In mountain areas far from the sea, freshwater fish such as ayu (sweetfish) and iwana (char), and shiosake (salted salmon), which is suitable for distribution, are used for yakizakana, while in areas where coastal fishing is active, inshore fish such as mebaru (black rockfish) and bera or kyusen (wrasse) are used.
海から遠い山間部では川魚（アユ・岩魚等）や流通に適した塩サケ、沿岸漁業が盛んな地域ではメバル・ベラ（キュウセン）等磯魚も用いられる。