You hear that upbeat, slightly frantic music start playing near the Resident Services plaza. You see the tent. C.J. is there, bouncing around with his phone, obsessed with "seasports" and livestreaming his every move. It’s Saturday. It's time.
Most people treat the fishing tourney Animal Crossing event as a casual way to kill a few hours, but if you’re actually trying to farm those gold trophies or snag the elusive Anchor Statue, you’ve gotta stop just "winging it." Honestly, the difference between a mediocre run and a high-score blitz comes down to physics and inventory management. Most players waste thirty seconds just walking. That's a death sentence for your point total.
The C.J. Factor and How the Points Actually Work
C.J. is the heart of the operation. He shows up four times a year—specifically the second Saturday of January, April, July, and October. He’s looking for "quality content," which translates to you catching as many fish as possible in a three-minute window.
The math is simple but brutal. You get one point per fish. If you manage to catch three or more, you get a "clear" bonus of two extra points. This means catching three fish gets you five points, while catching ten fish gets you twelve. If you're playing with friends, there’s a cooperative bonus that can seriously skyrocket your total, though most of us are solo grinders.
You’re aiming for 300 points total. That's the threshold for the Gold Fish Trophy. It doesn't happen in one go. It’s a marathon of three-minute sprints.
Why Fish Bait Is Non-Negotiable
Stop looking for shadows. Seriously. If you are running up and down the beach hoping a sea bass spawns, you’re doing it wrong. You need bait. Lots of it.
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Every second you spend sprinting to find a fish is a second you aren't casting your line. Professional players—the ones who consistently hit 10 or 12 fish per round—usually craft about 50 to 100 bags of Fish Bait before the tourney even begins.
- Dig up Manila Clams on the beach.
- Craft them individually (yes, the lack of bulk crafting is still painful).
- Stand in one spot on the pier or beach.
- Scatter bait, catch, repeat.
By staying in one spot, you eliminate the "travel time" variable. You can literally just mash the A button, wait for the vibration, and pull.
The Gear Problem
Your fishing rod will break. It’s a law of nature in New Horizons. There is nothing more soul-crushing than having your rod snap with 45 seconds left on the clock.
You should keep at least two spare rods in your pocket. Better yet, customize your rod before it breaks. Using a Customization Kit on a tool completely resets its durability. It's a "pro gamer move" that saves you the materials of crafting a brand-new rod and the time spent running back to a workbench.
Don't use the Flimsy Rod. Just don't. You need the standard Fishing Rod or the colorful/outdoorsy variants from Nook’s Cranny. They all have the same durability (30 catches), so just pick the one that doesn't hurt your eyes to look at.
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Breaking Down the Rewards
The swag is the real reason we do this. C.J. has a pool of 13 different items. You trade 10 points for one random prize.
People obsess over the Anchor Statue and the Fish-Print Tee, but don't overlook the Fish Drying Rack. It’s customizable. You can change it to look like squid or octopus drying in the sun, which adds a ton of "realism" to any seaside boardwalk build.
Here is the thing about the prizes: they are truly random. You might get four Fish Doorplates in a row before you see a single Fishing-Rod Stand. It's annoying. It’s grindy. But that's Animal Crossing.
Seasonal Variations You Might Miss
The January tourney feels different than the July one. Why? Because the fish pool changes. In the winter, you’re dealing with a lot of small shadows (Pond Smelt if you're near the river) or the dreaded Canned Drink/Tire if you haven't kept your island clean.
In the summer, the shadows are larger. You’ll hit more Sea Bass, which takes a fraction of a second longer to reel in compared to a tiny Pale Chub. It sounds like overkill to track milliseconds, but in a three-minute window, those animations add up.
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Multiplayer Strategy: The Points Multiplier
If you have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, invite people over. Or go to their island. When you fish in a group, the "Co-op Bonus" kicks in.
If the group collectively catches 5 to 9 fish, everyone gets 5 extra points. If the group catches 10 to 14 fish, that's 7 points. Over 15 fish? 10 extra points for everyone.
Essentially, you can earn 15+ points per round without even breaking a sweat. It turns the 300-point grind from a five-hour ordeal into a fun hour-long hang with friends. Plus, you don't have to pay the 500 Bell entry fee after your first try if guests are over; C.J. usually waives it during group play.
The Secret "Sell" Mechanic
Don't forget that C.J. buys fish for 1.5x the price Nook’s Cranny offers. Even after the tourney ends at 6:00 PM, he sticks around until midnight.
Empty your cooler. Sell everything to him. If you’ve been catching high-value fish like Oarfish or Coelacanths (if it's raining), you can easily walk away with a several hundred thousand Bells. It's one of the best ways to pay off a home loan if you've missed the Turnip market.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Next Tourney
To dominate the next event, you need to prep before Saturday morning.
- Farm Clams Wednesday through Friday: Aim for 100 Manila Clams. Craft them while watching a show; the "A" button mashing is mindless.
- Clear your pockets: You only need a stack of bait and two rods. Leave the slingshot and the watering can in storage.
- Position your cooler: C.J. provides the cooler, but make sure the area around the plaza is clear so you can sprint back and forth without hitting trees or villagers.
- Watch the clock: The tourney runs from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. If you start at 5:30 PM, you're going to be stressed. Start early, take breaks.
- Swap your prizes: If you get duplicates, don't sell them to Nook's. Trade them with other players online. The Fish-Print Tee is a hot commodity on trading forums.
Fishing in Animal Crossing isn't just about the fish; it's about the efficiency of the "cast and pull" rhythm. Master that, and the Gold Trophy is basically yours.