Perfecting the Bluefin Tuna Casting Game Daiwa Tuna Rods under the Complete Supervision of Weichirou Sato Dig deep into the “SALTIGA C DOGFIGHT

The photo of the rod is a prototype model.

Weichirou Sato’s know-how and Daiwa’s technology

In 2001, a 50 kg bluefin tuna caught in a casting game made the news. Even before that, in an age when strong rods, reels, and lines were not available as they are today, Japan’s top anglers had commuted to the waters of Ohma in Aomori Prefecture many times to try their hand at lure fishing for large bluefin tuna. However, although they could catch small tuna, they could not catch large ones, and it was a process of repeated trial and error. Then, in 2001, he caught a 50kg bluefin tuna, which made news in the offshore fishing scene. Nowadays, bluefin tuna weigh 100 kg or 200 kg, but back then, it was difficult to catch bluefin tuna. From there, the bluefin tuna casting game has evolved and become more established over the years as tackle such as line, rod blanks, reels, hooks, and hardware have been strengthened. Many people would say that Weichirou Sato is one of the anglers who led the bluefin tuna casting scene and created the current bluefin tuna casting scene. He is an angler who has always challenged and studied bluefin tuna. Mr. Sato supervised the Daiwa SALTIGA brand rods, and this is the “SALTIGA C DOGFIGHT” that we would like to introduce here. Moreover, in 2025, the SALTIGA reel was also renewed (https://anglers-time.com/5692/). The new construction has a more durable drag and larger gears for more torquey reeling. The rotor is even larger and more rigid, and the oscillator has a new structure. In 2025, Daiwa will be seriously preparing items to catch large fish and large tuna.

The DOGFIGHT is a limited edition black-colored model, the largest and most powerful model in the series, which has been on the market since the days of the SALTIGA Z, the first generation of SALTIGA reels. At the time, the SALTIGA Z attracted attention for its high strength and water resistance. The SALTIGA DOGFIGHT was the model that anglers who pursued even greater strength and who thoroughly pursued large fish were all picking up. This new rod inherits that crown. The goal of this new rod is to be the strongest SALTIGA rod yet. Designed for single-fighting, the rod is supple yet tough and has strong resilience to enable Mr. Sato’s fighting style of bending to catch fish. It also has long casting performance. The rod was designed using Mr. Sato’s rod-making know-how and Daiwa’s latest technology.

Mr. Sato’s fighting style is to bend the rod and put pressure on the fish to catch it. To make this style possible, the rod was developed to be flexible yet tough, with strong resilience and long casting performance.

Development Process and Performance

In developing this model, the first thing that came to mind was the enthusiastic request from Daiwa employees. The reporter was also told by the employee that he wanted to make a full-scale tuna rod someday. However, it is a fact that such a rod is not easy to make. First of all, it is not easy for the people in the company to experience many fights with large tuna. Also, Mr. Sato was contracted to use SALTIGA reels, and since he also produces SOULS rods himself, Daiwa’s internal rules did not allow him to proceed with the project easily. However, the passion of the person in charge of the project changed the company rules, and Mr. Sato was willing to cooperate and supervise the project, making it possible.

Mr. Sato’s own brand of SOULS tuna rods has been used in a number of successful projects. There are many items. So, wouldn’t they be the same as those models? Mr. Sato said, “I think it would be the same as the SOULS models. Mr. Sato answered, “SOULS and Daiwa rods use different materials and have different actions. We have developed a completely new tuna rod using Daiwa’s own light and strong carbon, a model that is not part of the SOULS lineup and will not be covered by the SOULS lineup. In terms of length and power, it is not covered by the SOULS rods,” he said.
When we asked him about its performance, he answered, “It is not a stiff model just because it is for tuna, but a model based on my style of bending and applying pressure to catch tuna. The breaking strength is also quite high. Furthermore, it has a highly direct feel. When you are moving the lure, its movement is easily transmitted to your hand. In casting, it has strong resilience and produces tremendous casting distance. It has a good balance of tenacity, lifting power, sensitivity, and lightness. Last year (2024), we caught several fish over 100 kg in our testing of this model. This model is easy to use even for beginners to tuna fishing, and yet satisfying even for advanced anglers. I can recommend this rod with confidence.

Mr. Sato has put into the DOGFIGHT the performance he has derived from his many years of experience, and while the SOULS rods are suitable for experts, the DOGFIGHT is easy to handle even for beginners and has the tenacity, torque, and lightness that will satisfy intermediate and advanced anglers.

Technology Behind the New Daiwa Casting Rods

In order to complete the rod supervised by Weichirou Sato as DOGFIGHT, Daiwa has incorporated all of its own latest technology into the rod. The rod is tenacious, powerful, and has the performance to catch fish by standing up and bending the rod. And, it also increases the flying distance. ESS is a proprietary system developed by Daiwa that analyzes and designs the movement of a bent blank as it attempts to return to its original position. This design system allows anglers to clearly understand numerically where the blank is superior and where it falls short, and to reflect the angler’s sensibilities in the design. X45 Full Shield is designed to increase the blank’s tenacity and strength during casting, action, hooking, fighting, and other fishing actions. The X45 Full Shield is a 45° carbon bias cloth tightened on the blank exterior to eliminate blank twisting that occurs during casting, action, hooking, fighting, and other fishing motions. This technology brings out the cast accuracy and the original performance of the blank.

A lineup that allows anglers to target everything from mid-size to dream size lures

The new lineup consists of four items compatible with PE No. 6, No. 8, No. 10, and No. 12.
First is the 84-6 model, which is the lightest model in the No. 6 PE class. This model is mainly designed for medium-sized bluefin tuna using PE No. 5 to No. 6, and can also be used for sunfish. The lightweight blank eliminates blurring when casting, allowing the angler to quickly and accurately shoot at nabura. The synergy of flexible tip and strong butt power makes this model capable of handling sinking pencil and poppers with dexterity.

The 81-8, which has more power, is a model for fishing bluefin tuna with No.8 PE and for the yellowfin tuna field where large fish can be expected. 81’s length and low modulus blank enable anglers to achieve a good casting distance and to attack fast-sinking nabura from a little distance away.

The 76-10 model with a PE of 10 is the standard for targeting large bluefin tuna. Designed with a length of 76 to provide a good balance between casting distance and ease of fighting. This model can be used in a wide range of areas, situations, and sizes.

The strongest model in the series is the 72-12 model. This short model takes fighting performance to the extreme for large tuna. The fulcrum of the rod’s bend is placed closer to the butt section than other models to make it easier to stand up the rod and to put strong pressure on the fish. The length is a fight-oriented 72 short, but set at a length that makes it easy to dodge ship’s edges, railings, and ship’s bottom.

Mr. Sato commented that more items may be added in the future, but these are the four basic items to start with. The bluefin tuna season will start soon, and the SALTIGA reel lineup now includes the 2500 number (line capacity of PE No. 10, 360 m, and No. 12, 300 m), which is designed to handle large tuna. Now is the time to get ready for a solid catch of tuna this season.

The black base is crossed with saltiga blue for an austere design. It has a message from Weichirou Sato: “If you can’t find a way, create on” (If there is no way beyond that, create it yourself).

The guide is an RV guide with good pullout. Mr. Sato decided the position of the guides one by one to avoid trouble even with thick strings.

The engraved design is also found in the smallest of details.

The joint part is made of V -JOINT α, which is strong, light, and provides a clean bend. The latest joint is made of NANOALLOY, a high-strength material, and was created using Daiwa’s proprietary precision processing technology.

Product Details
https://www.daiwa.com/jp/product/ye4akug

Product introduction video

Summary: Angler’s Time Editorial Department