Image courtesy of Wikipedia / Photo by Apple2000
Ayu fishing using the “tomozuri” method opened on the 20th in an area managed by the Gonokawa Fisheries Cooperative in Miyoshi City, making it the first area in the prefecture to do so.
Anglers who had been eagerly awaiting the opening of the season gathered from both within and outside the prefecture along the Kannose River that flows through Miyoshi City.
Ayu fishing using the “tomozuri” method is a traditional fishing method that takes advantage of the ayu’s strong territorial instinct and tendency to attack other ayu.
Anglers were seen letting their decoy ayu swim around moss-covered rocks and enjoying the thrill of the chase with their long rods.Angler: “Every year on opening day, I come here and celebrate with everyone. I have three so far. I’d like to catch ten.”According to the Gonokawa Fisheries Cooperative, the ayu are slightly smaller than usual this year because the river’s water level is low and the moss, which is the ayu’s food source, has not grown.
The Enokawa Fisheries Cooperative has been releasing approximately 2.25 million young ayu (sweetfish) since late March in preparation for the opening of the fishing season, and they expect that the size and number of ayu that can be caught will increase as the water temperature rises in July.
