The PCS Blogosphere
Japan offshore update
Recently, the offshore fishing on the Pacific Ocean side of Japan has extremely good for dorado, and hit and miss for the yellowfin and bigeye tuna. What is unusual is the fact that several very large yellowfin tuna have been landed close to shore, less than 10 miles from the harbors of Mie Prefecture. While there have not been many landed, there was a 209 pound specimen, taken on a topwater lure, on spinning gear only five miles off the beach.
These big fish have been following the 78 to 79 degree temperature break religiously, and moving with the Kuroshio Current up the coast. These fish are now 200 miles up the coast from where the 209 pound fish was caught.
Recently, the offshore fishing on the Pacific Ocean side of Japan has extremely good for dorado, and hit and miss for the yellowfin and bigeye tuna. What is unusual is the fact that several very large yellowfin tuna have been landed close to shore, less than 10 miles from the harbors of Mie Prefecture. While there have not been many landed, there was a 209 pound specimen, taken on a topwater lure, on spinning gear only five miles off the beach.
These big fish have been following the 78 to 79 degree temperature break religiously, and moving with the Kuroshio Current up the coast. These fish are now 200 miles up the coast from where the 209 pound fish was caught.
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Dorado from shore? You bet!
Yesterday I caught my first shore-caught dorado. The Kuroshio Current off Japan, while not warmer than in normal years, has pushed very close to the coast of Wakayama. This has brought huge schools of baitfish close to popular shore fishing spots, such as tsunami retaining walls, and breakwaters surrounding commercial fishing ports.
Yesterday I caught my first shore-caught dorado. The Kuroshio Current off Japan, while not warmer than in normal years, has pushed very close to the coast of Wakayama. This has brought huge schools of baitfish close to popular shore fishing spots, such as tsunami retaining walls, and breakwaters surrounding commercial fishing ports.
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The 2011 jigging season has been very good thus far, but there have been many days when the boats have had to sit at the dock due to bad weather. Most unusual was the typhoon (hurricane) that hit the main island of Japan in May; generally the first typhoons do not hit until late July. However, the fishing for Japanese yellowtail and sawara (a fish similar in appearance to sierra found in Mexico) has be very good recently, with both the Sea of Japan and Pacific Ocean sides of Japan equally good.
When the fish are feeding on long slender finfish, such as "sanma" (sauries), long, lightweight aluminum jigs, such as "Dancing Magic" have been outproducing the typical "butterfly" or JDM vertical jigs.
When the fish are feeding on long slender finfish, such as "sanma" (sauries), long, lightweight aluminum jigs, such as "Dancing Magic" have been outproducing the typical "butterfly" or JDM vertical jigs.
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Albacore Have Arrived!
Known in Japan as "Bincho-Maguro" or "Tonbo-Maguro," albacore (Thunnus alalunga) have arrived off the Pacific Coast side of Japan, with fish being caught up to the 34 degree N Latitude line.
Yesterday, a 3/4 day four-pack charter landed four fish - all a nicer grade of fish. The smallest fish went 44 pounds, while the big fish for the day went 66 pounds!
Known in Japan as "Bincho-Maguro" or "Tonbo-Maguro," albacore (Thunnus alalunga) have arrived off the Pacific Coast side of Japan, with fish being caught up to the 34 degree N Latitude line.
Yesterday, a 3/4 day four-pack charter landed four fish - all a nicer grade of fish. The smallest fish went 44 pounds, while the big fish for the day went 66 pounds!
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Live Bait Fishing in Western Japan
Recently some jig fishing "noriai" (open party) boats based out of Wakayama Prefecture have been offering live bait trips. Most of the live bait is "aji" or small mackerel, but sometimes "iwashi" (sardines) are available as well.
Japanese yellowtail, madai, and hirame (Japanese halibut) have been caught recently in decent numbers. The current is often very swift, so heavy (150 to 300 gram) weights are necessary to reach the bottom, where most bites occur. Most anglers are using a three way swivel rig, with a long (1 meter) leader, attached to a live bait hook.
Both the yellowtail, and hirame in this picture were caught relatively deep--drifting the 50 fathom line where the bottom is hard sand, mixed with some small patches of rock.
Recently some jig fishing "noriai" (open party) boats based out of Wakayama Prefecture have been offering live bait trips. Most of the live bait is "aji" or small mackerel, but sometimes "iwashi" (sardines) are available as well.
Japanese yellowtail, madai, and hirame (Japanese halibut) have been caught recently in decent numbers. The current is often very swift, so heavy (150 to 300 gram) weights are necessary to reach the bottom, where most bites occur. Most anglers are using a three way swivel rig, with a long (1 meter) leader, attached to a live bait hook.
Both the yellowtail, and hirame in this picture were caught relatively deep--drifting the 50 fathom line where the bottom is hard sand, mixed with some small patches of rock.
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Winter Hamachi Jigging
The winter jigging season got off to a slow start for Japanese yellowtail (hamachi). Typically an AM to 3 pm jigging trip has an average of a dozen hamachi or more, per angler; this season has seen the average closer to half that.
The fishing picked up moderately last week, just as the weather got extremely bad. Just getting to the Sea of Japan jigging grounds was difficult, as there was quite a bit of snow covering the local roads the lead to the ports.
Although there was much snow, the wind was not to bad to prevent the boats from getting out every day.
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The winter jigging season got off to a slow start for Japanese yellowtail (hamachi). Typically an AM to 3 pm jigging trip has an average of a dozen hamachi or more, per angler; this season has seen the average closer to half that.
The fishing picked up moderately last week, just as the weather got extremely bad. Just getting to the Sea of Japan jigging grounds was difficult, as there was quite a bit of snow covering the local roads the lead to the ports.
Although there was much snow, the wind was not to bad to prevent the boats from getting out every day.
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First Fall Baramutsu (Oilfish) Trip
My buddies fished on the first fall baramutsu (oilfish) trip of the fall season out of Wakayama, Japan.
The fishing in this area, Western Japan, is usually done in much shallower water than the Kanto region fishery.
This trip found the fish biting in 550 feet of water, and most bites came at or close to the bottom.
A 300-gram jig, tipped with a slice of mackerel was the key to getting bit.
Each angler was able to catch one oilfish, with several other fish lost.
The fish ranged from 35 to 45 pounds, about average for this area.
My buddies fished on the first fall baramutsu (oilfish) trip of the fall season out of Wakayama, Japan.
The fishing in this area, Western Japan, is usually done in much shallower water than the Kanto region fishery.
This trip found the fish biting in 550 feet of water, and most bites came at or close to the bottom.
A 300-gram jig, tipped with a slice of mackerel was the key to getting bit.
Each angler was able to catch one oilfish, with several other fish lost.
The fish ranged from 35 to 45 pounds, about average for this area.
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Central Japan Offshore Fishing
84 has been the magic number...for water temperature, that is.
The 84-degree water that had been holding the nicer-grade yellowfin tuna has been at the 50-mile mark, but is now literally right on the beach.
84 has been the magic number...for water temperature, that is.
The 84-degree water that had been holding the nicer-grade yellowfin tuna has been at the 50-mile mark, but is now literally right on the beach.
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Tuna on the Move
As we were rigging our tackle two days prior to our yellowfin tuna trip, Mr. Hayashi showed me the fish he had recently landed--an 88 pound yellowfin tuna with long yellow fins.
That got me all pumped up for our trip, but the next two days saw the main body of larger (45 to 80 lb.) yellowfin tuna move way up the line, out of one day reach. Still hoping for a shot at the fish, six of us departed from Wagu, Mie Prefecture.
As we were rigging our tackle two days prior to our yellowfin tuna trip, Mr. Hayashi showed me the fish he had recently landed--an 88 pound yellowfin tuna with long yellow fins.
That got me all pumped up for our trip, but the next two days saw the main body of larger (45 to 80 lb.) yellowfin tuna move way up the line, out of one day reach. Still hoping for a shot at the fish, six of us departed from Wagu, Mie Prefecture.
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Jumbo Local Yellowfin Tuna are here!
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Each year, the Pacific side of Japan's main Island of Honshu sees a local run of schoolie yellowfin tuna similar in size to the one-day tuna the SoCal anglers catch. These fish are from 10 to 25 pounds, and are fun on light popping tackle.
Each year, the Pacific side of Japan's main Island of Honshu sees a local run of schoolie yellowfin tuna similar in size to the one-day tuna the SoCal anglers catch. These fish are from 10 to 25 pounds, and are fun on light popping tackle.
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