Sagami Bay Mahi-Mahi & Yellowtail Casting
5 Recommended Lures
Summer on Sagami Bay means run-and-gun casting for mahi-mahi and yellowtail. It's a highly tactical game of finding and casting at bird piles, boils and floating debris, and what decides your catch is having the variety to switch lures to the day's pattern. Here I've honestly picked five lures of different types from those I've actually thrown on Sagami Bay.
*The selections in this article are based on the fishing experience of the editor (INU48). ★ ratings are subjective. You can check the latest prices and review counts on Rakuten via each link.
3 Points for Choosing
① Match the depth
Pencils/minnows for the surface, sinking minnows/metal jigs for mid-depths. To find the depth where fish respond quickly, carry both floating and sinking lures.
② Casting distance = more chances
You're searching open water. The farther a lure flies, the more boils you can reach and the more casts you get. Models with a weight-transfer system are reliable.
③ Upgrading hooks and leaders is a must
To be ready for mahi-mahi or an unexpected big yellowtail or yellowfin, it's safest to upgrade hooks and use a heavier leader. Stock hooks can get straightened.
5 Recommended Lures
DAIWA Shoreline Shiner Z Set Upper 125S-DR
★ 4.0Sinking minnow with a strong wobble from the surface to mid-depths. It casts far and grips the water on a straight retrieve. I've caught mahi-mahi on it and had yellowfin chase it. Upgraded hooks are a must.
DAIWA Sagoshi Z 95HS
★ 4.0High-speed sinking lure that excels on yellowtail and young sawara when retrieved fast. Long casts on a straight retrieve and fast action let you hit active schools efficiently.
Palms GIG Gigant Hook Level Fall 120
★ 4.0Long-casting metal jig that triggers bites with a level fall. When the surface goes quiet, it gets down into the strike zone to draw bites. Also good for probing beneath a boil.
DAIWA Drift Flicker Laser Impact 110S
★ 3.0Drifting sinking lure that triggers bites as it floats along. Effective on pressured mahi-mahi and when you want to show the lure slowly.
Shout Blade Shotel 50g
★ 3.0Search bait that covers a wide area with blade flash and vibration. When yellowtail are mixed in, or on a straight retrieve, it's the one to keep in the water.
Also Get These (Big-Fish Insurance)
Be ready for an unexpected big fish with a heavier leader and strong PE. Upgraded hooks are recommended on every lure.
Fishing report where I actually threw these 5 lures
A tough day of mahi-mahi casting on Sagami Bay — tossed around by strong wind and swell, I still got a chase on the Set Upper.
▶ Read "Sagami Bay Mahi-Mahi Casting: A Tough Day at Sea"Summary
Build around the Set Upper (the all-rounder), then add the fast-moving Sagoshi Z and the Level Fall that sinks to trigger bites, and you can handle most situations. Don't forget stronger hooks and leaders, and take on Sagami Bay's mahi-mahi and yellowtail head-on.