Oriental Weatherfish

About this species

A slender, whiskered loach of Korean rice paddies, ditches and muddy shallows, famous as the key ingredient of chueotang soup. It burrows in soft mud and can breathe air, surfacing before storms. Mostly gathered by nets and traps rather than rod, it is a cultural staple of rural fishing.

Season

Depth

0 – 2 m

Habitat Spots

Fishing Methods

Bait & Rig

Tiny hooks with earthworm or paste bait on the bottom in shallow muddy water; traditionally caught by trapping in perforated containers or hand netting.

Edibility & Taste

Excellent as chueo-tang (Korean spicy loach soup) and Japanese yanagawa nabe (loach and burdock hotpot); a beloved culinary species in both countries.

Similar Species

Spine loach (Cobitis spp.) is much thinner with a small spine below each eye; weatherfish has a plumper body, blunt tail and no spine.

Record Weight

0.2 kg