【MOVIE】Autumn tradition: Salmon fishing has begun at the Kuwadori River
(Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture)

2021.11.9

サケSalmon fishingJoetsu City有間川Kuwadori River

This year’s salmon fishing has begun at the mouth of the Kuwadori River, which flows through the northwestern part of Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture.  The catch so far has been very good.

Salmon fishing at the mouth of the Kuwadori River began on the 3rd of November.  On the morning of the 5th, the river was cloudy due to the rain from the other day, but salmon prefer these conditions and many traveled downstream.

At the mouth of the river, members of the Kuwadori River Fishery Cooperative association cast their nets with great skill, and some people caught 10 fish with one net.  The salmon catch was 121 for the first day (3^rd November), and 167 on the next day.  The association said that the catch was pretty good.

Mr. Tamio Hirai, the association leader:
“The catch is lower than last year, but it rained a lot today, so we were able to catch them smoothly.  I was worried about the influence of the red tide in Hokkaido, but now it seems I don’t need to worry.”

According to the association, last year they caught 7,886 salmon.  They expect 7,000 to 8,000 salmon this year, which is about the same as last year.

Currently, the workshop at the mouth of the river sells raw male salmon.

The females are separated from the males, and some of their eggs are harvested. The remaining eggs are fertilized to produce baby salmon. The popular salmon roe will be on sale from mid-next week.

Shoppers:
“I come here every year.  My husband fillets salmon, and they are baked, cooked in a pot, or are deep fried.  The salmon are delicious.  The salmon here are tender …”

Salmon fishing at the Kuwadori River will continue until early December.

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＜Videos taken at the Kuwadori River in the past＞