Precision performance takes center stage in the New Product Showcase as the industry gets its first look at the latest masterclasses in design

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 14, 2026) – ICAST’s New Product Showcase is about getting a first, clean look at the absolute best design and engineering the sportfishing industry has to offer. For media and buyers, the preview reception at Booth 100 is the best window all week to see where the sport is heading next. It is a unique opportunity to evaluate the entire field in a single setting, completely free from booth traffic, chaotic schedules, or sales pressure.

You get to inspect the gear and form your own opinions. Voting for the 39 Best of Show categories opens right at the start of the reception on Tuesday, July 14, at 5:00 PM and runs straight through until 1:00 PM on Wednesday, July 15.

And as you make your rounds, you will find DAIWA entries waiting for evaluation across seven different categories, each representing our latest push into precision performance.

SALTWATER REEL: BG SW/BG LT

“Born for Big Game”, the next generation of a saltwater legend arrives as one continuous series that spans from a versatile 2500 inshore frame up to a monstrous 20000 offshore powerhouse. Combining a decades-long reputation for tank-like durability with progressive engineering, this comprehensive lineup covers every aspect of saltwater fishing.

The series leverages two distinct engineering directives to dominate the salt. The inshore sizes (2500–4000) introduce AIRDRIVE DESIGN to strip front-end mass, slashing startup inertia for immediate rotational response and refined, light-tackle precision. Oppositely, the massive blue-water sizes (5000–20000) deploy POWERDRIVE DESIGN, an over-the-top powertrain that treats the heavy-duty aluminum chassis as a singular, highly efficient matrix to maximize winching torque against pelagic giants. A hybrid architecture of marine-grade ball bearings and self-lubricating composite bushings ensures unyielding, corrosion-free alignment under crushing loads.

MSRP $179.99 – $279.99

FRESHWATER REEL: TATULA MQ LT ELITE

The finest TATULA spinning reel series to date redefines the boundaries of power and finesse. By pairing a rigid, one-piece Monocoque ZAION V frame with a flagship-tier ZAION AIRDRIVE ROTOR, this premium series eliminates body flex and drops startup inertia to near zero.

The lineup features two technique-specific hybrid models engineered to solve traditional spinning limitations. The specialized 2500 FC nests a full 2500-size spool onto a hyper-compact 1000 body to maximize light-line casting distance and eliminate line coiling. Oppositely, the heavy-duty 3000 XH utilizes an oversized 4000-size body with a 3000-size spool, giving anglers immense winching power and rigid leverage to yank fish from heavy cover. Complete with TOUGH DIGIGEAR mechanics and the ultra-smooth ATD TYPE-L drag system, this series delivers frictionless rotation and absolute fish-fighting confidence.

MSRP $229.99 – $239.99

SALTWATER RODS: Procyon Inshore

Premium technology comes to coastal anglers at an exceptional value. The new Procyon Inshore rod series delivers elite engineering to handle the wide-ranging demands of shallow saltwater environments…and without a premium price tag. The lineup features six authoritative 7-foot, 2-piece models — three spinning and three casting rods — with actions ranging from Medium-Light to Medium-Heavy to provide the ideal selection for launching artificial lures or managing live bait.

At the heart of each rod is DAIWA’s HVF NANOPLUS graphite blank, utilizing Nano Alloy technology to reduce resin content while maximizing carbon density for a lightweight, highly sensitive feel. This foundation is enhanced with exclusive X45 Bias Construction, wrapping carbon layers at 45-degree angles to radically eliminate blank twist under load. Outfitted with braid-ready Fuji Titanium Oxide ring guides and premium natural cork handles, these rugged 2-piece configurations deliver massive lifting power.

MSRP $99.99

FRESHWATER RODS: BEAM X

Modern performance meets a vintage ultralight look and feel in a budget-pleasing series that recalls the pure excitement of watching a bobber disappear. The new Beam X Solid Glass rod series evokes that nostalgic experience but with a modern aesthetic and quality components perfectly built for fishing trout, panfish, and perch in tight quarters.

At the core of the series is a custom solid blank featuring compact fiberglass construction. Unlike traditional hollow graphite rods, the solid core blank is virtually impossible to crush or break under typical fishing conditions. This structural profile provides a filled core designed specifically for a slow, deep parabolic action that absorbs sudden surges to keep ultra-light hooks well-pinned. The series includes two spinning rods and one casting rod, all outfitted with classic cork grips and steel-frame titanium oxide guides.

MSRP $39.99

BRAIDED FISHING LINE: J-BRAID Grand x8 Ocean Splash

Tactical stealth meets advanced fiber architecture to swing the odds of success in your favor. The new J-BRAID Grand x8 Ocean Splash features a striking blue-and-white camouflage design with perfectly timed, alternating segments of deep marine blue, sky blue, and stark white. This strategic pattern visually disrupts the line’s profile across the water column, rendering the connection virtually imperceptible to line-shy pelagics and nearshore predators looking skyward.

Built exclusively with premium IZANAS ultra-high-modulus polyethylene fiber, the line employs a short-pitch, high-density weave that packs maximum overwraps per linear inch. This configuration locks in a true round profile under tension, eliminating line dig while delivering a 400% increase in abrasion resistance compared to standard braids. Available in 300- to 3,000-yard spools ranging from 15- to 120-pound test.

MSRP $38.99 – $359.99

NON-BRAIDED FISHING LINE: XBRAID OLLTOLOS FC

A long-kept Japanese market secret arrives on North American shores to redefine premium fluorocarbon line. The new XBRAID OLLTOLOS FC represents a massive technological leap — standing as a first-of-its-kind, double-coated 100% fluorocarbon line engineered to act as a manageable mainline or a rugged leader material.

By manipulating ultra-dense premium Japanese raw yarn at the molecular level, this line eliminates the classic compromise between brute strength and suppleness. An intensive drawing ratio process delivers a mechanical paradox, packing extreme abrasion resistance and high unit cross-sectional strength into a remarkably thin diameter, while maintaining a memory-free temper on the spool. Its tuned flexural modulus provides specialized stretch and shock absorbency for aggressive jerkbait, swimbait, and deep cranking presentations. Available from finesse-ready 6-pound up to heavy-duty 25-pound tests on 109-yard spools.

MSRP $29.99 – $32.99

FRESHWATER LURE: EVER GREEN Bull Point Shad 4.5″

A masterfully tuned soft plastic methodology comes stateside to maximize bladed jig performance. Through an exclusive partnership with Ever Green International, DAIWA delivers the Bull Point Shad 4.5″ — a trailer specifically engineered by elite angler Morizo Shimizu to harmonize with the legendary JackHammer, rather than fight its high-frequency vibration.

The bait features a specialized inverted triangle body architecture that packs critical mass into the front section. This design maximizes casting distance into crosswinds and facilitates flawless skipping dynamics. Hydrodynamic lift keeps the rig higher in the water column, while a triple-slit tapered tail with V-shaped stabilizing fins ensures true tracking at all retrieve speeds. Deep torso ribs physically prevent the jig skirt from collapsing, maintaining a lifelike, flared silhouette in heavy cover. Available in 5-packs.

MSRP $13.99

FRESHWATER LURE: MR. FORTUNE

Wakebaiting is pure visual aggression, and this collaborative build elevates the specialty category to new heights. Fusing the elite craftsmanship of Nishine Lure Works with DAIWA engineering, the new MR. FORTUNE is a compact, high-amperage wakebait designed to crawl, bulge, and wake right over the top of the thickest cover to catalyze reaction strikes.

Sculpted with a bream-shaped body, the lure delivers constant mechanical water displacement and a swelling surface trail. A specialized triangular deflection lip allows it to physically shield the trebles and bounce off shallow wood or rocks. This hunting action is paired with a novel acoustic belly blade suspended from a ball-bearing swivel — spinning freely to create a repetitive, metallic thump against the robust ABS plastic hull. Measuring 2.09 inches and weighing a hefty 5/8-ounces, it punches long casts directly into headwinds.

MSRP $15.99

SALTWATER LURE: SP MINNOW LONG CAST 150F-HD

The undisputed king of the salt elevates its legendary lineage to a devastating new level of long-range performance. The new Japanese-made SP MINNOW LONG CAST 150F-HD takes the proven, highly productive swimming geometry that coastal anglers rely on and supercharges it with an advanced internal HGS Weight Transfer System.

This tungsten ballast system drives to the rear on the cast to eliminate midair tumbling and slice straight through howling headwinds, then slide-locks forward to stabilize the bait instantly upon splashdown. Built to survive the ocean’s largest predators, the heavy-duty upgrade introduces a continuous, unbroken internal wire-through framework running from nose-tie to tail-hanger. Even if an absolute sea monster fractures the high-impact ABS plastic shell, the fish stays pinned to the wire skeleton. Measuring 5.9 inches and weighing 1.11 ounces, it features two heavy-wire #1 treble hooks.

MSRP $25.99

CUTLERY, HAND PLIERS or TOOLS: SPLIT RING PLIERS-G130H

Standard, bulky pliers routinely fail when dealing with the delicate mechanics of finesse fishing. Precision requires a tool built specifically for the task — a need met by a masterclass in tool design engineered to handle the smallest terminal hardware without sacrificing strength or control. The new SPLIT RING PLIERS-G130H tackles micro-finesse gear through meticulous Japanese engineering.

Built on the premium DAIWA JDM Field Pliers-3-130H frame, the tool features a dual-action jaw configuration. The specialized tip is optimized to open micro split-rings from size #00 to #2 without warping the wire, while the inner jaw handles sizes #3 through #7. A passivated surface treatment ensures superior corrosion resistance in both fresh and saltwater environments. Outfitted with high-performance line cutters and ergonomic non-slip grips, these five-inch, 1.7-ounce pliers deliver absolute control.

MSRP $29.99

For DAIWA’s latest color catalog and/or information on DAIWA dealers in your area, call DAIWA’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for DAIWA’s web site is daiwa.us