Freshwater · Warm months; night fishing best, May to October

Japanese Bagrid Catfish

Tachysurus nudiceps

A small nocturnal river catfish famous for 'singing' — it makes a croaking sound by rubbing the base of its pectoral fin. That fin carries a serrated spine that can prick careless fingers, so handle it with care and never grip it bare-handed around the fins. It is a regular catch of night fishing alongside amur catfish and eels.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

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Japanese Bagrid Catfish — Photo: opencage, CC BY 2.5 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Scaleless brownish body with a pale belly, typical of catfishes
Four pairs of barbels around the mouth
Serrated pectoral-fin spine that locks erect — handle with care
Makes an audible croaking ('gigi') sound when handled or alarmed
Adipose fin present behind the dorsal fin

Habits

Strictly nocturnal; hides under banks and snags by day
Produces sound by rubbing the pectoral-fin base in its socket
Feeds at night on shrimp, insect larvae and small fish
Most active in warm water from late spring to autumn
Often caught at night together with amur catfish and Japanese eels

Distribution

Regional coverage expanding

Where to find them

Yodo River banks and backwaters
Tone River lower-reach pools
Lake Biwa inflow rivers at night

Where they live

Undercut banks, roots and rock cover in lowland riversDeep pools and dam tailwaters with snagsSlow backwaters near reed beds and bridge piers

How to catch them

Night bottom fishing in rivers River

Rig: Simple ledger rig with a size 8-12 hook and a glow stick on the rod tip, fished after dark

Bait/lure: Earthworms or shrimp

Key tip: Set baits beside undercut banks and snags; wait for a steady pull rather than small pecks.

Pool and tailwater night rig River

Rig: Ledger rig cast into deep pools below small dams, left static on the bottom

Bait/lure: Fish pieces or worms

Key tip: Fish from dusk into the night in warm months; use pliers and a cloth to unhook, avoiding the pectoral spine.

Best baits & lures

EarthwormsSmall shrimpPieces of small fish

Techniques for Japanese Bagrid Catfish →

Baseline setup

Rod: Light-medium 6-8 ft river rod
Line: 8-12 lb mono main line
Terminal: Ledger sinkers, size 8-12 hooks, glow sticks for night bites

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

8' medium-heavy catfish rod

≈ US$80-130

Long enough to lob heavy bait rigs, strong enough to move a flathead off the bottom.

Reel · Budget

Baitcasting or 4000-6000 spinning reel

≈ US$60-100

Line capacity and drag for long runs — catfish and carp both make them.

Terminal · Budget

Circle hooks, sliding sinkers and cut-bait rigs

≈ US$15-25

A slip-sinker rig with a circle hook is the proven bottom setup for cats and carp alike.

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

Typical size

Common 6-8 in (15-20 cm); large fish to about 10 in (25 cm)

On the table

Eaten locally in some regions, but small; many night anglers release it. Mind the serrated spine.

Similar species

Amur CatfishAmur catfish grows far larger, has only two pairs of barbels and no serrated pectoral spine sound-making base; the bagrid is small with four pairs of barbels

Striped Eel-catfishStriped eel-catfish is a marine, boldly striped fish with strongly venomous spines; the bagrid is a plain brown freshwater river fish

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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