Does exact standing location affect rare fish spawn rates?

[rigid island]

This is a trend I've noticed in my game, and I wonder if anyone else has noticed it or can prove/disprove it. I suspect that the spawn rates of some fish (the rarer ones) are influenced by where PRECISELY you stand in a given area. Not the body of water itself, but where specifically at that body of water.

For example, when I was trying to catch a swordfish in winter, I always went and stood beside where Connor fishes off the docks just to the right of Fishensips, left of the life preserver ring. I tried for 4 - 5 days straight doing nothing but fishing and could not even get one to hook on my line. However, when I moved and stood beside where Zarah fishes (the round dock area right beside her boat), I immediately caught two of them in a row, and 1 or 2 more that day. Both of these locations are marked as the docks, and fish who are meant to spawn at the docks do spawn in both of those precise locations.

I had a similar problem with sturgeons. Fishing off the bridge just to the right of my farm, I could not catch one when I tried for several (rainy) evenings/nights in summer. I knew I was in the right location because I was catching River (Farm) fish. I grew frustrated looking at the same surroundings, so I moved down past the bridge near some rocks and fished in the river there. I immediately hooked a sturgeon on the line and caught four more that night from that spot.

And again, another issue with great white sharks. I decided I wouldn't do anything else in summer until I fished one up as I was wanted to get it in the museum ASAP. I fished at the same location I did for the swordfish (to the right of Fishensips, to the left of the life preserver) for 4 mornings/afternoons and couldn't hook one. But I saw a video of someone catching one while standing on Zarah's boat and I caught one there after 2 tries (& caught 3 more before 4pm).

It seems unlikely that I've experienced this trend so many times if it's just a coincidence. Anyone have similar stories?

[tawdry berry]

I've noticed something similar as well, specifically with that great white shark. I was struggling to get it on the dock that Zarah usually fishes off of, so I went onto her boat because I saw someone else caught one there and immediately got it.

As for the other spots, I typically fish in the spots where you had to move to, and I've thus far only really had difficulty finding the great white shark. I wonder if this really is a thing in the code of the game.

on another note, the only fish I'm missing is the hammerhead. any tips on where to stand to get that one?

[rigid island]

I haven't yet had the chance to catch the hammerhead (my rod wasn't high enough quality Y1). However, I did have an issue trying to catch a jellyfish at that location. On my first few nights of trying to catch it, I stood here next to these binoculars (image 1) and didn't get one. The next time I tried, I stood over here closer to the lighthouse (image 2) and was much more successful there. This was after I realized that there may be a connection between where you stand and what fish you get though, so I didn't spend a ton of time trying to get one at the binocular area and it may be fine for fishing up rare/legendary fish there.

Not sure if any of this info carries over to the hammerhead though -- I am unsure if standing location is tied to groups of fish (ex: all rare fish) or just specific fish (ex: great white), though I suspect its tied to rarity.

I am also only a few days away from Fall 8 when you can fish up hammerhead and it is one of two fish I'm missing, so I'll let you know what I find out if I'm able to catch one.

[tawdry berry]

whenever i have something to fish from the lookout I try for wataru’s fishing spot, the little dock. i might head that way for the hammerhead