yellow group · The short answer
FISH
Each puzzle word passes the same exact test. The four mappings show how the answer works.
MULLET passes as a fish name; the same spelling also points to a familiar haircut, which is the main distraction.
PIKE qualifies as the name of a long-bodied predatory fish, although the word also names a weapon and a peak.
SOLE is a flat-bodied fish name here, not the adjective meaning only or the underside of a foot or shoe.
TANG qualifies as a marine fish name, even though its everyday flavor sense can pull the word away from the quartet.
Why this group was difficult
- MULLET has a famous alternate reading
The word immediately evokes a haircut in everyday contexts, so its fish sense is easy to set aside while scanning the board. - SOLE does double duty in ordinary language
SOLE can describe a foot or shoe, and it can mean only, giving the entry several plausible readings beyond the animal. - TANG and PIKE point elsewhere
TANG sounds like a flavor word, while PIKE suggests a weapon or mountain peak, so neither announces the category by itself.
How to spot this pattern next time
Test the literal FISH reading first: MULLET, PIKE, SOLE, and TANG are a complete four-word set, so remove them together rather than debating one alternate sense.
When a word has a vivid second meaning, ask whether it also completes a clean four-member category; the whole quartet is stronger evidence than any isolated definition.
Four useful facts behind the group
- The official FISH quartet is MULLET, PIKE, SOLE, and TANG.
- MULLET has both a fish meaning and a widely recognized haircut meaning.
- PIKE can refer to a fish, a long weapon, or a pointed mountain peak.
- TANG can describe a sharp taste or smell as well as name a fish.
Questions players ask
The details people search after seeing the group
Which words are the FISH answers in Connections on August 24, 2026?
The four official FISH entries are MULLET, PIKE, SOLE, and TANG.
Why is MULLET a FISH answer instead of a haircut clue?
MULLET has a well-established fish meaning, while its haircut meaning is the deliberate surface distraction on this board.
Why does SOLE belong with the fish words?
SOLE is also the name of a flat-bodied fish, even though the word commonly refers to a foot, shoe, or exclusive status.
How can I find the FISH group in a future Connections puzzle?
Look for four entries that are direct names of fish, then check that the entire quartet works before committing to a narrower interpretation.