October Birth Fish Calendar
Deep autumn is landing season: all 16 of October's species are in season, among them Chum salmon, Red snow crab, Japanese pilchard, and Shishamo smelt. The Threadsail filefish, said to be at its best in autumn, is the birth fish for October 15.
Our birth fish are an independently compiled system: our editors prefer species whose peak season (shun) includes each date, and the list spans seafood of every kind — crustaceans, shellfish, and cephalopods included. Other sites may assign different fish, but this page follows our own mapping throughout.
Find your date's fish — rich company for the long autumn nights.
What is the birth fish of October?
October's birth fish include Chum salmon, Red snow crab, Japanese pilchard, and Shishamo smelt — every one in season. In our calendar, each of the 31 days of October has its own fish.
October birth fish (31 days)
All 31 days of October, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/1 |  Skipjack tuna | gale, vigor | sea fish | May, Oct |
| 10/2 |  Chum salmon | vitality, homecoming | sea fish | Oct, Nov |
| 10/3 |  Japanese horse mackerel | everyday hero, silver | sea fish | Jun, Oct |
| 10/4 | Skipjack tuna | gale, vigor | sea fish | May, Oct |
| 10/5 |  Red snow crab | crimson, deep sea | crustacean | Oct, Nov |
| 10/6 |  Okhotsk atka mackerel | brand, northern grace | sea fish | Oct, Nov |
| 10/7 |  Black sea bream | dignity, latent talent | sea fish | May, Oct |
| 10/8 |  Japanese pilchard | school, solidarity | sea fish | Oct, Nov |
| 10/9 |  Japanese flying squid | change, adaptation | cephalopod | Jul, Oct |
| 10/10 |  Threadsail filefish | liver, craftsman | sea fish | Oct, Nov |
| 10/11 |  Shishamo smelt | willow, companionship | sea fish | Oct, Nov |
| 10/12 | Black sea bream | dignity, latent talent | sea fish | May, Oct |
| 10/13 | Okhotsk atka mackerel | brand, northern grace | sea fish | Oct, Nov |
| 10/14 | Red snow crab | crimson, deep sea | crustacean | Oct, Nov |
| 10/15 | Threadsail filefish | liver, craftsman | sea fish | Oct, Nov |
| 10/16 | Japanese pilchard | school, solidarity | sea fish | Oct, Nov |
| 10/17 | Shishamo smelt | willow, companionship | sea fish | Oct, Nov |
| 10/18 | Japanese flying squid | change, adaptation | cephalopod | Jul, Oct |
| 10/19 |  Crucian carp | detachment, resilience | freshwater fish | May, Oct |
| 10/20 |  Rainbow trout | rainbow, clarity | freshwater fish | May, Oct |
| 10/21 |  Yellowtail barracuda | focus, aim | sea fish | Oct |
| 10/22 |  Inshore amberjack | progress, ripening | sea fish | Oct |
| 10/23 |  Bigeye tuna | depth, exploration | sea fish | Sep, Oct |
| 10/24 | Okhotsk atka mackerel | brand, northern grace | sea fish | Oct, Nov |
| 10/25 |  John Dory | mirror, coolness | sea fish | Oct |
| 10/26 | Black sea bream | dignity, latent talent | sea fish | May, Oct |
| 10/27 | Japanese pilchard | school, solidarity | sea fish | Oct, Nov |
| 10/28 | Yellowtail barracuda | focus, aim | sea fish | Oct |
| 10/29 | Red snow crab | crimson, deep sea | crustacean | Oct, Nov |
| 10/30 | Threadsail filefish | liver, craftsman | sea fish | Oct, Nov |
| 10/31 | Shishamo smelt | willow, companionship | sea fish | Oct, Nov |
What lands in October
October's landings run north. The Chum salmon's season is said to begin in earnest, the Okhotsk atka mackerel lists October among its peak months, and the Japanese pilchard is said to fatten in the cool currents.
Crustaceans and small fish crowd the market: the Red snow crab — a crustacean whose fishing season opens in autumn — shares the month with Shishamo smelt, often served as tempura, and with the Japanese flying squid, a cephalopod whose peak returns this month.
How to enjoy October birth fish
- Choose by fish words: liver and craftsman, the words given to the Threadsail filefish, are ones for the gourmand.
- Taste the season: salmon suits an autumn nabe, and shishamo is a tempura favorite.
- Pair it with the birthday color: deepening autumn colors beside the day's fish make a warm gift.
- For gifts and cards: a crab-month birthday is an easy win for the shellfish lover in your life.
FAQ
- What is the birth fish of October?
- October's birth fish include Chum salmon, Red snow crab, Japanese pilchard, and Shishamo smelt. Every day of October has its own fish in our calendar.
- What fish is assigned to October 15?
- October 15 is the Threadsail filefish, said to be at its best in autumn. Its fish words are liver and craftsman.
- How is a birth fish different from a birth flower or star?
- A birth flower or birth star is the one assigned to your day. A birth fish is assigned by day as well — but the season marks it, since its peak season (shun) is said to include the date.
- Why do birth fish differ between sites?
- There is no official standard for birth fish, so assignments vary from site to site. We publish one consistent rule and apply it to every date of the year.
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 freshwater fish; there is no official standard. See our editorial policy for details.Editorial policy