Kayak Fishing for Sea Bream on Miya River: An Adventure Near Ise Jingu, Japan

Overview

In previous blog posts, I’ve shared the thrill of bass fishing in Kyoto, one of Japan’s most famous tourist destinations. Today, I’m excited to bring you a new adventure—kayak fishing for Japanese sea bream on the Miya River, which flows near Ise Jingu, another one of Japan’s most renowned landmarks. Recently, sea bream has surged in popularity among Japanese anglers, and I had the opportunity to try my hand at catching this exciting fish.

In this article, I’ll introduce you to Ise Jingu, give a detailed account of our kayak fishing trip, and highlight why sea bream is becoming a must-target species for Japanese anglers.

What is Ise Jingu?

Ise Jingu, also known as the Grand Shrine of Ise, is one of Japan’s most significant Shinto shrines. Located in Mie Prefecture, it consists of two main shrines—the Inner Shrine (Naiku) and the Outer Shrine (Geku)—dedicated to Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, and Toyouke, the deity of agriculture and industry, respectively. Established over 2,000 years ago, Ise Jingu has a deeply spiritual significance for Japanese people and is a popular pilgrimage site.

Adjacent to the shrine is the bustling Okage Yokocho, a historic street that takes visitors back to the Edo period (the era when "Samurai" were active). With its traditional wooden buildings, shops selling local delicacies, and street performances, Okage Yokocho is a great place to immerse yourself in the local culture after a visit to the shrine.

The Kayak Fishing Adventure

On August 31, 2024, I had the pleasure of joining one of our distributors for a day of kayak fishing on the Miya River. While Japanese sea bream (known locally as "chinu") are found globally, they’ve long been a beloved target for bait anglers in Japan. Recently, however, the fish's sharp predatory instincts and stunning appearance have also made it a favorite for lure fishing enthusiasts. Despite their cautious nature, sea bream are aggressive hunters, making them an exciting challenge.

In Japan, these fish are especially popular because they can be found even in urban rivers near major cities like Tokyo and Osaka. Their abundance and accessibility make them a prime target for anglers across the country.

Why Kayak Fishing for Sea Bream?

One of the most appealing aspects of kayak fishing is the access it provides to areas that are unreachable from the shore, such as shallow flats where motorboats cannot go. Kayaks offer unmatched mobility, allowing anglers to explore every nook and cranny of the river. Since black sea bream often inhabit shallow waters, kayak fishing is an excellent method for targeting them.

Our Approach: Topwater Fishing and Shad Games

For this trip, we focused on topwater fishing, a popular method for catching black sea bream in Japan. While both pencil baits and poppers are commonly used, we found that poppers were particularly effective in this area. Sea bream are notoriously cautious fish, and I could really sense their wariness during the trip. Using 8-pound braided line for the topwater game, it became clear that these fish were incredibly line-shy. The moment the line entered their field of vision, they would spook, making precise casts essential.

In addition to topwater lures, we also used shad-style lure to target fish near the bottom. The standout lure of the day was the Jackall RS150, a classic shad bait designed for bass fishing. It proved highly effective for sea bream, as well as flathead fish, which we also caught.

Soft Bait Success

Another successful method was using soft baits on a free rig, one of the most popular rigs for targeting sea bream in Japan. This technique is especially favored in urban rivers and has been my go-to rig for catching Japanese sea bream in the past. The only downside is that pufferfish also seem to love soft baits, often biting through them before you have a chance to catch your target fish!

Conclusion

In this blog post, I’ve shared my experience kayak fishing for black sea bream on the scenic Miyagawa River near Ise Jingu. With their abundance in Japan’s saltwater and brackish environments, sea bream are a species worth targeting if you ever have the chance to fish in Japan.

Stay tuned for more fishing adventures here on “Fishing Report in Japan,” and happy fishing, everyone!