Sea of Japan Niigata fishing forecast
Sea of Japan Niigata is a saltwater fishing spot in Niigata Japan, Japan. Anglers here target Pacific Bluefin Tuna, Japanese Amberjack, Yellowfin Tuna. The most productive months are typically May, June, July, August, September, October.
Today’s verdict
Ranks #152 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today
Trending up — 13 points above this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
| Sea surface temp | 26.9 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 11 km/h from NNE, gusting 16 km/h |
| Wave height | 0.4 m at 4 s |
| Current | 0.09 m/s toward WSW |
| Pressure | 1006 hPa |
| Depth | 86 m |
| Cloud cover | 100% |
| Chlorophyll | 1.00 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 32.4 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 10 m |
| UV index | 1 |
| Precipitation (24h) | 0.3 mm |
| Wind sea | 0.0 m at 0 s |
| Ground swell | 0.4 m at 4 s from N |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.09 → 0.00 m/s |
The water here is 4.7 °C warmer than the September average of 22.2 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 26.7 m, with the thermocline below that.
Updated 1 h ago.
What the score means at Sea of Japan Niigata
Sea of Japan Niigata currently scores 76 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 26.9 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +21.6
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Chlorophyll +18.0
- plankton density — the base of the food chain
- Current +9.4
- moving water concentrates bait
- Waves +9.0
- swell energy stirring the water column
- Wind +8.0
- surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
- Chlorophyll front +3.8
- a plankton edge — classic feeding line
What’s biting now
The model expects today: pacific-bluefin-tuna, swordfish, thread-sail-filefish, japanese-spanish-mackerel, japanese-seabass, japanese-flathead, silver-pomfret, albacore
Bite windows
Best months for Sea of Japan Niigata:
Score history at this spot
30 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-08-17, 83/100
11 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
+12 points vs the same day last week
About this spot
Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.
Approximate bottom depth: 86 m
Access & shore
Fishable from shore · offshore-only
What you can catch
-
Thunnus orientalis
-
Seriola quinqueradiata
-
Thunnus albacares
Best months by species at Sea of Japan Niigata
| Pacific Bluefin TunaThunnus orientalis | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese AmberjackSeriola quinqueradiata | ||||||||||||
| Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
| Species | Bag limit | Min size | Open season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese Amberjack都道府県漁業調整規則（採捕する水産動植物の魚種ごとの大きさの制限） | — | — | — |
| The Fisheries Agency publishes NO national bag limit or minimum size for buri. Size limits, closed periods, prohibited areas and permitted gear for recreational fishing are set by the PREFECTURAL fisheries adjustment rule (都道府県漁業調整規則) for the waters you are fishing, and local fisheries cooperatives may add voluntary measures. The "5 per day / 40 cm" this pack previously published had no source and has been withdrawn. Check the prefecture (都道府県) and the local 漁業協同組合 before fishing. | |||
| Pacific Bluefin Tuna太平洋広域漁業調整委員会指示第49号（令和7年11月4日一部改正第52号、令和8年2月17日一部改正第54号）／日本海・九州西第79号／瀬戸内海第48号 | — | — | — |
| SMALL FISH (UNDER 30 kg) MAY NOT BE TAKEN AT ALL — the Fisheries Agency states 「小型魚（30kg未満）については、キャッチ＆リリースを前提とした場合であっても遊漁による採捕は禁止の対象となります」, i.e. even targeting them intending to release is prohibited. Large fish (30 kg and over) may be taken only during an open period. From April 2026 the bag limit is ONE large fish per person per period, the periods being Apr–May, Jun–Jul, Aug–Sep, Oct–Nov, Dec–Jan and Feb–Mar. A one-off annual notification (届出) is mandatory before you fish for bluefin, and every large fish taken must be reported with its tail-fork length and weight. THE FISHERY CLOSES WITHOUT WARNING: when the period tonnage is used up the wide-area fisheries adjustment commission publishes a prohibition period — in 2026 that happened 5–30 April, 24–31 May, 3–30 June and 3–31 July — and from July 2026 a closure takes effect the DAY AFTER it is published. Rules apply identically to boat, charter and shore (breakwater) fishing. If you have no scale and the fish might be under 30 kg, release it; landing an under-30 kg fish when the weight was unknown is still a violation. Check the JFA page on the day you fish. | |||
Licensing:
- saltwater-recreational — residents No general national licence for shore-based recreational sea fishing. What binds you is the prefectural fisheries adjustment rule (都道府県漁業調整規則): permitted gear and methods, prohibited areas, closed periods, per-species size limits and restrictions on fishing under lights are all set there. Do not enter posted commercial fishing-rights areas (漁業権). Recreational bluefin tuna additionally requires a national notification — see the species rule., non-residents Same rules apply. Tourists fishing from a charter boat fish under the operator's arrangements, but the prefectural rules still bind the angler. The Fisheries Agency publishes a leaflet for foreign recreational fishers.
- freshwater-recreational — residents Inland fishing requires a "yugyoken" (遊漁券) issued by the local fisheries cooperative for the specific river or lake, sold per-day or per-season at tackle shops and convenience stores near the water., non-residents Same yugyoken requirement applies to visitors.
FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. Japanese recreational fishing rules are set at the prefectural level (都道府県漁業調整規則) and vary between neighbouring prefectures. Always verify with the prefecture and the local fisheries cooperative (漁業協同組合) before fishing, and never enter posted commercial fishing-rights zones. Bluefin tuna rules change during the season without notice — check the Fisheries Agency page on the day you fish.
Check Sea of Japan Niigata before you go
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Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Sea of Japan Niigata?
Anglers at Sea of Japan Niigata target Pacific Bluefin Tuna, Japanese Amberjack and Yellowfin Tuna.
When is the best time to fish Sea of Japan Niigata?
The most productive months at Sea of Japan Niigata are typically May, June, July, August, September, October.
What is the fishing forecast for Sea of Japan Niigata right now?
Sea of Japan Niigata currently scores 76 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Can you fish Sea of Japan Niigata from shore?
Yes — Sea of Japan Niigata is fishable from shore (offshore-only).
Is the thermocline set up at Sea of Japan Niigata right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
How deep is the water at Sea of Japan Niigata?
The scored point sits over roughly 86 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Amberjack: Taming the Reef DonkeyHow to Catch Yellowfin Tuna: Chasing the Blue-Water BrawlerHow to Read Tides for Fishing
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.