Shimano has been producing deadly saltwater jigs for a long time, beginning with the whole Butterfly Jigging “System” that helped kick off the tuna-jigging obsession we still find ourselves in today. Some of their most recent offerings, like the Shimmerfall, quickly became favorites among Northeast tuna fishermen for their profile and color matches to forage like sand eels and squid.
Earlier this week, Shimano unveiled three new metal jigs aimed at big saltwater gamefish, the Ocea Sardine Waver, the Ocea Speed Slasher, and the Current Sniper Jig Vertical.
The Ocea Sardine Waver is a premium slow-pitch jigs engineered to produce an erratic, wounded baitfish action that triggers aggressive strikes from a wide range of offshore predators. A distinctive keel-shaped rear design creates an unpredictable falling action with backslides, wobbles, and forward and reverse movement to keep fish engaged throughout the presentation. I actually had a chance to fish these over the winter, while fishing for yellowtail in Chile, and before I lost my last one to the insidious snake mackerel they have there, I caught one of my biggest yellowtail of the trip.
Available in weights from 130g to 500g, the 130g to 250g models come pre-rigged with premium assist hooks and cord for fish-ready convenience, while the 350g–500g models are offered unrigged for anglers who prefer custom rigging. Finished in proven fish-catching color patterns, including glow options, the Ocea Sardine Waver delivers lifelike action. These will definitely have a place on our tuna grounds this summer, especially when the fleet gets big, and the bite gets a little funky.
At the other end of the jig speed spectrum, the Shimano Ocea Speed Slasher is a streamlined jig engineered to cut through heavy current and reach the strike zone quickly, making it ideal for high-speed jigging applications targeting powerful pelagic species.
Designed with a hydrodynamic profile to minimize drag, the Speed Slasher is built to be worked at fast retrieves throughout the water column, producing fine, lifelike movements that closely imitate fleeing baitfish, sand eels, and squid. This action is highly effective at triggering reaction strikes from species such as tuna and other offshore predators. Available in weights from 150g to 300g and offered in proven fish-catching color patterns, including glow options, the Ocea Speed Slasher delivers consistent performance in demanding offshore conditions. I am already excited to take these east of Cape Cod to try and jig up a giant bluefin.
Shimano has also added an inshore offering with the Current Sniper vertical. Fishermen are already familiar with the current sniper for its long casting and erratic action (it’s an albie favorite among the shore-bound crowd), and with this model, Shimano elevated its versatility with the addition of top rigged assist hooks, allowing the jig to perform seamlessly as a light vertical jig. Available in weights from 42g to 120g and offered in proven color patterns (including a picture-perfect spike mackerel), the Current Sniper Jig Vertical should be a big player for deep stripers this summer and fall.