Occurrence of juvenile ocellate puffer, Takifugu rubripes in the surf zone of sandy beaches of Ise Bay [Japan]

Occurrence of juvenile ocellate puffer, Takifugu rubripes in the surf zone of the sandy beaches at Suzuka and Tsu in Ise Bay, Mie, central Japan was investigated by using small seines (surf zone nets) from May to July in 2004 - 2006. The number of juveniles collected was 5 from May to June in 2004, 52 from May to June in 2005, and 236 from June to July in 2006, respectively. All except for 2 individuals at Tsu in 2004 were collected at Suzuka. The total length of juveniles ranged 8 - 42 mm. As a result of the investigation, it was suggested that larvae of ocellate puffer hatched at the spawning ground of the mouth of Ise Bay occurred in the surf zone of the sandy beach at Suzuka at around 8 - 10 mm in total length from late May to mid June. It is indicated that it is possible to forecast the recruit of ocellate puffer earlier by monitoring the occurrence of juveniles at Suzuka beach in Ise Bay.