The Konoshiro Pattern: Catching Lunker Seabass, Yellowtail and Big Flounder on Gizzard Shad
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Minagiman's Fishing Adventures in Japan
Enshu-nada Surf Fishing in November: Big Yellowtail, Ribbonfish and Flounder
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Is the season over once October’s peak passes? Not on the Enshu-nada coast. The surf beaches between Cape Irago and Iwata (Aichi and Shizuoka) move into big-fish season in November. Looking back at my own catch reports, November is when the yellowtail jump in size. Here is what to target and how, based on those records.
November at a glance
| Species | November status | Main time |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowtail (buri, warasa, inada) | Sizes go up; buri and warasa at Irago, numbers and variety at Tahara | Dawn and dusk |
| Ribbonfish (tachiuo) | Runs continue, with thick, quality fish | Dusk into night |
| Bullet tuna (suma-gatsuo) | Sometimes mixed in with yellowtail | Dawn |
| Flounder (hirame) | Good fish when bait is thick; improving into winter | Dawn/dusk, stained water |
| Seabass | Big bait in river mouths — lunker chances | Night, river mouths |
October is “anything bites”; November is about going for one big fish.
What my past catch reports show
| Date | Place | Main catch |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Nov 2023 | Irago surf | Yellowtail run |
| Late Nov 2023 | Across Enshu-nada | Yellowtail along the coast |
| 6 Nov 2024 | Enshu-nada surf | Small yellowtail, seabass |
| 8 Nov 2024 | Irago surf | Buri and warasa start |
| 9 Nov 2024 | Tahara surf | Mixed species, flounder |
| 13 Nov 2024 | Tahara surf | Ribbonfish, yellowtail |
| 19 Nov 2024 | Tahara surf | Thick ribbonfish |
| 22 Nov 2024 | Tahara surf | Bullet tuna, inada |
| 24 Nov 2024 | Tahara surf | Warasa, inada |
| 25 Nov 2024 | Tahara surf | Warasa at dusk |
| 1 Dec 2024 | Tahara surf | Strong yellowtail runs |
| Early Dec 2024 | Irago surf | Buri, warasa |
- Big fish (buri, warasa) concentrate at Irago.
- Numbers and variety are at Tahara — inada, warasa, bullet tuna, ribbonfish and flounder all in one month.
- Yellowtail runs continue from early November into early December — November is the second half of the main season, not the end.
Yellowtail: sizes go up
In November, warasa and buri start mixing into the inada schools of October. In 2024 they appeared at Irago on 8 November and the big runs lasted into early December. Dawn metal jigging is still the core approach, but with bigger fish, step up your leader and double-check drag and knots. Warasa also came at dusk (25 November 2024), so a second session in the evening is worth it.
| Item | November guide |
|---|---|
| Metal jigs | 40–60 g (distance and depth control) |
| Line | PE 1.5–2 |
| Leader | 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (heavier for big fish) |
Ribbonfish: dusk into night
Ribbonfish keep running at Tahara, with thick fish on 13 and 19 November 2024. Fish from dusk until dark — with early sunsets, be ready from around 4 pm.
Flounder: quality fish when bait is around
Cooling water suits flounder, and they often hit jigs dropped to the bottom while you fish for yellowtail. To target them, work sinking pencils and minnows slowly through the shallows at dawn and dusk.
Bullet tuna: a welcome bonus
Bullet tuna (suma-gatsuo), a small tuna with distinctive back markings, turned up with inada on 22 November 2024. They are oily and delicious. They hit the same jigs as yellowtail — retrieve a bit faster when fish break the surface, and treat them as a bonus.
Seabass: big-bait river mouths
Gizzard shad, young mullet and post-spawn ayu gather in river mouths in November, giving night-time lunker chances. Work current seams and light-shadow lines at the mouths of the Tenryu, Magome and Ota rivers slowly with big minnows or wakebaits.
Area guide
| Area | November character | Targets |
|---|---|---|
| Irago | Open ocean, strong current; big-fish records | Buri, warasa |
| Tahara (Omotehama) | Vast surf, many runs, lots of species | Inada, warasa, bullet tuna, ribbonfish, flounder |
| Hamamatsu (Nakatajima, Maisaka) | Bait drawn in by the Tenryu River and Lake Hamana | Flounder, seabass, small yellowtail |
| Iwata (Fukude, Sameshima) | River-mouth areas | Seabass, flounder |
Things to watch in November
- Cold mornings: average lows in Hamamatsu are around 10°C, and sea wind makes it feel colder. Bring a warm jacket, gloves and a neck warmer.
- Short days: you will be walking in the dark for the dawn bite — a headlamp and careful footing are essential.
- More strong westerlies: Enshu-nada is very wind-dependent, so check the forecast and choose your area the day before.
Sample day plan
| Time | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5:00 (dark) | Leftover ribbonfish, seabass | River mouths, around lights |
| Dawn–9:00 | Yellowtail | Main window: Irago for size, Tahara for numbers |
| Midday | Flounder | Promising with some colour in the water |
| 15:30–dusk | Yellowtail, ribbonfish | Warasa have come at dusk |
| Night | Ribbonfish, seabass | From sunset to around 8 pm |
Minagiman’s take
November has bigger gaps between good and bad days than October, but the fish you do catch are bigger. My yellowtail have come in November and December — my target buri of the year came at Irago in early December. Dress warm, focus on the short dawn and dusk windows, and November into December is the time of year when you can really dream big.
Read next
- Japanese yellowtail surf season
- Ribbonfish (tachiuo) guide
- Landing yellowtail in the surf
- Winter flounder (kan-hirame)
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.
