Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Coelacanth - Where, When And How To Catch The Rare Coelacanth

There are several rare fish to find in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and the Coelacanth is one of the most sought-after. It's a huge fish and a satisfying catch, although it only spawns under certain conditions. If you're wondering how, when and where to catch a Coelacanth, just follow the steps below and you'll have one hooked in no time.

If you're after information about every fish in New Horizons and general tips on how to hook them, check out our Animal Crossing: New Horizons fish guide and list for all the fishy facts you could want.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Catch a Coelacanth

When can you catch a Coelacanth?

Unlike the elusive Golden Trout or Stringfish, the Coelacanth can be caught at all times of the day/year. However, it only appears when it's raining on your island:

Time

All day and night

Months

All year

Where is the Coelacanth?

The Coelacanth is a saltwater fish and can only found in the ocean. Fortunately you're on a deserted island, so there's plenty of ocean to search. Remember, it will only spawn if it's raining, though.

Coelacanths can also spawn on Nook Miles islands.

How do you catch a Coelacanth?

There's no specific trick to catching a Coelacanth, although crafting fish bait using the squirting Manila Clams you dig up on the beach with your shovel will save you from having to run around your island in the rain. Each clam can be crafted into a single helping of fish bait which you can sprinkle in the ocean for the shadow of a fish to appear.

The Coelacanth casts a very large shadow, so if the shadow that appears is small, simply cast another bait to scare off the little one and attract a whopper.

There's no set pattern to when it rains (not one made obvious to the player, anyhow), so you'll just have to wait for the weather to come in, and prepare yourself to curse like a pirate every time you inadvertently catch a Sea Bass.

How much is a Coelacanth worth?

The Coelacanth is worth 15,000 Bells if you sell it to Timmy and Tommy (or 12,000 Bells if you leave it in the Nook's Cranny Drop Box). Make sure you donate one to the Museum, though!

How do you pronounce 'Coelacanth?

After mangling the pronunciation of this fish for many years, we waded through the quagmire of coh-ella-canth and coh-eel-uh-canth to the actual pronunciation: 'SEE-luh-canth'. Easy when you know how.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter too much how you pronounce it to yourself, but if you want to boast to your friends about catching one, best make sure you don't embarrass yourself, hmm?

This article is part of our Animal Crossing: New Horizons walkthrough, which includes a Complete Fish List, Complete Bug List and Complete Sea Creatures List. If you're looking for specific fish or bugs, we can tell you how to catch the elusive Coelacanth, Mahi-Mahi, Giant Trevally, Stringfish, Golden Trout and all the Sharks and Beetles, along with a full list of critters leaving at the end of the month (unless you visit Kapp'n's Boat Tour islands, of course!).

We can also help with How to Spot Redd's Fake Paintings and Statues, How to Make Bells Fast, How to Breed Flowers, How to Get more DIY Recipes, How to Upgrade Nook's Cranny, where and when to find special characters like Gulliver, Sable, Label, Wisp, Celeste, Pirate Gulliver and Jack, plus tips on using the Star Wand, Tool Ring, Rock Trick, Cutting Down and Moving Trees, using amiibo on Harv's Island, How to Back Up Your Island Data, How to Time Travel, How to Get a 5-Star Island Rating and a whole lot more.

If it's new content you're looking for help with, we can help you find gyroids, unlock Brewster's café, use the new Pro Camera App for selfies, enact new ordinances, get the beloved Froggy Chair, and even learn How to Cook.

And finally, Where to Buy Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Nintendo Switch, if for some reason you haven't yet picked up the game, and How To Buy The Happy Home Paradise DLC, too!