‘Sardine girl summer': Bizarre Gen Z trend takes over the internet
This vibrant, quirky nail trend has reeled in Zoomers — hook, line and sinker.
Fishy fads have driven a shocking amount of conversations around style and health this year — and it's not just Gen Z buying into them.
In an annual report released earlier in 2025, Pinterest speculated that the fisherman aesthetic would take off among Gen X as well, with both age groups reportedly showing increased interest in search terms like 'fish bag,' 'sardine tattoo' and 'fisherman sandals.'
Sardines, specifically, have taken off in popularity as a major wellness movement, with proponents of the craze touting it as a way to improve heart health, boost hair shine and prevent neurological disorders like Alzheimer's — among many other health benefits.
Fisherman core dominated runways and New York City streets alike, with fashionable pieces ranging from nautical stripes to cable-knit sweaters to angling-themed accessories.
Despite the widespread interest in maritime motifs, the fishy nail craze is all Gen Z.
The look is directly inspired by multi-coloured, glittery, eye-catching lures that anglers attach to the end of fishing lines.
A-fish-ionados of the eccentric manicure have taken to social media to show off their handiwork, and reactions from commenters have been overwhelmingly positive, particularly because of the length and colour customisation possibilities.
Some designs have even boasted intricate details like miniature feathers, chrome-polished scale patterns and bubbles, though perhaps the most over-the-top look is manicures that feature hooks actually pierced through the acrylic tips.
Cameron Short, a Dallas-based nail artist who hopped on the trend back in February before it really exploded in popularity, told Vogue: 'I didn't really have a method to my madness, I just knew that I had to capture the nostalgia of fishing as a child.'
When working on her first set of fishing lure nails, Short, who posts her work on her Instagram @reallynichenails, gathered over a hundred reference photos of the brightly-hued bait, and has sold dozens of custom press-on nail sets featuring the style.
Per comment sections on fishing lure nail photos across the internet, Gen Z loves the trend for the creativity and quirkiness — and many Zoomer girls have shared that their fishing-obsessed partners are equally as pumped about its burgeoning popularity.
'Those are adorable! My man who loves fishing really liked them too,' gushed one user in the comments under a Reddit post.
Meanwhile, a chorus of comments to the effect of 'Wait, I'm obsessed' flooded into one of Short's fishing lure-forward posts.
Unexpected as this offbeat beauty trend may be, many manicurists are simply happy to catch a break from the food-related fingernail fads — rest in peace, glazed doughnut nails.
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