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New Leaf in September: Fish, Bugs, Diving & Events Animal Crossing: New Leaf

The last month for many summer fish and bugs, the final Bug-Off and, often, the Harvest Moon Festival. Here is everything you can catch in September, what’s new, what’s about to leave, and the events and birthdays on the calendar.

Fish
50
Bugs
47
Deep-sea
23
Events
3
Birthdays
30
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August · October

Best earners this month

Arriving & leaving

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 September

EventWhenWhat happens
Bug-Off3rd Saturday of June, July, August and September (9 AM–6 PM)Nat judges the bugs you catch. New records earn Insect furniture, and the top three win trophies.
Labor Day1st Monday of September (North America)Isabelle gives a picnic basket.
Harvest Moon FestivalThe full moon nearest the autumn equinoxIsabelle gives a wheat bundle (veggie basket in Europe) and talks about the moon.

50 fish in September

FishSells forWhereTime
DoradoDorado15,000RiverShadow: Very large4 AM–9 PM
SharkShark15,000SeaShadow: Huge (fin)4 PM–9 AM
CoelacanthCoelacanth15,000Sea (rain or snow)Shadow: Huge4 PM–9 AM
Whale sharkWhale sharkIsland only13,000Tortimer IslandShadow: Huge (fin)All day
Saw sharkSaw shark12,000SeaShadow: Huge (fin)4 PM–9 AM
ArapaimaArapaima10,000RiverShadow: Huge4 PM–9 AM
Blue marlinBlue marlin10,000SeaShadow: HugeAll day
Hammerhead sharkHammerhead shark8,000SeaShadow: Huge (fin)4 PM–9 AM
GarGar6,000River poolShadow: Huge4 PM–9 AM
Barred knifejawBarred knifejaw5,000SeaShadow: MediumAll day
Giant trevallyGiant trevallyIsland only4,500Tortimer IslandShadow: Very largeAll day
KoiKoi4,000RiverShadow: Large4 PM–9 AM
Saddled bichirSaddled bichir4,000RiverShadow: Large9 PM–4 AM
Ocean sunfishOcean sunfish4,000SeaShadow: Huge (fin)4 AM–9 PM
CharChar3,800WaterfallShadow: Medium4–9 AM, 4–9 PM (Mar–Jun); 4 AM–9 PM (Sep–Nov)
Soft-shelled turtleSoft-shelled turtle3,750RiverShadow: Medium4 PM–9 AM
AngelfishAngelfish3,000RiverShadow: Small4 PM–9 AM
Red snapperRed snapper3,000SeaShadow: MediumAll day
RayRay3,000SeaShadow: Very large4 AM–9 PM
Moray eelMoray eel2,000SeaShadow: Very largeAll day
PikePike1,800RiverShadow: Very large4 AM–9 PM
King salmonKing salmon1,800River mouthShadow: HugeAll day
Nibble fishNibble fish1,500RiverShadow: Small9 AM–4 PM
GoldfishGoldfish1,300RiverShadow: TinyAll day
Popeyed goldfishPopeyed goldfish1,300RiverShadow: Tiny9 AM–4 PM
GuppyGuppy1,300RiverShadow: Tiny9 AM–4 PM
SeahorseSeahorse1,100SeaShadow: TinyAll day
Cherry salmonCherry salmon1,000RiverShadow: Medium4–9 AM, 4–9 PM (Mar–Jun); 4 AM–9 PM (Sep–Nov)
SurgeonfishSurgeonfish1,000SeaShadow: SmallAll day
Butterfly fishButterfly fish1,000SeaShadow: SmallAll day
SweetfishSweetfish900RiverShadow: MediumAll day
CatfishCatfish800River poolShadow: Large4 PM–9 AM
Rainbow troutRainbow trout800RiverShadow: Large4–9 AM, 4–9 PM (Mar–Jun); 4 AM–9 PM (Sep–Nov)
Olive flounderOlive flounder800SeaShadow: LargeAll day
SalmonSalmon700River mouthShadow: LargeAll day
ClownfishClownfish650SeaShadow: TinyAll day
Ribbon eelRibbon eelIsland only600Tortimer IslandShadow: Long and thinAll day
Neon tetraNeon tetra500RiverShadow: Tiny9 AM–4 PM
Zebra turkeyfishZebra turkeyfish400SeaShadow: MediumAll day
CarpCarp300RiverShadow: LargeAll day
Freshwater gobyFreshwater goby300RiverShadow: Small4 PM–9 AM
Black bassBlack bass300RiverShadow: LargeAll day
Puffer fishPuffer fish240SeaShadow: MediumAll day
Pale chubPale chub200RiverShadow: Tiny9 AM–4 PM
DaceDace200RiverShadow: Medium4 PM–9 AM
Barbel steedBarbel steed200RiverShadow: MediumAll day
Sea bassSea bass200SeaShadow: Very largeAll day
Horse mackerelHorse mackerel150SeaShadow: SmallAll day
Crucian carpCrucian carp120RiverShadow: SmallAll day
BluegillBluegill120RiverShadow: Small9 AM–4 PM

47 bugs in September

BugSells forWhereTime
Rainbow stagRainbow stag10,000On trees5 PM–8 AM
Petaltail dragonflyPetaltail dragonfly8,000Flying5 PM–7 PM
ScorpionScorpion8,000On the ground7 PM–4 AM
Goliath beetleGoliath beetle6,000On palm trees5 PM–8 AM
Birdwing butterflyBirdwing butterfly4,000Flying near flowers8 AM–4 PM
Agrias butterflyAgrias butterfly3,000Flying near flowers8 AM–5 PM
Emperor butterflyEmperor butterfly2,500Flying near flowers8 PM–7 AM
Raja Brooke butterflyRaja Brooke butterfly2,500Flying near river8 AM–5 PM
BeeBee2,500In treesAll day
Orchid mantisOrchid mantis2,400On white flowers8 AM–5 PM
Lantern flyLantern fly1,800On trees4 PM–8 AM
Tiger beetleTiger beetle1,500On the ground8 AM–11 PM
Oak silk mothOak silk moth1,200On trees7 PM–4 AM
Hermit crabHermit crabIsland only1,000Tortimer Island beach7 PM–8 AM
Diving beetleDiving beetle800Swimming on river or pond8 AM–5 PM
Migratory locustMigratory locust600On the ground8 AM–7 PM
Walking leafWalking leaf600On the ground8 AM–5 PM
Walking stickWalking stick600On trees4 AM–7 PM
MantisMantis430On flowers8 AM–5 PM
Bell cricketBell cricket430On the ground5 PM–8 AM
Rice grasshopperRice grasshopper400On the ground8 AM–7 PM
Walker cicadaWalker cicada400On trees8 AM–5 PM
CentipedeCentipede300Under rocks4 PM–11 PM
SpiderSpider300In treesAll day
Violin beetleViolin beetle260Tree stumps4 AM–7 PM
Longhorn beetleLonghorn beetle260Tree stumps11 PM–7 PM
SnailSnail250On bushes (rain)All day
Pill bugPill bug250Under rocksAll day
House centipedeHouse centipede250Under rocks7 PM–8 AM
Peacock butterflyPeacock butterfly220Flying near flowers (purple, black and blue)4 AM–7 PM
Long locustLong locust200On the ground8 AM–7 PM
Wharf roachWharf roach200On the beachAll day
Tiger butterflyTiger butterfly160Flying near flowers (red, pink)8 AM–7 PM
CricketCricket160On the ground5 PM–8 AM
GrasshopperGrasshopper160On the ground8 AM–5 PM
Monarch butterflyMonarch butterfly140Flying near flowers9 AM–5 PM
PondskaterPondskater130Swimming on river or pond8 AM–7 PM
MosquitoMosquito130Flying5 PM–4 AM
StinkbugStinkbug120On treesAll day
Fruit beetleFruit beetle100On treesAll day
Common butterflyCommon butterfly90Flying near flowers4 AM–7 PM
Yellow butterflyYellow butterfly90Flying near flowers6 AM–4 PM
Red dragonflyRed dragonfly80Flying8 AM–7 PM
AntAnt80On rotten foodAll day
FleaFlea70On villagersAll day
MothMoth60Flying near lights7 PM–4 AM
FlyFly60Flying near trashAll day

23 deep-sea creatures in September

CreatureSells forShadowTime
Giant isopodGiant isopodIsland only9,000Medium shadow, slowTortimer Island onlyAll day
Spiny lobsterSpiny lobster3,000From 16 September in its first monthLarge shadow, fast9 PM–4 AM
LobsterLobster2,500Large shadow, fastAll day
Pearl oysterPearl oyster1,600Small shadow, mediumAll day
Tiger prawnTiger prawn1,600Small shadow, medium4 PM–9 AM
Horseshoe crabHorseshoe crab1,500Medium shadow9 PM–4 AM
Mantis shrimpMantis shrimp1,250Small shadow, erratic4 PM–9 AM
ScallopScallop1,000Medium shadow, slowAll day
OctopusOctopus1,000Medium shadow, slowAll day
Sea urchinSea urchin800Small shadow, slowAll day
Sweet shrimpSweet shrimp650From 16 September in its first monthSmall shadow, slow4 PM–9 AM
Sea grapesSea grapes600Small shadow, stationaryAll day
Spotted garden eelSpotted garden eelIsland only600Small shadow, slowTortimer Island onlyAll day
OysterOyster400Small shadow, slowAll day
AbaloneAbalone400Medium shadow, medium4 PM–9 AM
Turban shellTurban shell300Small shadow, slow4 PM–9 AM
Ear shellEar shell300Small shadow, slow4 PM–9 AM
ClamClam300Small shadow, slowAll day
Acorn barnacleAcorn barnacle200Very small shadow, stationaryAll day
Sea slugSea slug200Small shadow, very slowAll day
FlatwormFlatworm200Small shadow, very slow4 PM–9 AM
Sea anemoneSea anemone100Medium shadow, stationaryAll day
Sea starSea star100Small shadow, very slowAll day

Villager birthdays in September

VioletVioletSeptember 1FloFloSeptember 2SporkSporkSeptember 3CallyCallySeptember 4GretaGretaSeptember 5CesarCesarSeptember 6TuckerTuckerSeptember 7AstridAstridSeptember 8PinkyPinkySeptember 9PecanPecanSeptember 10PeeweePeeweeSeptember 11BooneBooneSeptember 12MooseMooseSeptember 13RickyRickySeptember 14TutuTutuSeptember 15EdEdSeptember 16WhitneyWhitneySeptember 17BubblesBubblesSeptember 18FuchsiaFuchsiaSeptember 19OctavianOctavianSeptember 20HenryHenrySeptember 21AnkhaAnkhaSeptember 22CranstonCranstonSeptember 23AppleAppleSeptember 24MitziMitziSeptember 25TeddyTeddySeptember 26BeardoBeardoSeptember 27KodyKodySeptember 28MarshalMarshalSeptember 29MoniqueMoniqueSeptember 30

FAQ

What fish can you catch in September in Animal Crossing: New Leaf?

50 fish. The most valuable are Dorado (15,000 Bells), Shark (15,000 Bells), Coelacanth (15,000 Bells).

What bugs can you catch in September?

47 bugs. The most valuable are Rainbow stag (10,000 Bells), Petaltail dragonfly (8,000 Bells), Scorpion (8,000 Bells).

What deep-sea creatures are there in September?

23 deep-sea creatures. The most valuable are Giant isopod (9,000 Bells), Spiny lobster (3,000 Bells), Lobster (2,500 Bells).

What events are in September?

Bug-Off: 3rd Saturday of June, July, August and September (9 AM–6 PM); Labor Day: 1st Monday of September (North America); Harvest Moon Festival: The full moon nearest the autumn equinox.

Which villagers have birthdays in September?

30 villagers, including Violet (1), Flo (2), Spork (3), Cally (4), Greta (5), Cesar (6), Tucker (7), Astrid (8) and more.

Sources & picture credits

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).