2.0 update content because it changed why we care about ACNH November sea creatures. Before the update, you caught them for the museum and the bells. Now, you catch them for the kitchen.
Specifically, keep an eye out for Manila Clams (technically a beach find, but relevant) and Scallops. Pascal is still out there, lurking. You’ll want those Scallops to get his mermaid DIYs or pearls, but in November, the drop rate feels slightly different.
But back to the cooking. Clam Chowder and Pumpkin Pie aren't the only things on the menu. If you want to impress your villagers during the harvest festival, having a stash of November-exclusive sea creatures in your home storage is a pro move. Villagers will often ask for specific "secret ingredients" during the event. Usually, it’s something like a Scallop or a Dungeness Crab. If you have to stop the event to go diving for forty minutes because you didn't prep, you’re going to lose the momentum of the holiday.
Common Misconceptions About November Diving
One of the biggest myths is that rain increases the spawn rate of rare sea creatures. While rain affects bugs and certain coelacanths in the river and sea, there is no hard data from the datamining community (like the legendary Ninji) that suggests rain impacts the spawn rate of diving creatures.
Another mistake? Ignoring the "Small" shadows.
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In November, the Sea Pig and the Sea Butterfly (though that’s a fish, players often confuse the two habitats) are small. Many people ignore small shadows because they assume it’s just another Acorn Barnacle. Don't do that. In November, the small shadow pool contains some of the rarest RNG rolls in the game.
Finalizing Your Critterpedia
If you are a completionist, November is a "bridge" month. It’s the transition from the lush, teeming life of autumn into the stark, specific spawns of winter.
For Northern Hemisphere players, this is your last chance for the Chambered Nautilus. It’s been around since September, but it leaves at the end of this month. It’s a medium shadow, moves at a moderate pace, and is available from 4 PM to 9 AM. If you don't catch it by November 30th, you aren't seeing it again until March. That is a four-month gap.
The Spiny Lobster is also peaking. It’s worth 5,000 Bells. It’s one of the few creatures that actually feels "crunchy" when you catch it, if that makes sense. The haptic feedback on the Switch controllers for a Spiny Lobster is distinct—vibrant and sharp.
To make the most of your time, head out after 4 PM. The "Night Shift" in ACNH November sea creatures is objectively better for your wallet and your museum. You get access to the Sea Pig, the Red King Crab, and the Chambered Nautilus all at once.
Clear your storage. Stock up on some coffee from The Roost to set the mood. Start at the airport dock and swim clockwise. Use the fence to trap the fast movers. If you see a shadow that moves faster than you, don't panic—just steer it toward the boundary. You’ve got this. If you miss the window, you’ll be staring at empty museum tanks until next spring, and nobody wants that kind of pressure during the holiday season.
Start your patrol at the northwest corner of the map. This area often has the highest concentration of "respawn" points for deep-sea creatures due to the way the game’s loading zones work. Catch everything, even the Seaweed. Clearing the "trash" spawns forces the game to roll the dice on new creatures, increasing your chances of finding that elusive Red King Crab. Move quickly, stay observant of the bubble patterns, and keep your inventory organized for a maximum Bell yield.