Japanese Anchovy
Engraulis japonicus · Saltwater Fish
- 1lakes
- 11logged catches
- 96 kg heaviest logged
Japanese Anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) is a small schooling pelagic fish up to 20 centimeters long that weighs up to 100 grams. It lives in the upper layers of water, but can be found at a depth of up to 420 meters in coastal areas, in the south of the Sea of Okhotsk, in the Japan, Yellow, and East China Seas, as well as off the Japan’s Pacific coast.
The Japanese Anchovy is a plankton feeder. Adults mostly feed on zooplankton: copepods, eggs and larvae of fish and invertebrates. This fish is an important product of commercial fishing. You can also catch the Anchovy with float and spinning tackle during any time of the day.
What actually catches it ranked by real logged catches
Baits
Sea Worms 
Spawn Sack Lures
Worm 5 cm Best setups by lake 1 lakes with data
Kaiji No Ri — 11 catches , best 96 kg
- Sea Worms Hook #6 Feeder bottom 2×
- Spawn Sack Hook #4 Feeder bottom 1×
- Spawn Sack Golden Hook #1/0 Feeder bottom Boat 1×
- Spawn Sack Hook #2 Feeder bottom Shore 1×
How to catch
How to catch a common Japanese Anchovy? You can catch this fish either with bait or lures.
If you prefer to use natural baits, then the best way to catch Japanese Anchovy would be to use Spawn Sack on a size #4 hook.
If you are more into artificial lures, you should go for some Worms. The most successful lure is Dim Green / Glow Green Worm 5 cm.
Where to find it
Also listed as effective documented, but not seen in the catch log
Natural Eggs Data compiled from fp-collective and the Fishing Planet Wiki . Snapshot taken 2026-08-20. Game content and imagery © Fishing Planet LLC.