Japanese Yellowtail From the Beach: Buri, Warasa, Inada and When They Actually Arrive
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Minagiman's Fishing Adventures in Japan
Hiika Eging: How to Catch Small Squid From Harbours on Winter Nights in Japan
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As bigfin reef squid fishing slows down around November, a new target appears on winter nights in Japanese harbours: hiika, a palm-sized squid. It is small, but when you find a school you can catch one after another. You can use ajing or mebaru tackle, so it is easy to add to a winter light-game session.
What is hiika?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Common name | Hiika |
| Standard Japanese name | Jindo-ika (Loliolus japonica) |
| Family | Loliginidae (pencil squid family) |
| Size | Small enough to sit in your palm |
| Behaviour | Aggressive; attacks prey almost its own size |
| Activity | Nocturnal, so you fish at night |
Despite their size, hiika are aggressive and grab squid jigs boldly. That makes them a great way for beginners to experience squid fishing.
Season
| Months | Situation |
|---|---|
| October | Starts in some areas |
| November–December | Schools move into harbours. Peak season |
| January–February | Midwinter; still good in cold water |
| March–April | Early spring; continues in some areas |
The main season is roughly November to April, when water is cold. It takes over as bigfin reef squid season ends, so it suits anglers who want to keep eging through winter.
Where and when
- Around harbour lights: hiika often patrol near lights
- Inside harbours: they prefer sheltered harbours to open coast
- Harbours with horse mackerel or small seabass: where there is small bait, there are often hiika
- Light-and-shadow lines: the edge between lit and dark water
Fish at night: after dark, check harbours where the lights are on. The same spots and times as winter ajing work for hiika.
Tackle
| Item | Guide |
|---|---|
| Rod | 7–8 ft, UL–L. A light eging, mebaru or ajing rod is fine |
| Reel | 1000–2000 spinning (shallow spool) |
| Line | PE 0.6–0.8 (Japan no.); 0.3 once you are used to it |
| Leader | Fluorocarbon about 1.5 (roughly 6 lb), 50 cm–1 m |
| Squid jig (egi) | Size 1.5–2 |
A soft light-game rod is the most comfortable for working light jigs.
Choosing jigs
Use small size 1.5–2 jigs. A size 3 or 3.5 for bigfin reef squid is too big for small hiika to grab.
| Colour | When |
|---|---|
| Glow | In dark spots, or away from the lights |
| UV (keimura) | Under lights, for a soft glow |
| Pink and orange | Standard attractor colours |
| Natural | When squid get wary, or under bright lights |
How to fish
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Cast | Around the light-and-shadow line |
| 2. Sink | Let it sink to the surface-to-mid layer |
| 3. Jerk | Two or three small jerks |
| 4. Fall | Let the jig sink and wait for the bite |
| 5. Set | If anything feels different, set the hook |
At night, hiika are usually in the surface to mid layers. Unlike bigfin reef squid, you do not need to hit bottom and make big jerks. Small jerks, then let them grab it on the fall.
- Bites are tiny: often just “something feels heavy” or the line stops
- If in doubt, set the hook
- Keep the line slightly tight on the fall so you notice changes
- If a school is there, cast straight back to the same spot
Hiika vs bigfin reef squid
| Hiika | Bigfin reef squid | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Palm-sized | Larger, with big spring fish |
| Season | Late autumn to early spring (mainly winter) | Autumn and spring |
| Where | Inside harbours, around lights | Piers with good current, rocks, weed beds |
| Jig size | 1.5–2 | Mostly 2.5–3.5 |
| Method | Small jerks and falls, surface to mid | Hit bottom and jerk hard |
For hiika, think small, shallow and slow. Using bigfin reef squid tactics, your jig is likely to be too big and too deep.
Taking them home
Chill hiika straight away in a cooler with ice. Put them in a zip bag first so they do not mix with other fish or slurry. They are great as tempura or deep-fried whole, simmered in a sweet soy sauce, or in stir-fries and pasta. Squid can carry Anisakis, so take care if eating raw; cooked is safe.
My take
Many people think of eging as bigfin reef squid fishing and see winter as the off-season. With hiika, you can keep eging on winter nights in harbours, with the same tackle as ajing. Detecting and hooking tiny bites feels a lot like ajing. Just slip a few size 1.5 jigs into your pocket next time you go ajing.
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ABOUT ME
Born in 1994. Originally from Hyogo Prefecture, I moved to Iwata City in Shizuoka Prefecture in search of the sea. I am an Enshunada surf angler who enjoys surf fishing. I am also active on YouTube, and my fishing grounds range from Irago to Iwata.
