Fish
Siganus fuscescens ・ Siganidae (Rabbitfishes)
From summer into autumn it hooks up constantly as a by-catch on float and fukase rigs from rocks and piers. You will meet it whether you want to or not, which makes it the first fish to learn.
Its fin spines are venomous. By grazing seaweed down to bare rock it is seen as one cause of isoyake, the barren rocky shores left behind, though in the Kansai region it is caught and eaten.
It comes to the hook during float and fukase fishing with krill and chum, on rocks and piers from summer into autumn. Because it also grazes seaweed it will take almost anything, and avoiding it deliberately is close to impossible. On a day when the float keeps dipping erratically, suspect this fish first.
The classic dangerous by-catch, hooked whether you want it or not. Every fin spine is venomous, so put it on the ground when you land it, pin it with a grip, and unhook it with pliers. Never leave one lying on the rocks or the pier: the next person will be the one who is stung.
Waters: Sea of Japan, Southern Pacific coast, Seto Inland Sea, East China Sea & western Kyushu, Okinawa & Nansei Islands
If the float keeps dipping in small stabs without a proper take, this fish has usually swarmed the spot. When you hook one, never touch it with a bare hand: use tools.
Waters: Sea of Japan, Southern Pacific coast, Seto Inland Sea, East China Sea & western Kyushu, Okinawa & Nansei Islands
Fukase fishing kit ・ Kit total ¥45,000–120,000
Built on the assumption that you will stand on rock. Of everything here, the studded boots and life jacket are the two items never to compromise on.
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This fish is dangerous to handle bare-handed.
Venomous spines
Every spine in the dorsal, pelvic and anal fins is venomous, and a sting causes intense pain lasting hours to days. The venom remains active after the fish dies, so a specimen in your cool box or rubbish bag is still dangerous. If stung, wash the wound, immerse it in water as hot as you can bear (around 45C), and seek medical care. Always unhook it with pliers and a fish grip, never bare-handed. Do not leave one lying on the pier, where the next person will stand on it: take it home or return it to the sea.
Dangerous fish and animals — what to do when you are stung or bitten
The smell of the gut transfers into the flesh quickly, so the spines are cut off and the fish is gutted immediately after landing. Handled that way, the white flesh is good.
Best eating: September–November
Check the local fishery regulation. In some areas it is treated as a problem species that grazes down seaweed beds, but leaving carcasses on the shore or disposing of them carelessly creates a different problem and should not be done.
Closed seasons and size limits — how to find the numbers, which differ by prefecture
This article organises general information and is not legal advice. Rules differ by municipality and by fishery cooperative, and they change. Always check the current rules for where you are going.