April Birth Fish Calendar
April's market is pure spring: all 13 of the month's species are in season, among them Red sea bream, Firefly squid, Japanese scallop, and Sakura shrimp. The Firefly squid, a cephalopod whose landings are said to peak this month, is the birth fish for April 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 sources may assign different fish, but this page follows our own mapping throughout.
Find your date's fish — a fitting touch for gifts celebrating new beginnings at school and work.
What is the birth fish of April?
April's birth fish include Red sea bream, Firefly squid, Japanese scallop, and Sakura shrimp — every one in season. In our calendar, each of the 30 days of April has its own fish.
April birth fish (30 days)
All 30 days of April, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/1 |  Japanese scallop | blossom, vista | shellfish | Apr, Nov |
| 4/2 |  Sakura shrimp | blessing, springtide | crustacean | Apr, Nov |
| 4/3 |  Red sea bream | joy, prosperity | sea fish | Apr, Nov |
| 4/4 |  Firefly squid | light, mystery | cephalopod | Apr |
| 4/5 | Japanese scallop | blossom, vista | shellfish | Apr, Nov |
| 4/6 | Red sea bream | joy, prosperity | sea fish | Apr, Nov |
| 4/7 | Sakura shrimp | blessing, springtide | crustacean | Apr, Nov |
| 4/8 |  Darkbanded rockfish | acuity, spring breeze | sea fish | Apr |
| 4/9 |  Japanese littleneck clam | tide, daily life | shellfish | Apr |
| 4/10 |  Sakhalin surf clam | honesty, sprout | shellfish | Apr, Oct |
| 4/11 |  Bigfin reef squid | elegance, wit | cephalopod | Apr, Oct |
| 4/12 |  Blood clam | lifeblood, blessing | shellfish | Apr |
| 4/13 |  Japanese halfbeak | herald, youth | sea fish | Apr, May |
| 4/14 |  Cockle | departure, color | shellfish | Apr |
| 4/15 | Firefly squid | light, mystery | cephalopod | Apr |
| 4/16 |  Small sea bream | cherry, lineage | sea fish | Apr, Nov |
| 4/17 |  Cherry salmon | cherry, homecoming | sea fish | Apr |
| 4/18 | Sakura shrimp | blessing, springtide | crustacean | Apr, Nov |
| 4/19 | Sakhalin surf clam | honesty, sprout | shellfish | Apr, Oct |
| 4/20 | Japanese scallop | blossom, vista | shellfish | Apr, Nov |
| 4/21 | Red sea bream | joy, prosperity | sea fish | Apr, Nov |
| 4/22 | Japanese littleneck clam | tide, daily life | shellfish | Apr |
| 4/23 | Firefly squid | light, mystery | cephalopod | Apr |
| 4/24 | Bigfin reef squid | elegance, wit | cephalopod | Apr, Oct |
| 4/25 | Cherry salmon | cherry, homecoming | sea fish | Apr |
| 4/26 | Darkbanded rockfish | acuity, spring breeze | sea fish | Apr |
| 4/27 | Blood clam | lifeblood, blessing | shellfish | Apr |
| 4/28 | Japanese halfbeak | herald, youth | sea fish | Apr, May |
| 4/29 | Cockle | departure, color | shellfish | Apr |
| 4/30 | Small sea bream | cherry, lineage | sea fish | Apr, Nov |
What lands in April
April's shellfish landings are generous: Japanese scallop, Japanese littleneck clam, Hard clam, Blood clam, and Cockle all count this month among their peak. The littleneck clam in particular is said to be a traditional taste of spring.
Spring visitors arrive from the sea as well. Sakura shrimp, a crustacean whose fishing season opens in spring, and the Firefly squid, a small cephalopod landed at its peak, headline the month. Red sea bream — said to be at its best now — lends the season an auspicious name.
How to enjoy April birth fish
- Choose by fish words: light and mystery, the words given to the Firefly squid, make a poetic card line.
- Taste the season: spring shellfish shine steamed (mushi) or in a light nimono.
- Pair it with the birthday color: blossom-season colors beside the day's fish make a springtime gift.
- For gifts and cards: a Red sea bream birthday note carries the season's good wishes.
FAQ
- What is the birth fish of April?
- April's birth fish include Red sea bream, Firefly squid, Japanese scallop, and Sakura shrimp. Every day of April has its own fish in our calendar.
- What fish is assigned to April 15?
- April 15 is the Firefly squid, a small cephalopod whose landings peak this month. Its fish words are light and mystery.
- How is a birth fish different from a birth flower or star?
- A birth flower or star is simply the one assigned to your date. A birth fish is assigned by date too, but with the season as its marker: its peak season (shun) is said to include the day.
- Why do birth fish differ between sites?
- Birth fish are an editorial tradition without an official standard. We publish one consistent rule — choose species whose peak season includes each date — so our pages agree with one another.
Our birth fish are an original editorial system, not an official standard: dates are matched to species whose peak season (shun) includes them. The list covers seafood — crustaceans, shellfish, and cephalopods — as well as some freshwater fish. See our editorial policy for details.Editorial policy