Japan variety pack...
 

Ships schedule has been that I have mainly only been here in winter. So here's some recent pics. Only been fishing on the kayak for right at a year. The one's of the nephew are on my X-Factor, those were last April. The rest are of more recent trips, since November. Enjoy....

Some rockfish, tilefish, and other stuff...

Squid and the lights on the yak....

Main target was amadai (red tilefish). These are in the same family as California's ocean whitefish. Tasty... got a ma-hata (convict grouper) and a nice rat yellow too (inada)

Picture overload yet? Have some other pics but this is a pretty good summary of the winter fishery. :)

Great post. Thanks.

Very nice pics

Cute little yellowtail, what are those big mackerel bonito looking fish the two next to all of those rockfish?

Mackerel, forget which kind. Masaba or gomasaba probably

Variety pack
 

Wow. What a variety. Mother Nature certainly knows how to mix things up. Way to go.

I guess all them fish are some form of sushi. That presentation looks tasty.

Very beautiful looking fish! The ones in the first post look like a Walleye mixed with Corvina. Mmmmmm...Waaallleye :drool5:

Those are some pretty crazy looking fish. That would be a cool place to get stationed. How many other people are out there on yaks?

There's a few but you don't see that many. Water's still pretty open.

It's nice to see some of our ecological equivalents

Nice variety of fish. Thanks for sharing.

Great post.

Thank you.

Love seeing the gear, rigs and fish from far away places.

X2!!

What a cool thread! Keep 'em coming! :luxhello:

So do all those fish get those cool color patters from the nuclear waters? :D

In all seriousness, thanks for the post and the wonderful pics. That was fun to check out. Glad you're having a great time out there on the water!:reel:

X3!!

Thanks for sharing!

Great post, The water looks great the pictures look outstanding and the presentation looks like about a 75 dollar dinner! thanks for sharing

Phil,

Are you happy with the lowrance elite 4? how are the returns? as good as advertised?

I am considering purchasing one and was also curious how you would recommend mounting the transducer for best quality readings. Thanks!

do any of the yellowtail get bigger than that over there?

awesome uncle
 

no greater time on water than with the old man , or a close relative . my thoughts and prayers are always with those who serve and who have served. hoooaah. :cheers1: .

I like the Elite 4, but if had to do over again, would have went ahead and got the 5. Where the Navionics chip plugs into the 4 (on the bottom) sucks! Slightly better on the 5. Larger screen easier to deal with when using GPS a lot as I do as well. The amadai (red tilefish) live in holes they dig in the mud, and usually where you catch one, you catch more.

Like the 4, wish I had the 5.

They do, but are quite seasonal. Don't get California size big. Average in fall (I'm always deployed) is about 7-10lbs. My largest is close to 20, but they get larger than that.

Where in japan are u stationed?

XO/4!!!!!!:iagree:Thanks for sharing.:you_rock::gnorsi:

Yokosuka, mainland Japan

Nice i was stationed in Sasebo wish i was into kayak fishing then!

I agree, I was stationed in Okinawa in 75 I wish I had a Kayak back then too.

Awesome love the variety !!! Doesn't look like a long paddle either

Hamachi, saba, ika, aji; if I'd been that successful, I would have re-toured at C7F!

:reel: We catch a lot more than this, I do a lot of boat fishing as well. But since I had to sell my boat when I was in Afghanistan, the kayak thing is holding me over for now. Wife too scared of having to deal with another tsunami for me to get another boat right now. Kayak it is.... :paddleersmilie:

Japan Variety Pack
 

While a boat would be nice, it seems as if you have the kayak thing dialed in. Forget the boat and get a PA 14.:)

I've been offered a contractor gig back in Yoko, and your posts have me thinking "what if..."

Hmm..., Gaijin Kayak Fishing Guide; I like the sound of it.

I thought about the PA, wanted one for a long time, but have had such a hell of a time just loading the X-Factor on top of the truck in winter that I'm now like hmmmm..... moving to the back of the house from the truck is a bear. Enjoying how much lighter the Outback is and easier it is to move.

I'll shoot you a PM as well.

Japan Variety Pack
 

You would need a trailer for a PA; all of my PA peddling friends have a trailer.
I'm thinking of a trailer for the kayaks that I already own. It's become a minor struggle putting my S14 on top of my full size SUV.

WRT the PM, my company has changed. It's now same name@exelisinc.com.

Memories!
 

Thanks for this post! I was stationed in Yokosuka and Yokohama for 10 years and loved every minute of it!
The Army depot in Yokohama (behind Fleet Mail Center) is an awesome spot to go for Suzuki (Japanese Sea Bass). I would use white plugs with red heads and kill it there. Also check the reefs along Kamakura, you can find sea urchin and abalone (dollar sized) all over. Steam them in their shell with brown sugar and soy mix.
Get some shore duty there! Summers are awesome!