Fish

Red sea bream (madai)

Pargo rojo japonés (madai)

Pagrus major

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–5 lb; fish over 10 lb are prized.

Depth

30–650 ft.

Best time

Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A beautiful pink-red sea bream with bright blue spots on the upper sides, a dark edge on the tail and a steep head. The "king of fish" in Japan, served at celebrations.
Typical size: 1–5 lb; fish over 10 lb are prized.
Maximum size: About 3½ ft and over 20 lb (9.7 kg).
Diet: Crabs, shrimp, shellfish, squid and small fish.
Behavior: Lives over rocky and gravel bottoms near the shelf and moves into shallower water to spawn in spring ("sakura-dai"). Can live over 20 years.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Japan & South Korea and China, Hong Kong & Taiwan. Rocky reefs, gravel banks and channels around Japan (Akashi Strait, Seto Inland Sea, Izu), Korea, China and Taiwan.
Habitat: Rocky reefs, gravel banks and channels around Japan (Akashi Strait, Seto Inland Sea, Izu), Korea, China and Taiwan.
Depth: 30–650 ft.
Fishing depth: 50–300 ft.
Best season: All year; spring spawning season (March–May) and autumn are best.
Best time: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.
Best tides: Moving water: the hours around the tide change, when current pushes over the reef edges and bait gets swept along.
Best weather / conditions: Stable weather with clean water; a few days of steady conditions beat a front coming through.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Shrimp, krill and live prawns (hitotsu tenya fishing).
Best artificial lures: Tai rubber (tai-raba, a weighted head with rubber skirts), inchiku and slow jigs.
Tackle setup: Light 6–7 ft tai-rubber or slow-jigging rod with a small baitcasting reel.
Hook size: Small, sharp tai-rubber hooks.
Line: PE 0.8–1.2 braid (15–25 lb).
Leader: 12–20 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Leader Hooks Weight Tool

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Rocky reefs, gravel banks and channels around Japan (Akashi Strait, Seto Inland Sea, Izu), Korea, China and Taiwan.
Rig up: Light 6–7 ft tai-rubber or slow-jigging rod with a small baitcasting reel. 12–20 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Shrimp, krill and live prawns (hitotsu tenya fishing). Lures: Tai rubber (tai-raba, a weighted head with rubber skirts), inchiku and slow jigs.
Fish it: Drop a tai rubber to the bottom and wind it up slowly and steadily; don't strike at the first taps — keep winding until the rod loads.
Time it: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon. Moving water: the hours around the tide change, when current pushes over the reef edges and bait gets swept along.

Fishing techniques: Drop a tai rubber to the bottom and wind it up slowly and steadily; don't strike at the first taps — keep winding until the rod loads.
BigJoe's tip: Steady speed is everything with tai rubber; changing speed makes madai turn away.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Excellent: sashimi, tai-meshi (rice cooked with the whole fish), salt-grilled whole for celebrations.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp dorsal spines and gill covers — hold the fish firmly with a wet hand or towel and use pliers to remove hooks.
Regulations: No license at sea, but some areas have size limits and cooperative rules. Check local rules. Sea fishing in Japan and South Korea needs no license for visitors, but local fishery cooperatives set rules; rivers and lakes require a day or season ticket (in Japan, a yugyoken) from the local fishery cooperative, and many rivers have closed seasons.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat and release the big breeders; wet your hands, support the fish's belly and get it back in the water fast.

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Sources & photo credits