Fish
Parapristipoma trilineatum ・ Haemulidae (Grunts)
The rainy season is the peak, when pre-spawning shoals come within reach of both rock marks and boats. On summer nights they ride high in the water, so the better fish come after dark. Late-autumn fish carry more fat but arrive in smaller numbers.
Juveniles are brown with three yellow stripes along the upper flank, earning them the nickname uribo, "boar piglet"; the species name trilineatum comes from those three lines. The stripes fade with age and adults turn a plain blue-grey, reaching about 40 cm. It feeds by night, and is at its best in the early-summer rainy season before spawning.
The rainy season is the peak. Boat anglers use a single-arm boom with a chum basket, while rock anglers fish a float-and-basket rig. Young-of-the-year come readily to sabiki rigs off breakwaters.
The fish come shallower as the light goes. Start at about three fathoms and shorten by one at a time if nothing happens; two light shakes of the cage is enough chum. On a rock mark after dark, knowing your way back comes first: wear a buoyant life jacket and never go alone.
Waters: Southern Pacific coast, East China Sea & western Kyushu, Sea of Japan
Drop a light jig of 30 to 60 g to the bottom, wind slowly for ten metres, then let it go again. The shoal sits a little above the seabed, so note the depth of the take and work only that band. The faster you get back down, the more you catch.
Waters: Southern Pacific coast, East China Sea & western Kyushu, Sea of Japan
The young of the year, still showing three yellow stripes and known as uribo, come to the piers in shoals through summer. Smaller hooks than you would use for horse mackerel, worked close in, bring numbers. The dorsal spines are sharp, so hold the fish through a towel rather than gripping it.
Waters: Southern Pacific coast, East China Sea & western Kyushu, Sea of Japan
Float fishing starter kit ・ Kit total ¥13,000–30,000
Shares the rod and reel with the sabiki kit. The whole craft is in moving the stopper to find the depth.
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This fish is dangerous to handle bare-handed.
Sharp spines
The dorsal spines are hard and sharp. There is no strong venom, but you handle a great many of these in a session and gripping one drives a spine in. Cutting the dorsal fin away with scissors before you bleed the fish makes everything afterwards safer. The bones are stiff and sharply pointed too, and lodging one in the throat is a long-standing hazard when eating it.
Dangerous fish and animals — what to do when you are stung or bitten
Sashimi, salt-grilled, or simmered. Rainy-season fish carry fat, and searing the skin brings out the aroma. The small bones are stiff and sharp, so flake the flesh before serving it to children.
Best eating: May–July
Some prefectures set a minimum size in their fishery regulations. Many rock marks and piers are also closed at night, so check both the local rules and the signage on site.
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.