Enjoy a great fishing experience in Kagoshima's Kinko Bay!

Kinko Bay is just a stone's throw from the center of Kagoshima City. Recreational fishing boats can easily access the wharf, which is within walking distance of Kagoshima's famous shopping district of Tenmonkan.

Kinko Bay is more than 200 meters deep. It was formed when the surrounding land collapsed following a huge volcanic eruption in ancient times, and sea-water poured into the area that had become a caldera. Because it is surrounded by mountains, Kinko Bay is much calmer than other parts of the ocean in the area.

The marine environment, which is perfectly suited to fishing, has many repeat visitors and is considered a paradise for anglers.
 

In mid-December, I went fishing in Kinko Bay on a recreational fishing boat. Let me tell you about my experience.

We were looked after by the crew of the recreational fishing boat Karin. We set out from Jonan, which is about a 15-minute walk from Tenmonkan.

At 6am, after meeting up at the wharf near the fish market, we put on our life jackets and left the harbor on our boat.
I was one of four passengers on board. It was still a little dark when we left the harbor and headed towards the fishing spot, our hearts filled with hopes and expectations. We gazed at Sakurajima, which was turning pink with the dawn!

After about 30 minutes southward in Kinko Bay, we arrived at the fishing spot for the day, off the coast of Hirakawa.
Our target was red seabream, known as the King of Fishes in Japan.

Kinko Bay has been famous since ancient times for its red seabream, and anglers today continue to enjoy good catches, so my hope of catching some red seabream was quite high!

We used the popular tai rubber lures to catch the red seabream.
Tai rubber lures have been used by Japanese anglers since the old days and they have been adapted as a Japanese-style lure.
The fishing method is easy; you let the lure sink to the seabed (about 100m deep) and reel it back up as soon as it reaches the bottom, then repeat. 

At the beginning, the captain shared his advice, so all of us, even first-timers, gained some confidence in fishing.

The boat's crew will prepare all the necessary equipment for you, so you don't have to bring your own. Of course, you can use your own fishing equipment if you prefer. The boat has toilets too.

After listening to the captain's advice, it was time to start fishing! Will we be able to catch any seabream?
 

The first person to hook a seabream was a fellow angler on my boat.

The seabream was magnificent and I was pretty envious. With the first catch of the day secured, everyone started to get very excited.

On some days no one catches anything, but I had the feeling that we could expect a catch this time.
 

Then, one after another we began to catch seabream! The atmosphere on the boat reached fever pitch.  

I was surprised that such big fish can be caught relatively close to the center of Kagoshima City. And I was simply amazed at the abundance of fish in Kinko Bay.

I had a commemorative photo taken after catching a big one. It made me burst into a big smile.

Suddenly I felt a very strong pull on my rod.
I pulled in the line until the 40m mark and then let it out again until 90m, repeating the process several times.

I fought with the fish for about 50 minutes. My arms ached. Then it seemed like the fish became resigned to its fate. When I reeled it in, I saw it was a yellowtail!

I was amazed we could catch not just seabream, but also yellowtail. Kinko Bay really is a treasure trove of fish, true to its reputation.
After catching other fish like horse mackerel and threadfin bream, our day of fishing came to an end."

The captain will prepare your catch for you on the spot. Watching how a professional handles fish so skillfully was a joy. I felt very grateful that I could bring home my catch in the best possible condition thanks to his effort.

Also, the captain can share details about restaurants that can cook your catch for you.
 

I was able to catch a lot of fish, even on my half-day fishing experience. Kinko Bay truly is a treasure trove of fish and I was able to enjoy it to its fullest.

What's more, due to a passing shower of rain we were able to see a beautiful rainbow over the bay during this fishing trip. 
What a treat to be able to fish with a view of not only the active volcano Mt. Sakurajima, but also a rainbow.

Recently more and more people, from both Japan and overseas, are coming here to enjoy fishing. As a Kagoshima resident, it makes me proud to know that international visitors are enjoying fishing in Kinko Bay.

The ocean is calm but if you are worried about seasickness, I recommend you take medicine for seasickness before boarding the boat.