Artificial Lure here, checking in with your Hokkaidō salt and fresh report.

Around Ishikari Bay and the Otaru coast, the afternoon tide is running on a medium cycle, with the last of the flood easing into a gentle fall. Local port data shows highs and lows not too extreme today, so current isn’t ripping, but there’s enough movement on the points and harbor mouths to get predators chasing.

Weather along the west coast has been classic early-summer Hokkaidō: cool north breeze, temps in the high teens to low 20s, broken clouds with pockets of sun, and offshore fog banks hanging near the horizon. Inland, around Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya, the wind has been lighter, with clearer skies and just a hint of mountain haze by late afternoon. Sunrise was just after 3:50 a.m., and sunset is around 7:15 p.m., giving a long, bright day but with the bite still concentrated in the low-light windows.

In the salt, the last few days have produced decent numbers of **sea-run char (amemasu)**, smaller **flatfish** off the sandy stretches, and a scattering of early **rockfish** tight to structure. Shore anglers near Otaru and Yoichi have reported modest but steady action: a handful of amemasu in the 35–45 cm range per angler on good mornings, and mixed flatfish—mostly under 30 cm—on bait rigs when the swell lays down. Boat anglers working just outside the harbor lines have picked at rockfish and occasional greenling.

Best producers on the coast have been **small metal jigs** in the 14–30 g range, silver or blue-silver, worked with a quick lift-and-fall along drop-offs and harbor walls. For those soaking bait, **sliced sardine** and **clam strips** on simple two-hook bottom rigs have outfished fancier setups. When the wind drops near dusk, 70–90 mm **minnow plugs** in natural bait colors run along the surface wash can draw surprise hits from cruising char and the odd late-season sea-run trout.

In the rivers emptying into Ishikari Bay, snowmelt is easing but flows are still on the cool side. That’s kept **amemasu** and resident trout active during the first couple of hours after sunrise and again near sunset. Ultralight spoons in gold or copper, and 2–3 inch soft plastics on light jig heads, have been taking fish for those willing to walk away from the bridges and find broken, knee-deep runs.

On the freshwater side, **Lake Shikotsu** and **Lake Toya** have both been consistent. Local anglers have reported good counts of **rainbow trout** and **char**, with better fish holding deeper by mid-morning. Trolling small, slim-profile spoons in blue, green, or pink over 10–20 meters of water has produced multiple hookups per outing, with fish typically in the 30–45 cm range and the occasional better one. Shore casters have done best at dawn using 5–10 g spoons and small jerkbaits, counting them down before starting a slow, steady retrieve.

If you’re packing a box, prioritize:

- For salt: 14–30 g metals, 70–90 mm minnows, and a few 3–4 inch paddle-tail soft baits on 7–14 g jig heads.

- For fresh: 5–10 g spoons, 60–80 mm sinking minnows, and natural-colored soft plastics.

Bait anglers should bring salted **sardine**, **shrimp**, and if you can source it, local **ika** strips for extra scent around rocky structure.

A couple of hotspots to circle for this week:

- **Otaru North Breakwater and adjacent rock faces**: Work the outer wall at first light with small metals and minnows for amemasu and rockfish. As the tide turns, switch to bait rigs near the bottom for flatfish.

- **Lake Shikotsu’s western shore drop-offs**: Pre-dawn to early morning, fan-cast spoons and small jerkbaits from the points where the bottom falls away quickly. Let the lure sink before starting a slow retrieve; most strikes have been coming mid-column.

That’s the situation in and around Hokkaidō waters right now. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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Artificial Lure here, checking in with your Hokkaido fishing report.

Up north today we’ve got that classic early-summer mix: cool mornings, mild afternoons, and a touch of humidity along the coasts. Around Sapporo and Ishikari Bay, expect light to moderate west–southwest winds, calm to slight seas, and mostly clear to partly cloudy skies. Inland lakes like Shikotsu and Toya are seeing light winds and very clear water.

Sunrise was just after 3:55 a.m. local time with sunset around 7:15 p.m., so there’s a long feeding window at dawn and again toward dusk. Those first two hours after sunrise and the last two before dark are fishing prime time.

On the Sea of Japan side, the tide cycle is giving a nice push on the morning incoming and a decent evening outgoing. That moving water has been turning on the bite for coastal rockfish and flounder. On the Pacific side near Muroran and Tomakomai, slower midday currents, but when that tide starts to swing, the fish wake up fast.

Recent catches along Ishikari and Otaru ports have been solid. Local anglers report good numbers of **hokke** (Arabesque greenling), **chika** smelt, and mixed **rockfish** off the tetrapods and breakwalls. Night sessions are producing **squid** around the harbor lights. Offshore boats from Yoichi and Oshidomari are finding early-season **saba** (mackerel) and the odd **iwashi** (sardine) school, with some small **hirame** (flounder) coming off sandy bottoms closer in.

Best artificial options right now:

- For rockfish and greenling: 2–3 inch soft plastics on 5–10 g jig heads in dark colors like black, cola, or motor oil. Slow lift-and-fall along the bottom works.

- For mackerel and sardine schools: small metal jigs and casting spoons, 10–20 g, in silver or blue. Fast, erratic retrieve is key.

- For squid: small egi jigs in natural browns and pinks, size 2.5–3.0, worked with short sharp jerks and long pauses.

Best bait:

- Seaworms (ishi-gokai) and salted pieces of sardine or squid for bottom species.

- Tiny pieces of shrimp or pseudo-bait on sabiki rigs for smelt, sardine, and mackerel.

- Fresh or salted herring strips for flounder on simple bottom rigs.

Freshwater has been firing too. Mountain streams in central and eastern Hokkaido are running clear and cool. Anglers are bringing in **yamame**, **iwana**, and some nice **rainbow trout**. Small inline spinners in gold and silver, tiny minnow plugs in natural patterns, and simple fly patterns like elk-hair caddis are getting consistent bites, especially under overhanging cover.

Hot spot number one: **Otaru Harbor and surrounding rock walls**. Easy access, lots of structure, and active rockfish and greenling. Evening into night is best, especially around the tide turns. Bring light tackle, 6–10 lb line, and small soft plastics or baited bottom rigs.

Hot spot number two: **Lake Shikotsu shorelines and river mouths**. Ultra-clear, cold water with trout cruising the drop-offs. Early morning with small spoons, micro-jigs, and minnow plugs gets the job done. Go natural colors and light leaders; the water clarity makes the fish cautious.

Overall, fish activity is good whenever the tide is moving and light is low. Midday can slow down, so either go deeper, go smaller on your presentations, or take a break and line up your evening session.

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Artificial Lure here with your Hokkaido fishing report.

Up here the rainy season is creeping in, and today most of Hokkaido is sitting under broken clouds with cool, early-summer air. Along the Pacific side from Kushiro to Muroran it’s breezy and damp, with light on‑and‑off showers and daytime temps in the mid to high teens Celsius. The Sea of Japan side around Otaru and Ishikari is a touch calmer, with scattered clouds and a lighter northwest wind. Sunrise was just after 3:50 a.m., sunset just before 7:20 p.m., giving us a long fishing window and a solid evening bite.

Tides around Ishikari Bay and Otaru are running moderate: a decent morning high, a lazy midday low, then another push toward dark. Around Muroran and Tomakomai, that afternoon flood is lining up nicely with sunset, and that’s been triggering good activity in the top five meters of the water column. River mouths on both coasts are still carrying snowmelt and recent rain, so water is cool and slightly stained, which the trout and sea‑run fish are loving.

Nearshore reports this week have been encouraging. From Otaru to Yoichi, small boats and shore casters have been picking up solid numbers of rockfish, greenling, and decent‑sized flounder, with the occasional surprise sea bass mixing in at dusk. Around Tomakomai and Muroran, boats working structure with metal jigs and soft plastics have been boxing good hauls of rockfish and cod, with some anglers reporting double‑digit catches on the better tides. Along the Kushiro and Nemuro coasts, surf anglers have been seeing reasonable numbers of flatfish and the odd sea‑run char near river mouths.

Fish activity has been best at first light and again in the last 90 minutes before dark. Midday has been slower unless you’re fishing deeper rock or harbor structure. In the rivers of central and eastern Hokkaido, anglers swinging small spoons and minnows have been into good numbers of rainbow and white‑spotted char, especially under overcast skies.

For lures, think small and natural. In the harbors, 7–14 g metal jigs in blue‑silver or pink‑silver, lightly hopped along bottom, have been the go‑to for rockfish and flounder. Soft plastics on 5–10 g jigheads in brown, green, or clear with silver flake are killing it along wall edges and tetrapods. For sea bass and any roaming salmonids near river mouths, slim minnows in sardine or ayu patterns, worked with a stop‑and‑go retrieve, have been producing. If you prefer bait, fresh shirauo or small sardine strips for rockfish and cod, and ragworm or salted clam for flounder and other bottom fish, are your best bet.

Two hot spots to circle for the next few days:

1. Ishikari Bay / Otaru Harbor: Long breakwaters and inner harbor walls are holding mixed rockfish, greenling, and flounder. Focus on the outer edges during the evening flood tide with small jigs, and switch to bait if the wind chops up the surface.

2. Muroran West Harbor and surrounding headlands: Good structure, steady current, and that nice afternoon tide. Work metal jigs near bottom for cod and rockfish, then swap to minnows and topwaters at dusk in case sea bass push bait into the harbor.

If you’re heading out tonight, bring a light jacket for the sea breeze, a headlamp for those long northern evenings, and scale down your tackle for more bites in the clear water.

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Artificial Lure here, checking in with your Hokkaido fishing report.

Around Ishikari Bay and the Sapporo coast this afternoon, we’ve got early summer conditions: mild seas, light southwesterly breeze, and overcast patches with decent visibility. Sunrise came early, just after 3:40 a.m., and sunset hits a little before 7:20 p.m., so there’s a long crepuscular window to work with. Water temps are sitting cool, perfect for salmonids and coastal rockfish to stay active shallow during low light.

Tides on the Ishikari and Otaru side are running a modest mid-range cycle today, with a useful push on the incoming late afternoon and again after dark. That flood tide along breakwaters and river mouths is when baitfish stack up tight to structure, and predators follow. Plan your casts one to two hours either side of the peaks; that’s when the current really sets up those ambush lanes.

In the last few days, local anglers along the Otaru and Yoichi coast have been reporting solid numbers of **rockfish (mebaru, ainame)** and small to mid-grade **sea bass (suzuki)** on the harbor walls and outer breakwaters. Offshore boats out of Kushiro and Nemuro have picked up **chum and pink salmon** starting to show deeper, with **flounder and halibut** on sandy bottoms at 30–60 meters. Up in eastern Hokkaido rivers and lakes, early-morning sessions have produced good **rainbow and white-spotted char**, especially in clear, fast runs.

Fish activity today is best at dawn, dusk, and into the first part of the night. Overcast skies and that cooler marine layer keep fish comfortable higher in the water column, especially around bait balls. Expect rockfish and greenling to hug structure all day, with sea bass sliding in closer once the light drops.

For lures, keep it simple and local-style.

Along the breakwaters and harbor mouths:

- Small 7–14 g metal jigs in silver, blue-pink, and glow backs, worked with short, sharp lifts.

- 3–4 inch soft plastics on 7–10 g jig heads in baitfish colors for mebaru and ainame.

- Minnow plugs around 90–120 mm in natural sardine or anchovy patterns for sea bass during low light.

For bait:

- Fresh **sardine, squid strips, and sandworms** are the staples.

- Bottom rigs with small pieces of squid or clam will pick up flounder and misc. bottom fish.

- In rivers and lakes, small spoons and inline spinners in gold or copper, or live worms where allowed, are consistent for trout and char.

A couple of hot spots to focus on:

1. **Otaru Port and outer breakwater**

Fish the channel edges and light lines on the incoming tide into dusk. Cast metal jigs or minnows along the current seams. Rockfish, greenling, and the odd sea bass patrol here, especially when small bait is pushed against the wall.

2. **Ishikari Bay New Port area**

The outer harbor rocks and tetrapods hold steady numbers of mebaru and ainame. Work soft plastics slowly along the bottom as the current eases. Night sessions under any ambient light can be excellent with small glow jigs or dark-profile soft baits.

If you’re heading east, the **Kushiro coast** and nearby sandy stretches are worth a look for flatfish on bottom rigs with squid or worm baits, especially around the turn of the tide when the drift softens.

That’s the word from Artificial Lure. Pack a light jacket, mind the swell on the walls, and keep an eye on those tide changes—the fish will tell you the rest.

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Artificial Lure here, checking in with your Hokkaido fishing report.

Up north today we’ve got a classic early-summer pattern: cool mornings, mild afternoons, and just enough breeze to put a nice chop on the water. Coastal temps are sitting in the high teens to low 20s, with mostly cloudy skies and passing sunbreaks. Winds are light to moderate out of the southeast along Ishikari Bay and a touch stronger on the Pacific side near Kushiro.

Sun rose early, just after four, and will duck back down a little after seven this evening, giving us a long, gentle light window. That low, slanting sun at first light and again before dusk has been the key bite time all week. Tide cycles around Hokkaido’s coasts are running modest but noticeable; mid-morning and late-afternoon movement have lined up with the better flurries of action. If you can time your trip to a flooding tide that tops out right around sunrise or sunset, you’re in the sweet spot.

Fish activity has picked up nicely with the stable weather. Along the Sea of Japan side, anglers working the breakwaters and harbor mouths around Otaru and Ishikari have seen steady numbers of rockfish, greenling, and decent-size flounder. A few late spring–run sea-run cherry trout and small sea bass are still popping up on the edges of current lines, especially where river water pushes into clearer sea water.

On the Pacific side—Muroran over to Tomakomai and beyond—shore casters have reported mixed bags: rockfish, scorpionfish, and some good flatfish inside the sandy pockets. Boat anglers jigging slightly deeper structure off Muroran have been into respectable hauls of cod and mixed bottom fish, with the odd surprise pollock showing up.

Best producers this week have been small to medium metal jigs in the 20–40 gram range in sardine, blue, and pink patterns, worked near the bottom with sharp lifts and slow falls. Soft plastics on jig heads—3 to 4 inch shads and curly tails in natural baitfish or glow—have been deadly for rockfish and greenling around harbor walls and tetrapods. For those fishing bait, salted herring strips, squid, and sandworms on simple bottom rigs or dropper loops are hard to beat, especially when the current is just starting to move.

If you’re chasing numbers, downsize a bit and fish light leaders; the water’s clear and the bite can get finicky under bright skies. If you’re hunting a bigger fish at dusk, don’t be afraid to tie on a slightly larger plug or heavy jig and cover water quickly.

A couple of hot spots to keep in mind:

First, the **Otaru harbor and surrounding breakwaters**. Work the outer walls on the incoming tide at dawn with small metals and soft plastics for a mixed bag of rockfish, greenling, and the chance at a roaming seabass or trout pushing bait into the corners. Inside the harbor, bait on the bottom is picking off flounder and smaller rockfish for those fishing with the kids.

Second, the **Muroran area along the Pacific side**, especially around the industrial harbor and nearby rocky points. Target the deeper edges with metals and jigs for cod and bottom fish during the day, then slide shallow near sunset with minnow plugs and soft plastics for prowling rockfish and the occasional sea bass when the wind lays down.

Overall, it’s a solid time to be out: long days, manageable winds, and enough tidal push to keep the water alive. Pick your window around tide and light, keep your lure near the structure and close to the bottom, and you should find some action.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Hokkaido fishing report.

Around Hokkaido today we’ve got early summer conditions settling in. Up north, Wakkanai and Rumoi stayed on the cooler side with temps in the mid teens Celsius, light northerlies, and mostly cloudy skies. Central and southern coasts—Otaru, Ishikari Bay, Muroran, and Hakodate—saw highs in the low 20s, a bit of humidity, and a light onshore breeze. Seas have generally been calm to slight, with a bit more swell on the Pacific side.

Sunrise along the Ishikari and Otaru coast came in just after 3:50 in the morning, with sunset a little before 7:20 in the evening. That gives a long, bright day, but the fish are still behaving like always: most active in the first two hours after dawn and again around dusk and into the first part of the night.

Tides on the Sea of Japan side ran a modest morning high followed by a slow fall through midday and a smaller push in the late afternoon. On the Pacific side—Tomakomai, Muroran, Kushiro—the afternoon incoming tide has been lining up nicely with the evening bite. The best action has been on the moving water, especially the first half of the flood.

Recent catches around Hokkaido have been classic early-summer mixed bags. In Ishikari Bay and Otaru’s harbor walls, anglers have been picking up decent numbers of **aji** (horse mackerel) and small **iwashi** (sardines), with the odd **saba** mixed in. Rockfish—**ainame** (greenling), **eso**, and various **mebaru**—have been steady along breakwalls and rocky points, especially in 5–15 meters of water. Off Muroran and Hakodate, boat anglers have reported fair numbers of **tara** (cod) and **hokke** (atka mackerel), with some good-sized fish coming from deeper reefs. Watch local social feeds and tackle shops in Otaru and Hakodate; they’ve been posting photos of buckets full of aji and hokke from the last few days.

Lure choice has mattered. For aji and iwashi, small metal jigs from 3 to 10 grams in silver, blue, or pink have been the ticket, worked on light tackle from piers and sea walls. Simple **sabiki** rigs tipped with a tiny piece of shrimp or fish skin have outfished bare hooks in the slightly colored water after recent winds. For rockfish along the breakwalls, 2–3 inch soft plastics in dark brown, green pumpkin, or glow, rigged on 5–10 gram jig heads, hopped slowly along the bottom, have been producing consistent bites. Boat anglers targeting cod and hokke have done well on 60–120 gram jigging spoons in blue-silver or green-gold, with a strip of squid added for scent.

If you prefer bait, **ika** (squid strips), **ebi** (shrimp), and small pieces of sardine or mackerel have been the most reliable. On the Pacific side, especially around Tomakomai and Muroran, that late-afternoon incoming tide, fished with squid strips on a simple bottom rig, has been pulling steady cod and atka mackerel. On the Sea of Japan side, shrimp-tipped sabiki under a float has been hard to beat for aji during the evening run.

A couple of hot spots to keep in mind:

• **Otaru Port and the nearby breakwaters** on the Sea of Japan side: great for shore-based aji, iwashi, and rockfish. Hit it at first light with small metals and sabiki, then switch to soft plastics along the rocks as the sun gets higher.

• **Muroran coast and harbor area** on the Pacific side: solid early-summer action for cod and hokke from boats and some shore spots. Aim for the evening flood tide with jigs and squid strips on the deeper edges.

Overall fish activity has been best when the wind stays under about 5–7 meters per second and the water carries just a hint of color. Clear, glassy conditions in the middle of the day have been noticeably tougher, so plan your main effort around dawn, dusk, and those tide changes.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Hokkaido fishing report.

Up here the rainy season is just brushing the island. Around Sapporo, Otaru, and Ishikari Bay, skies have been partly cloudy with passing showers, light north–northeast wind, and air temps hovering 16 to 20 degrees. Inland toward Lake Shikotsu and Toya it’s a touch cooler and calmer. Offshore, seas have been modest, fine for small boats hugging the coast if you watch the squalls.

Sunrise along the west coast came a little before 4 a.m., with sunset just after 7 p.m., so we’ve got a long, gentle daylight window. Water temps on the Sea of Japan side are running around the mid-teens Celsius, a hair warmer on the Pacific side off Kushiro and Akkeshi. That’s been enough to wake things up after the late-spring chill.

Tides on the Ishikari–Otaru stretch were a small to moderate set today, with the morning high pushing bait tight to the rock walls and harbor mouths, then easing through midday before another useful push late afternoon into evening. Around Muroran and Tomakomai, the moving water has been a bit stronger, which is helping the bite on both flounder and rockfish. The slack periods have been predictably slow, so time your casts around that incoming water if you can.

Recent catches have been steady rather than wild, but good quality. In Ishikari and Otaru harbors, anglers have been picking up decent numbers of surfperch, greenling, and small rockfish, with the occasional respectable sea bass cruising the light edges at night. Down on the Pacific side, boat anglers off Tomakomai and Muroran are seeing mixed bags of flounder, cod, and some early-season hokke. Up in eastern Hokkaido, rivers feeding into the Kushiro area are still giving up cherry and masu salmon, plus native trout, for those willing to walk.

Best lures right now offshore and in the ports have been compact metal jigs in the 15 to 30 gram range in blue–silver, pink, and green–gold, worked mid-water for sea bass and closer to the bottom for rockfish and flounder. Small minnow plugs, 7 to 9 centimeters, in natural sardine or ayu patterns are doing well at dawn and dusk around harbor lights and river mouths. For shore rockfish and greenling, soft plastics on simple jig heads, 5 to 10 grams, in dark brown or glow are hard to beat.

Bait fishers should stick with salted sardine, squid strips, or sandworms. Sabiki rigs tipped with a sliver of bait are pulling mixed mini-species for kids and filling the livewell with small baitfish when the schools move through.

A couple of hot spots to keep in mind: first, Otaru’s outer breakwaters and nearby rock points. On calm evenings these have been giving up consistent rockfish and the odd sea bass to anglers who stay mobile and target the current seams. Second, the Tomakomai area piers and nearby sandy stretches. With the right tide the flounder bite has been very respectable, and night sessions are turning up good-sized cod for those soaking bait on the bottom.

Overall fish activity has been best around the low-light windows and whenever the tide starts to move. Midday under bright skies has been slow unless you’re fishing deep or tucking into shaded structure.

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This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Hokkaido fishing report.

Around Hokkaido today we’ve got early summer conditions settling in. Along the Ishikari and Otaru coast the morning started cool, around 14–16 degrees, climbing into the low 20s by afternoon with a light southwest breeze. Skies have been a mix of thin cloud and sun, with just enough chop to put life on the surface. Sunrise was just before 4 a.m., sunset just after 7 p.m., so there’s a long, workable window on both ends of the day.

Tides on the Sea of Japan side ran a gentle medium cycle: low just before dawn, filling through the morning and peaking late morning to around midday, then easing out in the afternoon. On the Pacific side, from Muroran through Kushiro, the stronger push has been on the afternoon flood, which lined up nicely with today’s bite.

Inshore, the rockfish crew did well before sunrise. Off Otaru’s tetrapods and Ishikari’s north breakwater, anglers are reporting steady numbers of Ezo rockfish and greenling, with the better fish in the mid‑20 cm range and a few over 30. Short, 2–3 inch soft plastics in dark colors—black, cola, or purple—on 5–10 g jig heads have been the ticket, especially when crawled slowly along the bottom. A bit of squid strip or salted sandworm on a simple bottom rig is still outfishing artificials for beginners.

On the sandy stretches from Zenibako up toward Ishikari Bay New Port, the surf flatfish bite has been modest but consistent. A handful of so‑so halibut and decent-size flounder came in on the flooding tide, mostly to long-cast metal vibes and 20–30 g shore jigs in blue-silver or pink. Bait anglers soaking sardine strips and iwashi chunks also picked up fish, though crabs were bad in some pockets.

Down on the Pacific side near Muroran and Tomakomai, the evening bite has been better than the morning. Chilly north water held the fish deeper until the afternoon, then small schools of horse mackerel and sardine pushed in tight just before sunset. Light game anglers tossing 5–12 g micro-jigs and 1.5–2 inch minnows around pier lights reported quick flurries of action, with the odd small sea bass mixed in.

Squid have been spotty but worth chasing at night around Hakodate and Muroran. The most consistent catches have come after dark on size 2.5–3.0 egi in natural brown or glow-green patterns, worked mid‑water over 10–20 m. Not huge numbers, but enough for a meal if you’re patient.

Top lures right now:

- Small soft plastics for rockfish and greenling

- 20–30 g shore jigs and metal vibes for surf flatfish

- 5–12 g micro-jigs and tiny minnows for horse mackerel and sardine

- Size 2.5–3.0 egi for squid after dark

Best baits:

- Squid strips

- Sardine and herring chunks

- Salted sandworms and isome

A couple of local hot spots to keep in mind:

- Ishikari Bay New Port: rockfish and greenling along the walls, with a shot at flatfish off the sandy corners on the flood.

- Muroran harbor area: evening light‑game around the piers for horse mackerel, sardine, and occasional sea bass, and squid after full dark when the water settles.

Plan around the low-light windows—first light to a couple hours after sunrise, and the last two hours before sunset into dark—especially when those times line up with the incoming tide. That’s when the better fish have been chewing.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Hokkaido fishing report.

Around Hokkaido today we’ve had classic early-summer conditions: cool mornings, mild afternoons, and mostly stable barometric pressure. Coastal temps have been running in the mid‑teens Celsius with light northerly to northwesterly winds. Skies have been partly cloudy, giving just enough cover to keep fish comfortable in the shallows through the morning bite.

On the Pacific side, from Kushiro up toward Nemuro, the tide cycle has been favoring a solid push of water on the morning flood and again late afternoon. The best window has been roughly an hour before high tide through the first hour of the ebb, when current tightens along rock lines and harbor mouths. On the Sea of Japan side, around Otaru and Yoichi, weaker midday movement has made sunrise and sunset key.

Sunrise came early, just after 3:40 a.m. local, with sunset coming in around 7:10 p.m., so your productive “golden hours” have been generous. The low light at both ends of the day has kept baitfish—especially small sardine and sand lance—active near the surface, and the game fish have followed.

Salmon and sea‑run fish are still scattered offshore, but inshore action has been steady. Shore jigging and light casting along rocky points have produced good numbers of **greenling (ainame)** and **rockfish (mebaru)**, with a few better‑than‑average fish pushing the high 20s in centimeters. Anglers working small metal jigs in the 10–20 g range and 3–4 inch soft plastics on 7–10 g jigheads have done the best, especially when slow‑rolling along the bottom and pausing just off structure.

In the bays and harbors, **flounder (hirame)** and other flatfish have been active on the incoming tide. Reports from local anglers around Ishikari and Tomakomai mention mixed bags of flatfish, a handful of squid, and some undersized cod. Natural baits like salted saba strips, shirauo, and sandworms fished on simple bottom rigs have outfished artificials for the cautious biters, but a white or glow paddle‑tail worked just off the sand has drawn the bigger takes.

For lure selection, keep it natural and subtle.

- Early and late: slim **metal jigs** and **minnow plugs** in sardine or anchovy patterns, 60–90 mm.

- Daytime in clear water: **soy‑sauce color** or green pumpkin **soft plastics** on light heads.

- When the wind kicks up: slightly heavier jigs and brighter colors—chartreuse or pearl with a silver belly—have been turning lookers into biters.

Best baits have been **squid strips**, **shrimp**, and live or very fresh small baitfish where legal. In the surf along the Pacific coast, **clam and sandworm baits** on long casts have continued to produce flatfish and the occasional surprise bycatch.

Two standout hot spots today:

1. **Muroran–Cape Chikyu coast**

Rocky points with deep water tight to shore, good tidal squeeze, and plenty of bait. The early‑morning topwater and mid‑water bite for greenling and rockfish has been strong, with a chance at something heavier if you commit to the deeper edges.

2. **Otaru harbor and adjacent rock walls**

Protected from the worst of the wind, with steady current around the entrances. Good mixed fishing: night‑time rockfish on small plugs and jigs, daytime flatfish and the odd squid on baited rigs. Great spot if you want consistent action without traveling far.

Overall fish activity today has been moderate to high during tide changes, slower under the bright midday sun. The key has been staying mobile: hop between points, adjust jig weight to keep contact with bottom, and match the size of the local bait. Light gear, thin braid, and fluorocarbon leaders have made a noticeable difference in the clear water.

That’s your Hokkaido fishing rundown from Artificial Lure.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Hokkaido coastal fishing report.

Let’s start with conditions. Around Ishikari Bay and the Sapporo coast, sunrise was just before 4 a.m. and sunset is around 7:15 p.m., giving us a long, bright window. Light north–northeast winds have been keeping the air cool, with coastal highs in the mid-teens Celsius and sea temps hovering around 13–15°C. Skies have been a mix of cloud and sun with patchy sea fog in the early morning on the Sea of Japan side.

Tides today on both coasts are in a mellow neap pattern: moderate high water before dawn, easing into a gentle outgoing through the morning, then a smaller afternoon high. What this means for us: the **pre‑dawn to mid‑morning ebb** and the **late‑afternoon push** are the prime bite windows.

On the **Sea of Japan side**, from Otaru up toward Yoichi, the rockfish game has been steady. Local anglers at the small ports report “aji‑mebaru” mixes at night: decent numbers of rockfish and a few jack mackerel cruising under the lights. Soft plastics on 3–7 g jig heads in dark colors—black, dark green, or purple—have outfished hard baits. Tip them with a touch of scent if you have it. Small metal jigs in the 10–20 g range, silver or blue-pink, have been taking a few mackerel and the odd small seabass on a fast retrieve.

Over on the **Pacific side**, Muroran and Tomakomai have shown more variety. Daytime has been slow, but the evening change has brought short flurries of flounder and small cod around the harbor mouths. Bait anglers using salted sardine strips or shrimp on simple bottom rigs report a “pick‑pick” bite: not on fire, but enough to keep you busy. A couple of locals mentioned modest catches of surf flatfish from sandy stretches west of Tomakomai—nothing huge, but several keepers per angler on good days.

With water still cool, **best lures** right now are:

- 2–3 inch soft plastics for rockfish and greenling

- 10–20 g metals for mackerel and small seabass

- Slim minnow plugs in natural baitfish patterns for low‑light seabass shots

**Best bait**:

- Sandworms and isome for flatfish and rockfish

- Shrimp and squid strips for bottom mixes in harbors

- Small pieces of sardine where you’re allowed to chum lightly

A couple of **hot spots** to consider:

- **Otaru North Breakwater and nearby rocks**: great structure, easy access, and good night lighting; bring light tackle for rockfish and mackerel.

- **Muroran Irie Port area**: mixed bottom and current lines; fish the edges at dusk with bait on the bottom or small metals for roaming pelagics.

Overall fish activity: not explosive, but if you match the small forage and time your session to that early‑morning ebb or evening push, you can put together a solid mixed bag. Keep leaders light, presentations subtle, and be ready to move if the bite dies—Hokkaido rewards the mobile angler.

Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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