Mebaru (Japanese stingfish)

Japanese: メバル - めばる（英語表記）Japanese stingfish

A marine fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae in the order Scorpaeniformes. A general term for the Sebastes inermis species complex. The name "mebaru" (rockfish) means that the eyes are significantly larger than the head. The eyes are longer than the snout, and there are two sharp spines in front of them. There are 13 spines on the dorsal fin. The rear edge of the tail fin is rounded or straight up and down. There are five or six dark, indistinct horizontal stripes on the body. Traditionally, the base color of these fish varies from red to black to white depending on where they live, and they were called akamebaru (red rockfish), kuromebaru (black rockfish), and shiromebaru (white rockfish), respectively, and were considered to be color variations of the same species. However, in the 21st century, DNA analysis revealed that they are different species. These three species are distinguished by the number of pectoral fin rays in addition to the body color, but there are also intermediate species, making it difficult to tell them apart from their appearance. Closely related species include the Usu-mebaru, Siberian rockfish, Hatume, Togotto rockfish, and Yanagi rockfish, all of which are known as rockfish. This group of rockfish is the most common and is a popular target for anglers.

[Kunio Amano]

Red Rockfish

Sebastes inermis , whose Japanese name is Akamebaru (red rockfish), is found throughout Japan from southern Hokkaido to Kyushu and in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Its body is red, and its anal and pelvic fins are often also red. Its pectoral fins are long, usually reaching the anus, and usually have 15 rays. It mainly lives in shallow seaweed beds. It is an ovoviviparous fish that gives birth to larvae. It grows to about 26 centimeters in length. It is caught by fishing, bottom gill nets, longlines, and fixed nets. It is a popular fishing fish, and many people enjoy it from rocks, boats, and breakwaters. It is a valuable ingredient in prepared dishes such as stews, salt-grilled dishes, and hotpots.

[Kunio Amano]

Black rockfish

Sebastes ventricosus , whose Japanese name is Kuromebaru (black rockfish), is found from Iwate and Ishikawa prefectures to Kyushu and the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Its body color is black, and when alive, the part of its body below the dorsal fin is bluish-green. The anal and pelvic fins are black. Most have 16 pectoral fin rays. It often lives in shallow rocky areas that open to the open sea, but is rare in inland bays. It is an ovoviviparous fish. It grows to a total length of about 30 centimeters. Like the akamebaru, it is used as a deli fish.

[Kunio Amano]

White rockfish

Sebastes cheni , Japanese name Shiromebaru (white rockfish), is found in areas from Iwate and Akita prefectures to Kyushu, and in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. It is also sometimes called Kinmebaru. Its body color ranges from white to pale brown, with the anal and pelvic fins often brown. It usually has 17 pectoral fin rays. It is often found in shallow rocky areas, and is the most common compared to Akamebaru and Kuromebaru. It is an ovoviviparous fish. It grows to a total length of about 32 cm. It is used in the same way as the other two species.

[Kunio Amano]

fishing

Fishing can be done from boats, rocky shores, and embankments, and can be enjoyed both during the day and at night. Although it differs by region, it is especially interesting from around December to around March of the following year. Boat fishing involves using a thin line with a three-pronged bait with a small sea shrimp attached, and a weight of around 20. Sometimes bloodworms are used as bait. Fishing can also be done with a pole using a sabiki rig, using a single-top bait rig with a net placed inside a bait basket.

Sometimes live sardines are put on a double hook with a body attached and rod fishing is done with a weight of 10 to 15. A soft rod is best, and the trick is to wait until the bait bites sufficiently and then set the hook on the opposite side to fish.

Fishing from breakwaters and rocky shores can be done using float fishing and fukase fishing, with bait such as earthworms and shrimp, and it is effective to spread some bait. At night, the swimming depth of the fish increases, so fishing can be done from shared boats, rocky shores, or embankments from sunset to midnight. The best conditions are days when the tide is slightly murky and the sea is calm.

[Toshio Matsuda]

Food

A white fish. It is in season from late spring to summer. It is generally simmered, and the flesh falls off easily when simmered. Fresh fish can be grilled with salt or used as a soup ingredient. Teriyaki and deep-fried dishes are also good.

[Tomomi Kono]

"Matsuo Yoshihiko, 'Mebaru Fishing Specialist' (1994, Kosaido Publishing)"

Main relatives of rockfish (specimen illustrations)
© Tadaaki Ohkata ">

Main relatives of rockfish (specimen illustrations)

Black rockfish
©Shogakukan ">

Black rockfish

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

硬骨魚綱カサゴ目フサカサゴ科Scorpaenidaeに属する海水魚。メバル種群Sebastes inermis species complexの総称。メバルの名は、目が頭に比べて著しく大きいことを意味する。目は吻(ふん)より長く、その前下方に鋭い2本の棘(とげ)がある。背びれ棘(きょく)は13本。尾びれの後縁は丸いか、または上下にまっすぐである。体に5、6条の暗色の不明瞭(ふめいりょう)な横帯がある。従来は、すむ場所によって地色が赤、黒、白色などに変化し、それぞれアカメバル、クロメバル、シロメバルとよばれ、同一種の色彩変異とされていた。しかし21世紀になり、DNA解析の結果、それぞれは別種であることが判明した。これら3種は体色のほかに胸びれ鰭条(きじょう)数によって区別するが、中間のものもいて外見からは識別がむずかしい。近縁種にウスメバル、エゾメバル、ハツメ、トゴットメバル、ヤナギメバルなどがあり、メバル類として知られているが、このメバル種群はもっとも普通の種類で、釣り人の好対象魚となっている。

［尼岡邦夫］

アカメバル

和名アカメバル〔赤目張〕Sebastes inermisは、北海道南部から九州までの日本各地と朝鮮半島南部に分布する。体色は赤く、臀(しり)びれと腹びれも赤いことが多い。胸びれは長くて通常肛門(こうもん)に達し、その条数は普通15本。おもに浅海の藻場(もば)に生息する。仔魚(しぎょ)を産む卵胎生魚である。全長26センチメートルほどになる。釣り、底刺網(そこさしあみ)、延縄(はえなわ)、定置網などで漁獲される。釣りの対象魚で磯(いそ)釣り、船釣り、防波堤釣りなど愛好家が多い。煮つけ、塩焼き、鍋物(なべもの)など総菜材料として重宝がられている。

［尼岡邦夫］

クロメバル

和名クロメバル〔黒目張〕Sebastes ventricosusは、岩手県と石川県から九州、朝鮮半島南部に分布する。体色は黒っぽく、生きているときは、背びれの下の体の部分は青緑色がかっている。臀びれと腹びれは黒色。胸びれ条数は16本のものが多い。外海に開けた浅海の岩礁域に多く生息し、内湾には少ない。卵胎生魚である。全長30センチメートルほどになる。アカメバルと同様に総菜魚として利用される。

［尼岡邦夫］

シロメバル

和名シロメバル〔白目張〕Sebastes cheniは、岩手県と秋田県から九州までの各地、朝鮮半島南部に分布する。キンメバルとよばれることもある。体色は白色から淡い茶色で、臀びれと腹びれは茶色のものが多い。胸びれ鰭条数は普通17本。浅海の岩礁域に多く見られ、アカメバルやクロメバルに比べてもっとも普通に見られる。卵胎生魚である。全長32センチメートルほどになる。他の2種と同様に利用する。

［尼岡邦夫］

釣り

船、磯、堤防などから釣ることが可能で、昼釣りと夜釣りで楽しめる。地域差もあるが12月ごろから翌年3月ごろがとくにおもしろい。船釣りは細いハリスで胴付き三本鉤(ばり)、海エビの小さいものをつけ、オモリ20号前後でねらう。餌(えさ)にアオイソメを使うこともある。また、寄せ餌の籠(かご)に網を入れた片天ビンで、サビキ仕掛けの竿(さお)釣りもある。

　生きたヒコイワシを胴付き二本鉤にかけ、オモリ10～15号で竿釣りすることもある。竿は軟調がよく、十分に食い込むのを待って向こう合わせで釣るのがこつである。

　防波堤や磯での釣りには、餌にイソメ、モエビを使うウキ釣りやフカセ釣りなどがあり、多少寄せ餌をまくと効果がある。夜は泳層も高くなるので、乗合船や磯、堤防で日没から夜半まで釣る。潮が薄濁りで、海の静かな日が好条件である。

［松田年雄］