About XESTA
XESTA (ゼスタ) is a Japanese saltwater tackle brand operated as a division of Shimoda Gyogu Co., Ltd., based in Shimoda, Shizuoka. Shimoda Gyogu has a background in commercial fishing tackle (ayu hooks and terminal gear), and the XESTA line covers metal jigs, lures, and rods aimed at Japanese coastal and offshore lure fishing. The brand was started by Motohiro Utsunomiya, an offshore jigging angler who assembled a field-test team of discipline specialists; Takeshi Okutsu produces the Black Star light-game line.
The rod range is organized by fishing style. Black Star covers light game (ajing, mebaru, light rock), with solid-tip spinning models rated for PE 0.15 to 0.6 and lures down to 0.1g, and variants such as 2nd Generation, Extra Tuned, Boat, and Rock. Assault Jet is the eging family for squid (egi sizes around #1.8 to #3.5, PE 0.4 to 1.0), with Type S, Type TR, and Ikametaru sub-lines. Runway handles shore jigging, including the SLS (Super Light Shore Jigging) concept for small jigs and heavier Rock Shore and XR models. Catapult covers offshore and shore casting up to PE 8.
Slow Emotion, Power Pitch Jerk, and Scramble serve offshore vertical and slow-pitch jigging, with Power Pitch Jerk rods rated for jigs to 600g and PE 6. Blanks on the Runway line use Toray T1100G carbon, and rods are built with Fuji guides including Torzite and SiC versions.
What XESTA is known for
XESTA is known as a saltwater specialist spanning light game through heavy offshore jigging. Black Star is its main light-game line for ajing and mebaru, using solid tips and PE 0.15 to 0.6 ratings; Assault Jet is the eging series for squid. Runway covers shore jigging, with the SLS sub-line built around the brand's Super Light Shore Jigging method using small metal jigs. Slow Emotion and Power Pitch Jerk handle offshore slow-pitch and high-pitch vertical jigging with jigs to 600g. The rods pair with XESTA's own metal jigs and lures. Cross-shopped against other JDM saltwater brands such as Major Craft, Tailwalk, Yamaga Blanks, and Palms.