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Minagiman's Fishing Adventures in Japan
Abu Garcia Zenon CX: A 118 g 2500 Spinning Reel – and the Compromises to Know
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Abu Garcia has released an astonishingly light spinning reel in Japan: the Zenon CX, on sale from 29 September 2026. The 2500 size weighs just 118 g – said to be among the lightest spinning reels ever made.
To get there, it makes some bold compromises: left-hand retrieve only, and a bail you close by hand. Here is everything, including what to know before you buy.
Specifications
| Size | Weight | Gear ratio | Retrieve / turn | Max drag | PE capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000S | 113 g | 5.2 | 63 cm | 2.3 kg | PE 0.3 – 120 m |
| 2000SH | 114 g | 6.2 | 80 cm | 2.3 kg | PE 0.6 – 100 m |
| 2500SH | 118 g | 6.2 | 84 cm | 5 kg | PE 0.8 – 150 m |
| 3000SH | 124 g | 6.2 | 89 cm | 5 kg | PE 1.2 – 150 m |
All sizes have 10+1 bearings and the same list price of 75,000 yen (excl. tax) in Japan. PE sizes are Japanese gō numbers. Even the largest 3000SH is only 124 g – the weight barely changes as the size goes up.
vs the 21 Zenon
| Zenon CX | 21 Zenon | |
|---|---|---|
| List price (excl. tax) | 75,000 yen | 49,500 yen |
| Weight (2500) | 118 g | 148 g |
| Body | Magnesium | Magnesium |
| Rotor | FCC (forged carbon) | C6 |
| Handle + knob | FCC + 3VA knob | Laminated carbon + TPU |
| Slack guard | Yes | No |
| Bail return | Manual | Automatic |
30 g lighter than the 21 Zenon. The price is 25,500 yen higher, but almost every part has been redesigned.
Why is it so light?
1. An asymmetric, left-hand-only body
Most spinning reels are built so the handle can be swapped between sides. The Zenon CX removes the whole mechanism for right-hand winding and is left-hand only. The gear that drives the oscillation sits outside the body, so the body itself is even more compact. It is made of X-Mag Alloy, and a special surface treatment is said to make it saltwater-capable.
2. Forged Compressed Carbon (FCC)
The rotor and handle arm use FCC: finely chopped carbon fibre compressed in a mould under heat and pressure – a technique also used in racing cars. With fibres randomly distributed, it is almost equally strong in every direction. Against the 21 Zenon (2500), the rotor is about 16% lighter and 43% stronger, and the handle arm about 45% lighter.
3. A turbine-shaped lightweight spool
A turbine-shaped spool with thinner walls that keep their strength – about 35% lighter than the 21 Zenon (2500) spool.
4. Manual bail return (MagneTrip)
On a normal spinning reel, turning the handle snaps the bail closed with a spring. The Zenon CX uses a magnet to save weight, and you close the bail by hand after the cast.
- 3VA handle knob – a 3D-printed hollow knob that feels close to EVA and does not slip.
- Carbon matrix drag – smooth, while handling high drag settings.
- Rocket Line Management – spool, oscillation and bail designed to reduce tangles.
- Rocket Slack Guard – prevents line falling off when you lift the rod to work a lure.
- Salt Shield bearings – water-repellent coating to resist salt-induced noise.
Know before you buy
- Left-hand retrieve only. If you wind with your right hand, you cannot use it – the handle cannot be swapped at all.
- Manual bail. No problem if you already close the bail by hand; a learning curve if you close it with the handle.
- Drag: 2.3 kg on the 1000S and 2000SH, 5 kg on the 2500SH and 3000SH – not for powerful fishing such as pelagics or surf flounder.
- 75,000 yen for every size – flagship pricing.
Many anglers already close the bail by hand to reduce line problems, so for them it is hardly a drawback.
What is it for?
| Size | Recommended fishing |
|---|---|
| 1000S | Light game: ajing, mebaring, trout |
| 2000SH | All-round light game, bass finesse |
| 2500SH | Eging, bass, black bream, light seabass |
| 3000SH | Eging (for longer PE 0.6-0.8), harbour seabass |
Abu Garcia recommends it for light game such as ajing and mebaring through to bass and eging. The more you hold and work the rod, the more the lightness pays off. For eging, the 2500SH or 3000SH – jerking all day, 118-124 g directly means less fatigue. For ajing and mebaring, the 1000S or 2000SH; with a light rod the whole outfit becomes remarkably light.
Common questions
Can a right-hand winder use it?
No. It is a left-hand-only model; the handle cannot be swapped.
Does the bail close when I turn the handle?
No. It uses a magnetic manual bail return – close it by hand after casting.
Can I use it in saltwater?
The magnesium body has a special surface treatment and is said to be saltwater-capable, with Salt Shield bearings. Rinse it well in fresh water after use.
Can I use it for surf flounder or pelagics?
With 5 kg max drag and up to 150 m of PE 1.2, it is not suited to them. It is for light game, eging and bass. For the surf, see the Daiwa 26 Freams or Shimano Miravel.
Summary
- 2500SH at 118 g; all four sizes 113-124 g.
- 75,000 yen (excl. tax) for every size; on sale 29 September 2026 in Japan.
- Left-hand only, FCC rotor and handle, turbine spool – lightness taken to the limit.
- Manual bail.
- Lightness pays off most in fishing where you keep working the rod: light game, eging, bass.
If left-hand winding and a manual bail do not bother you, this is a first-choice reel for anyone putting lightness above everything. If you can, hold one in a shop and feel the weight for yourself.
Read next
- Shimano 26 Soare BB
- Daiwa Gekkabijin autumn 2026 lineup
- Shimano 26 Sephia XTune eging rod
- Yamashita Egi-Oh K
- Daiwa 24 Luvias
- Abu Garcia Oceanfield Sawara Casting
- Abu Garcia Real Finesse PRM Aji
- Abu Garcia Zenon Core BF7 and HS8
ABOUT ME
Born in 1994. Originally from Hyogo Prefecture, I moved to Iwata City in Shizuoka Prefecture in search of the sea. I am an Enshunada surf angler who enjoys surf fishing. I am also active on YouTube, and my fishing grounds range from Irago to Iwata.
