26.FEB.2012

Just after the sunset we crossed the Tokyo bay and headed to Chiba tonight for river seabass
on fly. The sign on the bridge said 11mps wind and our car sometimes rolled in the winds. In
this river tidal flat, seabass move up from sea to feed, because of very rich foods, such as crab,
seaworm, ghost shrimp which can be easily eaten within down stream current.

I was waiting and walking up and down in the river to have a look if anything happen over one
hour. Later on I found a couple of seaworm in the water and they safely gone away. There's
a several guys on my side but it seemed like no one got any contact, but at the other side of
the bank looked pretty good...



Data
Obitsu river, Chiba
The 3rd day of Half tide
Moon age: 4.1
high tide: 19:17, 157cm, Low tide: 01:13, 63cm
Sunrise: 06:15, Sunset: 17:33
Moonrise: 08:02, Moonset: 21:42
Weather: Cloudy, Chilly
Wind: NNW 2.7 - 4.9 mps
Temperature: 6.4 - 4.9 ℃
Fishing: 18:30 - 21:00
Catch: None
Fly: Floating and Sinking seaworm fly
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25.FEB.2012

Well, I am back! After a week in UAE, I got a lot home duties and could not go out to fish.
Finally on Saturday evening, I could sneak out of my wife's watch, then headed to south
Yokohama alone where I only fish in January and February weekends. For me, at this spot,
last two yeas were pretty slow, but one day a couple of years ago we had really great time
and still I cannot forget it.

Water was not clear, a little dark because of cold rain. At my arrival, just after the high tide,
there's already a few spinning guys but no seaworm at all. As usual, watching the canal with
big expectation, any small price of drifting twig and other small whitish slender object looked
like seaworm for me. 30 minutes later I found a first seaworm, then second and third and
a bit more. Yes, the time had come. Right after I moved to right middle of the bridge, saw
a sliver reflection and a dim outline of fish in the water.

It seemed like fish stayed in deep and only up a bit when fish was sucking seaworm. Usually
water is much clear and we can see fish more clearly. Anyway I started to drift white zonker
10-20cm depth. The first fish came up and sucked my zonker fly. Hooked it firmly and it ran
toward to the underneath of moored boat. I tried to spot it, but soon it became loose and off.
Many seawrorm on and just under the water but fish would not like to come up to take it, only
in the water. However it's difficult to see in dark water, luckily I could land the second fish.
The festival had begun.



I had to wait for a while after landing a fish, as they went away or stayed in deep. Less than
one hour I got six bites and landed four fish was really nice. Anyway, it was the best day of
this season.



Oh, well. The blog went over 100000 hits as of today, thanks to my readers!!



Data
South Yokohama canals
The 2nd day of Half tide
Moon age: 3.1
high tide: 18:50, 157cm, Low tide: 00:57, 48cm (Yokosuka)
Sunrise: 06:17, Sunset: 17:33
Moonrise: 07:32, Moonset: 20:47
Weather: Cloudy, Chilly
Wind: NNE 2.5 - ENE 3.3 mps
Temperature: 6.5 - 6.7 ℃
Fishing: 19:15 - 21:45
Catch: Four, 20:30, 20:40, 21:00, 21:30
Fly: White zonker, Sinking seaworm fly
Want to know more? Email to me

22.FEB.2012

The last day of my middle east trip, I got up quite early and again headed to the same north
beach early in the morning. After passing through the modern business buildings in the city,
there were a few Muslim mosques at the roadside which were beautifully lit up. Same as other
Muslim courtiers in Asia, every day and night at particular time I could hear the sections of
Koran from these Muslim mosques, even in westernized cosmopolitan city like Dubai



After one hour drive out from busy business city, not like these days, weather was much better
at the beach. Cool gentle sea breeze with light sea salt aroma made me feel so refreshed. In
previous two days I could see many needlefish was chasing my fly just under the water surface,
but today was totally different, as I had not seen any needlefish at all. It seemed like no fish in
shallow water so I tied to start searching bottom water. A sudden take, immediately I pull my rod
and line, but it got loose. No fly on the tippet, No idea what it was but probably a kind of predator
fish like barracuda with very sharp teeth.



Got hungry. Lunch at a local Indian again on the roadside, it's only 7AED, the most popular
meal, Biryani, spicy but taste good.



Tired a different port in Ajman after lunch. There's constlaction rocks along the port. It got
windier than this morning and even difficult to cast. Yes, here they are, baby snappers and very
active as usual. Only baby fish no adult at all, probably they go to ocean when glow up, I guess.



Stopped around to take photos on the way back to city and way to last place to visit. The city
looked very powerful and is still rapidly glowing.



Unfortunately, due to windy days and I don't do the right thing in my daily life, there was no
chance to fish from boat and could not meet to the queenfish but if I have an another chance
to back here, I like to chase qeenfish again. Anyway this is all about my first trip to middle east.



Thank you so much my new friend, looking forward to seeing again somewhere in the word.

19.FEB.2012

Next day, I headed to north beach alone once again. Early wake up was impossible, because
of long fright, and yesterday's all day fishing made me a bit tired. As it's told the way to Dubai
from north was crazy, very long traffic queue. It must take a few hours to Dubai centre, even
from Ajman which is only 20-30km away. On the other hand, way to north was very smooth,
even I missed a couple of turns and a few stops for photos, I was already at same spot in Umm
Al Quwain, less than one and half hour drive where we tried yesterday, about 50km away from
Dubai.

Tried various ways, short and long strip, fast and slow strip, shallow and deep, small and big.
Only baby needlefish wanted to bite from my fly from just under the sea surface. Despite so
many bites, only I could hook a few fish but could not land any of them. After a disappointing
few hours, I simply gave up this spot. It's so hard to land those babies.



UAE in mid Feb, temperature is good and comfortable from 20℃ at night to 30℃ at midday.
Of course, there's very strong sunshine and you need proper sun protection when you fish,
not feel like in a sunbaked desert, but very windy. Even in UAE, in this temperature, Feb is
coldest month of the year and people say, winter is leaving and spring is coming.




When I got to the next spot, there's a fishing boat was heading to the beach and a truck also
was heading to the beach. They started unloading something in net from boat and loading to
truck. I was very curious to see what's on board. It's small bright silvery bait fish like sardine
or splat which must be running away from needlefish yesterday. There's no needlefish today
but baby snappers were still here and naughtily like to take my fly.



Wandered along the Dubai coast to have a look, as weather forecast said it's too windy to fish.



All I could do is fill up my hungry stomach with street food. I have not eaten it since I was in
Moscow, it's my old days favourite street food called Shawarma and I am still loving it, lol.

18.FEB.2012

The way to the middle east, first time in my life, as I have no interest in this region. You know,
it's very simple reason, I imagined no way to fish there on fly. However since I have found a
mutual friend who lived in Dubai a few years already and also a charter boat, it's dramatically
changed and I was extremely exited to visit and fish in UAE. Chatted over a month with boat
captain and mutual friend by email, my target at this trip was the Queen Fish, the gorgeous
silver beauty which I have never landed.

Just before my departure I got a call from the boat captain and it was a very sad news. The
weather was too bad and seemed no chance to fish from boat. Anyway, mutual friend was so
kind and he came over to airport to meet me, then we headed to the north shore in Umm
Al Quwain, after long 12 hours fright from Tokyo to Dubai.



As you know, The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates and have different
sports fishing policy. In Abu Dhabi and Dubai, you need sports fishing license which is almost
impossible to get if you are just a visitor. On the other hand, in Sharjah and other emirates
no licence needed, as far as I heard. But you would better check it by yourself whenever you
visit as it's change quite often. Alos you have be carefull even in Sharjah and other emirates
swimming beachs and parks are mostly prohibited to fish.



Anyway, after about one hour drive we were on sandy beach. The spot is located in inshore,
a couple of islands located in off shore protect here from heavy seas. it's windy but ok to
flyfish as it came behind us. No waders needed in mid Feb to wade, sea water was enough warm
temp to swim. My choice was intermediate line and clouser minnow. Long distance casting
and fast strip in Arabic blue ocean and white sandy beach in cool morning was so nice. I saw
a bunch of bait fish was running around to escape on the water surface from predators at far
off shore and was praying it come closer to me. Two times I saw fish like small trevally was
following fly but made u-turn just in front of me. All bites were seemed like baby needlefish,
and it's very difficult to set hook firmly, as you know long jaws with sharp teeth like a saw.



Lunch at very local restaurant on the road side, Indian food is very popular here in UAE. I had
mutton masala with chapatti. It's hot and spicy but was very good to me.



After lunch we had a look at a few spots, then started again creek in Ajman near the power
station. Most of big creeks in UAE are well constructed ports for fishing and commercial boats.
These creeks have long Arabic history of trading between Europe and Asia. At this spot time
to time big fish, like kingfish and barracuda come in to creek with bait fish and are often seen
and caught. But all I could see was baby needlefish. All of sudden when I was picking up my fly
to false cast, some tiny fish up from rocks and tried to bite it. I tied a small crazy charlie and
strip it along the rocks which are the foundation of the port. Every strip babies were struggling
to bite it and I enjoyed to tease those babies for a while.

Behind the creek is white sandy beach and I could see millions of billions of baby needlefish
just under the water surface. Not easy, it took me nearly one hour but finally I got a baby
needlefish.

At night, thanksfully I was invited to dinner with his family at excellent seafood restaurant.
Fishing was slow but I really enjoyed the first day in the middle east in my life. Many thanks
my new friend!!




Dory snapper: Lutjanus fulviflamma
http://www.fishbase.us/summary/Lutjanus-fulviflamma.html

Needlefish
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needlefish

Charter Boat fly fishing in Dubai and Oman
www.oceanactive.com

15.FEB.2012

In any conditions, the experts know and find how to catch, while I do not know. I know that's
why they are called experts!

Data
Sea rocks in Miura Kangawa
The 3rd day of neap tide
Moon age: 22.8
Low tide: 16:48, 34cm, High tide: 00:46, 99cm
Sunrise: 06:29, Sunset: 17:23
Moonset: 00:34, Moonrise: 10:52
Weather: Cloudy, Chilly
Wind: NNE 2.0 - NE 4.1 mps
Temperature: 7.2 - 6.3 ℃
Fishing: 21:15 - 23:15
Catch: None
Fly: Silicon tube uniqeuhair candy
Want to know more? Email to me

12.FEB.2012

No always but as much as possible I travel with fishing gear. Whenever I go to Kobe call my
friend in Osaka who is an avid and one of the most famous saltwater fly fisher in Japan and
he's always so kind to me to fish with me. As usual, he arranged boat seabass fishing for me.
His friend has an excellent fishing boat moored near Kobe port. The boat is custom build for
fishing like bass pro boat, equipped with square type flat bow deck which is absolutely perfect
to flyfish and strong 150ps engine.



In Kobe area January was very good but since in February it suddenly became so slow. As it
was said, it's very slow and cold nigh. Hit a few moored tanker, fond nothing. We moved to
water outlet where they landed mullet and seabass recently. All, we played with mullet.



Fished here and there, both of them landed a seabass, but I got nothing, hahaha. We finished
just before the midnight.



Fishing was very slow but it's always nice to fish with new friend, thank you so much guys!!

Data
Kobe port
The 4th day of Half tide
Moon age: 19.8
high tide: 19:29, 172cm, Low tide: 01:23, 31cm
Sunrise: 06:49, Sunset: 17:39
Moonrise: 22:18, Moonset: 04:05
Weather: Partially Cloudy, Chilly
Wind: NE 3.7 - E 4.6 - ENE 3.5 mps
Temperature: 4.7 - 3.4 ℃
Fishing: 19:30 - 23:30
Catch: One mullet
Fly: Clouser Minnow, etc
Want to know more? Email to me

11.FEB.2012

It was impossible to be home even Saturday night, as tonight seemed like the best day during
this full moon tide. Not always but after a few poor days, sometimes it causes a massive outbreak
of seaworm and fish become mad with feeding. It promises super fishing, like the super hatch
of mayfly in the river or lake.

After dinner, with big expectation, at the high tide, I was alone on the side walk of canal in south
Yokohama where we sometimes fish. Already a couple of spinning guys there, all awaiting for right
moment same as me. No, there's no seaworm at all. Moved to the next spot then next, nothing.
Wandering around without wetting a fly for about two hours, I have not seen any seaworm nor fish.

Hopefully it gets better at next new moon tide.

Data
South Yokohama canals
The 3rd day of Half tide
Moon age: 18.8
high tide: 19:29, 172cm, Low tide: 01:23, 31cm
Sunrise: 06:33, Sunset: 17:19
Moonrise: 21:10, Moonset: 08:04
Weather: Cloudy, Chilly
Wind: SSE 1.2 - ESE 2.3 mps
Temperature: 6.0 - 6.9 ℃
Fishing: 19:30 - 21:30
Catch: None
Fly: Seaworm fly, white
Want to know more? Email to me

10.FEB.2012

At the beginning, just like these days, it's very quite day and nothing to do for a while. After
seven, there's the first fish rise and a few more later. Only I could occasionally see a few
seaworm which was swimming and drifting along the canal wall. Yes, the time has come,
first seaworm was on down steam current, then fish sucked it just like trout do, again and
again. The breathtaking moment, I carefully drifted my seaworm fly, but fish would not like
it. After a few trial and failure, finally fish rose and sucked my fly. Stayed there another half
an hour but nothing.

Well, well, well, after six straight skunk days including last new moon tide, I finally could meet
the fist seabass of the year. It was a small fish but I am really happy as it's the way how I like
to and the place where I like to.

Data
Tokyo bay canals
The 2nd day of Half tide
Moon age: 17.8
high tide: 18:33, 192cm, Low tide: 00:57, 9cm
Sunrise: 06:34, Sunset: 17:17
Moonrise: 20:01, Moonset: 07:29
Weather: Cloudy, Chilly
Wind: ENE 1.2 - NE 1.7 mps
Temperature: 6.1 - 4.9 ℃
Fishing: 18:00 - 20:15
Catch: One, 19:45
Fly: Seaworm fly, white
Want to know more? Email to me

09.FEB.2012

Saw only one seaworm!! It should be tonight, but... something wrong? Because of earthquakes?

Data
Tokyo bay canals
The 1st day of Half tide
Moon age: 16.8
high tide: 17:52, 196cm, Low tide: 00:23, -3cm
Sunrise: 06:35, Sunset: 17:10
Moonrise: 18:54, Moonset: 06:55
Weather: Cloudy, Chilly
Wind: NNW 0.5 - NE 3.6 mps
Temperature: 4.5 - 5.4 ℃
Fishing: 18:00 - 20:00
Catch: None
Fly: Seaworm fly, white
Want to know more? Email to me.

08.FEB.2012

Another skunk day. Two hours in snowing cold winter night, I have not seen any seaworm
nor fish at all, only birds. Why not, still too early? Maybe tomorrow.

Data
Tokyo bay canals
The 4th day of Spring tide
Moon age: 15.8
high tide: 17:11, 195cm, Low tide: 23:48, -9cm
Sunrise: 06:36, Sunset: 17:15
Moonrise: 17:47, Moonset: 06:20
Weather: Cloudy, light snow, Chilly
Wind: NW 2.6 - NNW 5.8 mps
Temperature: 6.5 - 5.4 ℃
Fishing: 18:00 - 20:00
Catch: None
Fly: Seaworm fly, white
Want to know more? Email to me.

07.FEB.2012

No wandering on Monday as it's rain. Still heavy rain and wind in the morning and afternoon
caused muddy water. I saw a couple of rise just after arrival, while rigging up, nothing any
more. No seaworm came. Another skunk day!! Maybe tomorrow.

Data
Tokyo bay canals
The 3rd day of Spring tide
Moon age: 14.8
high tide: 16:32, 189cm, Low tide: 23:12, -8cm
Sunrise: 06:45, Sunset: 17:02
Moonrise: 16:41, Moonset: 05:42
Weather: Cloudy, Cold
Wind: N 2.6 - 2.3 mps
Temperature: 8.8 ℃
Fishing: 18:00 - 19:45
Catch: None
Fly: Seaworm fly, white
Want to know more? Email to me.

05.FEB.2012

Quite a bit, I have not fished here since last year January. Colder than yesterday but warm
enough to fish, as today was the first day of spring in the traditional lunar calendar, meaning
spring shoujld has come. Anyway daｙlight is getting longer day by day and the spring is coming
soon. As I heard so many mullet around water gate in the river, however it's not easy to fool
them. Too much foul hook if you pull your line. Over two hours, only I got a mullet and a carp.

Data
River Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
The 1st day of Spring tide
Moon age: 12.8
Low tide: 09:42, 102cm, High tide: 15:13, 158cm
Sunrise: 06:38, Sunset: 17:12
Moonrise: 14:35, Moonset: 04:17
Fishing: 13:00 - 15:15
Catch: One Mullet and Carp
Fly: White and chartreuse egg fly
Want to know more? Email to me.

02.FEB.2012

Heavy seas scared me to fish at around the tip of rocks. Inlet was quite and calm but pretty
slow, same as these previous days. Only a lucky bite and that's all. Too cold?

Data
Sea rocks in Miura Kangawa
Transitional tide between spring and neap tides
Moon age: 9.8
Low tide: 19:08, 40cm, High tide: 03:57, 104cm
Sunrise: 06:40, Sunset: 17:10
Moonrise: 11:57, Moonset: 01:44
Weather: Clear, Chilly
Wind: N 3.2 mps
Temperature: 0.0 - -0.4℃
Fishing: 21:15 - 23:10
Catch: One Mebaru
Fly: Silicon tube uniqeuhair candy
Want to know more? Email to me