Last checked: October 9, 2026
Take a small fishing boat and its captain for half a day off Ishigaki Island. First you catch gurukun, Okinawa’s prefectural fish, on a multi-hook rig. Then you put one on a big hook and lower it again for a large reef fish.
This guide is based on the KKday listing, run by a boat called Fishing Boat Ren, plus Ishigaki Airport’s official access page and a Klook hotel listing. We couldn’t find the operator’s own website, and we say where details are missing.
OKINAWA REGION
Tonoshiro Fishing Port, Ishigaki, Okinawa
From the airport: About 25 minutes by taxi to the Island Terminal, then about 5 minutes by car to the port
At a Glance
- Price for the whole boat: about US$114 for 1 person, about US$190 for 2, about US$253 for 3 and about US$317 for 4 on KKday (as of October 9, 2026)
- Times: morning (8:00–12:00) or afternoon (12:30–16:30)
- Fishing time: about 3 hours
- Included: the boat, rods, reels, rigs, bait, life jackets, a cooler with ice and insurance
- Ages: 6 to 75
- Free cancellation: up to 2 days before
Prices and available dates vary. Check the booking page before you book.
Is This Trip Right for You?
✅ Great if you…
- have never fished. The captain helps if you’d rather not touch the bait or the fish
- are traveling with children aged 6 or older
- want a boat for just your family, partner or friends
- want a shot at a big reef fish
- want your catch cooked for dinner
⚠️ Think twice if you…
- are a group of five or more. One reviewer says the boat is small and four or fewer is best
- are left-handed. The rental reels are right-handed only
- need an English-speaking guide. The listing says the crew uses a translation app for English
- have children under school age. They can’t join
📅 When the trip runs
Open △ Check dates Closed
KKday lists no closed months. Fishing seasons shift a little from year to year, so check dates on the booking page.
Source: KKday listing, checked October 2026.
Your Half-Day, Step by Step
| Morning trip | Afternoon trip | |
|---|---|---|
| Meet | 8:00 | 12:30 |
| Leave port | 8:10 | 12:40 |
| Start fishing | 8:40 | 13:10 |
| Stop fishing | 11:20 | 15:50 |
| Back in port | 11:50 | 16:20 |
| Finish | 12:00 | 16:30 |
Source: KKday listing, checked October 2026. Times can shift a little with the sea and the fishing.
Should we take the morning or the afternoon trip?
If you want your catch for dinner, the afternoon trip ends at 16:30, closer to dinnertime. The restaurant only cooks for dinner and only when it has space, so request it when you book.
How the Fishing Works
Step 1: Catch gurukun
The captain takes you to a spot for gurukun, Okinawa’s prefectural fish. You use a sabiki rig: six small hooks under a basket of krill. Jerk the rod to scatter the krill, and the school bites.
Step 2: Fish with live bait
Put a gurukun on a big hook, lower it near the bottom, reel up a few turns and wait. When the rod bends hard, a big fish has taken it. The target is akajin-miibai, which the listing calls one of Okinawa’s three most prized fish.
Step 3: Eat it for dinner
The operator works with a popular local izakaya that can cook your catch. Ask for it when you book.
The catch isn’t guaranteed. All the gear is lent free of charge, including a cooler with ice to take your fish home.
Prices for Your Group
The boat is private, so the price covers your whole group.
Prices below are what KKday showed in October 2026 and change with the date and availability.
| Group size | Price for the group |
|---|---|
| 1 person | about US$114 |
| 2 people | about US$190 |
| 3 people | about US$253 |
| 4 people | about US$317 |
Source: KKday listing, checked October 9, 2026. Prices are shown in US dollars on KKday’s English site and can change. The listing also offers a full-day private trip and shared trips with other guests from the same boat.
Eat Your Catch for Dinner
The operator works with a local izakaya that can cook your catch. These are the conditions on KKday:
- Give the number of people and the date and time when you book
- It’s for dinner only
- There’s a separate cooking fee, and the listing doesn’t say how much
- The restaurant may not be able to take you, depending on its bookings and days off
The listing doesn’t name the restaurant. Several KKday reviewers say they ate their catch at Kappo Izakaya Ichiryu.
A note on raw fish
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare warns that Anisakis larvae live in seafood such as mackerel, horse mackerel, sardines and squid. Eating them raw can cause severe stomach pain within hours. Freezing at −20°C for at least 24 hours, or cooking at 70°C or higher (or 60°C for 1 minute), kills them. Vinegar, salt, soy sauce and wasabi do not. If you want sashimi, let the restaurant prepare it.
Getting to Tonoshiro Fishing Port
The boat leaves from Tonoshiro Fishing Port, near 2-chome Yashima-cho in Ishigaki City. KKday marks the exact spot with a pin on Google Maps.
Airport to Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal
about 25 min by taxi · about ¥3,500
Direct buses also run: Azuma Bus route 14 and Karii Kanko route 55
Island Terminal to the fishing port
about 20 min on foot, or about 5 min by car
Source: Ishigaki Airport website and the KKday listing, checked October 2026. Taxi times and fares are estimates. If you drive, the port has parking for four cars.
Where to stay
For the 8:00 trip, stay near the Remote Island Terminal in town. Hotel Emerald Isle Ishigakijima is about 200 m, or a 4-minute walk, from the terminal and about 13 minutes by car from the airport, according to its Klook listing. It has a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage.
Check Hotel Emerald Isle Ishigakijima on Klook →Booking, Cancellation and Weather
Booking
KKday confirms your booking one day after you order. If you’ll be late on the day, contact the operator.
Cancellation
KKday’s cancellation policy (as of October 2026):
Weather
The captain may cancel the trip if the weather or sea makes it unsafe.
What happens if the trip is canceled for weather?
The listing says the operator may cancel when it can’t keep guests safe, but it doesn’t spell out the refund. Ask KKday before you book.
What to Bring
🎒 Your packing list
- ☐ Plenty to drink. The operator warns of heatstroke on hot or windless days
- ☐ Clothes you don’t mind getting wet or dirty. A reviewer suggests quick-drying clothes or a waterproof jacket
- ☐ A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a towel
- ☐ Seasickness medicine, taken 30 minutes to an hour before boarding
- ☐ Rain gear, and warm layers in winter
- ☐ No valuables. The operator isn’t responsible for lost or damaged items
On board, wear your life jacket at all times and stay seated while the boat is moving.
Do You Need a Fishing License?
No. We found no license system for rod fishing in the sea in official sources. Japan’s Fisheries Agency allows foreign visitors to rod-fish from fishing charters run by Japanese fishers, and it asks everyone to follow local rules. Follow the captain’s instructions. For more, see do you need a fishing license in Japan?
FAQ
QDoes the captain speak English?
Not fully. The listing says the crew uses a translation app for English. It also lists Japanese, Korean, Thai and Mandarin.
QCan I go alone?
Yes. The minimum is one person, and there’s a price for a solo private trip.
QCan young children join?
From age 6. Preschool children can’t join.
QIs there a toilet on board?
Yes, a private toilet, and a sunshade tent.
QWhat can we catch?
Gurukun first, then big reef fish such as akajin-miibai. Nothing is guaranteed.
QCan I take my fish home?
Yes. A cooler with ice is lent free of charge.
Ready to Book?
If you want a private boat, simple bait fishing and a chance at a big reef fish, this half-day trip is an easy add to an Ishigaki stay. Pick the afternoon trip if you want your catch for dinner.
