Tairaba (tai rubber jig) from a Boat / Charter
Touch sand or mud, wind up about a metre, then drop again. Keep the retrieve steady and let the fish follow into the hook.
Waters: Sea of Japan, Southern Pacific coast, East China Sea & western Kyushu
Fish
Horsehead Tilefish アカアマダイ
Branchiostegus japonicus ・ アマダイ科
Catch season
- Catchable
- Peak
Fishing steadies over sand and mud from autumn into winter, when tai-rubber style rigs work well.
About
A high-grade fish of sandy-muddy bottoms, with a squared-off face and pale pink body. In Kyoto it is called "guji," and fish from Wakasa Bay are prized as "Wakasa guji."
Basics
- Scientific name
- Branchiostegus japonicus
- Family
- アマダイ科
- Japanese name
- アカアマダイ
- Kana
- あかあまだい
- Also called
- アマダイ, グジ
- Waters
- Sea of Japan, Southern Pacific coast, East China Sea & western Kyushu
- Size
- 35 cm (max 55 cm)
- Time of day
- Dawn, Daytime
- Depth (tana)
- Within a metre of a sand or mud bottom. Re-find bottom often and work the rig with small lifts.
- Local names
- 若狭ぐじ, ぐじ
How to catch it
Boat fishing off Sagami Bay and the mouth of Tokyo Bay is well known. Anglers use a single-arm sinker rig with a long leader and krill bait, working just above the bottom.
Kit for this fish
Tairaba starter kit ・ Kit total ¥30,000–80,000
- Tairaba rod, 6.9 ftA dedicated rod with a very soft tip that lets the seabream take the lure without feeling resistance. A stiff rod simply pulls it away. ¥10,000–35,000AdFind on AmazonFind on Rakuten
- Small baitcasting reel with line counter (size 100-150)For tairaba. The line counter tells you the depth, so you can go straight back to the layer where the fish hit. ¥8,000–30,000AdFind on AmazonFind on Rakuten
- PE braid, 0.8-gouFor tairaba. The thinner the braid, the less the current pushes it, so the lure drops straight and you can feel the bottom. ¥1,500–5,000AdFind on AmazonFind on Rakuten
- Fluorocarbon leaderThe clear line tied to the end of the braid. It resists abrasion and is less visible, protecting the braid from rock and teeth. ¥800–3,000AdFind on AmazonFind on Rakuten
- Tairaba head 60-100 g with skirt and tailChoose head weight by depth and current. The rubber tails wear out, so carry spares in a few colours. ¥1,000–3,500AdFind on AmazonFind on Rakuten
- Fishing pliers / hook removerEssential protection from venomous spines and sharp teeth. Most injuries happen when someone unhooks a fish bare-handed. ¥800–4,000AdFind on AmazonFind on Rakuten
- Knife and spike for bleeding fishWhat turns a caught fish into good food; bleeding it changes the taste. See the column "Killing and carrying your catch" for how to use them. ¥1,000–6,000AdFind on AmazonFind on Rakuten
- Cool box, 15-20 LFor carrying fish home cold. Take plenty of ice; in summer a poorly insulated box is not fit for the job. ¥4,000–25,000AdFind on AmazonFind on Rakuten
- Life jacket, adult (Japan Craft Inspection approved)The first thing to buy, and worn on piers, rocks and boats alike. Boat fishing requires the government-approved type marked with the cherry-blossom stamp. ¥5,000–20,000AdFind on AmazonFind on Rakuten
Most party boats rent tackle. Going once with rented gear before buying wastes nothing.
Product links may be affiliate links. Prices move, so treat the ranges as a guide.
Eating
Superb steamed with sake, salt-grilled, or fried with the scales crisp. The delicate flesh must be kept cold.
Best eating: January, February, October–December
Rules
Some charter boats require small fish to be released; ask when booking.
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.
Other fish taken the same way
Other fish from the same kind of place
Seasons, sizes and eating quality are general guides. Rules change, so check the latest prefectural, fishery-cooperative and site rules before fishing. This app provides general information, not legal advice.