The posts of huge GT's have prompted me to investigate. Well the mystery unravels. You are all familiar with Musandan in the UAE, well these island features put it to shame and to top it of there are tours available to these islands. This is where the latest IGFA GT (Caranx Ignobilis or Giant Trevally) record was caught. These islands are also the testing grounds for various lure manufacturers and tackle manufacturers from Japan. Carpenter lures and Shimano to name a few. Why here? Well it boasts some exceptional fishing and by information I have gathered holds it's own to other exotic destinations. Without rambling on about it I have extracted some information from various sites and forums with pictures and videos that will blow you away about this place. Just as an example the majority of GT pics at
http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?topic=893.new;topicseen#new were taken in these group of islands.
The latest record report: Fellow countryman Keiki Hamasaki, Kagoshima, Japan may have two records on one catch after landing a giant trevally (Caranx ignoblis) weighing 160 lb 7 oz (72.8 kg) in 35 minutes while casting a lure at Tokara, near Kagoshima. He hopes to capture the all tackle and 130 lb line class records. The current 60 kg (130 lb) line class is132 lb 4 oz caught last year at St. Gilles, Reunion Island, and the current all tackle record Hamasaki hopes to also beat is 145 lb 8 oz recorded March 28, 1991 in Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A. (Photo: giant trevally – 06070041)
Background: There are many beautiful Southern resort islands like Yakushima, Amami islands, and Okinawa. However, Tokara are real islands with pure nature. There are almost no tourists, and inconvenient transport. Therefore, there is abundant nature, typical creatures, and a special culture which was influenced by North Japan (Yamato) and South Japan (Ryukyu) remaining on the islands. More over, there are only beautiful blue oceans, blue sky and time....
It is said that Tokara is Japan's last mysterious region. Some people say there is nothing on the islands. But some people say there is everything on the islands. Depending what you want to see, you will have a different viewpoint of the islands
Tour Offers: 1) TOKARA ISLANDS DEEP SEA FISHING EXPEDITION
4days / 3nights liveaboard deep sea fishing package
・Target Species : Amberjack , Dogtooth Tuna, GT , Yellowfin Tuna , Marlin , Giant Grouper , Sailfish and etc.
・Season : April to November
・High powered sportfishing boat for groups of 4 to 10 persons per boat
・4days / 3nights liveaboard fishing
2) JAPAN SEA GIANT BLUEFIN TUNA FISHING
5days / 4nights Giant Bluefin Tuna fishing package
・Target Species : Giant Bluefin Tuna size up to 300kg
・Season : July to January
・High powered sportfishing boat for groups of 4 to 10 persons per boat
・5days / 4nights - day fishing only ( 5am to 5pm)
3) TSUSHIMA STRAIT GIANT BLUEFIN TUNA FISHING EXPEDITION
4days / 3nights liveaboard Giant Bluefin Tuna fishing package
・Target Species : Giant Bluefin Tuna size up to 250kg
・Season : October to February
・High powered sportfishing boat for groups of 4 to 10 persons per boat
・4days / 3nights liveaboard fishing
4) TSUSHIMA STRAIT MARLIN FISHING EXPEDITION
4days / 3nights liveaboard Marlin fishing package
・Target Species : Marlin
・Season : April to November
・High powered sportfishing boat for groups of 4 to 10 persons per boat
・4days / 3nights liveaboard fishing
5) YONAGUNI ISLAND MONSTER MARLIN FISHING
5days / 4nights Monster Marlin fishing package
・Target Species : Giant Marlin size up to 1200lb
・Season : April to November
・High powered sportfishing boat for groups of 4 to 6 persons per boat.
・5days / 4nights - day fishing only
6) YONAGUNI ISLAND DEEP SEA FISHING
5days / 4nights deepsea fishing package
・Target Species : Amberjack , Dogtooth Tuna, GT , Yellowfin Tuna , Giant Grouper .
・Season : April to November
・High powered sportfishing boat for groups of 4 to 6 persons .per boat
・5days / 4nights - day fishing only
7)OKINAWA ISLANDS DEEP SEA FISHING
5days / 4nights deepsea fishing package
・Main Fish Species : Fish F.A.D & Seamount for Yellowfin Tuna , Amberjack , Dogtooth Tuna , GT , Marlin and etc
・Season : April to November
・High powered sportfishing boat for groups of 4 to 10 persons per boat
・5days / 4nights - day fishing only
8)IZU ISLANDS DEEP SEA FISHING EXPEDITION
4days / 3nights liveaboard deep sea fishing package
・Main Fish Species : Fish Seamount & FAD for Giant Yellowfin Tuna , Amberjack
・Season : April to November
・High powered sportfishing boat for groups of 8 to 20 persons.per boat
・4days / 3nights liveaboard fishing
9)IZU ISLANDS DEEP SEA FISHING
5days / 4nights deepsea fishing package
・Main Fish Species : Fish FAD for Giant Yellowfin Tuna , Amberjack
・Season : April to November
・High powered sportfishing boat for groups of 4 to 20 persons per boat
・5days / 4nights - day fishing only
Travel Info: TOKARA ISLANDS
Tokara Islands , a group of islands lying on the sea in the south of Kagoshima ( southern part of Kyushu Island , Japan ) , The sea around the islands , is blessed with transparent water , bright colored coral reefs and tropical fishes , and is known as a fantastic deepsea fishing hot spot , The souththern part of the islands where Amami Airport is located , is a popular resort for divers , where white beaches and shores with beautiful coral reefs are dotted here and there .
YELLOWFIN TUNA , DOGTOOTH TUNA , GT ,AMBERJACK , SAILFISH , MARLIN and other game fish species are available in this area .
JAPAN SEA & TSUSHIMA STRAIT GIANTBLUEFIN TUNA HOT SPOT
GIANT BLUEFIN TUNA size up to 400kg are available from July to February ( Best season - Octorber to January ) and MARLIN are available in Tsushima Strait from March to October .
YONAGUNI ISLAND
MONSTER MARLIN HOT SPOT
Japan 's new discovered big game deep sea Marlin fishing hot spot. It is situated in the southern part of Kyusyu Island , very closed to Taiwan. 1200 lbs BLACK & BLUE MARLIN ,MONSTER GIANT GROUPER , GT , DOGTOOTH TUNA , AMBERJACK, YELLOWFIN TUNA are available in this fantastic area , to fish these ground is a dream come true for most big game fishing anglers.
IZU ISLANDS
Fish Seamount & FAD ( fish attracting devices ) forGIANT YELLOWFIN TUNA , AMBERJACK and other game fish species are available in this area .
OGASAWARA ISLANDS
Ogasawara Islands,the last fishing paradise in Honsyu Island .Located about 1,000 km south of Tokyo, Japan. with unique ecosystem also called "the Galapagos in Asia".Currently, transportation from the Ogasawara Islands to the mainland is only one ship in 5 days, taking 26 hours. Because of this inconvenience ,make Ogasawara Islands a super world class big game fishing paradise in the Pacific Ocean.
OKINAWA ISLANDS , ISHIGAKI ISLAND AND ETC
Fish FAD ( fish attracting devices ) for GIANTYELLOWFIN TUNA , AMBERJACK , MARLIN and Seamount for DOGTOOTH TUNA , GT and others.
Some Quotes From International Forums.1. Tokara's a beautiful place. Wish I had more time there but bad weather curtailed our trip and forced us out of the islands and back to the mainland.
The jetty is probably one of the best land based spots for GTs in the world. Saw a guy nearly dragged over one night - probably a monster class GT at the other end. Too bad the line parted.
Hopefully better luck next time round.
2. Just this morning! I overlook 'these islands' from my apartment, though I should point out that the Kerama Islands (where the 70kg fish was caught) and the Tokaras are very different. There's 100 miles or more between us. I don't know which chain regularly produces bigger fish, but until this 70kg fish, I was only hearing about local GTs being in the 40kg range.
3. I understand Fukui also has a few mamas to his name from this area.
He got 2 over 60kg and a few in the 50kg bracket when testing the Tokara 60 and Komodo Dragon.
Anyone here fished these islands?
4. Kozo maybe...but Kenji also regularly tests his products over there, i've lost count of the 50kg+ GTs i've seen his head hiding behind
Some Pictures:
