JDM Tackle Guide

Ika metal (squid)

14 rod series from 4 Japanese makers, 1.47 m (4'10") to 2.19 m (7'2").

Boat squid fishing with a metal sinker jig, fished at night under lights. A Japanese method that has spread through East Asia.

14 rod series 101 sizes with full specs Squid

The makers file these under Ika metal (squid)(イカメタル)、Squid (tsutsu-ika types)(各種ツツイカ). We only group the makers’ own categories together — we do not decide what a rod is for.

How to choose

This is a boat style with metal sinkers of a set weight; choose the rod by the sinker rating and the tip type that lets you see bites. Rods are short and light, so compare weight and length rather than price. A small baitcasting reel with a line counter is the common partner.

Rods on this shelf (14 series)
length 1.47 m (4'10") to 2.19 m (7'2") · weight 67–137 g (2.4–4.8 oz) · packed 88 cm (34.6 in) to 161 cm (63.4 in)

The ranges are the smallest and largest figures among the models listed below, taken from the maker’s specifications. The advice is ours, not the maker’s.

Ika metal rods at a glance

Compare specs
SeriesSizesLengthLure / headJapan list priceTo US (approx.)
Shimano Sephia XR Metal Sutte131.80–2.13 m—¥45,400–47,500$359–375
Daiwa Emeraldas MX Ikametal121.47–2.13 m—¥31,600–35,400$260–287
Tailwalk Metalzon SSD111.57–2.13 m20–180 g¥25,000–32,000$212–263
Daiwa Emeraldas EX IM91.68–2.13 m—¥68,000–73,000$522–558
Shimano Sephia Extune Metal Sutte91.80–2.13 m—¥57,300–58,400$445–453
Shimano Sephia SS Metal Sutte81.80–2.08 m—¥32,000–34,100$263–278
Daiwa Emeraldas AIR Ikametal81.47–2.13 m—¥51,500–53,000$403–414
Shimano Sephia Limited Metal Sutte71.88–2.03 m—¥103,000–107,100$775–804

Showing 8 of 14 current series, most sizes first. Lure / head weight is the range of the makers' ratings across the sizes. Maker list prices in Japan, before tax — not the eBay price.

Rods · 14 series

0 series
Maker
More filters · length, packed length, weight, pieces, price
Length
Packed length · decides what it costs to ship abroad
Rod weight
Pieces
Japan list price

A series is shown when at least one of its sizes falls in the range you picked. Every figure is the maker’s published spec; unit conversions are ours.

Emeraldas MX Ikametal · Daiwa · 12 sizes
Japan list price
¥31,600
from
Length 1.47–2.13 m (4.8–7.0 ft) Packed 89–111 cm (35.0–43.7 in) Weight 72–86 g (2.5–3.0 oz) Pieces 2
Metalzon SSD · Tailwalk · 11 sizes
Japan list price
¥25,000
from
Length 1.575–2.134 m (5.2–7.0 ft) Packed 89–125 cm (35.0–49.2 in) Weight 85–137 g (3.0–4.8 oz) Pieces 1–2
Sephia BB Metal Sutte · Shimano · 6 sizes
Japan list price
¥19,500
from
Length 1.98–2.08 m (6.5–6.8 ft) Packed 103–108 cm (40.4–42.3 in) Weight 90–104 g (3.2–3.7 oz) Pieces 2
Sephia Limited Metal Sutte · Shimano · 7 sizes
Japan list price
¥103,000
from
Length 1.88–2.03 m (6.2–6.7 ft) Packed 105–125 cm (41.5–49.3 in) Weight 88–95 g (3.1–3.4 oz) Pieces 3
Sephia SS Metal Sutte · Shimano · 8 sizes
Japan list price
¥32,000
from
Length 1.80–2.08 m (5.9–6.8 ft) Packed 94–108 cm (36.9–42.3 in) Weight 89–98 g (3.1–3.5 oz) Pieces 2
Sephia XR Metal Sutte · Shimano · 13 sizes
Japan list price
¥45,400
from
Length 1.80–2.13 m (5.9–7.0 ft) Packed 94–105 cm (36.8–41.3 in) Weight 83–93 g (2.9–3.3 oz) Pieces 2
Battlewhip IM & OR · YAMAGA Blanks · 6 sizes
Japan list price
¥29,500
from
Length 1.804–2.19 m (5.9–7.2 ft) Packed 93–113 cm (36.5–44.3 in) Weight 80–104 g (2.8–3.7 oz) Pieces 2
Emeraldas AIR Ikametal · Daiwa · 8 sizes
Japan list price
¥51,500
from
Length 1.47–2.13 m (4.8–7.0 ft) Packed 93–111 cm (36.6–43.7 in) Weight 67–79 g (2.4–2.8 oz) Pieces 2
Emeraldas EX IM · Daiwa · 9 sizes
Japan list price
¥68,000
from
Length 1.68–2.13 m (5.5–7.0 ft) Packed 88–161 cm (34.6–63.4 in) Weight 73–90 g (2.6–3.2 oz) Pieces 2
Emeraldas X Ikametal · Daiwa · 6 sizes
Japan list price
¥19,800
(all sizes)
Length 1.91–2.13 m (6.3–7.0 ft) Packed 100–111 cm (39.4–43.7 in) Weight 88–100 g (3.1–3.5 oz) Pieces 2
Metalzon BM · Tailwalk · 2 sizes
Japan list price
¥16,000
from
Length 1.88 m (6.2 ft) Packed 98 cm (38.6 in) Weight 113–120 g (4.0–4.2 oz) Pieces 2
Metalzon TZ [1st Gen] · Tailwalk · 1 size
Japan list price
¥48,000
(all sizes)
Length 2.007 m (6.6 ft) Packed 127 cm (50.0 in) Weight 118 g (4.2 oz) Pieces 1
Metalzon TZ [New Gen] · Tailwalk · 3 sizes
Japan list price
¥54,000
from
Length 1.753–1.905 m (5.8–6.3 ft) Packed 91–99 cm (35.8–39.0 in) Weight 108–120 g (3.8–4.2 oz) Pieces 2
Sephia Extune Metal Sutte · Shimano · 9 sizes
Japan list price
¥57,300
from
Length 1.80–2.13 m (5.9–7.0 ft) Packed 98–140 cm (38.7–55.2 in) Weight 87–95 g (3.1–3.4 oz) Pieces 3

Other fishing styles

All fishing styles, including the Japan-only ones

Numbers at a glance
SeriesSizesLength / weightJapan list price
Ika metal (squid)9781.47–2.13 m¥19,500–¥107,100
Ika metal (squid)4171.57–2.13 m¥16,000–¥55,000
Squid (tsutsu-ika types)161.80–2.19 m¥29,500–¥33,500

Total to your door (for the list price range above, with ¥5,000 shipping and estimated duty & tax): United States $144–$808 · United Kingdom £121–£654 · Germany €145–€777 · Australia A$204–A$1,106.

From the makers’ published specs and Japan list prices (before tax), converted at this month’s rates. Not eBay prices — the model pages show what is on eBay now.