
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,901
- BGG rating
- 5.6
Fish & Ships
- 2–4 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2017

2004
Rules assistance for Somethin' Fishy
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Somethin' Fishy is a board game released in 2004 for 3–6 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Oliver Igelhaut and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Push Your Luck.
This card game from Oliver Igelhaut has fish feeding on fish. The cards show different types of fish in different sizes, from hungry to full. Players draw cards and play them to rows, with hungry fish eating everything in front of it until it meets a like fish. A fish doesn't eat its like, and instead goes to the table as a fat fish. When a player has drawn 3 cards of a kind, it can take a fat fish from the table. When the round ends, players score for the most fish in their catch. Reportedly a good, quick filler, with English and French rules in the box (only in the Abacus Edition, the SimplyFun Edition has only English rules).
Somethin' Fishy supports 3–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Somethin' Fishy is 15 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Somethin' Fishy for ages 6 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Somethin' Fishy has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Somethin' Fishy belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Children's Game. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Push Your Luck. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Somethin' Fishy are: Oliver Igelhaut. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Somethin' Fishy as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.