2026.11.01

11 Fish to Catch in Winter in Japan: What Bites From Piers and Beaches in December, January and February

minagiman

When winter comes, many people put their rods away, thinking it is too cold and nothing bites. But plenty of fish are at their best in winter, and some species reach their biggest sizes then. Here are 11 fish you can target from piers and beaches in Japan from December to February, with methods and best times.

Water temperatures drop and fish are less active than in summer or autumn. In return, you get fish full of fat, winter-only targets, and quieter fishing spots.

Contents

Winter fish at a glance

Fish	Where	Method	Best time
Horse mackerel (aji)	Piers, harbours	Ajing, sabiki	Night, under lights
Japanese rockfish (mebaru)	Piers, harbours	Mebaring, bait	Night
Scorpionfish (kasago)	Pier walls, tetrapods, rocks	Burakuri rigs, jig heads	Day and night
Flatfish (karei)	Beaches, piers	Surf casting	Morning, evening
Fat greenling (ainame)	Rocks, tetrapods	Casting, hole fishing	Morning and evening; hole fishing by day
Filefish (kawahagi)	Piers (rock–sand edges)	Dropper rigs	Daytime
Small squid (hiika)	Harbour lights	Eging with size 1.5–2 jigs	Night
Black sea bream (kurodai)	Deep water, structure	Slow, careful fishing	—
Largescale blackfish (mejina)	Rocks with good current	Float fishing with chum	—
Olive flounder (winter “kan-birame”)	Surf	Lures (minnows, jigs)	Dawn
Japanese meagre (oonibe)	Surf (Enshu-nada, Miyazaki)	Lures	Evening to night

There are more winter targets than you might think. The key is to split night fish and day fish: horse mackerel, rockfish and small squid at night; filefish, scorpionfish and flatfish by day.

Night fish from piers

1. Horse mackerel

The star of winter light game. Schools come in around harbour lights at night. Use light jig heads for ajing, or sabiki rigs with bait. In winter, schools sometimes stay offshore in deeper water, so long-casting rigs help.

2. Japanese rockfish (mebaru)

A winter-to-spring night-fishing favourite, hiding along pier walls and in the light-and-shadow lines under lights. You can use the same tackle as ajing and target both in one session.

3. Small squid (hiika)

A small squid caught in harbours on winter nights with size 1.5–2 egi. Ajing tackle works fine, so it is a good add-on to a light-game session.

Day fish from piers

4. Scorpionfish

A year-round rockfish you can catch in winter along pier walls, tetrapods and rocks. Just drop a burakuri rig or jig head at your feet, which makes it great for beginners and families.

5. Filefish (kawahagi)

Autumn into winter is when its liver swells: the “kimo-pan” season. It feeds in the daytime, so it suits people who find night fishing too cold. In many areas it moves deeper as the water cools, so around December is the time to catch it from piers.

6. Flatfish (karei)

The classic winter surf-casting target. Cast lugworms or ragworms from beaches and piers, and focus on morning and evening.

7. Fat greenling (ainame)

A rockfish found around rocks and tetrapods. Cast in the morning and evening, and fish the gaps in tetrapods during the day. It is a popular winter target in northern Japan.

Fish for patient anglers

8. Black sea bream

In winter they gather in deeper water and around structure. It is a season for quality over quantity, so fish slowly and carefully.

9. Largescale blackfish (mejina)

A winter rock-fishing target in season now. Float fishing with chum along rocky shores with good current is standard, and fish over 30 cm are possible.

Winter surf fish

10. Olive flounder (“kan-birame”)

Winter flounder are called kan-birame: firm and full of fat. There are fewer than in autumn, but you can target big “doormat” flounder. Calm dawns are your best chance.

11. Japanese meagre (oonibe)

A fish that can grow over a metre, targeted on the Enshu-nada and Miyazaki surf. Winter is the big-fish season, and it is a dream target for surf anglers.

Five tips for catching fish in winter

Split night and day fish: horse mackerel, rockfish and squid at night; filefish and scorpionfish by day
Fish slowly: fish are sluggish in cold water, so slow down your lures and rigs
Think deep: on cold days, fish gather deeper and near the bottom
Choose stable water: inner harbours and deeper spots that do not chill quickly
Pick stable weather: a few mild days are better than right after a cold snap

In winter, slow and careful beats fast and wide. Fish also tend to stay in the same places, so once you find a pattern, it often repeats on your next trip.

Staying warm and safe

Layer up: base layer, mid layer and outer shell
Keep hands, feet and neck warm: gloves, thick socks, a neck warmer
Wear a life jacket: falling into winter seas can disable you within minutes
Check the wind: strong north-westerlies are common; do not push it on windy days
Watch your footing: wet piers and tetrapods are slippery

My take

Winter is not a season when everything bites. But by switching targets, with horse mackerel and rockfish at night, filefish and scorpionfish by day, and winter flounder on the surf, you can fish all day. Winter also tests the basics: slow presentations, depth control and timing. Get those right in winter, and your spring and autumn fishing will improve too.