Sagami Bay Mahi-Mahi Casting: A Tough Day at Sea
Area / Charter Boat
Sagami Bay (off Odawara to off Jogashima) / Charter boat "Shojiro Maru" (Hiratsuka)
Result
No fish (zero on the whole boat)
One chase late in the day
Target / Technique
Mahi-mahi (casting)
On July 20, under a wide summer sky, I went mahi-mahi casting with "Shojiro Maru" in Hiratsuka on Sagami Bay. The target: summer's star, mahi-mahi. Full of anticipation, I set off from Tokyo in the middle of the night.
Leaving at 2 a.m., at the charter boat by 3 — perfect weather ashore, and Mt. Fuji
I left Tokyo at 2 a.m. and arrived at Hiratsuka Port at 3. The port before dawn was quiet, with a somehow otherworldly feel. I grabbed a fishing spot early and started getting ready. The air was so clear that day that a beautiful Mt. Fuji stood out sharply in the distance, which naturally lifted my spirits. We left port at 6. Clear skies. The wind was fairly strong, and once we left the harbor there was a solid swell.
A Day Tossed Around by the Wind, and a Boat With "Zero"
The sea that day was just brutal for the classic mahi-mahi patterns. Because of the wind, we couldn't find any of the floating objects (driftwood, debris) mahi-mahi hang around, and the rough surface made current lines almost impossible to read. We made the rounds of the buoys in Sagami Bay from off Odawara to off Jogashima… and not a single hit on the whole boat. Full-on "training mode."
A Ray of Hope From a Lure Change
Even so, late in the day I kept casting without giving up. I tied on the [DAIWA Shoreline Shiner Z Set Upper 110S-DR]. It paid off — a fish chased it! It didn't turn into a hookup, but it was the only response of the day. A moment mixed with regret and hope: "If only I'd switched sooner…"
Tackle Used
I switched between two setups depending on the situation.
🔹 Tackle 1: Light casting setup
- Rod: SHIMANO Grappler Type C S70L
- Reel: Abu Garcia REVO SP Rocket 4000S (124cm per crank — the best)
- PE line: Avani Casting PE Max Power X8 #2.0
- Leader: Seaguar Grand Max #8
🔹 Tackle 2: Balanced setup
- Rod: SHIMANO Grappler Type Blade S70-0
- Reel: SHIMANO Stradic SW 5000XG
- PE line: SHIMANO Grappler 8 PE #1.5
- Leader: Seaguar Grand Max #7
Lures I Used
Four lures I kept throwing with faith even when the fish weren't responding. It reminded me again that having a range of lures for different situations decides your catch.
- DAIWA Shoreline Shiner Z Set Upper 110S-DR
- Palms Gig Gigant Hook Level Fall 120LF
- Shout Blade Shotel 126BS
- DAIWA Drift Flicker Laser Impact 110S
A Helpful YouTube Video, and an Unexpected Encounter
Before this trip, I watched this YouTube video over and over:
▶️ [Complete Guide to Sagami Bay Mahi-Mahi Casting] (in Japanese) →
It was very easy to follow and taught me a lot about choosing lures and setting up hooks. To my surprise, Mr. Ishii, who explains everything in this video, was on the same boat that day! What a coincidence — it really got me fired up.
Today's Wrap-Up and Resolve for Next Time
Unfortunately, no fish this time. But a day spent casting while battling the current and wind was definitely experience earned. Casting accuracy, reading the current, when to change lures — I still have a mountain to learn. Next time I'll try again with "switching faster" as my theme.
Today's catch was "zero," but the hints for next time scored "full marks."
I'll definitely get my revenge soon. Next time I'm going head-to-head with the dazzling summer mahi-mahi! That said, from August I'm planning to focus on Sagami Bay yellowfin ebing, which opens then.
Choosing Lures for Mahi-Mahi & Yellowtail Casting
A hand-picked selection of lures that work for casting on Sagami Bay, including the five I threw on this trip.
▶ Read the guide