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Maybe you’re an experienced angler who knows the suspense of waiting, waiting, for a fish to take the bait, and the thrilling moment when the hook sets, the line goes taut and the fight is on.

Or maybe you’ve often thought about fishing but never found the chance.

Either way, fair weather’s here, and so are plenty of places to cast your line into a stream, river, or the broad blue sea itself.

The tour-and-travel or recreation people on base can help you find where to go for a quiet day trip of fishing with a friend. Or if you’ve the time and money, they can steer you to a fishing tour or boat charter.

Here are just some of the fishing opportunities available:

SOUTH KOREA

Soyangho Lake

Near Camp Page, Soyangho Lake is called the “fresh-water fish museum:” It boasts some 50 varieties of freshwater fish including trout, carp, eel, and smelts.

In summer, ferries head from Soyang Dam to designated fishing areas at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Bring your own gear and bait. The ferry is 8,000 Korean won ($7) for adults, 4,000 won ($3.50) for children 13 and under.

Call 033-241-9251 for reservations; be prepared to communicate in Korean.

Cheju Island Deep Sea Fishing Tour

Most hotels on popular Cheju Island offer fishing tours for guests as well as regular customers. The Mosan tour company can arrange tours for all Cheju visitors for 50,000 won ($44) per person per hour. Discounts are available for big groups.

Call Mosan at 064-749-4444 for mroe information. Be ready to communicate in Korean.

Blue Travel Rail Tours

The Blue Travel company offers an overnight fishing trip to Sun Yoo Island. Limited equipment rentals are available or bring your own equipment and bait. Tours cost 120,000 won ($105) for adults and 100,000 won ($90) for children. Fees cover food, lodging and transportation. For more information Call 02-882-7733 for more information.

Korail Fishing Tour

Korail offers a three-night, four-day fishing tour to Mok’po at the Korean peninsula’s southwestern tip. Bring your own equipment. The cost, which includes transportation, lodging, food and a tour guide, is 250,000 won ($220) per person. Call 02-373-8881 for more information. Be ready to communicate in Korean.

OKINAWA

White Beach (Naval Facility)

Two types of charter are available:

• Bottom fishing at $300 for up to 10 people, with a chance at such fish as mackerel and red snapper.

• Trolling, at $360 for up to six people, can yield mahi mahi, tuna, wahoo and marlin.

Boats leave at 6:30 a.m. and return around 1:30 p.m. Tackle and bait is provided but the fee does not include fish cleaning.

For more information or to make reservations, call 634-6950.

Oura Wan (Camp Schwab)

Fishing charters cost $175 per half-day and $350 per full day. Oura Wan’s boats fish for mahi mahi, wahoo, yellow fin tuna, and the occasional marlin. Tackle, bait, ice-filled coolers for the catch and fish cleaning are included in the price. Call 625-3683 for more information or to make reservations.

Kadena Marina

Full day charters for up to eight people cost $960. The boat leaves at 5:30 a.m. and returns somewhere between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tuna, mahi mahi and wahoo are the normal catches. Tackle and bait are provided but fish cleaning is not included in the price. Call 634-6541 for more information or to reserve.

JAPAN

Yokota Air Base

Morale, Welfare and Recreation at Yokota Air Base offers river, fly, and ocean fishing tours. Tours usually are organized about once a month, depending upon the season and number of people wanting to sign up.

A river fishing tour is $25 per person and includes the license, equipment and transportation, but not bait. The $35 fee for the fly-fishing tour at an artificial lake covers license, equipment and transportation but not flies; instructors are available. The ocean fishing tour casts its lines near Sagami Bay in the Pacific Ocean. Fees are $55 for a regular tour, $60 for an advanced tour. Costs cover transportation, a boat, license and equipment, but not bait.

Call the Yokota Outdoor Rec Office at DSN 225-4552 for more information.

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