148cm in length for expedition fishing! PENN brand in the world Big Game Casting Rods Slammer Casting Rod

PENN has surprised us with its price and impeccable performance as an offshore big game rod, and of course, since PENN is the world's PENN, the number of rods it produces is unbelievably large!　But the NEW Slammer was designed as a series for the Japanese market. In addition to introducing what kind of materials and parts are used and what kind of features they have, Mr. Kei Hiramatsu, who repeatedly requested and tested PENN during development, explained each model to us. We hope you will find this information useful in your purchasing decision.

INDEX

Casting Rods for Big Fish in Japan
Lineup of 4 models with distinctly different concepts
Comes with a semi-hard case for transportation.

Casting Rods for Big Fish in Japan

PENN, the world’s leading manufacturer of casting rods, has developed the “PENN SLAMMER CASTING” series of boat-casting game rods to match Japanese offshore fishing conditions. This series has a lineup of four rods that can handle all the big fish that can be caught in Japan, from bluefish such as yellowtail and sunfish to yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, and GT. And yet, they are priced at 35,000 to 36,000 yen (excluding tax). It is hard to believe that these rods are so astonishing despite the low price of the yen.

All models are one-and-a-half. This makes them easy to carry, and they are designed so that the joints are not subjected to high loads when fighting.

The 83XH and 711XXH, with 98% carbon and 2% glass blanks, use the SLC2 manufacturing method. A composite core of carbon and glass is placed in the inner layer in a spiral shape to create suppleness, and longitudinal carbon is placed in the outer layer to achieve high maneuverability.

The former guide adopts a reverse attachment setting that reduces problems such as thread entanglement in the guide when casting and reduced casting distance.

All guides are Fuji SiC ring guides. All guides are double wrapped with stainless steel frame. All guides are double-wrapped with stainless steel frames to ensure good thread release and durability even when fighting with large fish.

Reel hood nut is made of Fuji’s DPSLD, which is known for its ease of tightening and resistance to loosening, and Fuji’s grip ends BRC (71LMH, 71M) and GRC (83XH, 711XXH) are used to handle big fights. The reel seat is DPS18/20, which is compatible with all of PENN’s large spinning reels.

Lineup of 4 models with distinctly different concepts

Now, let’s take a look at the details of each rod. The offshore casting model released by PENN in 2021 for Japanese offshore anglers is the Slammer series. This time, the NEW SLAMMER series was released in August 2024 with dramatically improved functions and equipment, while inheriting the DNA of the SLAMMER series. The lineup consists of four models that have evolved into casting rods for modern offshore big game, and have been perfected by taking advantage of the characteristics and length of the blanks, as well as careful consideration of guide settings. These were tested by Kei Hiramatsu, a PENN field tester with experience in various casting games.

The 71LMH and 71M are the rods that Hiramatsu uses most frequently for catching yellowfin tuna and yellowfin tuna in coastal waters. 71 is a short rod for offshore casting, but he has been using rods of this length for many years, and for good reason.
I prefer the 71 length because it has many advantages over a typical 8-ft rod,” he said. First of all, the difference in length makes a difference in distance, but I believe that the difference is also slight. There are more advantages to being shorter than that. Since sunfish and yellowfin tuna cannot be selected by size, fighting is much easier with shorter rods. It is also easier to fight straight with the rod tucked under your arm, for example, on a boat slip. It is also easier to control the lure after casting. The shorter the rod, the easier it is to produce lure action that matches the movement of waves or predatory fish. Furthermore, the shorter the rod is, the easier it is to move around on the boat during a fight, and the better the cast is. For these reasons, I prefer the 71 rod. Incidentally, the new model is the same blank concept as the previous Slammer Casting model, but with a new reel seat, design, etc. We have also proposed the finishing dimensions. I recommend this rod, including its price range.”

The 71 model’s length creates a variety of advantages. It is easy to cast, easy to manipulate lures, and fighting is much easier than with long rods. The length is designed for large sunfish that may hit at any time.

SLCS-71LMH

This model is designed for use with diving pencils and poppers, which are often cast mainly in big game. The short length (7’1″) and ultra-fast taper design enable anglers to accurately manipulate and lure these lures even in high waves.
Like the previous model PHSS-71LMH, this model was developed with the concept of handling lures to lure them out as the top priority. The rod action is easily transmitted to the lure by the fast taper, making this model suitable for diving pencils, poppers, and other lures that are entangled in waves while checking the wave pattern. The action is set to prevent plugs from bouncing when manipulating plugs. Ideal for catching sunfish, yellowfin tuna, and medium-sized bluefin tuna. The manufacturer’s label indicates that it is designed to be used with PE #3-6, but I used it with PE #8 for testing purposes.

SLCS-71M

This model was developed with casting accuracy in mind when shooting at nabura (small fish). This model is designed to be mildly tapered in contrast to the fast-tapered 71LMH. This blank design makes it easier to carry the weight of the lure and enables casting according to the angler’s intention. When using sinking lures, this flexible design does not repel bites during the countdown, but entangles them. While maintaining the feel of the previous model, the strength of the new model has been reviewed and the guide settings have been redesigned.
This model is best suited for shooting baits on the surface of the water, such as a squid boil, which is becoming harder to see these days. When casting a sinking pencil, its firm bending performance allows the target fish to bite the pencil without any discomfort, and it will help the angler to hook the pencil with more certainty. This is one you should have on hand. This 71M is set up for max. PE #6, but when we used #8 for large sunfish, we had no problem using it.

SLCS-83XH

This model has long casting performance thanks to its length of 8 feet 3 inches and SLC2 manufacturing method blanks with muscular power. This is the model to hit a nabura one step ahead, where other anglers cannot reach. Even if a bite occurs at a long distance, this model is equipped with blank power that delivers hooking power to the tip of the hook without fail, while the supple blank characteristics are demonstrated during the fight to reduce the risk of sprains.
This model is used for fishing for GT on fishing expeditions. It can be used with a large 200g popper. The blank of this model is quite strong, so this rod is capable of fighting fish with gusto. Recommended to use with PENN AUTHORITY 8500.

SLCS-711XXH

This is a model that can be used in situations where you need to cast long and at the same time want to be able to handle lures easily. 7′ 11″ in length, this rod has long casting power by utilizing the resilience of the blanks made by the SLC2 manufacturing method and is easy to handle without hitting the surface of the sea. The SLC2 blank is made by the SLC2 manufacturing process. The inner core of the SLC2 manufacturing method also makes the rod supple after a hit, which reduces the risk of splashes.
Like the 83XH, this rod is also a very strong casting rod. It can be used for casting bluefin tuna by using PENN Authority 10500 with No. 10 PE wound around it.

Comes with a semi-hard case for transportation.

In addition, we are happy to announce that all Slammer Casting models have a finishing dimension of 1530 mm or less. This is very important considering the recent transportation situation. The length is long enough to be shipped by courier service for expeditions or carried on small airplanes. Furthermore, it comes with a special semi-hard case, so you don’t have to bother buying a rod case for transportation!　It’s amazing that such a case comes with a rod at an affordable price!