Saltwater · Autumn peak in inner bays; juveniles (kohada) run in summer

Dotted Gizzard Shad

Konosirus punctatus

An ID-first page for a deep-bodied herring of Japan's inner bays. In Japan this fish is famous under its growth names: the juvenile kohada is one of the classic sushi toppings, the mid-size fish is nakazumi, and only the full-grown adult is called konoshiro. Adults grow bony and strongly flavoured, so anglers often release them or keep them as bait, while the young kohada stage in summer is the celebrated food fish.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Dotted Gizzard Shad — Photo: Ffish.asia, CC BY 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Deep, strongly compressed silvery body
A dark blotch behind the gill cover, with rows of small dark spots along the upper flanks
The last ray of the dorsal fin is drawn out into a long filament — a gizzard-shad mark
Blunt, rounded snout with a small toothless mouth set underneath
Young fish under the name kohada lack the full adult spot rows and are the prized sushi stage

Habits

Filter-feeds on plankton and organic matter over muddy bay bottoms
Runs through the classic growth names: kohada (juvenile), then nakazumi, then konoshiro (adult)
Kohada, the summer juvenile, is a traditional sushi topping prepared with salt and vinegar
Schools in brackish estuaries and harbour water, often at the surface
Adults are bony with a strong flavour and are often released or used as bait

Distribution

Regional coverage expanding

Where to find them

Tokyo Bay river mouths and inner harbour piers
Ariake Sea estuary coast
Osaka Bay estuary piers

Where they live

Inner bays and brackish estuariesRiver mouths and harbour basinsShallow muddy flats where it filter-feeds

How to catch them

Pier sabiki in inner bays Shore

Rig: Light rod with a sabiki rig worked at school depth beside inner-bay piers and river mouths, with krill chum

Bait/lure: Bare sabiki hooks with ami krill chum

Key tip: Expect many small fish; the larger adults hit hardest in autumn.

Small float rig at river mouths Shore

Rig: Light float rig with a small single hook fished just under the surface where schools work the current at river mouths

Bait/lure: One ami krill or a tiny krill piece

Key tip: Keep the bait moving slowly with the current; a static bait is ignored.

Best baits & lures

Sabiki rigs with skin hooksAmi krillTiny krill pieces

Techniques for Dotted Gizzard Shad →

Baseline setup

Rod: Light spinning rod 7-8 ft (2.1-2.4 m)
Line: 6-8 lb mono
Terminal: Sabiki rigs size 4-6 hooks, small floats, split shot

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 6-10 in (15-25 cm); large fish to about 12 in (30 cm)

On the table

The juvenile kohada is a prized sushi fish (salted and vinegared); adults are bony and strong-tasting, better vinegared or used as bait.

Similar species

Gizzard ShadThe American gizzard shad is a North American freshwater and estuary species; the dotted gizzard shad is the Northwest Pacific fish, marked with rows of small dark spots along its upper flanks

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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