Under the glaring sun, we set off from Akita port to the ocean. The aim for today is to fish seasonal fish. When we arrived at the port at about 7:00, many locals were lining up along the shore fishing already. Although the ship itself is small, it is fully geared with everything that guarantees our trip ahead; tiny yet tidy bathroom, all the safety equipments, tanks, and the fishing gears.
About 20 minutes away from the shore, in the middle of nowhere, we are alone surrounded by the calm and glittering ripples. Not a single ship surrounds us but the fish finder spots the school of fish 30 meters below us. Let’s stop here. It is usually the depth of 30 meters that makes the best spot for fishing around Akita harbor. We use jig today.
Patiently dipping the fishing rod for about 1 hour, no fish is hooked. Half given-up and eating snacks, we continue waiting. To make the process efficient, each person applies different techniques and lures to catch different fish.
Suddenly, something pulls down the rod stoutly. This is a big hit. Feverishly, I spin the reel with full effort and concentration. It does not appear that easily. After a few minutes of tussling, a big yellowtail of over 30cm appears on the surface. Finally. Still having full of energy, it splashes about on the ship lively.
Recovering our motivation and energy, we continuously dip our rod patiently, shifting our spot according to the school of herd. Only within 5 hours, three of us caught 5 yellowtail and 3 greelings. This serves more than enough for our dinner.
Written by Ryoko.H.
Today’s Cusine
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Sashimi
Beautifully presented sashimi garnished with chrysanthemum, radish and ice. To have sashimi that was caught by ourselves makes the start of the night exceptionally great.
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フライ
Lightly and justly fried tempura. The soft fish melts in your mouth.
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Grilled fatty wing
Pinnacle of Japanese dishes; cooking the fish without any waste. Goes well with Japanese sake very well.
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炊き込み御飯
Pot rice garnished with lovable leaf buds.
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おすまし
Gently tasted soup that soothes our mind. Simple and refined taste concludes the dinner.The entire full course is entirely made from the fresh fish we caught this morning, using all the parts of fish without any waste. Each bite fulfill the mouth and stomach with much happiness.