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How to get Dab in Animal Crossing New Horizons

Catch that Dab!

Animal Crossing New Horizons has over 80 types of fish, making it hard to know exactly when and where to find each one. To help you out, I'll walk you through everything you need to know about finding, catching, and using the Dab.

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Where to find Dabs in Animal Crossing New Horizons

Dabs are medium-sized fish that spawn in the ocean. They can only be found between the months of October and April but can be caught at any time of the day.

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How to catch a Dab in Animal Crossing New Horizons

To catch a Dab, you'll first have to wander up and down the beach to find a medium-sized fish shadow. Once you find one, pull your fishing rod out of your pockets and prepare to fish!

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Press "A" and cast your line into the water. If the fish has noticed your line, you'll see them change their direction slightly before swimming towards the bobber.

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Once they've swam up to the bobber and made it sink into the ocean with a loud "sploosh" sound, press "A" again! If you've caught the fish, it will swim around the bobber rapidly before allowing you to pull it up.

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With effort, and a little luck, this medium-sized fish will turn out to be a Dab!

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Even if it's not, keep fishing towards the shadows of medium-sized fish. Dabs are a commonly spawning fish that will end up on your line sooner rather than later.

Related: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Fish List – Times, Locations, & Prices!

What to do with a Dab in Animal Crossing New Horizons

There are a handful of things that you can do with a Dab. Just like other fish, they can be sold or given to C.J. to complete a fishing challenge. They can also be given to C.J. to get a Dab Model or cooked to make either Fish and Chips or Karei No Nitsuke.

Selling to Nooklings

Without the Bell Boom Ordinance, Dabs will sell for 300 bells.

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While the Bell Boom Ordinance is in effect, each Dab will sell for 360 bells.

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If the Dab is considered a hot item, the price will double.

Selling to C.J.

When C.J. is in town, you can sell Dabs to him for 450 bells each.

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Giving to C.J. for Dab Model

There are two things that you need in order to get a Dab Model. Firstly, C.J. must be on your island. Secondly, you need to have 3 Dabs in your inventory. Once you have both of those things, you'll need to talk to C.J. and select the "Make me a collectible" option.

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After talking with him about it, he'll let you choose a fish from your inventory to use for the model. Once you confirm the deal, he'll take the fish and promise to send over the Dab Model as soon as its completed.

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On the following day, you'll see a letter from C.J. with a gift attached to it.

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Open up the present to reveal your brand-new Dab Model!

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Related: Animal Crossing New Horizons – How to Catch a Snapping Turtle

Cooking Fish and Chips

To make Fish-and-Chips, you'll need to combine two potatoes and one Dab. You can either eat it to gain five energy points or sell it for 1,200 bells. The recipe can be acquired from any villager or the restaurant in the Happy Home Paradise DLC.

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Cooking Karei No Nitsuke

A single Dab is the sole ingredient of Karei No Nitsuke. The recipe is gained by catching a Dab in the game. It can be eaten to restore five energy points or sold for 360 bells.

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For more Animal Crossing Guides, check out How to get pumpkins in Animal Crossing here on Pro Game Guides.


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Image of Krista McCay
Krista McCay
Contract Writer - Pro Gamer Guides. I work on Minecraft articles, particularly updating articles as the game changes and grows. I do play a lot of Minecraft, but I also enjoy games like Overwatch 2, Hades, and Splatoon 3 .