Tokyo Bay cheat sheet
Every fish, the sea rules, the rigs and the box of tackle. One page to take to the port or the pier.
Tokyo Bay
Suzuki year-round, biggest in autumn and winter. Tachiuo autumn into winter (Sep–Nov). Aji the warm months, rockfish the cold, kochi the summer.
Licence
No fishing ticket for the sea in Japan (the sea is licence-free; the lakes and rivers need a cooperative day-ticket). Nothing to buy before you go. Confirm the current rules with the Fisheries Agency of Japan and your charter.
The rules
Legal methods only (rod and line, no commercial nets or traps); mind protected areas and ports; some shore parks charge entry (Honmoku ¥900 a day adult; Wakasu free). The fee is for the venue, not a licence.
Eat / check the guidance
Suzuki, tachiuo, aji, kochi and the rockfish are all eaten and prized. Check the current Tokyo guidance if you eat a lot of bay-caught fish. Bleed and ice what you keep; mind the tachiuo's teeth.
Bank vs boat · season · time → rig
| Fish | From the shore | From a boat | Best time | Rig |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki (seabass) | A smaller fish off open piers | Yes, the proper way, on lures | First light, last light, the change of tide | Jigging rig (lure casting, FG knot) |
| Tachiuo (hairtail) | No | Yes, the only practical way | Autumn; the bite often comes on the fall | Jigging rig or inshore bait rig (tenya) |
| Aji (horse mackerel) | Yes, off the piers | Yes, over a shoal | Through the day over a found shoal | Inshore bait rig or a sabiki |
| Kasago / mebaru (rockfish) | Yes, on structure | Yes | Low light; cold months best for mebaru | Inshore bait rig |
| Kochi (flathead) | Possible off sandy ground | Yes, the channel edges | Summer, on the bottom | Inshore bait rig or jigging rig (low) |
Shore only is a free or low-fee pier for aji, rockfish and a small seabass. A charter adds suzuki on lures properly, and tachiuo on the jig in autumn.
The rigs
PE 0.8–1 braid → 16–24 lb fluoro leader → a minnow or vibration plug for suzuki, or a light metal jig for tachiuo, cast or worked off the bottom
FG knot · PalomarPE 0.8–1 braid → 16–24 lb fluoro leader → a baited hook (or the tenya, a weighted baited hook) on or near the bottom, for aji, rockfish, kochi and tachiuo
FG knot · snellA ready-made string of small hooks on dropper loops with a weight on the bottom, worked over a shoal of aji
Dropper loop · PalomarWhat you need
One light saltwater outfit, PE 0.8–1 braid and a fluoro leader cover the bay. Add a light bait rod and a sabiki only for a shore session. Most charters supply tackle.
The knots
| Knot | Ties | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| FG knot | The slim braid-to-leader join, both rigs. | Every braid-to-leader connection |
| Palomar | A jig, lure clip or swivel onto the leader. | Jigs, clips, swivels |
| Snell knot | A bait hook tied neatly on the leader. | The inshore bait hooks |
Learn the FG knot first: it is the saltwater essential that joins braid to the leader. Wet every knot before you pull it tight. Each rig page links the knots it needs.
This one page is the printable I take to the water.
Give me an email and I will show it to you, ready to print. A one-page reference: what's on by month, the licence and rules, a rig for every fish, the shared tackle box and the knots.
I'll send you the cheat sheet, and email you when I add a new place to fish. Nothing else.