I'm headed to Okinawa Japan for a few years come December. I was there for 2 years, from '09-'11 and fished the coast and canals for inshore fish but never sharks.
Okinawa is on the same Lateral line as Miami Florida, making it a tropical island and pretty much the same weather patterns and sea temps (a few degrees cooler for the pacific though).
Wondering if anyone has heard of the shark fishery there or can lead me to a good site/info on the population. I've searched just about everything and only remember hearing of a few tigers and Mako caught outside the reefs.
The Japanese fish very hard, and eat alot of seafood but I don't expect ANY anti shark fishing regulations to be in affect so it's probably gonna take some researching the local fishing spots in and around where you will be living .It May be overfished near shore -thats a possibility although Japan is an Indutrialized nation the Japanese obsession or love of seafood may be a negative.Are you in the military ?Good luck and pleae keep us posted on the fishing once you are there.
SOUTH FLORIDA SHARK CLUB -President SFSC-Founding Member est 1983 SFSC-Website Administrator BIG HAMMER SHARK TOURNAMENT -Founder Rene Memorial Sharkathon -Founder NMFS Shark Tagger
Good luck I look forward to the reports, but like Will said the ocean is going to be a ghost town!
actually, the fishing is great over there, Mahi, Tuna, swords and marlin, AJ, grouper, Giant trevally etc... i just never looked into shark fishing and theres not much online about shark attacks, encounters or any sightings along the island. most of the fish from japan are farm raised. They have HUGE tuna pens like Mexico does and yellowtail (hamachi) as well.
i did come across this though.
http://sharkyear.com/2011/japan-shark-c ... inawa.html