Japanese Bass

[jiangtao]

Are the Bass in Japan natural or where they brought to the area? I was wondering because I was thinking about trying to get Bass fishing going in China. I know it might sound whacky, but the market there would be amazing. I actually own land in China and was thinking about starting there. They have alot of people who like to fish [mainly live bait] for the native fish and they would go nuts over Bass! If anyone knows anything about Japan Bass fishing or even China for that matter please let me know. Thanks in advance!

[fishin dude]

Bass are only native to North America, anywhere else in the world are imported.

[Laggyman]

It is illegal to catch Bass in Japan now. Much less transport them....

Better bet would be South Korea.  Aren't there any Bass in China??

[CyBasser]

Laggyman, what do you mean "It is illegal to catch Bass in Japan now"???

I thought that bass fishing is a very popular sport in Japan with many dedicated bass anglers there and a thriving bass tackle industry - we even occasionally order bass equipment direct from Japan. I know that they are considered as something of a pest in that they did damage to local endemic species, but even taking that into account, not fishing for them would certainly not alleviate that problem.

The whole world has seen, in the face of Takahiro Omori, what sort of really dedicated bass anglers come from Japan. It would be crazy to prohibit bass fishing, they would halt the progress of a very popular sport...

[Laggyman]

Ok, I'll straighten this out a little.

Bass were first introduced to "Asino-Ko". A Natural lake near Mt. Fuji (Japan's Highest Mt). I think it was around 1925 or something. First imported as food,  If I read the documents properly, I think it was because they are easy to stock.  Bluegill was introduced a little while later. I think it was a gift to the Emporer back then.

The Bass and Bluegill spread rapidly.  Both Natuarlly and by Man.  But I think the Sport Fishing really didn't take off in Japan until the '90s. But that's when guys started fishing some out of a lake and illegally transporting and releasing them in local ponds and such. That made huge headlines back then.  

Now, people are concerned about the damage to the Eco system.  Especially citizens who made a living out of fishing/catching local fish made a huge problem out of the Bass and Bluegill. Their problem was that the Bass and Bluegill would literally eat "Everything in sight".  I don't know how much of this is true, but it's hard to believe it when Snakeheads were introduced to Japan a lot earlier than Bass and also spread wildly but nobody notices them...  

So, the government stands up, and says "No more C&R!". Ok, No more Catch and Release.....

What's being done is quite horrible IMHO.  Because the government put the new law in effect, people without any knowledge of the spieces would just kill the fish on sight.  They throw them into the ground, step on them, etc.  Lots of hatred against them. Of course, the Bass Anglers are trying to stop all that from happening, but bad manners (Garbage, Smoking) on their side really dampened their image and Bass Fishing has a bad image over here.  Last time I went fishing to a pond, an old geezer was watching me as I pulled in a small Bass about 10in. He came over to me and told me "That fish should be killed". I would never do that so I took the time to gently lower the fish back in the water and the bass swam off.  That old geezer was plenty mad at me  ;D

Other Lakes and Reservoirs are doing more to take them out. They'd put out nets on spawning beds and litterally "catch" them.  There are "garbage cans" located around the lake that says "Bass and Bluegill go here".  It's really sad.  

But I doubt the population of Bass and Bluegill is decreasing.  I just think it's a mean way to handle the situation when it was the humans who brought them here in the first place.  Just trash them once they aren't neccesary??  This is plain stupid.

The fact that only "American" Blackbass and Bluegill are the problem is also wierd. Snakeheads that came from the Korean Penninnsula are ignored.  Crucian Carp that have spread around are being ignored, actually being protected.  

The popularity has died down somewhat for Bass Fishing, and I doubt it will regain popularity.  Nothing is being done to create a better enviroment for both fish and anglers... Nothing for Kids, nothing.  It's like this country wants to forget about fishing, and already forgot about the outdoors in the first place  :-/

I do not fully understand the exact law that was put in place, but it does include not being able to release the bass.  You can fish as long as it isn't prohibited on that piece of land. Just can't release.

I don't care ;D Away goes another healthy bass to live and fight another day!!

Either way, in about 10 to 20 years, everybody is going to forget about this silly thing, and I'll still be fishing for Bass and that's what counts  

[CyBasser]

At least you are allowed to catch them... But it's kind of sad that all bass *must* be killed by law. We have the opposite sort of problem here, most people keep every bass they catch. Of course, bass being bass, they are often quite hard to catch. Yet, unfortunately, there are those days that they would slam any lure they see, and some people take advantage of it to catch a lot, even giving them away. I can think of some people that I should send over to Japan to satisfy their greed!

Of course it is true that often exotic / introduced species do cause lots of damage. Here in Cyprus, we have had this problem with the red swamp crawfish. They were introduced in a small reservoir about 15 years ago, and now you can find them in many waterways. They are very useful as a food source for bass, but they did serious damage by outcompeting the local endemic freshwater crab, which has now become extinct in some areas where crawfish appeared. Even the bass did a lot of damage in one particular reservoir after they were inadvertently introduced there around 1998. The reservoir hosted the largest population of an endemic species of watersnake which is heavily endangered (only surviving in four areas in small numbers). After bass were introduced in that reservoir, within five years, no watersnake survived there. Fishing is now prohibited in the particular lake, but before one of the best lures was the 12 - inch plastic worms in watermelon / black or all black - colors vert similar to the two color forms of the snake...

Oh well... I just hope things change in Japan before bass populations get hurt from the new laws...

[Laggyman]

From what I can see, All efforts to exterminate the Bass is failing. And I have suspicions that trying to take away the Bass will further damage the Eco system that has successfully adapted to the introduction of Bass.  

I just close my eyes and the fish "somehow gets away" from my hands. I will never kill them. Not because they are bass, but because I believe they have the right to live... Hey even roaches 'n rats have a right to live.. As long as they aren't in my house!  

Sounds like some great fishing over there in Cyprus!  12in Plastic worms... LOL Are bass still fairly new to Cyprus?

[Bionic]

Now, people are concerned about the damage to the Eco system. Especially citizens who made a living out of fishing/catching local fish made a huge problem out of the Bass and Bluegill. Their problem was that the Bass and Bluegill would literally eat "Everything in sight". I don't know how much of this is true, but it's hard to believe it when Snakeheads were introduced to Japan a lot earlier than Bass and also spread wildly but nobody notices them...

So, the government stands up, and says "No more C&R!". Ok, No more Catch and Release.....

What's being done is quite horrible IMHO. Because the government put the new law in effect, people without any knowledge of the spieces would just kill the fish on sight. They throw them into the ground, step on them, etc. Lots of hatred against them. Of course, the Bass Anglers are trying to stop all that from happening, but bad manners (Garbage, Smoking) on their side really dampened their image and Bass Fishing has a bad image over here. Last time I went fishing to a pond, an old geezer was watching me as I pulled in a small Bass about 10in. He came over to me and told me "That fish should be killed". I would never do that so I took the time to gently lower the fish back in the water and the bass swam off. That old geezer was plenty mad at me ;D

But I doubt the population of Bass and Bluegill is decreasing. I just think it's a mean way to handle the situation when it was the humans who brought them here in the first place. Just trash them once they aren't neccesary?? This is plain stupid.

The fact that only "American" Blackbass and Bluegill are the problem is also wierd. Snakeheads that came from the Korean Penninnsula are ignored. Crucian Carp that have spread around are being ignored, actually being protected.

I do not fully understand the exact law that was put in place, but it does include not being able to release the bass. You can fish as long as it isn't prohibited on that piece of land. Just can't release.

I don't care ;D Away goes another healthy bass to live and fight another day!!

Either way, in about 10 to 20 years, everybody is going to forget about this silly thing, and I'll still be fishing for Bass and that's what counts

It's funny how it is the exact opposite here. It's all in the eye of the beholder. I am like you I enjoy

fishing, no matter what it is, and I can't see killing fish for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The government should instead of garbage cans offer a place to donate the fish to feed people. It's

funny how we are told to waste one resource and yelled at for wasting another :

Scott

[roadwarrior]

Well, I can see the otherside of the coin. There are no limits on carp or suckers anywhere in the US, and I would like to kill them all. In Europe and maybe Japan, these fish are prized. They have adapted here so well, we will never get rid of them.

[Guest kingsalmon]

Not only you will not get rid of sucker, but chances are you are eating it quite often, if you eat fish. Fish industry is catching and processing sucker into filets, canned chowders etc and sell it under different name.

Sucker is also known under nickname poor man lobster

This is from University of Wisconsin:

Though the meat is firm and good tasting, white sucker seldom appears on a restaurant menu -- perhaps because the name lacks market appeal. As a result, white sucker is processed in a variety of ways for the market, often under the name "mullet." They are good either fresh or smoked and can be prepared in fish sticks or soups and chowders.

[roadwarrior]

I have often heard orange roughy referred to as "poor man's lobster."  I don't know anything about the commercial use of suckers, so I'll just take your word for it.

My only point here was to say that the introduction of non-native species is not always a good thing and I can understand why there would be a great deal of resistance to maintaining foreign fish in another ecosystem.

[T-rig]

Are Japanese Bass fisherman actually following these rules (killing them I mean) or are they still releasing them? If they are caught realeasing Bass wil they get fined?

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Laggy "accidentally" drops them back in the water....LOL

[fishingfireman]

any bass fisherman in japan still around?

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

Laggyman still visits the site, but he hasn't posted since last December.

[gc]

Hi there, haven't been around these parts for a while. Yep two 50cm+ bass accidentally slipped out of my hands today. And then later when I bragged about catching a few nice fish I got hassled by an old guy for releasing the fish!! The sick thing is the ponds I fish at are used for irrigating rice fields, no one gives a toss about looking after it as an environment for native fish. If there was some kind of plan in place, like 'eradicate bass in these ponds and allow sport fishing in these ponds etc' then I'd be happy enough, but I guess it's easier for people to just blame bass than to actually do something positive.

[Stoneyman]

Wow! this good info as i live in Nagasaki prefecture.

There's one lake i fish at in Saga Japan (Kitayama lake), and it explains why 3 weeks ago as i was taking a break from fishing, i was walking around the the shore line and saw some dead bass. I was confused as to why someone would leave their dead fish like that smelling up the joint.

Here in Kyushu where i live, they will have a hell of time getting rid of the bass in the lakes and reservoir for a number of reasons.

Most of the smaller reservoirs don't allow boats or fishing, so i would imagine there are huge amounts of bass in some of them.

That one lake i fish at has so much pressure that it will be a long time before all the bass are gone.

I can say for sure those bass are gonna keep slipping outta my hands back into the water.  

[Jeff H]

.410 shotgun with full choke barrel works really good on shallow carp, makes good turtle food out of them worthless bastages.  Suckers don't bother me as much as carp do.

[bass109]

bass get to a good size in japan , as for china i dont know

[T-rig]

Bass are called Lu yu in China (shang hai). Lu=black bass, yu=fish

At least that's what a friend told me that works over there.

[George Welcome]

Both Japanese and Chinese bass have been stocked in south Florida. They are easy to differentiate from our bass. The Chinese bass aren't very popular because they just stick their heads out of the water and tell you they "just want to wook awound". The Japanese bass when caught are much more entertaining. They come up with their own cameras and take your piciture while muttering something about, "Clint Eastwood, Clint Eastwood".

[Bassn Blvd]

LMAO.......

[Laggyman]

Sorry for digging back an old thread but... I'm back and I'm happy  ;D

I gotta go fishing.....

Ahhh... University is sooo darn boring but rediculously busy....

[roadwarrior]

Glad you're back, it's been awhile.

[Tokyo Tony]

The Japanese bass when caught are much more entertaining. They come up with their own cameras and take your piciture while muttering something about, "Clint Eastwood, Clint Eastwood".

I think you mean they say, "Coorint Eastahwood"  ;D

My father can't pronounce "frustrate".  He says "flustlate"  ;D