Shima Kanko Hotel is a resort hotel in Ise-Shima Kashikojima where you can spend a wonderful time outside of the ordinary.

Food critic Takanori Nakamura watching the sunrise from a ship.

Keiichi Tabata (left), the boatman who gives fishing tips, also runs a seaweed and oyster farming business in addition to his boat service.

At the pier, boatman Keiichi Tabata said, "There are lots of large sea bass around here during the season," and Mr. Nakamura, who loves fishing in all genres, from mountain streams to the sea, smiled. Apparently, nocturnal sea bass are also attracted to the hotel lights.
As you sail along the calm sea, you'll be soothed by the sounds of seabirds and the view of small islands.

Upon arriving at the fishing spot, Mr. Tabata skillfully prepared his tackle. "Ago-Bay has a variety of fish species because the seabed geological formations differ depending on the location, ranging from sandy areas to rocky reefs. This area is sandy, and you can catch Japanese whiting and, in spring, cherry blossom flounder." Incidentally, Mr. Tabata is a reliable navigator, as he knows the waters of Shima intimately, and he can even bait the hooks for beginners, and if requested by avid anglers, he can take them to fishing spots in the outer bay where they can target sea bream and bonito. On this day, strong winds forced them to abandon their plans for the outer bay spots. However, the conditions inside the bay were perfectly suitable for fishing.

Nakamura, who had just caught a fish, released it while laughing and saying, "Normally, I would catch and eat it." Born and raised in Kamakura City, Nakamura has been familiar with fishing since childhood, and now he sometimes takes his fishing gear with him when he travels abroad for work. "Knowing what kind of fish are used as ingredients in the places I visit is like knowing the land. I sometimes go fishing with local chefs."

Fishing rafts floating on the sea

We moved to a fishing raft floating in the sea to try our luck at catching other fish. Looking up, there was nothing to obstruct our view, and the sky stretched out endlessly. As Ago-Bay is an inland sea, it was quiet with no sound of waves. "The water below the raft is about 26 meters deep, so you can catch big fish like sea bream," said Mr. Tabata. Ago-Bay offers everything from serious raft fishing to fishing for Japanese whiting, which is suitable for families and beginners. In the sea of ​​Ise-Shima National Park, you can enjoy the luxury of casting your line and connecting with nature while immersing yourself in a liberating atmosphere, making your trip to Shima even more enjoyable.