DAIWA Morethan Branzino EX AGS 88MB

"The Evolution of Saltwater Baitcasting Rods Has Only Just Begun"

"In comparison to the dramatic advancements in baitcasting reels, saltwater baitcasting rods still have significant room for growth," says Yuki Sera, a tester and supervisor for this series. Sera, a renowned guide of the Tokyo Bay seabass charter "Glory," has been a passionate advocate for baitcasting tackle since he started lure fishing at the age of six. Over the years, he has mastered the art of targeting seabass in canals and rivers, earning his reputation as a skilled and innovative baitcaster.

Having contributed to the development of the IMZ series, it was only natural that Sera would seek a revolutionary baitcasting rod to match its potential. His deep understanding of baitcasting's advantages and his hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology have culminated in this exceptional rod series, tailored to elevate saltwater baitcasting to new heights.

The "Variable Blank" Concept Born from High Expectations

What Sera envisioned was a "Variable Blank"—a blank that seamlessly bends under varying loads, accommodating both light and heavy lures while maintaining a consistent casting feel. This innovative design would not only excel in versatility but also offer exceptional long-casting performance.

To meet Sera's demanding requirements, development began with an uncompromising approach. The blank features SVF Compile-X Nano Plus, a high-modulus, low-resin carbon cross material, crafted into a slim yet robust profile. To further enhance its performance, the outermost layer is reinforced with X45X bias cross technology, providing both strength and torsional rigidity.

While the ideal image of the rod was clear, the path to its realization was far from easy. Countless cycles of crafting and testing were conducted, refining the design to perfection at every step. Each trial brought the development team closer to creating a blank that lives up to its revolutionary concept—offering unmatched performance across a wide range of baitcasting applications.

This breakthrough gave birth to a blank with "core stiffness", a unique characteristic that bends smoothly under load yet increases casting distance and power as the bend deepens. Designed specifically for seabass fishing, this blank takes full advantage of baitcasting tackle’s inherent strengths, enhancing long-distance casting, centimeter-level accuracy, heightened sensitivity, and the direct control needed to maneuver lures with precision.

The result is a baitcasting rod that elevates seabass fishing to an entirely new realm, offering unparalleled performance and opening up new possibilities for anglers. This specialized seabass bait rod is a masterpiece that promises to deliver the ultimate fishing experience.

Daiwa Technology Overview

Expert Sense Simulation (ESS)

The Expert Sense Simulation system, or ESS, analyzes and designs rods by focusing on their "strain energy"—the restorative force generated when a blank flexes and attempts to return to its original shape. This strain energy is a critical factor in determining a rod's performance. Daiwa's proprietary system not only quantifies strengths and weaknesses with numerical clarity but also incorporates anglers' sensory feedback into the design process. This creates rods that align more closely with anglers' expectations and performance demands.

SVF Compile-X Nano Plus

Crafted with high-tensile, low-resin graphite fibers, the SVF Compile-X Nano Plus blanks achieve unmatched sensitivity and power. Reduced resin volume leads to an ultra-dense graphite structure, offering:

• Unrivaled sensitivity: Every underwater vibration is transmitted directly to the angler.
• Incredible lightness: Enables thinner, lighter blanks without compromising strength.
• Effortless casting: Slim construction ensures smooth, precise casts to pinpoint spots.

This high-performance blank is further enhanced by Nano Plus technology, achieving advanced sharpness, strength, and durability—ideal for demanding, fast-paced fishing scenarios.

AGS (Air Guide System)

The Air Guide System (AGS) employs carbon fiber frames that are three times stiffer than titanium. This allows for:

• Exceptional sensitivity: Signals from the line travel directly to the blank without dampening.
• Improved casting distance and accuracy: The lightweight construction reduces tip wobble, enabling faster swing speed and greater control.

AGS revolutionizes rod design, combining sensitivity with ease of use for all-day casting performance.

V-Joint α

Using high-strength Nano Alloy materials and precision machining, the V-Joint α significantly enhances the joint sections of multi-piece rods.

• Improved blank curve: Ensures a seamless, smooth bend throughout the rod.
• Lightweight durability: Allows for slimmer blanks, enhancing maneuverability and responsiveness. Perfect for repeated casting scenarios, this joint technology boosts overall rod performance.

Air Sensor Seat

The Air Sensor Seat, made with carbon fiber, achieves lightweight construction, high durability, and improved sensitivity. Each seat is purpose-built for specific rod applications, delivering superior handling and performance compared to standard reel seats. (Note: Exclusive to model 88MB.)

X45 Full Shield (Cobra Shield)

The X45 Full Shield uses a 45° carbon bias cross on the rod’s outermost layer, effectively countering torsion during key fishing actions like casting, hooking, and fighting.

• Enhanced torsion rigidity: Reduces twist, ensuring rods maintain their designed performance.
• Precision casting: Improves casting accuracy and optimizes the rod’s natural power.

CWS (Carbon Wrapping System)

Daiwa's Carbon Wrapping System secures guides and reel seats to the blank using woven carbon fiber instead of traditional thread wrapping. This innovation offers:

• Lightweight construction: Reduces weight at attachment points.
• Increased durability: Enhances anti-twist strength and crack resistance.
• Improved aesthetics: The carbon wrap creates a sleek, refined look while ensuring robust functionality.

These cutting-edge Daiwa technologies combine to create rods that redefine performance, sensitivity, and control, making them indispensable tools for anglers seeking precision and excellence.

Product Details

Exclusive Blank for Sharp Casting

Equipped with Daiwa’s top-tier materials and advanced manufacturing techniques, this blank design ensures:

• Effortless casting: Smooth weight transfer enables stress-free long-distance and pinpoint casting, whether using lightweight or heavy lures.
• Enhanced versatility: Optimized for both accuracy and distance without compromise.

New AGS + CWS System

• AGS TYPE-R Guides: Ultra-lightweight and high-rigidity carbon fiber guide frames ensure minimal power loss through the blank.
• CWS (Carbon Wrapping System): The guides are fixed with carbon wraps, reducing tip wobble and quickly stabilizing movements.
• Improved casting performance: The system minimizes unnecessary braking from baitcasting reels, enhancing long-distance casting while delivering exceptional sensitivity.

IMZ-Refined Blank Performance

Tested extensively under the IMZ process, the blank is optimized to achieve:

• Maximum casting distance: Enhanced by objective testing under various conditions.
• Wide release point: Balances opposing factors to improve control and precision with a wide range of lures.

This rod combines Daiwa’s cutting-edge technologies to deliver exceptional casting precision, unparalleled sensitivity, and an all-new casting experience for anglers of all skill levels.

Advantages of Baitcasting Tackle

Unmatched Sensitivity

"Baitcasting tackle offers a completely different level of sensitivity compared to spinning reels, which bend the line at a 90-degree angle over the bail arm before retrieving it," explains Tester Yuki Sera. "If spinning tackle sensitivity is rated at 80–90, baitcasting tackle is easily a 100."

• Direct Line Contact: The straight line retrieval of baitcasting reels provides a seamless connection between the blank and the line.
• Enhanced Feedback: Even the tiniest obstacles, such as debris the size of a fingernail caught on a hook, are transmitted with clarity.

Reduced Stress with Big Lures

Baitcasting reels excel when using lures with high resistance, minimizing retrieval stress compared to spinning setups. This feature allows for more comfortable and effective handling of big lures in demanding conditions.

Strategic Advantage

The heightened sensitivity and tactile feedback expand your awareness of underwater structures and movements, transforming the way you approach and strategize your fishing game. With baitcasting tackle, you're not just fishing — you're gaining an edge.

Field Test Success: A Spring Day at Old Edogawa River Mouth

During a field test at the Old Edogawa River mouth in spring, Tester Yuki Sera expertly utilized the 93MHB–Power Distance Custom– rod to capitalize on the prime window of opportunity during the outgoing tide from evening twilight to sunset. His efforts resulted in the successful catch of a 70cm-class seabass.

Using a Monster Wake 156F, he applied cross-current to down-current techniques, leveraging the rod's exceptional sensitivity to optimize the lure's action and entice the fish.

Tuning the Monster Wake 156F

"The Monster Wake 156F has a sweet spot where it delivers perfect action just before it starts to wobble uncontrollably — about 40cm beneath the surface," Sera explains. "To me, this isn’t just a wake bait; it’s a big minnow with an incredible ability to command attention."

“This is the beauty of baitcasting tackle—it provides the power to handle large lures delicately,” Sera remarked after landing the impressive catch. “In April, the fish aren't targeting fry (haku) but rather juvenile mullet (inako), and that’s why you find these healthy, well-conditioned fish. Big lures aren't just effective in autumn—they work wonders in spring too.”

This statement underscored not only the effectiveness of the baitcasting setup but also the seasonal adaptability of larger lures when targeting seabass in optimal conditions.

Centimeter-Level Accuracy in Structure Game Fishing

When fishing structure in environments like the canals of Tokyo Bay, the centimeter-level casting accuracy achievable with baitcasting tackle becomes a significant advantage. “Only a handful of elite anglers can achieve this level of precision with spinning tackle. With baitcasting tackle, this kind of accuracy becomes second nature,” says Sera.

The ability to fine-tune casts with techniques like thumbing makes baitcasting tackle an invaluable tool for targeting tight spaces around structures, enabling anglers to position lures with pinpoint accuracy for maximum effectiveness.

Versatility and Power with the 88MB – TECHNICAL VERSATILE CUSTOM –

The 88MB – TECHNICAL VERSATILE CUSTOM thrives in structure-focused scenarios. Thanks to its Variable Blank construction, it boasts the backbone to cast lures over 40g while maintaining the finesse to deliver 7–9cm lightweight lures with low-trajectory casts. Combined with the baitcasting reel’s signature thumbing accuracy, anglers can place lures precisely in tight spots to draw strikes.

Its formidable bat power lets you swiftly pull fish away from obstacles, ensuring control in even the most challenging scenarios. This capability makes baitcasting tackle a dependable choice for fishing Tokyo Bay’s intricate canal systems—waters that shaped Sera’s angling foundation and reinforced his confidence in baitcasting’s advantages.

The baitcasting system excels in preventing line slap against guides during casts, offering hassle-free operation even with knot systems passing through guides. This characteristic provides greater flexibility in leader length and improves casting efficiency.

"The ease of disengaging the clutch with one hand and quickly re-engaging enhances efficiency, making baitcasting tackle a major asset for canal fishing and tight-spot casting," says Sera. This functionality shines especially when running-and-gunning through numerous points or fishing docks with deep waters, where responding to bites during a lure’s fall—using baits like vibrations and blade lures—becomes crucial.

Note: The rod pictured is a prototype of the 88MB. The grip design differs from the production model.

Expanding Strategies with Heavier Line Capabilities

Sera Tester explains the unique advantage of baitcasting tackle when using thicker lines: "With spinning reels, the line release follows a spiral, which significantly affects the casting distance depending on the line thickness. However, baitcasting tackle doesn’t suffer the same drop in distance when switching to a thicker line." Using PE 1.2 line, anglers can achieve the same or even greater distance than a spinning reel using a 0.8–1.0 line.

This makes baitcasting tackle ideal for approaching distant, potentially hazardous spots that spinning reel users may avoid. By using heavier lines, Sera expands his strategy, using PE 1.2 as the main line while also switching to 1.0 to 1.5 or even 2.0 for specific patterns like the Konoshiro baitfish. This flexibility allows him to tackle the same spots with more confidence and precision than competitors using spinning tackle.

For seasoned anglers, the ability to cast further with thicker lines from the same points is a significant advantage, giving them a more strategic edge in tough conditions.

Product Story: A Rod that Confirms Skill Growth with Every Cast

"The distance you can cast with a baitcasting tackle exceeds that of spinning reels," says Sera Tester, emphasizing a common misconception. "Just look at the records in distance casting competitions to see for yourself. But, of course, this depends on mastering the tackle."

In increasingly high-pressure fishing environments, both casting distance and accuracy are key weapons for landing larger fish. This is why Sera Tester has always stuck with baitcasting tackle. However, he didn’t want just any easy-to-throw rod. "Thankfully, through the development process, IMZ allowed us to quantify an angler's sensory feedback," he explains.

A soft rod with an easy-to-cast action may be comfortable but lacks distance potential. On the other hand, a rod with a stiff release point would result in inconsistent casting distance. With IMZ, the team could objectively measure and optimize the rod’s design, leading to faster development with precision.

“Using IMZ, we could see the nuances in human perception—whether it's the difference between a rod that’s easy to cast but doesn’t reach far, or one that casts far but with a very narrow sweet spot. This data was crucial for developing the new rod,” Sera continues.

The result is a rod with a wide range of usable lures, allowing for skill-dependent flexibility. "Once you master the forward cast with the energy from the take-back transferred to the blank's butt section, the rod will flex accordingly and provide ample casting distance." If you follow proper form and avoid rushing, even lures 10g heavier than the catalog specs will feel effortless.

Sera Tester spent numerous days testing multiple prototype rods and accumulating data. “Thanks to IMZ, we were able to pursue casting distance without compromise. Once you master the technique, every cast will help you hone your skill." This discovery marked the culmination of a rigorous development process that allowed Sera to confidently say, “With this rod, you’ll enjoy the joy of mastering tackle, not just catching fish."

The ultimate ideal was reached with a rod that allows you to see your casting improvements in real time—making it incredibly fun to track and push your personal records. Each cast is an opportunity to expand both your distance and your mastery.

Advantages During the Fight with a Variable Blank

The Variable Blank design, which bends in response to the weight of the cast to achieve maximum casting distance, also provides a powerful advantage during the fight with large fish. "A rod that's easy to cast but lacks power will leave the angler at the mercy of the fish, while an overly stiff rod made solely for big lures increases the risk of losing the catch," explains Sera Tester. "Due to my work, I often fight fish one-handed while operating the boat, and with this rod, the sense of security is unparalleled. This is a feature I especially appreciate when hooking a big fish in challenging conditions, such as on a rocky shore."

During a shoot, Sera Tester had to fish from a difficult, uneven rocky shore with a bottom covered in oyster beds. Despite these challenging conditions, the rod allowed him to maintain control and land a great-sized fish without losing a single bit of authority over the battle. The Variable Blank provided not only the required power but also a remarkable level of control, even in tough situations.

Features Supporting the Keep-Cast Technique

The Variable Blank is designed to provide a smooth weight transfer, offering both flexibility and a core-like firmness, which ensures rapid tip convergence during the cast. Sera Tester emphasizes, "A rod whose tip doesn’t stabilize quickly can lead to backlash, and unstable line release can add unnecessary brake force, disrupting casting distance and accuracy. Even during long casts, you don’t need to excessively whip the rod. In fact, with just 70% of your effort, this rod delivers more than enough distance."

The key is to focus on slowly drawing the rod back, allowing the weight of the lure to load the rod sufficiently. This approach remains consistent whether using a lightweight lure under 10g, a typical 20g lure, or a heavier one exceeding 40g.

Sera's dedication to rod design doesn't end with the blank. He also carefully considers the guide diameter and placement, the positioning of the reel, and the reel seat shape to enhance casting performance. All of these features work together to support keep-cast techniques.

"This morethan BRANZINO is not just a rod for casting; it’s one that helps anglers grow," says Sera Tester. "If you're capable of using the IMZ’s PE long-cast mode, you’ll be able to see your skills improve objectively the more you use it. Simply casting will transform the way you enjoy fishing."

This is the new stage for baitcasting in seabass fishing—where skill and equipment truly come together.

Item Introduction:

80HB – POWER BITE CUSTOM
This power rod is designed for handling large topwater plugs and swim baits over 17 cm, drawing in big seabass bites. Its powerful construction allows it to subdue even large seabass, especially when hooked in challenging downcross positions. The rod's strength also makes it suitable for targeting bluefish and red snapper, ensuring solid performance in tough fights.

88MB – TECHNICAL VERSATILE CUSTOM
A technical model ideal for harbors and mid-sized rivers, offering excellent accuracy from low-trajectory short casts to full casts. This rod excels in techniques such as jerking with lures over 14 cm and topwater plug games. The versatile length is perfect for wading, while its ability to handle small lures around 7 cm makes it an all-around performer in various fishing conditions.

93MHB – POWER DISTANCE CUSTOM
Designed for long-distance casting, the 93MHB is perfect for 12–14 cm minnows, sinking pencil baits, and large wake baits, as well as smaller lures under 10 g. Capable of impressive distances exceeding 100 meters, this rod is ideal for targeting open areas like large rivers and mudflats. It works well for both shore and wading games, providing versatile and powerful performance for long-range casting.