Hello, this is Koide from Freeway's Sado shop!
We went to Katanoo to observe giant red sea bream (madai).
This November, we've had a run of days with good weather and good sea conditions.
The Katanoo area has long been a well-known site for its big red sea bream.
Kazashima Benten Rock, a famous fishing spot, is also in the Katanoo area.
The depth below the guide rope is about 16 m.
As soon as we entered, the red sea bream gathered around us.
The one in the photo was the biggest, and it came especially close.
It felt like it was about 90 cm!
It's just huge!
It's probably the boss here.
Around the presumed boss, several slightly smaller red sea bream were gathered.
They were wary and seemed to be watching us from a little distance.
When I looked up the red sea bream's lifespan in field guides, some said as long as 40 years!
The ones here also look like they've lived a very long time.
They swam round and round us.
Since we had the chance, I took photos of the red sea bream with our guests.
We also saw schools of damselfish, Japanese jack mackerel and largescale blackfish.
On the rocks, you can see cute attached life such as umiichigo.
Near the descent rope, we also spotted several kokeginpo (a small blenny).
For nudibranchs, we observed aoumiushi, shiroumiushi, hiroumiushi
and sarasaumiushi.
I want to keep discovering more highlights at Katanoo from here on!
On the way back, we had lunch at Chozaburo 🤗
Bluefin tuna nakaochi rice bowl
Koide's top pick: miso chashu ramen
Udon simmered in a pot with matsutake mushrooms
As the cold season sets in, a warm lunch is a real treat!
Today's dive site: Katanoo
• Air temp: 13°C
• Water temp: 20°C
• Visibility: 15 to 20 m
