Species guide
How to catch Japanese seabass
Lateolabrax japonicus
The Japanese seabass is a popular game fish known for its sleek, fusiform body and strong fighting ability. It inhabits coastal and inshore rocky reefs, as well as brackish and freshwater environments, especially when young. This species is a seasonal spawner, with adults moving to deeper rocky reefs in winter to reproduce.
Where they live
Japanese seabass can be found in shallow inshore rocky reefs and coral reefs across Asia and the Pacific, often moving into brackish and freshwater rivers as juveniles. They prefer waters around 5 meters deep or less and spawn in deeper reefs during winter.
Typical size
Up to about 102 cm
What they eat
- small finfish
- gobies
- chironomid larvae
- insect larvae
- amphipods
- crustaceans
- shrimps
Best baits
- small fish bait
- shrimp
- worms
- insect larvae
Best lures
- soft plastic jerkbaits
- metal spoons
- jigs
- topwater plugs
How to fish for them
- casting from shore or boat
- light spinning tackle
- trolling near rocky reefs
- float fishing in estuaries
Track every Japanese seabass you catch.
Bobbr turns each catch into a species collection, quests, and streaks. We're building it now — join the iOS waitlist for $19 lifetime founding access.
Claim founding access