Largehead Hairtail in Japan

A ribbon of chrome that feeds vertically at dusk. Popular boat target in the Inland Sea and Osaka Bay.

The fish

Japanese: タチウオ · tachiuo
Scientific name: Trichiurus lepturus
Typical size: 70–130 cm (28–51 in)
Water: Saltwater

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. Largehead Hairtail 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.

Tokyo BayTokyo / Chiba · SaltwaterJuly, August, September and October are the prime months.
Sagami BayKanagawa · SaltwaterJuly, August, September and October are the prime months.
Ise Bay & TobaMie · SaltwaterJuly, August, September and October are the prime months.
Osaka Bay & Awaji IslandHyogo · SaltwaterJuly, August, September and October are the prime months.
Seto Inland SeaHiroshima / Ehime · SaltwaterJuly, August, September and October are the prime months.