Leopard coral grouper
スジアラ · sujiara
Plectropomus leopardus
Known as akajin in Okinawa, this coral grouper has small blue spots on a reddish body. Jigging and live-bait fishing target reef edges, where the first dive after hooking is crucial. Reef-fish food safety depends on provenance, not appearance alone.
Habitat and season
Warm reefs around the Nansei Islands and other southern Japanese waters.
- Recorded fishing season
- Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov
- Scientific name
- Plectropomus leopardus
- Japanese name
- スジアラ
Months are a broad guide, not a current catch forecast. Region, water temperature and local closures can change the season.
Fishing methods
Vertical jigging
Metal jigs are worked below a boat through the depth occupied by predators.
Nomase — live-bait fishing
A live baitfish swims on the rig to attract larger predators. The bait must remain lively and the rig must suit the water depth and local rules.
Find places to fish
Cooking
Detailed recipes for this species are currently in Japanese. Open the Japanese cooking guide →
Compare related fish
Detailed Japanese species notes
赤い体に青い小斑点が散るハタの仲間で、沖縄のアカジンとして知られる。根の近くで小魚を捕らえ、掛かった直後に底へ戻ろうとする。赤いハタをすべてスジアラと呼ばず、模様や形を確認したい。
暖海の大型礁魚にはシガテラのリスクがある。種類や大きさだけで安全を判断せず、産地と食用流通が確認された魚を使う。加熱・冷凍では毒は除けない。
Full Japanese page, including available 3D model →