We’ve been looking for a specialist heavy duty spin rod that has the power needed to deal with small to average size bluefin tuna that will be found in the seas around the UK this summer and autumn.

This rod ticks all the boxes – it’s the right length, has the power to cast suitable lures and has the grunt to deal with these fish. It’s not overly stiff so it will be nice to play fish on – broomsticks make playing tuna very hard work.

Shimano Ocea Plugger Saltwater Fishing Rod Features

• Spiral X Core: Shimano’s newest and most advanced blank construction technology. By integrating Spiral X carbon tape construction with Toray Nanoalloy technology, Spiral X Core constructed blanks benefit from up to 10% more torsional rigidity and up to 15% more compressional rigidity than rods built with Spiral X. Shimano is unique to the market by applying by high-strength carbon tape with this unique and patented Spiral X construction.
• Nanopitch: This manufacturing method enables fine-pitch and high-precision wrapping of the molding tape during the blank baking process. Nanopitch technology tightens the tape to the extreme and provides uniform pressure, increasing the circularity of the rod and ultimately improving overall rod strength.
• CI4: This is a Shimano original material reinforced with carbon fiber that is lighter and has a higher strength than conventional resin material. CI4+ is an advanced version of the original CI4 material and is 2.5x more rigid than its predecessor. While improving lightness and rigidity, reel bodies, rotors and reel seats built with CI4+ are further reduced in size and weight.
• Screw Lock Joint: This achieves increased joint strength and ease of detachment by special machining methods. When twisting the rod sections as it is twisted like a screw, the fixing force increases and the sections are more securely locked on the joint section. When unscrewing, the sections can be easily unlocked by twisting in the opposite direction.
• Hi-Power X construction: This uses diagonally-wrapped carbon tape to form an array of “X” shapes on the rod blank’s outermost layer. The width of the tape, its winding angle and the part of the rod being wrapped are fine-tuned according to the target fish species. This manufacturing process allows Shimano to adjust these wraps during construction for precise actions, enhanced overall strength and added twist resistance. In short, Hi-Power X construction delivers sharp and crisp rod control for the angler.
• All titanium frame / Torzite ring + SiC (top): We also chose specifications for the guides that further enhance long casting performance. Based on an all-titanium frame and Torzite rings, SiC rings are used for the top guides. In addition to being lightweight, the use of large-diameter rings improves casting distance and casting feel. In addition, the strong all-double-footed, double-wrapped assembly is also made lighter by minimizing the number of thread wrapping sections.