Abu Garcia Real Finesse PRM Aji: A 37 g, 5’6” Ultralight Ajing Rod
Just before winter ajing season, Abu Garcia has released a remarkably light ajing rod: the Real Finesse PRM Aji — 5’6” and just 37 g. Paired with the ultralight Zenon CX reel, the whole outfit weighs about 150 g.
The Real Finesse PRM Aji (RFSS-562ULS) is the latest in Abu Garcia’s ultralight, ultra-sensitive Real Finesse flagship series. PRM stands for Premier. Release: late October 2026, at 56,500 yen (excl. tax).
Specs
| Item | RFSS-562ULS |
|---|---|
| Length | 5’6” (167.6 cm) |
| Weight | 37 g |
| Pieces | 2 |
| Closed length | 86 cm |
| Taper | Fast |
| Tip | Solid, 0.7 mm |
| Lure weight | 0.1–2.5 g |
| Line | PE up to 0.4 (ester OK) |
| Material | 100% carbon |
| Japan price | 56,500 yen (excl. tax) |
| Release | Late October 2026 |
The short length and 0.1–2.5 g rating make it clear: this is a specialist for delicate jighead work at close range around pier lights.
Key features
- New FLX (Fiber-Locked X-Weave) blank. Carbon fibres in two directions are woven into a single prepreg sheet for more strength, less wobble, faster tip recovery and more accurate casting.
- 100% Toray third-generation carbon (TORAYCA T1100G, M40X, M46X) to transmit light rig movement and tiny bites.
- Fuji titanium-frame, Torzite-ring micro guides — 50% lighter than before, compatible with PE and ester.
- Fuji USKSS reel seat — Fuji’s lightest ever, separated so your fingers touch the blank directly and feel the jighead in the current.
- 0.7 mm solid tip that does not bounce off weak aji bites.
Zenon CX 1000S pairing: about 150 g
Abu Garcia suggests pairing it with the Zenon CX 1000S spinning reel (113 g), for a total of about 150 g — very light by any ajing standard. Over a night of casting and working rigs, that lightness means less fatigue and more feel.
The Real Finesse story
| Year | Model |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Original Eradicator Real Finesse |
| 2021 | Eradicator Real Finesse Prototype (including Abu Garcia’s lightest-ever 27 g model) |
| 2026 | Real Finesse PRM Aji |
Why 5’6”?
- Control: tip movement goes straight to the jighead.
- Sensitivity: shorter distance from tip to hand.
- Faster hooksets: less lag between bite and strike.
- Light in hand: no tip-heavy feel, even after a long night.
The trade-off: it is not for long casts or high piers. It is a close-range, hook-setting ajing rod — and winter lights are exactly where it belongs.
Who it suits — and who it does not
- Great for: close-range pier-light fishing, 0.6–1.5 g jigheads, ester line and tiny bites, ultra-light outfits.
- Look elsewhere if: you want float or Carolina rigs for distance (2.5 g max), you fish high piers that need a long rod, or you are just trying ajing for the first time.
Line and jigheads
| Item | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Main line | Ester 0.2–0.3 or PE 0.2–0.3 |
| Leader | Fluorocarbon 0.8–1 |
| Jigheads | Mostly 0.6–1.5 g, up to about 2 g for wind and current |
Compared with other ajing rods
| Rod | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Garcia Real Finesse PRM Aji | 56,500 yen (excl. tax) | 5’6”, 37 g, FLX, 100% third-gen carbon |
| Shimano 26 Soare XTune | ~60,000 yen street | Shimano’s upper ajing range |
| Daiwa Gekkabijin Ajing | ~low 10,000s yen street | Entry to mid standard |
Minagiman’s take
Ajing rods have become a race for lightness and sensitivity, and 37 g — 150 g with the reel — is right at the front. What I find most interesting is FLX: the lighter a blank gets, the more it tends to wobble, and this rod attacks that weakness directly. Light, but steady — a rod for hooking tiny bites under winter lights. If you are upgrading, now, just before the season, is the time.
Read next
- Abu Garcia Zenon CX
- Shimano 26 Soare XTune
- Advanced winter jighead ajing
- Winter ajing beginner’s guide
