Largemouth Bass in Japan

Introduced. Japan produced the world-record-tying 10.12 kg fish from Lake Biwa in 2009.

The fish

Japanese: ブラックバス · burakku basu
Scientific name: Micropterus nigricans
Typical size: 30–60 cm (12–24 in)
Water: Freshwater

Invasive Alien Species — moving or keeping this fish alive is prohibited.

Across the year

The best month at any of the 5 places we have checked. Each place has its own window, and the season elsewhere in Japan may differ.

Where we have checked it

These are examples, not a complete list. Largemouth Bass is caught far more widely in Japan than the 5 waters below. We list a place only once we have worked out which rules apply there, so the absence of a water means we have not checked it — not that the fish is missing.

Lake KasumigauraIbaraki · FreshwaterMay, June and July are the prime months.
Lake KawaguchiYamanashi · FreshwaterMay, June, September and October are the prime months.
Lake NojiriNagano · FreshwaterMay, June and September are the prime months.
Lake BiwaShiga · FreshwaterApril, May, September and October are the prime months.
Lake IkeharaNara · FreshwaterMay, June and September are the prime months.