Species › Asia › Japanese Seabass (Suzuki)

Saltwater

Japanese Seabass (Suzuki)

Lateolabrax japonicus · suzuki, seabass, Japanese sea perch

Water temp
57–72°F
Peak season
May–Jun, Sep–Nov
Best light
Low light
IGFA record
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Japanese Seabass (Suzuki) (Japanese seabass - Lateolabrax japonicus for sale Tokyo area Nov 8 2019.jpeg)

Photo: Nesnad · CC BY 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Japanese seabass are elongated, silver fish with a dark back, large mouth and spiny first dorsal, native to the coasts of Japan, Korea and China. They move between the open sea, bays and far up tidal rivers, feeding on anchovies, sardines, shrimp and crabs mostly at night and around tide changes, and they can be caught from concrete harbor walls in the middle of Tokyo or Osaka. The species is central to Japanese lure fishing, which is why so many minnow plugs and finesse techniques used worldwide were refined on suzuki. A fish over 80 cm (31 in) is called a 'rancar' and is the benchmark trophy.

Typical size1.5–5 lb (0.7–2.3 kg); 16–26 in
Trophy80 cm+ (31 in+), roughly 10 lb (4.5 kg); 90 cm+ is exceptional
Table fareGood — firm white flesh, popular as sashimi and arai in summer

Where & when

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Spring brings fish into rivers chasing baitfish, summer fishing is best at night, and autumn (October–November) is peak as big fish feed heavily before moving offshore to spawn in winter.

Tokyo Bay (Arakawa and Tamagawa river mouths), JapanThe heartland of urban night-time seabass fishingOsaka Bay (Yodogawa mouth), JapanBig-fish harbor and river fishery in western JapanAriake Sea, JapanKyushu's shallow bay system with a distinct large-bodied population

How to catch

Night minnow fishing in rivers and harborsAfter dark, cast 90–140 mm floating or suspending minnows along light lines, bridge shadows, current seams and harbor walls and retrieve slowly with occasional twitches. Fish the moving water two hours either side of a tide change.
Surf and estuary mouth luresWade sand and shingle beaches at dawn, casting slim sinking minnows and metal vibration lures into gutters and the plume of a river mouth. Retrieve just fast enough to feel the lure work and cover ground until you find fish.

Gear

Rod8½–9½' medium-light spin rated 7–28 g
Reel3000–4000 spinning
Line15–20 lb braid; 16–20 lb fluorocarbon leader

Lures

floating and suspending minnows (90–140 mm)vibration and blade luressoft-plastic worms on light jigheads

Baits

live shrimplive anchovy or sardinelugworm

Regulations

Japan has no recreational saltwater license and few species-specific limits for shore anglers, though prefectural rules, port no-fishing zones and local cooperative fishing rights apply. Most lure anglers release seabass by convention.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: not listed. State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

Is Japanese seabass the same as sea bass or striped bass?

No. Suzuki (Lateolabrax japonicus) is its own family of Asian seabasses, unrelated to the European sea bass or the American striped bass, though it looks and behaves like a cross between the two: silver, bass-shaped, estuary-loving and fond of hunting baitfish at night. Anglers who fish for stripers or European bass will find the techniques transfer almost directly.

Bite forecast — Japanese Seabass (Suzuki)

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Japanese Seabass (Suzuki).

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