What are the Top 6 Most Popular Fish Species in Okinawa.
Fishing in Okinawa offers a unique and exciting experience for anglers of all skill levels. The waters around Okinawa are home to a diverse array of fish species, including some of the most sought-after gamefish in the world. In this blog post, we will look at the top 5 species of fish caught in Okinawa and provide tips on how to catch them.
Pacific blue marlin
Pacific blue marlin are one of the most prized catches in the world of sport fishing, and for good reason. These impressive fish can reach lengths of up to 15 feet and weigh over 1,000 pounds. They are found in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean, including around Okinawa, and are known for their powerful fighting ability and acrobatic leaps out of the water. Over the years, many blue marlin over 1,500 lbs. have been caught in the waters surrounding Okinawa.
To catch Pacific blue marlin, anglers typically use trolling techniques with large lures or live bait. It's important to use heavy tackle, such as 80 lb. class or 130 lb. class gear, as these fish put up a strong fight and can break smaller classes of gear. When trolling, it’s important to pay close attention to your lure spread as marlin are known to enter a spread and investigate before choosing whether to bite. Not adjusting lures in your spread and lack of attention to detail could be costly and reduce your chances of landing your dream fish. Some of the most successful lures for marlin in Okinawa are Imperium Outfitters Beluga, Talos, and the Super Smoker.
Yellowfin tuna and Bigeye Tuna
Yellowfin tuna and Bigeye Tuna are another popular target for sport fishers in Okinawa. These sleek fish are known for their impressive size, speed, and strength. Yellowfin and bigeye can reach lengths of up to 8 feet and weigh over 400 pounds. They are often found in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean, including around Okinawa, and are known to be highly migratory.
To catch yellowfin or bigeye tuna, anglers can use a variety of techniques, including trolling with lures or live bait, jigging, and casting. Trolling is an effective method, as it allows the angler to cover a large area and locate concentrations of feeding tuna. When trolling, it's important to pay attention to the location of baitfish, as tuna are often attracted to areas where bait is abundant. Top water lures such as the Nomad Design Chug Norris, Riptide, or the incredibly innovative Slipstream, can produce a bounty of fish when the topwater bite it on.
Wahoo
Wahoo are a type of mackerel that are found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific Ocean, including around Okinawa. These fast-swimming fish are known for their impressive size and powerful fighting ability and can reach lengths of up to 8 feet and weigh over 100 pounds. They are often found in areas with steep drop-offs or current breaks, where they feed on baitfish and other small prey.
To catch wahoo, anglers can use a variety of techniques, including trolling with lures or live bait, jigging, and casting. Trolling is often the most effective method, as it allows the angler to cover a large area and locate concentrations of feeding wahoo. Wahoo in Okinawa are almost always caught on the troll and are targeted most by using deep diving lures. Lures such as the Nomad Designs DTX 220 SNK are perfectly designed to dive deep into the water column and to be trolled at speeds more than 12 knots. When it comes to wahoo, the faster the better!
Mahi-mahi
Mahi-mahi, also known as dolphinfish, are a type of fish found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific Ocean, including around Okinawa. These brightly colored fish are known for their impressive size and acrobatic leaps out of the water and can reach lengths of up to 6 feet and weigh over 100 pounds. They are often found in areas with floating debris, where they can easily target the baitfish that call the debris home. Whether it’s a tree, a car, or a massive raft of seaweed, you can bet a mahi is under it.
To catch mahi-mahi, anglers can use a variety of techniques, including trolling with lures or live bait, jigging, and casting. Bait fishing is often the preferred method as it allows anglers to present baits and experience the action-packed bite that only a dolphinfish could provide. Mahi are not picky eaters and will eat just about anything that fits in their mouth. Casting is another angler favorite technique to target mahi and often provides the angler with unforgettable experience of multiple mahi fighting over their lure.
SkipJack Tuna
Skipjack Tuna, aka katsou, are a species of tuna that are found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific Ocean, including around Okinawa. These fast-swimming fish are known for their impressive size and speed and can reach lengths of up to 3 feet and weigh over 20 pounds. Skipjack tuna may be smaller compared to others on this list but don’t let that fool you. These tunas are one of the pound for pound hardest fighters in the game.
To catch skipjack tuna, anglers in Okinawa will often use a baitfish called kibinago as bait. Chumming the waters with kibinago is a must as it gets the skipjack tunas attention and leads to a feeding frenzy. Once the skipjack start feeding, its nonstop action.
Conclusion
In conclusion, fishing in Okinawa offers a unique and exciting opportunity for anglers of all skill levels. The waters around Okinawa are home to a diverse array of fish species, including some of the most sought-after gamefish in the world. Whether you're an experienced angler or a beginner, there is something for everyone in the rich and varied fishing grounds of Okinawa. To learn more about fishing in Okinawa visit www.LegaSeaFishing.com or come to our store located in Yomitan. Let us help create your own Fishing LegaSea!!!
