The Megathis R is a Daiwa rock-shore rod released in Oct 2026. If unsure, the 1.5-53 is the pick. 5.3m, 235g, list price JPY 77,000 (excl. tax).
The Gear Nerd's Pick
The heart of the Megathis R is its low-taper, true-action blank with a diameter held even down to the butt. The whole rod takes the pull of the fish, so even at class 1.5 it has the backbone to lift a fish from beyond the rocks. That is why I pick the 1.5-53 for anglers who fish both nearshore and offshore rocks with one rod.
Key points
- Released Oct 2026. JPY 75,500–84,500 (excl. tax)
- 10 rods from class 1 to 2, plus 2 T models in class 3 and 4
- The weight gap between 5.0m and 5.3m is 6–11g
When is the Megathis R out, and what does it cost?
It goes on sale in October 2026 as a new generation of Daiwa's Megathis, a rock-shore rod for float fishing. The lineup is 12 rods: 10 in class 1 to 2 at 5.0m and 5.3m, plus 2 with thick tips, the 3-53T and 4-53T. List price is JPY 75,500–84,500 (excl. tax).
Swipe the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Sinker rating | Compatible leader | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-53 | 229g | #1–3 | #0.8–3 | JPY 76,000 |
| 1.25-53 | 231g | #1–4 | #1–3 | JPY 76,500 |
| 1.5-53 | 235g | #1.5–4 | #1.2–4 | JPY 77,000 |
| 1.75-53 | 247g | #1.5–5 | #1.7–4 | JPY 78,500 |
| 2-53 | 250g | #2–6 | #2–5 | JPY 81,500 |
| 3-53T | 290g | No. 5–10 | #3–8 | JPY 83,500 |
How I judged it
As someone who likes reading spec sheets side by side, the first thing I looked at was the step between class 1.5 and class 1.75. The 1.5-53 is 235g and the 1.75-53 is 247g. Weight rises 12g here, and the lower end of the leader range also goes from #1.2 to #1.7.
This is the dividing line. By contrast, going from 1.25 to 1.5 adds only 4g, yet the sinker limit stays at No. 4 and the leader limit widens from #3 to #4. The range that takes both fine and heavy rigs is gathered in the 1.5-53.
A cheap gap. The price difference from the 1.25-53 is only JPY 500. If you are buying a Megathis R as your rock-shore rod No. 1, I can find no reason to skip the 1.5-53. My pick is the 1.5-53. A buy.
If unsure, this one.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Megathis R 1.5-53
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 56,749 (as of Oct 17). Some stores go up to JPY 66,066. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on NaturumSee it on Rakuten IchibaWhat is different about the "next-generation true action"?
The answer is the thickness of the rod. The heart of the Megathis R is its low-taper design. It is built so that the thickness barely changes from the reel seat to the butt cap.
A rod with little change in thickness bends not just at the tip but down to the butt, and the longer the bending section, the more the whole rod can take the force when a fish thrashes. What Daiwa calls true action is not a tune midway between tip and belly, but one where the whole rod takes the load.
This is new. On top of that, the action changes by class. The class 1 and 1.25 lean toward tip action, suited to handling fine line and quick cycles. The class 1.75 and 2 lean toward belly action, designed to hold up against the dives of onaga gure.
Within one series, the rods have clearly different characters by class. I rate this clear-cut approach highly. Rather than trying to do everything with one rod, pick the class to match the fish and the spot and each class gets to show what it does best.
5.0m or 5.3m: which should I choose?
I compared pairs of the same class that differ only in length, by weight and price. The gaps are my own calculations.
- Class 1: 221g and 229g. Gap 8g; price gap JPY 500
- Class 1.5: 229g and 235g. Gap 6g; price gap JPY 500
- Class 1.75: 236g and 247g. Gap 11g; price gap JPY 1,000
- Class 2: 240g and 250g. Gap 10g; price gap JPY 1,000
Light. At class 1.5, adding length makes it only 6g heavier. Given how a rod 30cm longer helps on high rock platforms, I take the 5.3m. The 5.0m has a transport length 5cm shorter at 110cm, and suits anglers with a small car or who want to cut their luggage for the ferry.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Megathis R 1.25-53
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 56,380 (as of Oct 17). Some stores go up to JPY 74,947. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on NaturumSee it on Rakuten IchibaWhat about weight per meter of rod?
Next is weight density. To compare rods of different lengths on the same yardstick, I calculated "weight ÷ total length."
- 1.5-53: 235g ÷ 5.3m = 44.3g per meter
- 2-53: 250g ÷ 5.3m = 47.2g per meter
- 4-53T: 314g ÷ 5.3m = 59.2g per meter
The gap between the 1.5-53 and the 2-53 is 2.9g per meter. Small. If you are going after onaga gure in earnest, I see this increase in weight as well within what you can accept.
The 4-53T is a different animal. Thick. The tip is a stout 1.4mm and the sinker rating is No. 10–15. It is less a gure rod than a rod for float fishing with heavy rigs.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Megathis R 1.75-53
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 57,854 (as of Oct 17). Some stores go up to JPY 69,080. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on NaturumSee it on Rakuten IchibaThings to watch
This part is so-so. From the 1.75-53 up, rods are 247g or more, 12g or more heavier than the 1.5-53. The gap shows. If lightness comes first, up to class 1.5 is the easy-to-handle range.
The price is JPY 77,000 (excl. tax) for the 1.5-53. Not cheap, but it is the price of a new generation built with care from the guides to the grip.
On the rocks, a life jacket and checking your footing come first. Follow the guidance of the Japan Coast Guard and each maker for equipment.
The small details are elaborately made. TC-IM guides on every section that resist line tangles, an IC guard that keeps line from sticking in rain and salt water, and a Power Hump Hold Seat that is easy to grip. As a new generation, taking the details this far is impressive. Well done.
Who is the Megathis R for?
- Anglers who want one rod for gure from nearshore rocks to offshore rocks (1.5-53)
- Anglers who use fine leaders in competitions and want quick cycles (1-50, 1.25-50)
- Anglers who want the backbone to stand up to onaga gure (class 1.75, 2)
If you want to cast far with cage float, the Megathis R Long Cast review, released at the same time, compares 3 rods. What to wear on the rocks is collected in our life jacket ranking. For a reel to pair with it, the 26 Tournament ISO LBD review, out in November, compares 4 models.
If you mostly fish sabiki and light casting on breakwaters, you could choose from shorter rods instead.
Release dates for other new gear are in the fishing gear release calendar.
FAQ
When is the Megathis R released?
Oct 2026. List price JPY 75,500–84,500 (excl. tax).
Which class of the Megathis R should I choose?
If unsure, the 1.5-53. It handles leaders of #1.2–4 and sinker ratings of No. 1.5–4, and weighs 235g.
How does the Megathis R differ from the Long Cast models?
The Long Cast models are three rods, class 3 to 5, and raise the sinker limit to No. 15–25. Compared at the same class 3 and 5.3m, the Long Cast is 60g heavier at 350g.
