Saltwater · Autumn-winter best for boat tenbin fishing
Japanese Horsehead Tilefish
Branchiostegus japonicus
A luxury tilefish and a specialist boat target in Japan, fished with tenbin rigs over sand and mud. It lives in burrows and feeds just above the bottom. Its regular boat partner and bycatch companion is the golden threadfin bream, taken on the same grounds.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Pinkish-red body with pale yellow markings and a silvery belly
- Horse-like, blunt head profile with a steep forehead
- A dark or reddish patch behind the eye in many fish
- Soft dorsal fin and a slightly forked tail
- Paler and more horse-headed than red seabreams of similar colour
Habits
- Digs and lives in burrows in sand and mud
- Feeds on shrimp, small crabs, worms and small fish near its burrow
- Mostly solitary or in loose pairs over burrow fields
- Bites gently and often hooks itself on a sensitive tenbin rig
- Golden threadfin bream is the main companion catch on the same rigs
Distribution
Regional coverage expanding
Where to find them
- Suruga Bay tilefish grounds
- Sagami Bay sand-mud grounds
- Wakasa Bay boat grounds
Where they live
How to catch them
Boat tenbin fishing Boat
Rig: Tenbin rig with one or two hooks and a sinker, fished from a drifting boat over sand and mud burrow fields
Bait/lure: Shrimp, sandworm or squid
Key tip: Keep the rig on the bottom, lift slowly and watch for the gentle first bite.
Drifting over burrow fields Boat
Rig: Light tenbin or dropper rig drifted slowly across flat sand-mud ground from a boat
Bait/lure: Fresh shrimp pieces
Key tip: Change ground if only small fish bite and keep baits fresh and neat.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light to medium boat rod with a sensitive tip
- Line: 20-30 lb braid
- Terminal: Tenbin rigs, size 10-13 hooks, 30-60 g class sinkers for depth
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
7'6" medium-heavy jigging rod
≈ US$110-170
Works 2-6 oz jigs over rock and reef and still has the backbone to lift a halibut off the bottom.
Line · Budget
50 lb braid with 40 lb leader (200 yd)
≈ US$25-40
Thin braid cuts the current so jigs stay vertical; the leader shrugs off rock and teeth.
Terminal · Budget
Leadhead jigs, swimbaits and two-hook bottom rigs
≈ US$25-40
A leadhead with a swimbait tail is the universal bottom-fish catcher, from rockfish to cod to flounder.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 10-14 in (25-35 cm); large fish to about 18 in (45 cm)
On the table
Excellent — soft, sweet white flesh, prized steamed, grilled with salt or simmered.
Similar species
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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