When using the barb-tail harpoon while fishing, the animation suggests an attempt to catch fish 12.5% faster than if you were to use a regular harpoon. For example, the time it takes to complete 8 "stabs" (or animation cycles) into the water with a regular harpoon is the same amount of time it takes to complete 9 "stabs" (or animation cycles) with a barb-tail harpoon. This does not affect catching speed at all, however; the animation is faster but the speed has been proven to be the same (for example, the sacred clay harpoon, with an extremely short animation, catches at the same speed as a normal harpoon).