Animal Crossing New Horizons features a total of 40 sea creatures that can be caught. To catch deep-sea creatures, you'll need to purchase a wet suit. These can be bought from Nook's Cranny or the shopping app following the July 3, 2020 content update. You'll then be able to swim into the ocean (press A while standing next to water). Catch the creatures by diving above bubbling areas of water.
The variety of sea creatures available in the water surrounding your island depends on both time of day and time of year. Some sea creatures are, of course, rarer than others. The rarity of the sea creature is usually reflected in its sell price. Unlike bugs or fish, there are currently no NPCs that will purchase sea creatures for a higher price.
Want to narrow down this list to the sea creatures you can catch in the current month?
List of sea creatures in Animal Crossing New Horizons
Abalone

Price: 2,000
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): Jun-Jan
Months (Southern): Dec-Jul
Time: 4pm-9am
Acorn barnacle

Price: 600
Shadow Size: Tiny
Speed: Still
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Chambered nautilus

Price: 1,800
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): Mar-Jun, Sep-Nov
Months (Southern): Mar-May, Sep-Dec
Time: 4pm-9am
Dungeness crab

Price: 1,900
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): Nov-May
Months (Southern): May-Nov
Time: Any
Firefly squid
Price: 1,400
Shadow Size: Tiny
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): Mar-Jun
Months (Southern): Sep-Dec
Time: 9pm-4am
Flatworm

Price: 700
Shadow Size: Tiny
Speed: Extra Slow
Months (Northern): Aug-Sep
Months (Southern): Feb-Mar
Time: 4pm-9am
Gazami crab

Price: 2,200
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): Jun-Nov
Months (Southern): Dec-May
Time: Any
Giant isopod

Price: 12,000
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Extra Fast
Months (Northern): Jul-Oct
Months (Southern): Jan-Apr
Time: 9am-4pm, 9pm-4am
Gigas giant clam

Price: 15,000
Shadow Size: Huge
Speed: Extra Fast
Months (Northern): May-Sep
Months (Southern): Nov-Mar
Time: Any
Horseshoe crab

Price: 2,500
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): Jul-Sep
Months (Southern): Jan-Mar
Time: 9pm-4am
Lobster

Price: 4,500
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Fast
Months (Northern): Apr-Jun, Dec-Jan
Months (Southern): Jun-Jul, Oct-Dec
Time: Any
Mantis shrimp

Price: 2,500
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: 4pm-9am
Moon jellyfish

Price: 600
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Extra Slow
Months (Northern): Jul-Sep
Months (Southern): Jan-Mar
Time: Any
Mussel

Price: 1,500
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): Jun-Dec
Months (Southern): Dec-Jun
Time: Any
Octopus

Price: 1,200
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Oyster

Price: 2,000
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): Sep-Feb
Months (Southern): Mar-Aug
Time: Any
Pearl oyster

Price: 2,800
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Red king crab

Price: 8,000
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Extra Fast
Months (Northern): Nov-Mar
Months (Southern): May-Sep
Time: Any
Scallop

Price: 1,200
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Sea anemone

Price: 500
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Still
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Sea cucumber

Price: 500
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Extra Slow
Months (Northern): Nov-Apr
Months (Southern): May-Oct
Time: Any
Sea grapes

Price: 900
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Still
Months (Northern): Jun-Sep
Months (Southern): Dec-Mar
Time: Any
Sea pig

Price: 10,000
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Extra Fast
Months (Northern): Nov-Feb
Months (Southern): May-Aug
Time: 4pm-9am
Sea pineapple

Price: 1,500
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): Apr-Aug
Months (Southern): Oct-Feb
Time: Any
Sea slug

Price: 600
Shadow Size: Tiny
Speed: Extra Slow
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Sea star

Price: 500
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Extra Slow
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Sea urchin

Price: 1,700
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): May-Sep
Months (Southern): Nov-Mar
Time: Any
Seaweed

Price: 600
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Still
Months (Northern): Oct-Jul
Months (Southern): Mar-Jan
Time: Any
Slate pencil urchin

Price: 2,000
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): May-Sep
Months (Southern): Nov-Mar
Time: 4pm-9am
Snow crab

Price: 6,000
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Fast
Months (Northern): Nov-Apr
Months (Southern): May-Oct
Time: Any
Spider crab
Price: 12,000
Shadow Size: Huge
Speed: Extra Fast
Months (Northern): Mar-Apr
Months (Southern): Sep-Aug
Time: Any
Spiny lobster

Price: 5,000
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Fast
Months (Northern): Oct-Dec
Months (Southern): Apr-Jun
Time: 9pm-4am
Spotted garden eel

Price: 1,100
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): May-Oct
Months (Southern): Nov-Apr
Time: 4am-9pm
Sweet shrimp

Price: 1,400
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): Sep-Feb
Months (Southern): Mar-Aug
Time: 4pm-9am
Tiger prawn

Price: 3,000
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Medium
Months (Northern): Jun-Sep
Months (Southern): Dec-Mar
Time: 4pm-9am
Turban shell

Price: 1,000
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): Mar-May, Sep-Dec
Months (Southern): Mar-Jun, Sep-Nov
Time: Any
Umbrella octopus

Price: 6,000
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Fast
Months (Northern): Mar-May, Sep-Nov
Months (Southern): Mar-May, Sep-Nov
Time: Any
Vampire squid

Price: 10,000
Shadow Size: Large
Speed: Extra Fast
Months (Northern): May-Aug
Months (Southern): Nov-Feb
Time: 4pm-9am
Venus' flower basket

Price: 5,000
Shadow Size: Medium
Speed: Fast
Months (Northern): Oct-Feb
Months (Southern): Apr-Aug
Time: Any
Whelk

Price: 1,000
Shadow Size: Small
Speed: Slow
Months (Northern): All
Months (Southern): All
Time: Any
Thanks for using our Animal Crossing New Horizons sea creatures guide!