2026.10.21

Jackall Big Backer Forged Bait: A Tough Heavy Sinking Pencil for Pelagics

minagiman

In September 2026 Jackall added a heavy sinking pencil to its Big Backer series: the Big Backer Forged Bait. Every surf and pier angler knows the day when bait is breaking on the surface but the pelagics ignore metal jigs. This lure is built to slot into your rotation for exactly that day.

Contents

Specs
What “Forged” means
Casting: a jig-like feel
When to throw it instead of a jig
Colours
Where it sits in the Big Backer range
Suggested tackle
Minagiman’s take
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Specs

Model	Length	Weight	Type	Price (incl. tax)
Forged Bait 30 g	95 mm	30 g	Sinking	1,760 yen
Forged Bait 40 g	105 mm	40 g	Sinking	1,870 yen

Released September 2026, two sizes, eight colours.

What “Forged” means

The name is about strength, and that is the biggest difference from ordinary plugs.

Body walls about twice as thick as a normal plug — Jackall’s answer to plugs cracking on pelagic teeth, rocks and tetrapods.
Seamless eyes stamped from 1.2 mm stainless plate. Unlike bent-wire eyes, they resist opening under load from big fish.
Stainless stamped lip. No plastic lip to chip or snap. The small lip mainly stops the lure rising on the retrieve so it holds its depth.

In other words, the Forged Bait removes the usual excuse for not using plugs around rocks and tetrapods.

Casting: a jig-like feel

A slightly tail-heavy body and weight layout keep it stable in flight; Jackall says it casts so cleanly you could mistake it for a jig. Sinking pencils normally cast well but can tumble into a headwind — this shape tackles that. On a beach, extra distance directly means more water covered.

When to throw it instead of a jig

Lure	Distance	Action	Best for
Metal jig	Excellent	Fast, sharp	Searching, active fish, deep water
Heavy sinking pencil	Good–excellent	Slow and natural	Fish boiling far out but refusing jigs; small bait
Minnow / plug	Fair	Natural	Bait close to shore

Birds and boils out wide, but jigs get refused — reach them and show something slow.
Small bait — the slim profile looks less out of place than a jig.
After the dawn bite dies — slow down and work the same depth carefully.
Around rocks and tetrapods — fish near the bottom without worrying about breaking it.

Targets include yellowtail and other pelagics, flounder (hirame), flathead (magochi), hirasuzuki and rockfish.

Colours

Situation	Colours
Daytime, clear water	Shirasu Clear; Mekki / UV Stripe
Dawn and dusk	Aka-Kin (red gold); Pink Candy / Glow Stripe
Murky water, low light	Chart Gold; Matt Pink
Night	Blue Pink / Glow Stripe; Pink Candy / Glow Stripe
Lots of sagoshi around	Super Sagoshi Spark

If you buy one, Aka-Kin or Matt Pink are the safe choices. Colour names are romanised; export names may differ.

Where it sits in the Big Backer range

Big Backer is best known for metal vibes and blade baits like the E-Blade S, which call fish in with strong vibration. The Forged Bait is the follow-up: once fish are interested, it gets them to eat. Carrying both makes rotation easy.

Suggested tackle

Part	Recommendation
Rod	MH–H shore jigging rod or ~10 ft surf rod
Reel	4000–5000 spinning reel
Line	PE 1.2–2.0
Leader	30–40 lb fluorocarbon (heavier when sawara are around)

Minagiman’s take

It combines jig-like distance with plug-like “eat me” action, and it is strong enough to fish hard around structure. For the classic “they are breaking but won’t touch my jig” morning, this is the kind of lure I want in my bag.