Tairaba (tai rubber jig) from a Boat / Charter
Under current lines and flotsam, do not stay tied to bottom: wind steadily through mid-water. Locate the dorsal spine before handling.
Waters: East China Sea & western Kyushu, Southern Pacific coast
Fish
Unicorn Leatherjacket ウスバハギ
Aluterus monoceros ・ Monacanthidae (Filefishes)
Catch season
- Catchable
- Peak
From summer into late autumn it gathers around offshore flotsam and current lines and appears in boat catches.
About
Covered in rough, sandpapery skin, they can raise the first dorsal spine to wedge themselves into a hole in the rock. They nibble food with a tiny puckered mouth. Found in the East China Sea and off western Kyushu and the southern Pacific coast of Japan.
Basics
- Scientific name
- Aluterus monoceros
- Family
- Monacanthidae (Filefishes)
- Japanese name
- ウスバハギ
- Kana
- うすばはぎ
- Waters
- East China Sea & western Kyushu, Southern Pacific coast
- Size
- 55 cm (max 80 cm)
- Time of day
- Dawn, Daytime
- Depth (tana)
- Surface to mid-water. Drop beside flotsam or working birds and present slowly.
How to catch it
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.
Handle with care
This fish is dangerous to handle bare-handed.
Sharp spines
The first dorsal spine above the head is thick and hard. Locate it before handling the fish.
Dangerous fish and animals — what to do when you are stung or bitten
Eating
Good thin-sliced, in hotpot, or simmered. Use liver only when fresh and cook it thoroughly.
Best eating: January, October–December
Rules
Follow the skipper's retention instructions and check prefectural rules.
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.