Collective Nouns for Fish - wordscoach.com

Collective Nouns for Fish

Collective Nouns for Fish

When we think of fish, we often picture them swimming in unison, shimmering beneath the water’s surface. Whether it’s a school of fish or a shiver of sharks, these collective terms bring richness to the way we describe the underwater world. In this blog, we’ll explore the most common and some lesser-known collective nouns for fish, their meanings, and examples of how to use them.

What Are Collective Nouns?

A collective noun is a word used to describe a group of people, animals, or things as one unit. In the context of fish, these nouns help us vividly describe groups in action — whether they’re swimming freely, migrating, or caught in nets.


Common Collective Nouns for Fish


Collective NounMeaningExample Sentence
school of fishA large, organized group of fish swimming together.school of fish shimmered in the sunlight.
shoal of fishA loose group of fish (less organized than a school).shoal of fish darted away from the predator.
catch of fishFish caught by fishermen.The fishermen brought in a huge catch of fish.
haul of fishSimilar to “catch,” referring to a large amount.The net held a massive haul of fish.
run of fishFish migrating together (e.g., salmon).We watched the run of fish upstream.
run of salmonA group of migrating salmon.The river was full during the run of salmon.
flotilla of swordfishA group of swordfish swimming together.flotilla of swordfish raced through the waves.
shiver of sharksA group of sharks (though sharks are not true fish).shiver of sharks circled the boat.
troop of dogfishA group of dogfish (a small shark species).troop of dogfish patrolled the reef.
company of angelfishA group of angelfish.company of angelfish glided past the coral.
hover of troutA group of trout suspended in water.hover of trout waited in the deep pool.
kettle of fishA confused or mixed group (also a phrase for a problem).The net was a kettle of fish thrashing wildly.
draft of fishFish caught in a net (archaic term).The fishermen pulled up a heavy draft of fish.
bed of eelsA group of eels resting together.bed of eels slithered in the mud.
fray of fishA chaotic group of fish (rare/poetic).The predator sent a fray of fish scattering.
glide of fishFish moving smoothly together.glide of fish moved like a single organism.
scale of fishA poetic term for a group of fish.The sunlight reflected off a scale of fish.
nest of fishFish gathered in a sheltered area.nest of fish hid among the seaweed.
family of fishA small, closely associated group.family of fish darted between the rocks.
drought of fishAn old term for a sparse group (rare).The river held only a drought of fish this year.
An army of herringA massive group of herring.An army of herring darkened the water.
shoal of bassA group of bass fish.shoal of bass lurked near the dock.
shoal of mackerelA group of mackerel.shoal of mackerel flashed silver in the waves.
shoal of sardinesA tightly packed group of sardines.Dolphins chased a shoal of sardines.
swarm of fishA dense, moving mass of fish.swarm of fish erupted from the reef.
pod of dolphinsDolphins are mammals, but often grouped with fish terms.pod of dolphins played near the ship.
school of tunaA large group of tuna.school of tuna sped through the open ocean.
company of fishA general term for a group of fish.company of fish explored the sunken wreck.
gam of whalesWhales are mammals, but sometimes included.gam of whales breached in the distance.
tribe of goatfishA group of goatfish.tribe of goatfish foraged along the seabed.
rush of salmonAnother term for migrating salmon.The rush of salmon signaled spawning season.
fleet of sailfishA group of sailfish.fleet of sailfish raced through the current.
party of rainbow fishA colorful group of rainbow fish.party of rainbow fish brightened the tank.
congregation of eelsEels gathered in one place.congregation of eels writhed in the depths.
stream of minnowsA flowing group of tiny fish.stream of minnows flickered in the shallows.


Collective Nouns for Specific Types of Fish

Fish TypeCollective NounExample
SharksA shiver of sharksA shiver of sharks circled the reef.
EelsA bed of eelsThe diver spotted a bed of eels under the rocks.
HerringAn army of herringAn army of herring moved like a wave through the sea.
SalmonA run of salmonThe run of salmon began earlier this year.
TunaA school of tunaA school of tuna passed swiftly beneath the boat.
SardinesA shoal of sardinesA shoal of sardines shimmered near the surface.


From the synchronized grace of a school of fish to the thrill of spotting a shiver of sharks, collective nouns bring life to underwater language. Next time you’re watching a documentary or visiting an aquarium, try to spot these groupings and now, you’ll know what to call them!


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