Saltwater · Summer to autumn peak; year-round in the south

Blacktip Grouper

Epinephelus fasciatus

The pillar of shore light rockfish games in southern Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, and also taken from boats. Its relative the hong-kong grouper (E. akaara, in this guide) is the stocked-fishery counterpart. Look for the reddish-orange body and the black tips on the spiny dorsal fin.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Blacktip Grouper — Photo: portioid, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Reddish-orange to brownish-red body
Black tips on the spiny dorsal-fin membranes — the key mark
Pale spots and mottling along the flanks
Grouper body with large mouth and rounded tail
Young fish often brighter red, in very shallow reef

Habits

Ambush predator darting from reef cover at passing prey
Feeds on small fish, shrimp and crabs
Most active in warm water, summer to autumn peak from shore
Territorial around a patch of reef; often in small loose groups
Takes small soft plastics eagerly, a pillar of light rockfish games

Distribution

Regional coverage expanding

Where to find them

Izu Peninsula south coast, Shizuoka
Shikoku south coast and Cape Ashizuri, Kochi
Miyazaki and Kagoshima coast, Kyushu

Where they live

Rocky reefs and boulder shores in southern watersBreakwaters and harbour rock with reef nearbyShallow reef from boats in 10-65 ft (3-20 m)

How to catch them

Shore light rockfish lure fishing Shore

Rig: Light spinning rod, 5-10 g jig head or Texas rig with a 2-3 in (5-8 cm) soft plastic around breakwaters and reef shores

Bait/lure: Shrimp- or fish-pattern soft plastics

Key tip: Work the lure slowly and close to bottom along cover and pause often; the fish darts out from hiding.

Boat bottom fishing over shallow reef Boat

Rig: Light bottom rig or jig head from a boat over reef and boulder bottom in warm water

Bait/lure: Shrimp pieces or small live fish

Key tip: Drift the boat slowly along the reef edge and work each piece of structure carefully.

Best baits & lures

Soft-plastic luresShrimp piecesSmall live fish

Techniques for Blacktip Grouper →

Baseline setup

Rod: Light to medium rockfish spinning rod
Line: 8-14 lb braid with fluorocarbon leader
Terminal: 5-10 g jig heads, Texas rigs, small hooks

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

9' 5-weight fly rod outfit

≈ US$180-260

Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.

Flies · Budget

Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)

≈ US$25-40

Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.

Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.

Typical size

Common 10-16 in (25-40 cm), about 1-3 lb (0.5-1.4 kg); large fish to 20 in (52 cm)

On the table

Good — firm white flesh; a popular eating fish in southern Japan, though small fish are often released in lure games.

Similar species

Hong Kong GrouperHong Kong grouper is yellow-brown with dark spots and is the stocked-fishery counterpart; blacktip grouper is reddish-orange with black dorsal-fin tips and is the wild shore fish

Marbled RockfishMarbled rockfish is a stocky, spiny Sebastiscus in maroon mottling; blacktip grouper is a reddish, large-mouthed grouper without that mottling

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

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