Fish

Korean rockfish (black rockfish, ureok)

Rocote coreano (ureok)

Sebastes schlegelii

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

1–3 lb.

Depth

10–330 ft.

Best time

Dusk and night from breakwaters; any time from boats.

Found in

2 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A thick, dark gray-brown to black rockfish with a big mouth, spiny head and fins, and faint mottling; pale belly. Called ureok in Korea and kurosoi in Japan.
Typical size: 1–3 lb.
Maximum size: About 2 ft and 7 lb (3.1 kg).
Diet: Small fish, shrimp, crabs and squid.
Behavior: Hides in rocks, kelp and around breakwaters and fish farms; bears live young.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Japan & South Korea and China, Hong Kong & Taiwan. Rocky shores, breakwaters and reefs of Korea, Japan (especially Hokkaido and northern Honshu) and the Yellow Sea.
Habitat: Rocky shores, breakwaters and reefs of Korea, Japan (especially Hokkaido and northern Honshu) and the Yellow Sea.
Depth: 10–330 ft.
Fishing depth: 10–100 ft.
Best season: All year; autumn to spring is best.
Best time: Dusk and night from breakwaters; any time from boats.
Best tides: Moving water: the hours around the tide change, when current pushes over the reef edges and bait gets swept along.
Best weather / conditions: Stable weather with clean water; a few days of steady conditions beat a front coming through.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Squid, shrimp, sand worms and fish strips.
Best artificial lures: Soft-plastic grubs and shads on jig heads, small metal jigs.
Tackle setup: 7 ft medium spinning rod.
Hook size: 1/0–3/0 hooks.
Line: 10–20 lb braid.
Leader: 15–25 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Rocky shores, breakwaters and reefs of Korea, Japan (especially Hokkaido and northern Honshu) and the Yellow Sea.
Rig up: 7 ft medium spinning rod. 15–25 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Squid, shrimp, sand worms and fish strips. Lures: Soft-plastic grubs and shads on jig heads, small metal jigs.
Fish it: Bounce soft plastics along rocks and breakwater bases, or fish bait from party boats over reefs.
Time it: Dusk and night from breakwaters; any time from boats. Moving water: the hours around the tide change, when current pushes over the reef edges and bait gets swept along.

Fishing techniques: Bounce soft plastics along rocks and breakwater bases, or fish bait from party boats over reefs.
BigJoe's tip: Fish at night under harbor lights in winter for the biggest rockfish.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Excellent: Korea's favorite sashimi (hoe) fish; also in spicy stew (maeuntang).

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp, mildly venomous spines on the head and fins — use a fish grip.
Regulations: Korea and Japan have minimum sizes in some areas. Check local rules. Sea fishing in Japan and South Korea needs no license for visitors, but local fishery cooperatives set rules; rivers and lakes require a day or season ticket (in Japan, a yugyoken) from the local fishery cooperative, and many rivers have closed seasons.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat and release the big breeders; wet your hands, support the fish's belly and get it back in the water fast.

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Sources & photo credits