The Japanese huchen, also known as the Sakhalin taimen, is a large anadromous salmonid emblematic of the Japanese island of Hokkaido, where it is called ito. This beautiful specimen was caught—and then released—by big-fish hunter Kozo Okubo.
Before the web, the only thing you might find on this fish would be its name and location. Everything has changed. This is a rare sea going taimen.
Its range is limited and it is in trouble.
I saw some videos where a guy, I forget who, talked about the various world salmonids. He had caught every one. When asked what his three favorites were he surprised me.
Sakhalin Taimen
Marble Trout
Dolly Varden Char
He didn’t explain why there were favorites but it certainly was a curve ball. A friend was in Slovenia 2 years ago and saw Marble Trout in the rivers. He was impressed.