All kinds of fish are biting!
I usually fish with jigs and lures, but bait fishing—which requires patience—is really something special. Thanks to the late afternoon hour and the crystal-clear blue sky, a laid-back atmosphere settles over the boat.
Just then, Miki had a bite! She caught a spotted pufferfish. Apparently, some people say it tastes even better than the tiger pufferfish.
Mi-hime: I could feel a bite and the weight on the line, but the fish wasn’t fighting at all—so much so that I wasn’t even sure if I’d actually hooked it. When I started reeling it in, I could definitely feel the fish! But next time, I don’t just want to catch one—I want to reel it in.
Next up is Komatsu. This is a red seabream with beautiful blue spots.
Komatsu: I tried fishing at a slightly different depth and got a bite—the pull felt different from a scorpionfish. It’s another small one.
Ishii also caught a ragfish. Apparently, it’s absolutely delicious when fried as tempura!
Ishii: It was a fish I’d never seen before. It put up a surprisingly strong fight for its size, so I knew right away it wasn’t a scorpionfish.
Then Mr. Saikawa’s rod bent. Just like Miki, it was a Japanese pufferfish! Both of them caught the pufferfish they had originally set out to catch.
Saikawa: It’s small, but I’m so happy to sense a heartbeat. Next up is a bigger one.
I’m torn between wanting to land a big one and just enjoying a steady catch. Mr. Saikawa and Ms. Miki decide to try the rig with larger hooks that the captain gave them. Meanwhile, Ishii switches to bigger bait in hopes of setting a new personal record.
Ishii: I’m using mackerel fillets as bait, and while I’m getting plenty of light taps on the rod, the fish aren’t taking the whole bait because it’s too big for their mouths. But if I make the bait smaller, I won’t catch any big ones, so for now, I’ll stick with the larger pieces.
We hadn't caught anything for a while, but it was Miki who broke the silence. A rockfish!
Mi-hime: I got a bite and managed to hook it, but it was too small and didn’t put up much of a fight—what a shame. I’d really like to catch a bigger one next time.
After that, both Ishii and Komatsu kept catching only rockfish of similar size. Well, I guess some days are just like that. We’ll clean the rockfish we caught and try them as sashimi.
Saikawa: It has a nice, firm texture and tastes great! Being able to eat it right there is a fisherman’s privilege, isn’t it?
Mi-hime: This is my first time fileting and eating fish right on the boat. Since I caught the scorpionfish myself, it tastes even better.
We’re finally nearing the end—it’s time for the final push. Having gotten the hang of catching (small) rockfish, the group is focused on landing one more. One after another, (small) rockfish are being reeled in.
Mr. Saikawa hit two hits!
Saikawa: I felt a bite but didn’t get a solid pull, so I thought the fish had gotten away and was about to reel it in—but then I felt the weight of the fish and got my hopes up. To my surprise, there were two of them. I’m so happy!
The western sky was tinged with winter hues, signaling it was time to head back to port. Although I didn’t catch any fish of the size I was hoping for, I managed to land a decent number, making for a satisfying day.
Saikawa: Given all the hype surrounding Osaka Bay, it’s really frustrating. The highlight was catching two fish at the same time. Still, the weather was great, and it just felt good to be out there. Even just seeing that beautiful sky makes me think it was a good day.
Mi-hime: I didn’t catch any big fish, but unlike my usual boat fishing trips, I was able to relax and enjoy myself. All things considered, I was actually pretty happy that I caught the pufferfish I’d set out to catch in the first place.
Ishii: Today, rather than fishing with all my energy, I was able to just relax and enjoy the scenery. If we’d stuck to using only lures and jigs, we might all have gone home empty-handed. I’d love to go fishing in Tokyo like this sometime—just taking it easy starting in the afternoon.
Ikemoto: It was my first fishing trip of the year, but I didn’t catch a single thing. It really put a damper on things right from the start… But I’d definitely like to come back. Osaka Bay is known for its bluefish, so next time I want to catch a big one.
Komatsu: I caught plenty of fish, so I’m satisfied. If I had to be picky, I would have liked to target different species. But since I caught yellowtail in Osaka last year and sea bass the year before, I enjoyed trying a different kind of fishing this year.
