January Birth Fish Calendar
January markets carry the deep flavors of midwinter: of the month's 17 species, the standouts are Japanese amberjack, Pacific oyster, Red king crab, and Tiger pufferfish. The Pacific oyster, a shellfish whose landings are said to be at their best in the cold months, is the birth fish for January 2.
Our birth fish are an independently compiled system: our editors prefer species whose peak season (shun) includes each date, and the roster embraces seafood of every kind — crustaceans, shellfish, and cephalopods included. Other sites may assign different fish, but this page follows our own mapping throughout.
Look up the fish for the day you were born — and borrow its fish words for a birthday message.
What is the birth fish of January?
January's birth fish include Japanese amberjack, Pacific bluefin tuna, Pacific oyster, and Red king crab — all at their winter peak. In our calendar, each of the 31 days of January has its own fish.
January birth fish (31 days)
All 31 days of January, with birth fish, fish words, categories, and peak-season months. Fish words are examples. Season notes and more detail are on each day's page.
| Date | Birth fish | Fish words | Category | Peak season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/1 |  Tiger pufferfish | courage, challenge | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/2 |  Pacific oyster | fullness, nourishment | shellfish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/3 |  Japanese amberjack | success, growth | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/4 |  Pacific bluefin tuna | king of the sea, rank | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/5 |  Chub mackerel | agility, diligence | sea fish | Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan |
| 1/6 |  Monkfish | patience, ingenuity | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/7 |  Common octopus | wisdom, flexibility | cephalopod | Dec, Jan |
| 1/8 | Chub mackerel | agility, diligence | sea fish | Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan |
| 1/9 | Tiger pufferfish | courage, challenge | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/10 | Pacific bluefin tuna | king of the sea, rank | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/11 | Japanese amberjack | success, growth | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/12 | Pacific oyster | fullness, nourishment | shellfish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/13 |  Red king crab | boldness, strength | crustacean | Dec, Jan |
| 1/14 |  Longtooth grouper | hotpot king, gravity | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/15 |  Pacific cod | provision, nourishment | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/16 |  Spear squid | delicacy, edge | cephalopod | Dec, Jan |
| 1/17 |  Yellowtail amberjack | quiet winter, whiteness | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/18 |  Splendid alfonsino | celebration, depth | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/19 |  Olive flounder | flexibility, adaptation | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/20 | Chub mackerel | agility, diligence | sea fish | Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan |
| 1/21 |  Rosy seabass | refinement, grace | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/22 |  Northern shrimp | velvet, northern sea | crustacean | Dec, Jan |
| 1/23 | Splendid alfonsino | celebration, depth | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/24 | Pacific cod | provision, nourishment | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/25 | Longtooth grouper | hotpot king, gravity | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/26 | Rosy seabass | refinement, grace | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/27 | Spear squid | delicacy, edge | cephalopod | Dec, Jan |
| 1/28 | Yellowtail amberjack | quiet winter, whiteness | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/29 | Olive flounder | flexibility, adaptation | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
| 1/30 | Red king crab | boldness, strength | crustacean | Dec, Jan |
| 1/31 |  Grey mullet | journey, fortitude | sea fish | Dec, Jan |
The January seafood season
January is the heart of the winter landings. The Red king crab, a crustacean whose fishing season is said to peak now, shares the market with Pacific cod and Monkfish — a classic pairing for a winter nabe. Tiger pufferfish is traditionally prized in the coldest weeks, met as thin sashimi or a gentle hotpot.
Shellfish and cephalopods hold their own through the cold. Pacific oysters are said to fatten as the water chills, while Spear squid and Common octopus are landed through the winter months. Chub mackerel, whose peak runs from autumn into winter, rounds out a month of rich, oily flavors.
How to enjoy January birth fish
- Choose by fish words: words like courage and challenge, given to the Tiger pufferfish, suit a new-year birthday.
- Taste the season: a winter nabe with Pacific cod or Monkfish carries the month's peak flavors to the table.
- Pair it with the birthday color: every day's fish comes with its own color — combine the two for a cohesive gift.
- For gifts and cards: write the fish's name and peak season on a note for the seafood lover in your life.
FAQ
- What is the birth fish of January?
- January's birth fish include Japanese amberjack, Pacific bluefin tuna, Pacific oyster, and Red king crab. Every day of January has its own fish in our calendar.
- What fish is assigned to January 15?
- January 15 is the Pacific cod, a winter staple whose peak months are December and January. Its fish words are provision and nourishment — fitting for a new-year table.
- How is a birth fish different from a birth flower or star?
- Birth flowers and birth stars are chosen day by day. A birth fish is a day-by-day assignment too, but its marker is the season: each date's fish is a species whose peak season (shun) includes that day.
- Why do birth fish differ between sites?
- There is no official standard for birth fish, so each site compiles its own. We publish one consistent rule — prefer species whose peak season includes each date — and apply it across all twelve months.
Our birth fish are an original editorial system, compiled so that each date falls within a species' peak season (shun). The list includes seafood — crustaceans, shellfish, and cephalopods — as well as some freshwater fish; there is no official standard. See our editorial policy for details.Editorial policy