Ayu sweetfish
アユ · ayu
Plecoglossus altivelis
Ayu are associated with flowing rivers and grazing on attached algae. Tomozuri exploits territorial behaviour; lure-based ayuing has separate local permissions.
Habitat and season
Clear rivers and seasonal migration routes.
- Recorded fishing season
- Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
- Scientific name
- Plecoglossus altivelis
- Japanese name
- アユ
Months are a broad guide, not a current catch forecast. Region, water temperature and local closures can change the season.
Fishing methods
Ayu tomozuri — live-decoy fishing
A live ayu enters another fish’s territory; trailing hooks catch the defending fish. This is a specialist river method.
Ayuing — ayu lure fishing
A lure is used in place of a live decoy to draw a territorial response. Permission for other ayu methods does not automatically permit ayuing.
Find places to fish
芥川 清・渓流魚釣り場
Rainbow trout · Ayu sweetfish
Wakayama · Lake / river / pondねむねむの森キャンプ場
Ayu sweetfish · Rainbow trout
Wakayama · Lake / river / pond百間山渓谷キャンプ村
Ayu sweetfish
Kyoto · Lake / river / pond大野虹の湖キャンプ場（旧：oono school camp）
Ayu sweetfish · Red-spotted masu salmon
Cooking
Detailed recipes for this species are currently in Japanese. Open the Japanese cooking guide →
Compare related fish
Detailed Japanese species notes
細長い銀色の体で、成熟すると体色が変化します。
川の増水と転倒が最大の注意点。必ず河川状況と遊漁規則を確認する。
Full Japanese page, including available 3D model →