Negative Positive Angler Episode 6 — Tairaba Fishing

In Negative Positive Angler episode 6, Hiro’s state of mind once again came to the forefront. And I’m quite excited about that. With half of the show behind us, it was starting to feel as if the major plot points of his terminal illness and depression had taken a back seat. And by the looks of it, starting next week, the show is going to venture into the mental health aspects that were promised in the story.

Negative Positive Angler Episode 6 Synopsis

We got an Ice-centered episode last week, and it left me wondering why Studio Nut chose to animate certain characters the way they did. It’s now obvious they could do better. I now understand what my college professors felt when I waddled into class reeking of bourbon and handed them a half-assed assignment. My disappointment aside, this episode saw the crew tairaba fishing for sea bream.

Unfortunately for Hiro, he’s struck by seasickness. But after a brief respite alongside Ice, he’s back to fishing, and the day ends on a positive note with the crew catching quite a few decent-sized seabreams.

The most important part of the show came when Hiro asked Ice what she’d do if she found out her days were about to expire. She answered that she’d ignore that timer and live as she saw fit. However, she would let the people she cares for know she’s on borrowed time. Because even when a person’s life ends, the effects of that loss last much longer. This realization leads Hiro to reflect deeply, but true to his character, he pushes those thoughts aside and keeps his concerns to himself. Or at least he tries, because when he’s surprised by a welcoming party, it moves him so much that he ends up crying. And with that, the episode concludes.

The Fishing Corner

I must admit, I hadn’t heard about tai rubber (tairaba) fishing until this episode. So we’re learning about something together! But jig fishing by any other name is still jig fishing, and if you’re moving your rod up and down… it’s jig fishing. What seems to set tairaba fishing apart from normal jigging is the lures. These consist of a weighted head that the fishing line is threaded through before being tied to a skirt with hooks attached. Alternatively, there is a variation where the head is directly connected to the skirt.

While the show favors baitcasting reels for this method, you can use a spinning reel if you know what you’re doing. However, you don’t get too much leeway with your rod choice. One should use either a tairaba or a jigging rod. And since you’re letting the fish hook itself, you want a rod with a soft tip. You’ll feel the vibrations on the line much better than a stiffer rod would.

This is why Hana and the others mention reeling slowly and not trying to set the hook immediately. The fish usually nibbles on the back of the lure, so when you feel the first tug, the fish hasn’t hooked itself yet. When you keep reeling, the fish will work its way to the head of the lure. Once it does, BAM! You caught your lunch.

Negative Positive Angler Episode 6 Comments

As someone who can say fishing saved my life, I tend to be quite critical of fishing shows. And I’m especially critical of shows that claim fishing can heal a broken soul because they oftentimes only allude to it. I wouldn’t say I was frustrated that the show hadn’t addressed this topic yet, because I understand that healing doesn’t always come from big breakthroughs. Sometimes, it can be as simple as finding something you enjoy and sticking with it until things improve. But I never got that vibe from Hiro, he always looked like he was suffering. So I’m pretty excited to see how this week’s episode will venture into this.

Screenshots: Crunchyroll
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