Former professional baseball player, Kyuko Fujikawa fishing experience in Aki City!

Kochi Prefecture has a long and narrow terrain like a fan in the east and west, and the south side faces the Pacific Ocean. It is a treasure trove of a wide variety of marine life where the Kuroshio flows, so fishing is thriving, and many anglers visit regardless of the season.
This time, Kyuko Fujikawa, a former professional baseball player from Kochi City, experienced fishing in Aki City in the eastern part of the prefecture. Mr. Fujikawa, who usually enjoys fishing. What happened to this fish?

From Aki Fishing Port to Aki Offshore. Aim for yellowtail and Japanese white-eye with live food! 

Kyuko Fujikawa from Kochi City joined the Hanshin Tigers in the first draft in 1999. Since then, he has been active in Japan and the United States using the "Fireball Straight" as a weapon. After retiring from active duty in 2020, he expanded his field of play as a baseball commentator, and in 2022, he was accepted to join the professional baseball team.
Mr. Fujikawa, a big star born in Kochi, returns home this time. I'm aiming for big things in Aki City. 

This time, I visited Aki City, located in the eastern part of Kochi Prefecture. Aki City is known as a campsite for the Hanshin Tigers, and is related to Mr. Fujikawa. In recent years, roads have been improved, and access has been very improved, about 50 minutes by car from the center of Kochi city.

The meeting time at Aki Fishing Port is 6:30. Get on the recreational fishing boat "Shinei Maru" run by Captain Naomi Matsuda, a former fisherman, and leave! 

We arrived at the point in about 30 minutes.

The water depth of this point was about 70m, and there was a reaction of small fish that feeds yellowtail between 10 and 20m from the seabed. Aim at the yellowtails that will be underneath them, and put a device at a deeper layer. A device called "Swimming" in Kochi is a device that attaches a needle to hook live food at the end of the fishing line, and then attaches weights to make it easier to target fish on the seabed.
15cm horse mackerel to live feed, and the first throw to the sea.

"What kind of fish can I catch?" Mr. Fujikawa is also excited. 

Mr. Fujikawa relaxes on board while there is no Atari.

"Looking at the sea and scenery like this, time passes quickly. This relaxing time can feel like "fishing in Kochi."
Fujikawa, who likes fishing once or twice a week, usually enjoys fishing once or twice a week, but it seems that the sea in Kochi has been a long time. “I learned to fish in Kochi. The sea of Kochi is different. It is characterized by a large wave,” he was experiencing the Pacific Ocean. 

“Fishing is one time,” Mr. Fujikawa says. For Fujikawa, who worked as a relief for the surroundings and now works for people as a commentator, fishing is the only time to spend alone for himself. "When I'm fishing, I'm focused and focused. It's like charging. I have time to balance it.” It is not just fishing, but it seems that there is an important time in life on the sea.
"And if you have a child, you'll be happy if you catch it and bring it home. I think some families have no longer cooked fish, but I would like you to try it. Fishing is very meaningful!” 。

When you spend a while relaxing on the boat, you will be attacked by something and the rod will turn. And after the intense pull, there is a phenomenon in which Fujikawa and the other two threads cut almost at the same time. According to the captain, the fish on the needle was a shark, and it may have been encountered in a flock.
I'm sorry, but I gave up aiming for Buri Japanese white-eye with live food and decided to move to another point. 

Challenge Tairava, which is recommended for beginners 

A group moved to a point about 40 meters deep. Here we change the mechanism and aim for Itoyori, Hedai, and Chidai. 

Although it is a deep fishing, it is easy for beginners to challenge because it only sinks and wraps a special lure (pseudo-bait) and wraps it up.
Mr. Fujikawa continues to roll, but it doesn't come easily.

In December, the temperature dropped sharply, and on this day there was no "tidal flow" where the fish moved actively, so the reaction from the fish was not good.

I thought I was going to panic in this situation from beginning to end, and Mr. Fujikawa's brother, Junichi, who accompanied me, hit the young fish Nari of amberjack! (In Kochi, the fact that there is no catch on that day is called "bozu".)

"It's delicious!" Mr. Fujikawa smiled. This was the only catch on this day. 

“There are times when you can’t fish, right? Nature is your partner,” Mr. Fujikawa said. “Nature is the real pleasure of fishing. Sometimes you can catch a lot of fish, sometimes bad. Good or bad, I’m looking forward to it too. And nature has a lot of change. If the location, season, and water depth change, the fish species change. And if it is Kochi, you will leave Aki Fishing Port like today, sew it while you are fishing for whitebait, and go out to the sea. "

Mr. Fujikawa, who currently lives in Hyogo Prefecture, has many opportunities to fish in Akashi on a daily basis. Compared to the Seto Inland Sea, the sea of Kochi has large waves and it is said that it feels magnificent.
However, of course, there was a calm day like this day, and he smiled, saying, "If it's quiet like today, it's easy to fish and it's perfect for a nap." 

In the case of Kochi, it is also characterized by abundant fish species.
“I recommend those who like to eat. In the case of Kochi, it is also close to the Kansai area. Anyway, Kochi has a good climate.”

Of course, the view from the top of the boat is also great! Mr. Fujikawa was also impressed, "It's amazing, you can see the terrain of Kochi to the other side, Muroto and Ashizuri." 

Local gourmet, Shirasu-don and Tongue Tsuzumi 

The party left the pole at 10:30 and returned to the port in about 15 minutes. 

The next destination was "Aki Shirasu Shokudo" in Aki Fishing Port. As mentioned in the store name, Shirasu is a specialty of Aki. You can taste "Shirasu bowl" with fresh Kamaage shirasu on rice.
Shirasu bowl is topped with ingredients from Aki, such as eggplant, myoga, and fragrant and rare "Misho Yuzu", so you can enjoy delicious Aki with one bowl.

For Fujikawa, who visited many times during the camp at the Hanshin Tigers, Aki's Shirasudon is a taste of memories.
To the locals, Fujikawa is a hero with a connection. The clerk of the cafeteria, who knew his active era, was warmly greeted, "I've become a great honor." The interaction with these people and warm hospitality are also the pleasure of traveling in Kochi.  

Mr. Fujikawa ordered "Kamaage Chirimen Crepe Don Plus Dorome Don Set with Sashimi".
Mr. Fujikawa, who pours sauce and raw yuzu on the bowl that was brought, saying, "I've kept you waiting." "Oh, it's delicious!" "It's so delicious!" he said.

Mr. Fujikawa says, "This is also delicious!"

I don't go out of the prefecture because my feet are fast, but in this cafeteria, you can taste the raw whitebait caught that day.
"Yuzu is very delicious! Myoga is also delicious! And finished eating and smiling, "It was a feast." It seems that the nostalgic local gourmet was very satisfying.
Everyone who is planning a trip to Aki, the specialty Shirasudon is indispensable after all! 

Finally, there is a message from Mr. Fujikawa to all of you. 

"Kochi is very close because it is 4 hours by car from Kansai. There are many places that can be proud of all over the country, such as delicious food and rich nature. Please come from all over the country and enjoy Kochi. "

How was the "Recommended Half Day Aki Enjoyment Plan"? Please visit Kochi, the town where Katsuko Fujikawa was born and raised.

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