Head to the Goto Islands for fishing in Japan! Guide to fishing spots and boats

Japan is one of the world’s leading fishing nations, and the Goto archipelago, remote islands in Nagasaki Prefecture, are some of the best in Japan for catching fish, making them a favorite destination for anglers. This feature introduces some points to note about the fish you can catch and what to watch for when you are enjoying fishing.

The fish you can catch in the Goto archipelago are some of the largest in Japan!
Yellowtail amberjack: The quintessential fish to catch in Goto
Longtooth grouper: A huge fish you can’t often catch
Horse mackerel: A fish that even children can catch easily
Introduction to sport fishers for international visitors
Things to say when reserving a fishing boat

The fish you can catch in the Goto archipelago are some of the largest in Japan!

There are a wealth of fish species you can catch in the Goto archipelago. The big fish have a pull powerful enough that even a grown man can’t pull them up without serious effort. All of the fish that can be caught in Goto are superb. Japan has a culture of eating fish raw, known as “sashimi,” and you should definitely try eating any fish you catch like this. If you have rice, they are also wonderful as sushi.

What to watch out for when enjoying fishing in Japan!

(1) Use a translation tool to make inquiries about booking a fishing boat on social media or direct messaging services.
(2) Ports have areas where fishing is prohibited or entry is prohibited. Use a fishing boat as much as possible.

Yellowtail amberjack: The quintessential fish to catch in Goto

This beautiful fish is characterized by its yellow lines, and the largest fish can weight over 40 kilos. They also live in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.
These are very intelligent fish, and if you use a fish hook, they will swim at great speed to the sea bed and use the rocks to cut the line. Enjoy a thrilling and speedy fight to pull them up before the line is cut.
They have a crisp texture and their fattened bodies are especially juicy. Try them as sashimi, grilled, or boiled.

Longtooth grouper: A huge fish you can’t often catch

Longtooth groupers look like “godzillas” lurking at the bottom of the sea. They are similar to the Atlantic goliath grouper mainly found in Florida in the US, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean Sea, and the tropics around Brazil, and are characterized by a pull that feels as strong as a dump truck.
The season for this fish is fall through winter, and we recommend eating them in a longtooth grouper hotpot as fillets with vegetables.

Horse mackerel: A fish that even children can catch easily

Horse mackerel are caught in various areas of ocean, including off the west coast of Africa (Morocco, Mauritania, etc.), in the open seas of Chile in South America and New Zealand, and on the coasts of Europe. They are generally around 20 cm in size, but the horse mackerel of the Goto Islands are big, and you can catch fish 30–40 cm long. You can feel their strong pull with simple equipment, so try targeting these fish as a family.

Introduction to sport fishers for international visitors

If you are going to fish in Goto, we recommend using a fishing boat. Their captains head out to sea each day, and can assess the conditions on your day and guide you to an optimal spot. Plus, talking to a captain means you can create a fishing plan that suits your level, whether you are a beginner or an advanced angler, based on their long years of experience and intuition. Many boats won’t take cashless payment so make sure you have plenty of money ready.
Goto’s fishing boats are unable to offer services in foreign languages, so you will need to communicate using a translation app or an interpreter.
*Reference “Things to say when reserving” when you book.

Soreiketaisimaru

We recommend this boat for people new to fishing! You can target a variety of fish, small and large, from this vessel. You can rent a rod and reel, so make sure you purchase lures, fishhooks, and a nylon line known as a leader in a fishing tackle shop in advance.
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Fishing Boat Mana

The captain of this fishing boat loves fishing so much he would come to the Goto Islands to fish for seven weeks straight before he moved to Goto. This boat also offers a beginner fishing experience.
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Miyakomaru

This fishing boat offers a wide range of fishing plans. The owner also runs an inn, so if you talk to them they can provide lodging and the plan as a set.
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Things to say when reserving a fishing boat

When you reserve a fishing boat, you should use direct messaging on Instagram, an inquiry form on their website, the Japanese communication tool “line,” or similar technology, and book in writing. *If you use line there will be a guide on the website.
Copy the Japanese phrases written here, and use these as text when you book.

■Examples for inquiries
はじめまして、「○○」です。〇月〇日～○月○日にかけてチャーターで予約を希望します。道具は全部レンタルでお願いします。
(Hello, my name is ○○. I would like to reserve you as a charter between 〇 month 〇 date and 〇 month 〇 date. I would like to rent all the equipment.)
*Japanese months are written in numbers, so 1月 = January, 5月 = May, and so on.

[If there is a fish you would like to catch]
釣りたい魚は○○です。
(I would like to catch ○○)
[If you haven’t decided what you want to catch]
特に釣りたい魚はなく、釣りをしてみたいので船長のおすすめのターゲットを狙いに行かせてください。
(I don’t want to catch any fish in particular, I just want to try fishing, so please let me catch targets recommended by the captain.)

After the above, send another email, etc. saying “費用・必要な道具・集合場所・集合時間を教えてください” (please tell me the cost, equipment needed, meeting place, and meeting time).