New Leaf in January: Fish, Bugs, Diving & Events Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Winter: snow covers the town, the river is full of stringfish hunters and the Fishing Tourney runs on the third Saturday. Here is everything you can catch in January, what’s new, what’s about to leave, and the events and birthdays on the calendar.
- Fish
- 30
- Bugs
- 10
- Deep-sea
- 22
- Events
- 2
- Birthdays
- 27
Best earners this month
Arriving & leaving
- New in January
- None
- Last month to catch
Octopus
Tortimer Island is always summer, so its fish, bugs and sea creatures don’t follow this calendar. Creatures marked “Island only” never appear in town.
Events in January
| Event | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January | The new year starts straight after the Countdown; villagers wish you a happy new year. |
| Fishing Tourney | 3rd Saturday of January, March, May and November (9 AM–6 PM) | Chip measures every fish you bring. New records earn Fish furniture, and the top three win trophies at the 6 PM ceremony. |
30 fish in January
| Fish | Sells for | Where | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
 Stringfish | 15,000 | RiverShadow: Huge | 4 PM–9 AM |
 Coelacanth | 15,000 | Sea (rain or snow)Shadow: Huge | 4 PM–9 AM |
 Whale sharkIsland only | 13,000 | Tortimer IslandShadow: Huge (fin) | All day |
 Oarfish | 9,000 | SeaShadow: Huge | All day |
 Tuna | 7,000 | SeaShadow: Huge | All day |
 Blowfish | 5,000Sold for 125 Bells before the Welcome amiibo update | SeaShadow: Medium | 9 PM–4 AM |
 Giant trevallyIsland only | 4,500 | Tortimer IslandShadow: Very large | All day |
 Koi | 4,000 | RiverShadow: Large | 4 PM–9 AM |
 Red snapper | 3,000 | SeaShadow: Medium | All day |
 Football fish | 2,500 | SeaShadow: Large | 4 PM–9 AM |
 Goldfish | 1,300 | RiverShadow: Tiny | All day |
 Popeyed goldfish | 1,300 | RiverShadow: Tiny | 9 AM–4 PM |
 Sea butterfly | 1,000 | SeaShadow: Tiny | All day |
 Bitterling | 900 | RiverShadow: Tiny | All day |
 Olive flounder | 800 | SeaShadow: Large | All day |
 Ribbon eelIsland only | 600 | Tortimer IslandShadow: Long and thin | All day |
 Squid | 400 | SeaShadow: Medium | All day |
 Carp | 300 | RiverShadow: Large | All day |
 Freshwater goby | 300 | RiverShadow: Small | 4 PM–9 AM |
 Black bass | 300 | RiverShadow: Large | All day |
 Pond smelt | 300 | RiverShadow: Small | All day |
 Dab | 300 | SeaShadow: Medium | All day |
 Yellow perch | 240 | RiverShadow: Medium | All day |
 Pale chub | 200 | RiverShadow: Tiny | 9 AM–4 PM |
 Dace | 200 | RiverShadow: Medium | 4 PM–9 AM |
 Barbel steed | 200 | RiverShadow: Medium | All day |
 Sea bass | 200 | SeaShadow: Very large | All day |
 Horse mackerel | 150 | SeaShadow: Small | All day |
 Crucian carp | 120 | RiverShadow: Small | All day |
 Bluegill | 120 | RiverShadow: Small | 9 AM–4 PM |
10 bugs in January
| Bug | Sells for | Where | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bee | 2,500 | In trees | All day |
 Hermit crabIsland only | 1,000 | Tortimer Island beach | 7 PM–8 AM |
 Dung beetle | 800 | Snow balls | 5 PM–8 AM |
 Bagworm | 300 | In trees | All day |
 Centipede | 300 | Under rocks | 4 PM–11 PM |
 Mole cricket | 280 | Underground | All day |
 Pill bug | 250 | Under rocks | All day |
 Wharf roach | 200 | On the beach | All day |
 Ant | 80 | On rotten food | All day |
 Fly | 60 | Flying near trash | All day |
22 deep-sea creatures in January
| Creature | Sells for | Shadow | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
 Giant isopodIsland only | 9,000 | Medium shadow, slowTortimer Island only | All day |
 Red king crab | 6,000 | Large shadow, very fast | All day |
 Snow crab | 4,000 | Large shadow, fast | All day |
 Horsehair crab | 4,000 | Medium shadow, slow | All day |
 Lobster | 2,500 | Large shadow, fast | All day |
 Pearl oyster | 1,600 | Small shadow, medium | All day |
 Mantis shrimp | 1,250 | Small shadow, erratic | 4 PM–9 AM |
 Scallop | 1,000 | Medium shadow, slow | All day |
| Octopus | 1,000 | Medium shadow, slow | All day |
 Sweet shrimp | 650From 16 September in its first month | Small shadow, slow | 4 PM–9 AM |
 Spotted garden eelIsland only | 600 | Small shadow, slowTortimer Island only | All day |
 Oyster | 400 | Small shadow, slow | All day |
 Abalone | 400 | Medium shadow, medium | 4 PM–9 AM |
 Turban shell | 300 | Small shadow, slow | 4 PM–9 AM |
 Ear shell | 300 | Small shadow, slow | 4 PM–9 AM |
 Clam | 300 | Small shadow, slow | All day |
 Seaweed | 200 | Large shadow, stationary | All day |
 Acorn barnacle | 200 | Very small shadow, stationary | All day |
 Sea slug | 200 | Small shadow, very slow | All day |
 Sea cucumber | 150 | Medium shadow, very slow | All day |
 Sea anemone | 100 | Medium shadow, stationary | All day |
 Sea star | 100 | Small shadow, very slow | All day |
Villager birthdays in January
BobJanuary 1
PonchoJanuary 2
JoeyJanuary 3
DianaJanuary 4
RoaldJanuary 5
CarmenJanuary 6
HarryJanuary 7
PierceJanuary 8
PapiJanuary 10
TiffanyJanuary 10
MoeJanuary 12
PuddlesJanuary 13
VelmaJanuary 14
GladysJanuary 15
RizzoJanuary 17
SimonJanuary 19
OpalJanuary 20
GenjiJanuary 21
FrancineJanuary 22
GwenJanuary 23
RhondaJanuary 24
SavannahJanuary 25
AuroraJanuary 27
MargieJanuary 28
CubeJanuary 29
FlurryJanuary 30
WinnieJanuary 31FAQ
What fish can you catch in January in Animal Crossing: New Leaf?
30 fish. The most valuable are Stringfish (15,000 Bells), Coelacanth (15,000 Bells), Whale shark (13,000 Bells).
What bugs can you catch in January?
10 bugs. The most valuable are Bee (2,500 Bells), Hermit crab (1,000 Bells), Dung beetle (800 Bells).
What deep-sea creatures are there in January?
22 deep-sea creatures. The most valuable are Giant isopod (9,000 Bells), Red king crab (6,000 Bells), Snow crab (4,000 Bells).
What events are in January?
New Year’s Day: 1 January; Fishing Tourney: 3rd Saturday of January, March, May and November (9 AM–6 PM).
Which villagers have birthdays in January?
27 villagers, including Bob (1), Poncho (2), Joey (3), Diana (4), Roald (5), Carmen (6), Harry (7), Pierce (8) and more.
Sources & picture credits
- Fish (New Leaf), Nookipedia
- Bugs (New Leaf), Nookipedia
- Deep-sea creatures (New Leaf), Nookipedia
- Fish (New Leaf), Animal Crossing Wiki
- Bugs (New Leaf), Animal Crossing Wiki
- Deep-sea creatures (New Leaf), Animal Crossing Wiki
- Events (New Leaf), Animal Crossing Wiki
- Villager list (New Leaf), Animal Crossing Wiki
Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Nookipedia and the Animal Crossing Wiki. Icons, renders and screenshots © Nintendo; local copies archived from Animal Crossing Wiki file pages (listed in the picture gallery).