The Giant Grouper is one of the true heavyweights at Kaiji No Ri, and it is exactly the kind of fish that makes a trip to Japan worth it. This is a boat fish that you catch on the bottom with heavy tackle and a big bait, and it pulls like a truck even when it is young. The one I landed on this run was a Young Giant Grouper at 50.8 kg and 143.5 cm, taken on Japanese Spiny Lobster, and this guide walks through exactly how I did it: where to go, the coordinate, the rig, and the bait.
About the Giant Grouper
The Giant Grouper is a large coastal predator that ambushes its prey down to around 100 metres, and it grows genuinely huge. It is not a picky feeder, and its clear favourite is spiny lobster, though it will also take gutted fish, crab, jack mackerel, and sardines. The important part for us is the game’s own advice: use bottom tackle with a large animal bait. That single line tells you everything about how to rig for it. Big bait, on the bottom, on gear strong enough to move a heavy fish.
Do not underestimate it just because you hook a young one. The fish in the photo below was logged as a Young Giant Grouper and it still weighed over 50 kg. That is why the rod matters so much here.
Where to Catch Giant Grouper at Kaiji No Ri
This is a boat fish, so you take the boat out rather than fishing from the shore. Head to the marked spot on the GPS, near coordinates 2274, -1120 on the Kaiji No Ri map, which is the area where I put the marker buoy and landed my grouper. Drop a marker buoy when you arrive so you can hold the position while you fish. Treat the coordinate as a starting area rather than an exact pixel, since the fish moves around, but this is the water that has produced grouper for me. For reference, I caught mine at midday in sunny weather, so that is a solid window to aim for.
If you are already on the island, it is worth stacking trips. You can chase this grouper by boat and also grab a Giant Trevally from the shore at Torii No Koto on the same visit, so the license and travel pay off twice.
The Setup for Giant Grouper
The rod is flexible here, and that is the good news. You do not need one exact model. Any strong saltwater bottom rod works as long as it is rated for at least 80 kg, so use what you already own that meets that bar. The one rule that is not flexible is the bait: get the bait right and a rod in the correct class will land the fish. Here is the exact rig I used, as a working example rather than the only option.
| Component | What I Used |
|---|---|
| Rod | PulseWave 170 SE (any strong bottom rod rated 80 kg or more works) |
| Reel | AmperDrive X 24000 SE |
| Main Line | Glowing Mono 1.4 mm |
| Leader | Colorful Fluorocarbon Leader 1.65 |
| Hook | Tungsten Golden Hook #11/0 |
| Sinker | Pyramid Sinker 450 g |
| Bait | Japanese Spiny Lobster |
The reason for the 80 kg minimum is simple. Even a young grouper here runs over 50 kg, and a bigger one will overpower weak gear and break you off on the bottom structure it loves to hide in. A large hook around #11/0 matches the big lobster bait, and a pyramid sinker in the 450 g range holds bottom in the current without being excessive. Pair a rod in that strength class with the right bait and you are set.
Bait: Japanese Spiny Lobster First
Japanese Spiny Lobster is the top bait because it is the grouper’s favourite food, and it is what my fish took. If you cannot get it or want backups, the grouper also feeds on Gutted Fish, Large Fish Strips, Crab, Japanese Jack Mackerel, and Scaled Sardines, so those are all fair alternatives. Whatever you choose, keep it to the large animal baits the grouper actually hunts. This is not a fish you tempt with small offerings.
How to Fish It
Put it together and the routine is straightforward. Take the boat out to the marked area, drop a marker buoy to hold the spot, and bait up with a spiny lobster. Send the bottom rig down and let it sit on the seabed where the grouper ambushes from. When one takes, it hits hard and immediately tries to dive back into structure, so keep your drag firm and start moving it up straight away rather than giving it line to bury itself. Once you turn its head and get it off the bottom, keep steady pressure and bring it up. Then open photo mode and enjoy the size of what you just landed.
Optional Shortcut: The Japan Odyssey Pack
You do not need to buy anything to catch this fish if you already own a suitable rod and have access to Kaiji No Ri. That is worth saying up front. But if you want a shortcut, the Japan Odyssey Pack is a paid bundle that gets you set up in one go. It includes Kaiji No Ri travel access and an Advanced Japan License, plus two X Heavy saltwater rods that are ready to fish the map right away: the ReefRider 165 Max SE and the Ryōshi Kaito HJ 160 SE, both in the 70 to 88 kg line class that suits grouper. It also comes with credits, baitcoins, premium days, and navigation and marker buoys.
The pack also bundles two heavy reels, the MaguroMaster Gold 18000 SE and the RaidenWheel HeavyDuty 20000 SE, both with high max drag suited to grouper and tuna. It is sold for real money, so treat it as a convenience purchase rather than a requirement. If you are new to the Japanese maps and want everything ready without grinding for gear and access first, it saves time. If you already have a strong bottom rod and the license, skip it and just fish.
Common Mistakes
Going in with a weak rod. A young grouper is already over 50 kg and a bigger one will break under-rated gear on the structure. Stick to a bottom rod rated for 80 kg or more.
Using small bait. This is a large ambush predator that wants a spiny lobster or another big animal bait. Small offerings just will not draw it.
Giving it line when it takes. The grouper dives straight for cover on the hookset. Keep the drag firm and lift it off the bottom immediately instead of letting it run into structure.
Not marking the spot. Drop a marker buoy when you reach the coordinate so you can hold position and return to the same productive water instead of drifting off it.
Add Your Own Catch Photo Here
A photo-mode shot of your own grouper, with the weight and length on screen, is the strongest thing you can add to this page. It proves the coordinate and the rig deliver, and it is exactly what other anglers want to see before they make the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you catch Giant Grouper in Fishing Planet?
At Kaiji No Ri in Japan. It is a boat fish, so take the boat out to the marked area near coordinates 2274, -1120, drop a marker buoy, and fish a bottom rig on the seabed where the grouper ambushes.
What bait works for Giant Grouper?
Japanese Spiny Lobster is the favourite and what I caught mine on. It also takes Gutted Fish, Large Fish Strips, Crab, Japanese Jack Mackerel, and Scaled Sardines, so use a large animal bait rather than anything small.
What rod do you need for Giant Grouper?
Any strong saltwater bottom rod rated for at least 80 kg. It does not have to be a specific model. Even a young grouper runs over 50 kg, so the rod needs the power to lift a heavy fish off structure. Pair it with a big hook around #11/0 and a pyramid sinker near 450 g.
Do you need the Japan Odyssey Pack to catch Giant Grouper?
No. If you already have a strong bottom rod and access to Kaiji No Ri, you can catch it without spending anything. The Japan Odyssey Pack is an optional paid bundle that includes map access, an Advanced Japan License, and two ready-to-fish X Heavy rods, so it is a convenience shortcut rather than a requirement.
How big does the Giant Grouper get at Kaiji No Ri?
Very big. The one I landed was only a young fish and it still weighed 50.8 kg at 143.5 cm. The species grows far larger, which is why heavy gear and a firm drag matter so much for this catch.