The seas of Okayama are where the currents from the Naruto Strait in the east and the Bungo Channel in the west meet in the vicinity of the Seto Ohashi Bridge and these currents bring with them a rich variety of fish species. Of all the fish that are prized by the fishermen of Okayama, the most representative is perhaps the sawara (Japanese seerfish), which is known as the “fish of spring,” and thanks to its freshness, it is often consumed as sashimi in Okayama. Slender shad and Japanese pufferfish are also spring season fishes. In summer, the fishing nets bring in Japanese sea bass, butterfish, and conger eel, with autumn being the season for Japanese shad, swimming crab, and greasyback shrimp. Winter is the season when sole, seaweed and oysters are all at their best. Octopus is also a tasty catch and off the shores of Kojima in Kurashiki City, close to the Seto Ohashi Bridge, where the currents run strong, Shimotsui octopus is famed for its large tentacles that have a sweet and flavorful taste.