The resource consists of cartesian coordinates, expressed in units of pixels for groups of eight individual fish, swimming in a shoal. The fish were filmed from above with a high resolution video camera. The data were generated from the images and video using automated two-dimensional tracking software. A food stimulus delivering a single food reward was presented six times per trial. The data were collected between July and August 2017 in a controlled fish laboratory at the University of Bristol by the data authors. The data were collected to test the effects of group behaviour in fish shoals on foraging performance. There are instances where one or more fish in a frame could not be tracked. Where such instances occur are indicated in the data files. The research was funded through NERC grant NE/P012639/1 Hunger and knowledge: foraging decisions in an uncertain and social world All procedures regarding the use of animals in research followed United Kingdom guidelines and were approved by the University of Bristol Ethical Review Group (UIN UB/17/060). Full details about this nonGeographicDataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/08305a43-79b5-432f-ad20-2ddffe0d1077