Saltwater · Spring and autumn best around Bohai and Yellow Sea reefs; present year-round inshore
Fat Greenling
Hexagrammos otakii
The fat greenling — 'disheng yu' to Bohai coast locals — is the chunky, mottled reef fish behind countless Shandong and Liaoning rock-fishing mornings, a willing biter on shrimp that fights well above its size. In Japan the ainame is a standard catch of rocky shores and piers in Hokkaido and northern Honshu, taken on casting rigs and soft plastics around kelp beds and reef.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Stocky, big-headed greenling body with mottled brown, reddish or greenish camouflage
- Five lateral lines along each flank, a family trait of greenlings
- A dark blotch on the upper rear edge of the gill cover on many fish
- Long dorsal fin with a shallow notch between spiny and soft sections
- Thick lips and a blunt, rounded tail; skin feels smooth with very small scales
Habits
- Hugs rocky reefs, kelp and harbour structure in the Bohai and Yellow seas and around Korea and Japan
- Feeds on shrimp, crabs, worms and small fish picked from the reef
- Mostly solitary and strongly tied to one patch of structure
- Locals in parts of the Bohai coast also call it 'huang yu', a name shared with unrelated croakers
- Takes baits boldly but dives straight back into the rocks when hooked
Distribution
Regional coverage expanding
Where to find them
- Rocky reef edges off Liaoning, Shandong and Hebei
- Harbour breakwaters and raft-farm edges
- Kelp-covered rock in 5-20 m of water
Where they live
How to catch them
Rock and raft fishing with shrimp Rock fishing
Rig: Light rock rod or raft rod, small bottom rig with shrimp over reef edge
Bait/lure: Shrimp pieces, sandworms, clam
Key tip: Keep the bait tight to the structure and lift fast on the bite before it wedges in the rocks.
Light jigging over reef Boat
Rig: Light jigging rod, 7-20 g jig or soft plastic worked just above the reef
Bait/lure: Small metal jigs, soft plastics
Key tip: Fish the jig slow and close to bottom — greenling ambush from crevices, not open water.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light rock or boat rod
- Line: 10-16 lb braid or mono
- Terminal: Small bottom rigs, light jigs, size 4-8 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 and 1-3 lb; large fish to about 20 in
On the table
Good to excellent — firm white flesh, steamed whole or braised; a valued local food fish.
Similar species
Kelp GreenlingKelp greenling is a North American Pacific species — slimmer, with males in bright blue markings; fat greenling is the stockier, mottled fish of the Bohai and Yellow seas
LingcodLingcod is a far larger, longer predator with a huge fang-toothed mouth; fat greenling stays small, blunt-headed and reef-boundRegulations 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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