Fish
Epinephelus bruneus ・ Epinephelidae (Groupers)
It switches on as the water cools in autumn, and October to December offers the best chance. Midwinter produces fewer fish but the finest eating of the year. Through the summer spawning period it drops deep and stops feeding.
A giant grouper that passes 1.2 m and 50 kg. Six dark bars slant forward and downward across the pale brown body, fading with age until old fish are plain brown. The similar mahata grouper has near-vertical bars and a white-edged tail. Kue lurks around rocky reefs and banks in western Japan. Kyushu calls it ara, though the fish that officially bears that name is a different species.
Usually taken from boats on live bait, a small fish dropped over rocky ground. It is heavy-tackle fishing, since a hooked kue dives straight back into the reef.
Send a live horse mackerel or chub mackerel down to the rock heads and hold it a metre or two off the bottom. When it takes, give no line: everything rests on that first instant of winding it clear of the reef. Set the drag tight, and never leave the rod sitting in the holder.
Waters: Southern Pacific coast, East China Sea & western Kyushu
Night fishing from the rocks, with a live bait dropped into the hole at your feet. The take comes without warning and will drag the rod in, so either hold it or lash the butt down. Check your escape route and the state of the tide before anything else, and do not fish alone.
Waters: Southern Pacific coast, East China Sea & western Kyushu
Live-bait fishing kit ・ Kit total ¥25,000–60,000
The bait is normally caught on site with a sabiki rig, so bring that kit too. You need a bucket, ideally aerated, to keep the bait alive.
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This fish is dangerous to handle bare-handed.
Sharp teeth
Sharp canines line the rim of that large mouth, and the gill cover carries spines. A big fish has jaw strength enough to injure a finger badly, so unhook it with pliers and never take it by the lower jaw. On deck it is heavy and thrashes, so have one person pin it while another works the hook.
Dangerous fish and animals — what to do when you are stung or bitten
The hotpot is the classic use, with the collar simmered and the flesh sliced thin also excellent. The skin and its gelatine carry much of the flavour, so keep the skin on.
Best eating: January, February, November, December
It grows very slowly, and all fish begin life female with only some of the largest turning male, which makes a depleted population slow to recover. Restraint matters here. Conservation measures and rules vary by area, so check the regulation for the prefecture you are fishing.
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.
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.