Freshwater · May-September; quieter in winter
Striped Shiner
Pungtungia herzi
The dark-finned native shiner — 돌고기. Notable biologically: it spawns its eggs in the nests of other fishes. Widespread in Korea, it shares a near-identical genus name with the protected Pseudopungtungia nigra (감돌고기) — a genus-name trap that makes careful identification part of fishing it, though 돌고기 itself is unprotected.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Dark black pelvic (ventral) fins — the key mark ('black-finned' sarasa)
- Silvery-bronze body with a thin dark lengthwise stripe
- Slightly hook-shaped mouth with tiny barbels
- Minute barbels at the mouth corners
- Body about 2.5-4 in (6-10 cm) with a complete lateral line
Habits
- A quiet, dark-finned fish of gravel edges
- Remarkable biology: it lays its eggs in other fishes' nests (nest parasitism)
- Widespread native across Korea and Japan
- Easily overlooked among bigger cyprinids
- Name caution: its genus echoes the protected 감돌고기 (Pseudopungtungia nigra) — but 돌고기 itself is not protected; careful identification is part of the fishery
Distribution
Regional coverage expanding
Where to find them
- Slow Han River gravel edges, Gyeonggi-do
- Chungju tributary streams
- Nakdong system river edges at Andong
Where they live
How to catch them
Delicate bait fishing over gravel edges River
Rig: Tiny hook with a maggot or bread drifted weightless through slow gravel edges
Bait/lure: Maggot or tiny bread ball
Key tip: Fish in daylight — it sight-feeds; strike at the first touch, as tiny hooks are spat fast.
Micro dry-fly work at pool tails River
Rig: Mini dry fly cast upstream and drifted through pool tails and shallow runs
Bait/lure: Size 20-22 dry fly
Key tip: Work pool edges; spawning season in late spring is its most active window.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Ultralight 5-6 ft stream rod
- Line: 1-2 lb monofilament
- Terminal: Tiny hooks size 20-24, micro 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 2.5-3.5 in (6-9 cm); maximum about 4.5 in (11 cm)
On the table
Bitter and full of bones; not eaten.
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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