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Minagiman's Fishing Adventures in Japan
Major Craft Break Back 120: A Long-Casting Sinking Minnow for Yellowtail and Blue-Water Fish
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Major Craft has released the Break Back 120, a minnow made specifically for aomono, the Japanese term for fast blue-water fish such as yellowtail, amberjack, bonito and Spanish mackerel.
Shimano, Daiwa and plenty of other makers already sell minnows for these fish, and most use weight-transfer systems with similar casting distance, so it can be hard to choose. What sets the Break Back apart is balance.
Price
¥1,900 (¥2,090 incl. tax).
Features
The Break Back 120 was developed as a dedicated blue-water minnow for everything from shore to boat. Its 120 mm body and 26 g weight are tuned for these fish.
Designed for overall balance
The biggest feature is a design focused on overall balance. Distance, action and depth control, the three key qualities of a minnow, are all stable. Stability at high retrieve speeds stands out: it keeps a steady swimming posture and holds the set depth even on a fast retrieve.
Long casts from a tungsten weight and aero shape
A high-density tungsten ball inside moves smoothly on the cast for a big boost in distance. Combined with a streamlined aero form that minimises air resistance, it delivers outstanding casting range. Studying airflow to this extent feels like car or motorbike design.
Strong Japanese hooks
It comes with Japanese-made Gekisasu hooks for durability and strength. The thick-wire hooks handle the hard runs of blue-water fish and unexpected big bites, so the lure can perform at its best.
Action
It runs to a maximum depth of 2.5 m. As well as a steady retrieve, it responds well to jerks such as the one-pitch jerk.
Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Colours | 10 |
| Price | ¥1,900 (¥2,090 incl. tax) |
| Length | 120 mm (body only) |
| Weight | 26 g |
| Type | Sinking |
| Depth | Max 2.5 m |
Recommended rod: Crosride 1G-class
Major Craft’s own Crosride 1G-class is a good partner. It has two groups: Light Shore Jigging (LSJ) models for lighter 10–50 g jigs and lures, and Shore Jigging models for more serious work.
- XR1-942ML/LSJ: versatile, covers small blue-water fish such as mackerel, frigate tuna and young Spanish mackerel
- XR1-1002MH: handles small to large fish and works with metal jigs, minnows and topwater plugs
- XR1-1002HH: the strongest model, rated up to 120 g for big fish from offshore rocks
All models share a forgiving blank that is easy to cast and casts far, Fuji K-guide frames and a grip that reduces fatigue.
Light Shore Jigging models
| Model | Price (incl. tax) | Length | Pieces | Lure (g) | PE (Japanese size) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XR1-942ML/LSJ | ¥15,000 (¥16,500) | 9’4″ | 2 | 15–40 | 0.6–1.5 |
| XR1-962M/LSJ | ¥15,500 (¥17,050) | 9’6″ | 2 | 15–50 | 0.8–2.0 |
| XR1-1002M/LSJ | ¥16,000 (¥17,600) | 10’0″ | 2 | 15–50 | 0.8–2.0 |
Shore Jigging models
| Model | Price (incl. tax) | Length | Pieces | Lure (g) | PE (Japanese size) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XR1-962M | ¥16,500 (¥18,150) | 9’6″ | 2 | 20–60 | 1.0–2.5 |
| XR1-1002M | ¥17,000 (¥18,700) | 10’0″ | 2 | 20–60 | 1.0–2.5 |
| XR1-962MH | ¥17,000 (¥18,700) | 9’6″ | 2 | 60±20 | 1.0–3.0 |
| XR1-1002MH | ¥17,500 (¥19,250) | 10’0″ | 2 | 60±20 | 1.0–3.0 |
| XR1-1002H | ¥18,000 (¥19,800) | 10’0″ | 2 | 80±20 | 1.5–3.5 |
| XR1-1002HH | ¥18,500 (¥20,350) | 10’0″ | 2 | 100±20 | 1.5–4.0 |
Prices shown as before tax, with the tax-inclusive price in brackets.
Colours to note
- #9 Edge Orange
- #10 Clear Pink Head Chart
For more on targeting these fish from the shore, see how to start shore jigging and yellowtail season on the surf.
Summary
- A 120 mm, 26 g sinking minnow built for blue-water fish
- Balanced distance, action and depth control, stable even on fast retrieves
- Tungsten weight transfer and aero body for long casts
- Thick-wire Japanese Gekisasu hooks
- Runs to 2.5 m and responds to steady retrieves and jerks; ¥1,900 before tax
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.
