Japanese surf smelt
チカ · chika
Hypomesus japonicus
Japanese surf smelt are small coastal schooling fish, unlike lake-dwelling wakasagi.
Habitat and season
Northern harbours and coastal bays.
- Recorded fishing season
- Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- Scientific name
- Hypomesus japonicus
- Japanese name
- チカ
Months are a broad guide, not a current catch forecast. Region, water temperature and local closures can change the season.
Fishing methods
Sabiki fishing
A multi-hook rig imitates tiny prey while a bait basket releases a small trail of shrimp. Fish vertically at a permitted pier rather than swinging exposed hooks through a crowd.
Uki — float fishing
A float shows bites while suspending the bait at a chosen depth. Adjusting the float stop changes the feeding layer.
Find places to fish
千代ノ浦マリンパーク 釣り護岸
Fat greenling · Japanese surf smelt · Saffron cod
Hokkaido · Harbour岩内港
Japanese surf smelt · Fat greenling · Japanese horse mackerel
Hokkaido · Harbour厚田漁港
Japanese surf smelt · Black rockfish · Fat greenling
Aomori · Harbour寄浪漁港
Japanese surf smelt · Temminck’s surfperch · Fat greenling
Cooking
Detailed recipes for this species are currently in Japanese. Open the Japanese cooking guide →
Compare related fish
Detailed Japanese species notes
細長い銀色の体に小さな脂びれがあります。ワカサギに似ますが、鱗が細かく、腹びれの位置も見分ける手掛かり。海で釣れたという情報だけでは断定しません。
小さなサビキ針が服や手に刺さりやすいので、仕掛けを伸ばす時は周囲に人がいないか確認。冷え込む北日本の岸壁では防寒と滑り対策も必要です。
Full Japanese page, including available 3D model →