Catch These Fish And Bugs In Animal Crossing: New Horizons Before June

TL;DR

  • Golden trout and oarfish leave Northern Hemisphere after May, returning in different seasons
  • Southern Hemisphere loses fleas and mantises, requiring specific catching approaches
  • Mystery Islands offer better spawn rates for rare cliff-top river fish
  • Shadow size identification is crucial for targeting specific valuable fish
  • Proper timing and location knowledge essential for completing your Critterpedia

Time is running out to complete your Critterpedia collection in Animal Crossing: New Horizons! May represents your final opportunity to capture several valuable fish and elusive bugs before they disappear for months. Understanding these seasonal transitions is crucial for museum completion and maximizing your bell earnings.

While May introduced numerous new species to your island ecosystem, the month’s conclusion signals the departure of various creatures regardless of your hemisphere location. This comprehensive guide covers all departing species with hemisphere-specific strategies to ensure you don’t miss these temporary residents. Proper preparation now prevents months of waiting for their return.

Fish appear as distinct shadow formations in water bodies, categorized by six different size classifications. Mastering shadow size recognition significantly improves your fishing efficiency—we recommend consulting detailed shadow guides to visualize these size variations in actual gameplay scenarios. Each fish listed includes corresponding shadow dimensions for streamlined identification.

The golden trout stands out as both a series newcomer and one of New Horizons’ most lucrative catches, commanding 15,000 bells at Nook’s Cranny. This exclusive fish exclusively inhabits cliff-top river segments, mirroring the spawning behavior of the rare stringfish. If fishing dominates your May agenda, ensure your ladder is handy and focus efforts on elevated waterways.

Mystery Island expeditions offer superior rare fish spawning rates compared to your home island. These deserted islands with appropriate river layouts dramatically reduce fish bait crafting requirements, though carrying prepared bait remains advisable for targeted hunting.

Additionally bidding farewell post-May is the magnificent oarfish, absent until December’s arrival. This colossal marine creature appears throughout all daylight hours in ocean waters, displaying the game’s largest shadow profile for easy spotting.

Among New Horizons’ uncommon creatures, the mole cricket presents unique capturing challenges. While not the rarest insect, it’s easily overlooked without proper detection knowledge. Underground vibrations signal its presence—listen carefully and dig where chirping sounds emerge.

Fish Location/Size Time Price
Golden Trout River (Clifftop) / 3 4 PM – 9 AM 15,000
Oarfish Sea / 6 All day 9,000
Loach River / 2 All day 400
Bug Location Time Price
Mole Cricket Underground All day 500

Southern Hemisphere residents face particularly urgent collection deadlines, with May marking the absolute final month for flea acquisition. These minuscule insects rank among New Horizons’ most challenging bugs to locate—they exclusively inhabit villagers displaying unusual scratching behavior. Check our comprehensive flea catching guide for detailed identification methods.

Mantis capturing presents another Southern Hemisphere challenge requiring precise technique. Approach these insects gradually with net equipped, as sudden movements trigger defensive postures followed by rapid escape. Optimal strategy involves reduced movement speed near flower patches, walking rather than running, and maintaining visual awareness. Standard mantises display vibrant green coloration while orchid mantises exhibit delicate pink-white patterning.

Fish Location/Size Time Price
Golden Trout River (Clifftop) / 3 4 PM – 9 AM 15,000
Barred Knifejaw Sea / 3 All day 5,000
Char River (Clifftop) / 3 4 PM – 9 AM 3,800
Ray Sea / 5 4 AM – 9 PM 3,000
Mitten Crab River / 2 4 PM – 9 AM 2,000
Guppy River / 1 9 AM – 4 PM 1,300
Sea Horse Sea / 1 All day 1,100
Cherry Salmon River (Clifftop) / 3 4 PM – 9 AM 1,000
Neon Tetra River / 1 9 AM – 4 PM 500
Zebra Turkeyfish Sea / 3 All day 500
Bugs Location Time Price
Orchid Mantis On white flowers 8 AM – 5 PM 2,400
Migratory Locust Ground 8 AM – 7 PM 600
Walking Stick On trees

4 AM – 8 AM
5 PM – 7 PM

600
Violin Beetle On tree stumps All day 450
Mantis On flowers 8 AM – 5 PM 430
Long Locust Ground 8 AM – 7 PM 200
Rice Grasshopper Ground 8 AM – 7 PM 160
Monarch Butterfly Flying 4 AM – 5 PM 140
Cricket Ground 5 PM – 8 AM 130
Flea Itchy villagers All day 70

Maximize your final May fishing efforts by focusing on shadow size recognition—size 3 shadows in cliff-top rivers likely indicate golden trout or cherry salmon, both high-value departures. Create fish bait in bulk and systematically fish river segments to reset spawn pools efficiently.

Avoid common mistakes like running through flower patches when bug hunting, which scares away mantises and other insects. Time your sessions according to specific creature availability windows—many valuable fish like the golden trout appear during evening and early morning hours (4 PM – 9 AM).

For mole crickets, use headphones to detect faint chirping sounds underground. Dig precisely where audio cues are strongest, as these insects move gradually beneath the surface.

Advanced players should prioritize Mystery Island visits during peak spawning hours. Islands with multiple waterfall tiers offer the highest cliff-top river density, dramatically improving golden trout encounter rates. Combine this with fish bait application for optimal results.

The walking stick bug requires particular attention to its narrow time windows—available only during early morning (4-8 AM) and late afternoon (5-7 PM), requiring precise scheduling.

Action Checklist

  • Craft 50+ fish bait for targeted cliff-top river fishing sessions
  • Visit Mystery Islands during 4 PM – 9 AM for golden trout hunting
  • Check villagers for scratching behavior daily to catch fleas
  • Hunt mole crickets using audio cues with headphones for precise digging
  • Schedule specific sessions for walking stick bugs (4-8 AM or 5-7 PM)
  • Complete Critterpedia entries and donate to museum before June 1st

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