Chasing Red Snapper & Tilefish: A Traditional Japanese “Tai Rubber” Adventure
Welcome back to another adventure with Fishing Life AI! In this trip, I’m joined by a friend who traveled all the way from Tokyo to join me on the water . Our mission? To chase the prized Japanese Red Snapper and bring our catch home for a delicious dinner .
The Setup: Traditional “Tai Rubber”
We headed offshore to use a very specific, traditional Japanese fishing rig known as “Thai (Tai) Rubber” . This rig is specifically designed for catching Red Snapper .
The setup is quite unique compared to western lures:
- It features a sinker at the very top .
- Below that, there is a rubber skirt or piece .
- Finally, it uses two small hooks .
You might wonder why we use such tiny hooks for decent-sized fish. The reason is that small hooks have less impact on the lure’s action, allowing the skirt to swim more naturally in the water .
The Offshore Bite
The weather forecast called for the wind to pick up, making the water a little choppy, but it turned out to be a great day . As we headed offshore, we immediately spotted tons of birds chasing fish . While we could have tried for topwater action, we stuck to the plan and headed straight to our Red Snapper spot .
The First Drop Theory
There is a saying in boat fishing: the first fish always comes to the person who drops their rig first . It makes sense logically—the longer your rig stays in the water, the more likely fish are to find it and bite .
True to the theory, we hooked up quickly! After a good fight, we landed a Japanese Red Snapper . It measured about 40 cm (roughly 16 inches), which is a fairly average size for this species .
Moving Inshore for Tilefish
After some action offshore (and a few lost fish), we decided to change spots to target Tilefish . This spot is convenient because it is only a minute away from our marina, making it a perfect stop at the end of a trip .
The move paid off. We landed a large White Tilefish . By the end of the day, our cooler contained White Tilefish, Red Snapper, and a Fluke (Hiame) .
Catch and Cook: Sashimi and Acqua Pazza
There is nothing more satisfying than cooking something you just caught . Back at home, I decided to whip up a quick dinner that takes about 30 minutes: Sashimi and Acqua Pazza .
Ingredients & Prep
I started by slicing a large onion, using half for the Sashimi plate and the other half for the Acqua Pazza .
The Cooking Process
- Seasoning: I seasoned the fish with salt and pepper .
- Searing: Using a generous amount of olive oil and garlic, I fried the fish, focusing only on searing the surface .
- The Broth: Since I didn’t have clams (a traditional ingredient), I improvised using a “plastic bone” flavor enhancer . I added a good amount of water and tossed in the fish head, which brings a great stock taste to the dish .
- Vegetables: To finish the stew, I added tomatoes, potatoes, and mushrooms .
The Result
While the stew simmered, I sliced up the remaining fish for Sashimi, plating it over the sliced onions and dressing it with olive oil and pepper .
The final result was a beautiful spread of fresh White Tilefish and Red Snapper, prepared two ways . This moment—enjoying the fresh catch with friends—is always the greatest pleasure of fishing .
Thanks for reading, and see you on the next adventure!