Tairaba (tai rubber jig) from a Boat / Charter
Touch down on the rock-sand boundary, wind steadily for about ten metres, then drop again.
Waters: Southern Pacific coast
Fish
Azurio Tuskfish イラ
Choerodon azurio ・ Labridae (Wrasses and Parrotfishes)
Catch season
- Catchable
- Peak
Active over southern rocky ground from spring into autumn and taken on boat rubber jigs.
About
A large wrasse with a bulging forehead and a diagonal band across the middle of its body. It cracks open shellfish with its hard teeth.
Basics
- Scientific name
- Choerodon azurio
- Family
- Labridae (Wrasses and Parrotfishes)
- Japanese name
- イラ
- Kana
- いら
- Also called
- テス
- Waters
- Southern Pacific coast
- Size
- 40 cm (max 65 cm)
- Time of day
- Dawn, Daytime
- Depth (tana)
- Within two metres of bottom, worked slowly along the rock-sand boundary.
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 teeth
The front teeth are strong. Keep fingers clear and use pliers.
Dangerous fish and animals — what to do when you are stung or bitten
Eating
Good as sashimi, simmered, or fried.
Best eating: June–September
Rules
Check the charter boat's retention 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.