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

Collective Nouns for Specific Types of Fish

Fish Type	Collective Noun	Example
Sharks	A shiver of sharks	A shiver of sharks circled the reef.
Eels	A bed of eels	The diver spotted a bed of eels under the rocks.
Herring	An army of herring	An army of herring moved like a wave through the sea.
Salmon	A run of salmon	The run of salmon began earlier this year.
Tuna	A school of tuna	A school of tuna passed swiftly beneath the boat.
Sardines	A shoal of sardines	A 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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