2 Days Short Trip to Ito, Izu Peninsula
For the readers who don’t have geographical senses of venues introduced in this blog surrounding Tokyo, I am making new habit of featuring a quick map. For example, the map below covers saltwater fishing area south of Tokyo.
Izu Peninsula is located 150km south west of Tokyo Metropolitan District sticking out into the Pacific Ocean dividing Suruga and Sagami Gulfs. State Route runs on the coastline of the peninsula which connects countless small towns and villages built around harbors and coves forming great compilation of fisheries.
Out of all these great locations, Ito has been my main concern for over years. The reason is Ito provides not only saltwater fishing, but plenty of freshwater fishing in lakes and mountain creek as well. Ito also provides lots of family activities including swimming, hiking, and camping. Variety of lodging options from traditional Japanese inns to premium hotel such as Kawana Hotel will make the stay absolutely memorable.
Day1 – Leaving Tokyo and Scouting Manazuru
I left Tokyo in the afternoon not intending to do much fishing this day before setting up camp off the town of Ito. Before driving all the way to Ito, I made a quick stop to scout small cape called Manazuru at the north eastern end of Izu Peninsula. I will cover this venue on separate article, but this looks very good spot for rock fish with car park and toilet nearby gives great comfort to fish at night.
Day 1 – Carp Game at Estuary of Ito
There has been active sheet metal fabrication Dallas construction work in the past 2 years at the estuary of River Okawa redefining fishing in negative way. When I got there it has calm down a bit and estuary is being rebuilt its own with sandbar at the shoreline. This sandbar blocks waves to reach inside the estuary making water less saline allowing giant carps to swim to their limit.
After parking my car nearby, I set up my 6wt for sight fishing rig (float line with mildly weighted bottom sinking pattern) and head out for the river. There were 4 carps above 70cm cruising for drifting food and few carps tailing for what’s on the bottom. I had a good shot at the cruiser who took the fly, but I couldn’t set hook.
There was another shot on tailing fish I successfully set hook, but he broke off after 5 minutes of intense fight. Fish escaped upstream into the mainstream and I couldn’t extend my chase at the bridge blocking my passage. It was another good size around 60cm.
I could have continued into evening game, but I had to move on for setting up camp. I set my site at Shiofuki Park.
Camping is as much fan as fishing when surrounded by trees and looking at wide open ocean in front. The best part is always the campfire after picking up firewood on beach.
Day 2 – Rocky Reef of Shiofuki Park
I got up bit late behind the sunrise, so I cooked my breakfast and started my day slow. Good thing about camping nearby the fishery is you don’t have to rush anything.
It was cloudy and the tide was rising. At such perfect condition, catching scorpion fish was not a difficult task other than casting accurately into the spot. I caught one fish with 5g jig head with Ecogear Grass Minnow on bait finesse tackle. Then another one on bonin minnow on fly tackle.
I could press on, but I just wanted to relax for the day. So I gave a look on the other side of rocky reef who has more depth and incoming wave. The spot looked more for long casting game and it started to rain, so I rushed back to the camp. Sometimes, it’s not bad to get stack inside my tent doing reading and drinking carbo-free beer.
Later that day, weather went worse. I have packed up and headed back home.
Result
– Carp x 2
– Scorpion fish x 2For the readers who don’t have geographical senses of venues introduced in this blog surrounding Tokyo, I am making new habit of featuring a quick map. For example, the map below covers saltwater fishing area south of Tokyo.
Izu Peninsula is located 150km south west of Tokyo Metropolitan District sticking out into the Pacific Ocean dividing Suruga and Sagami Gulfs. State Route runs on the coastline of the peninsula which connects countless small towns and villages built around harbors and coves forming great compilation of fisheries.
Out of all these great locations, Ito has been my main concern for over years. The reason is Ito provides not only saltwater fishing, but plenty of freshwater fishing in lakes and mountain creek as well. Ito also provides lots of family activities including swimming, hiking, and camping. Variety of lodging options from traditional Japanese inns to premium hotel such as Kawana Hotel will make the stay absolutely memorable.
Day1 – Leaving Tokyo and Scouting Manazuru
I left Tokyo in the afternoon not intending to do much fishing this day before setting up camp off the town of Ito. Before driving all the way to Ito, I made a quick stop to scout small cape called Manazuru at the north eastern end of Izu Peninsula. I will cover this venue on separate article, but this looks very good spot for rock fish with car park and toilet nearby gives great comfort to fish at night.
Day 1 – Carp Game at Estuary of Ito
There has been active construction work in the past 2 years at the estuary of River Okawa redefining fishing in negative way. When I got there it has calm down a bit and estuary is being rebuilt its own with sandbar at the shoreline. This sandbar blocks waves to reach inside the estuary making water less saline allowing giant carps to swim to their limit.
After parking my car nearby, I set up my 6wt for sight fishing rig (float line with mildly weighted bottom sinking pattern) and head out for the river. There were 4 carps above 70cm cruising for drifting food and few carps tailing for what’s on the bottom. I had a good shot at the cruiser who took the fly, but I couldn’t set hook.
There was another shot on tailing fish I successfully set hook, but he broke off after 5 minutes of intense fight. Fish escaped upstream into the mainstream and I couldn’t extend my chase at the bridge blocking my passage. It was another good size around 60cm.
I could have continued into evening game, but I had to move on for setting up camp. I set my site at Shiofuki Park.
Camping is as much fan as fishing when surrounded by trees and looking at wide open ocean in front. The best part is always the campfire after picking up firewood on beach.
Day 2 – Rocky Reef of Shiofuki Park
I got up bit late behind the sunrise, so I cooked my breakfast and started my day slow. Good thing about camping nearby the fishery is you don’t have to rush anything.
It was cloudy and the tide was rising. At such perfect condition, catching scorpion fish was not a difficult task other than casting accurately into the spot. I caught one fish with 5g jig head with Ecogear Grass Minnow on bait finesse tackle. Then another one on bonin minnow on fly tackle.
I could press on, but I just wanted to relax for the day. So I gave a look on the other side of rocky reef who has more depth and incoming wave. The spot looked more for long casting game and it started to rain, so I rushed back to the camp. Sometimes, it’s not bad to get stack inside my tent doing reading and drinking carbo-free beer.
Later that day, weather went worse. I have packed up and headed back home.
Result
– Carp x 2
– Scorpion fish x 2