Lake Biwa International Fishing Guides
Lake Biwa is one of the best bass lakes in the world, and it is easy to fish. You do not need a fishing license to fish for bass here. But there are a few local rules that surprise most visitors, and the biggest one is this: you are not allowed to release the bass you catch.
Here is what you need to know before your trip, explained by a guide who fishes the lake more than 250 days a year.
No. Bass fishing on Lake Biwa does not require a license or a day permit. You can simply book a trip and go fishing.
In 2003, Shiga Prefecture put into effect an ordinance on the recreational use of Lake Biwa. It was the first rule of its kind in Japan. Under this ordinance, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and bluegill caught in Shiga Prefecture must not be released back into the water.
For anglers from the US, Canada or Australia, where catch and release is part of the culture, this can feel strange. The rule does not carry a fine, but it is the law, and as a licensed guide service we follow it.
Lake Biwa is over 4 million years old and home to fish found nowhere else on earth. Largemouth bass are not native to Japan. Bass feed on native fish and crustaceans.
The prefecture has worked to reduce their numbers for decades, and the release ban is one part of that effort.
Fewer bass also means something interesting for anglers. The bass that remain in Lake Biwa grow big, and the lake still produces some of the largest largemouth bass in Japan, including the world record-tying fish of 22 lb 4 oz.
The ordinance is in place, but bass are not the only reason native fish in Lake Biwa have declined. Japan's National Institute for Environmental Studies points to three causes: predatory invasive fish, the loss of spawning grounds after lakeshore levees were built and farmland was reorganized, and the artificial control of the lake's water level, which blocks native fish from reaching places to spawn.
Bass are one of these causes, not the whole story. Lakeshore development and water level control have also played a major role.
The law has been enacted, and we follow it on every trip.
Take your photos first. That is the part you will keep forever. Around the lake, Shiga Prefecture has set up fish collection boxes and holding pens where anglers can drop off the bass and bluegill they catch. Your guide will take care of the fish after your photos, in line with the local rules. You do not need to do anything yourself.
Japan's Invasive Alien Species Act also covers largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and bluegill. Under this national law, releasing them into new waters, keeping them, or transporting them alive is prohibited. For individuals, violations can mean up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 3 million yen. In short, a bass from Lake Biwa never leaves the lake alive.
Japanese law requires everyone on the open deck of a small boat to wear a life jacket. We provide life jackets on every trip, so you do not need to bring one.
Rules in another country can be confusing. On a guided trip, you do not need to worry about any of them. Our guides are all licensed fishing boat operators, and Shogo Kubota, a back-to-back BATNET Classic Champion, guides in fluent English. You just focus on catching fish.
Check our plans and send us your preferred date through the booking form.
