25th of June 8 anglers arrived in Amami to share a ride aboard "Big Dipper" with the legend himself Captain Kenzaburo Fukui.
I arrived a day early with two other friends, mostly out of excitement for the trip! And to have a look around Amami Oshima. We checked into Syou Restaurant & Lodge! Located minutes from Fukui San's House and Ukuyu Port! Checking in was greeted by a large photo on the wall of a young Fukui San with a 50kg GT! Along with my friend Hirayama San's best from three years prior of 58kg! Adding to the excitement! Syou has excellent Japanese style dinner and breakfast! And 3 person Cottages to stay in. Made for a relaxing evening going over gear and having a few drinks!
The next morning we were scheduled to meet at the port 12:30. The three of us awoke slightly hungover. Had breakfast packed up are gear and after headed to Fukui San's house. Pulling up to his house we were greeted by his wife. Unloaded gear and she welcomed us into the famous tackle room with the wall of Sea Frogs.
As we started to set up the rods, Mrs Fukui went to the airport to gather the rest of the members for the trip! Than moved to the port to wait for Big Dipper to return with a previous trip! We had been checking the weather and seas were high up to 3 meters and winds around 10m/s. So question had been raised if we could make the crossing over to Tokara! As we waited the sound of an approaching ship could be heard. And Big Dipper came cruising into port!
As the previous grew was unloading we heard seas were rough and they had hard luck with no GT. But we were determined to make the best of the trip. We departed around 1pm straight out to a point in front of the airport! Fukui San positioned the boat to drift over reefs depths from 10m to 30m!! Working a spot the moving to a new spot! Moving north, around 4pm a GT finally made a showing! We continued to work different hot spots until sundown and than made are way to Amami City for the over night stay!
Day 25am departure from the port. We set back into the routine working spots than moving. Seas and winds remained strong! After an hour another GT and Bluefin Trevally were caught. With the rest of the day remaining quite!!
Day 35am departure continued the routine, around lunch time winds/seas picked up and Fukui San made the call to head into to port for Lunch. With hopes of afternoon weather calming! Around 3pm we set back out. Winds had slowed a bit. We continued to work different spots. Fukui San was getting a little annoyed that the GT were not coming up! Working his GPS and fish finder, he called out that GT are here keep casting! He than said wait as repositioned the boat and said cast into a spot straight out from him. "There is a GT right there!" Miyaji San made the cast and sure enough he hooked straight up! He is a legend for a reason, watching him call that out in 3m rough seas and the reef at 30m depth. Was very impressive! The evening session was better with 4 more GT caught!!
Last Day8am departure we would fish until 1pm before heading back in packing up and head to the airport!
Even with the tough conditions and not making to Tokara. We had 21 strikes 11 hook ups with 7 catches! Around Amami still has the chance for 50kg! Everyone still had a good time and it wasn't the lack of casting. Sometimes thats how it goes!! Fukui San and the Big Dipper are a GT weapon. We were in some heavy seas, and never once got nervous! Eight recaro style seats inside make the trip very comfortable ! As many may know getting a charter is a couple year wait! A group share is the best chance getting on board! And that books up quick. There are two types 4 day/3 night or 3 day/2 to Tokara. Tokara is 1 hour and 20 min from Amami Oshima!!
