Saltwater · Summer nights best; year-round in inner bays

Whitespotted Conger

Conger myriaster

Japan's classic summer night conger, fished from piers and small boats in inner bays all over the country. It is a gentle, mild fish compared with the fierce pike conger (hamo), and a staple of tempura and sushi when thoroughly cooked. White spots along the lateral line give it its English name.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

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Aug

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Dec

Whitespotted Conger — AI-generated image — AI-generated image — no verified freely-licensed photo of this species was available

Identifying features

Long eel-like body, brownish above and pale below
A row of clear white spots or pores along the lateral line
Dorsal fin starts well behind the pectoral fins
Rounded tail fin joined to the dorsal and anal fins
Blunter teeth and a gentler mouth than the pike conger

Habits

Lives by day in burrows in sand and mud, emerges at night
Feeds at night on worms, shrimp, crabs and small fish
Most active on warm summer nights in inner bays
Adults live in bays; larvae drift widely in the Kuroshio
Bites are soft tugs — it swallows bait before running

Distribution

Regional coverage expanding

Where to find them

Tokyo Bay piers around Yokohama and Chiba
Osaka Bay harbour piers and breakwaters
Seto Inland Sea piers and small-boat grounds

Where they live

Sand and mud bottoms in inner bays and estuariesBurrows in soft bottom near rocks and harbour wallsShallow coastal water, often less than 165 ft (50 m) deep

How to catch them

Night pier bottom fishing Shore

Rig: Simple bottom rig with a small sinker and one or two hooks, cast from a pier after dark

Bait/lure: Sandworm, shrimp or fish strips

Key tip: Fish after dark in summer and wait out the soft first tugs before lifting.

Boat bottom fishing in the bay Boat

Rig: Tenbin or dropper rig over sand and mud from an anchored or drifting small boat

Bait/lure: Sandworms and shrimp

Key tip: Keep the rig on the bottom in the burrow areas and move if bites stop.

Best baits & lures

Sandworms and lugwormsShrimp piecesSmall fish strips

Techniques for Whitespotted Conger →

Baseline setup

Rod: Light to medium 7-9 ft spinning rod for piers; short boat rod afloat
Line: 10-20 lb mono or braid
Terminal: Bottom and tenbin rigs, size 8-12 hooks, light sinkers

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 12-24 in (30-60 cm); large fish to about 39 in (100 cm)

On the table

Good — a classic tempura and sushi fish with soft white flesh; always cook thoroughly and never eat raw from home preparation.

Similar species

Daggertooth Pike CongerPike conger (hamo) has fierce fang-like teeth, a longer pectoral-fin region and no neat row of white lateral-line spots; whitespotted conger is gentler, blunter-toothed and clearly white-spotted along the side

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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