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初鰹もう食べました。

Tokyo Bay Makogarei

Despite the high winds on Sunday, I managed to get out to chase after makogarei. In the morning, my fishing companion rushed me when getting ready, so I forgot my camera at home; therefore no action photos, but I took some when I got home.

Karei Cookery

The fish on my chopping board. The two deep cuts in the fish I did on the boat to drain the fish of its blood.

うちのまな板は３４センチ。魚拓をとるために船上で魚のうらにナイフを入れて血抜きしました。 マコガレイは血が多い魚なので血抜きしておくと味を何倍もアップ。

One fillet cut from the fish.

１枚おろしたところ。白身魚といっても脂のりがすごい。さすがに三陸の魚さん。これから皮をひいてラップして低温で熟成させます。２〜３日めが食べごろかな。

Sashimi, including the hallowed engawa

盛りつけはいい加減ですがマコガレイの刺身です。真ん中は夢のえんがわです。熟成させると身が柔らかくなって甘みが出ます。ワサビ醤油でいただきます。

Another serving of sashimi, with engawa and Sanriku wakame on the side.

刺身のえんがわ、身、三陸ワカメです。

I wind-dried the leftover bones of the fish. These will be deep-fried later.

捌いたあとでカレイの骨を塩水につけて干しました。冬ですから一昼夜でカリカリ。これを揚げるをほね煎餅できます。

Fishing Sanriku

After several delays, I finally managed to make the trip up to the Sanriku region, specifically Okirai Bay on the Pacific coast of Iwate Prefecture, for some winter fishing for inshore flatfish (they are numerous in variety, and known in Japanese collectively as karei).

Back from Iwate

久しぶりに「清」さんに行ってきました

　魚がうまい店です。

　活けホウボウをいただきました。

Sanriku

Hopefully this coming long weekend I will be travelling to the fishing town of Sakihama, in Iwate Prefecture, which is in north-east Honshu.  Everything depends on the weather, so I will  know if I can go only about three days beforehand.  With current air temperature being between -3 and 1°C, one thing is certain: if I do go it really is going to be cold.  Last year I made the same trip but slightly later in the year, towards the end of March, and it rained on my first day fishing and snowed on the second.  However, aside from the immense hospitality of the locals, the clear ocean waters, the remote and rugged beauty of the surrounding mountains and the wonderful seafood on offer, there is quite excellent fishing to be had, all year round.  This time of the year both Pacific cod and in shallower water, a variety of different karei flatfish can be taken.  Sadly this time round I will only be there for one day and a night, but will get in a full day’s fishing for flatfish, before hurrying – whilst getting changed in the car, Tsuri Baka Nisshi-style – to the station and heading back to Tokyo.