Okuma Hawaiian Custom Series Jigging & Popping Rods

Okuma learned to listen over the past 10 years, perhaps better than any other major manufacturer. Certainly their new product introductions have been right on target, and this series of rods represents the end result of listening to fishermen. In this case, they listened to the guys in Hawaii who wanted reliable, affordable, Japanese quality jigging and popping rods. They wanted a bit more stiffness in the jigging rods, shutting off before the rod's handle area. Pricing is very good, quality excellent. The build makes use of Fuji and ALPS components, 24 ton carbon fiber, skinny, sensitive, super! We're stocking these rods in depth, both the jigging and popping models. Please visit www.charkbait.com for more information and for ordering, click the following link: charkbait.com/?s=hawaiian+jig...

[@garycogland5518]

Serious knowledge transfer here, thank you!

[@CharkBaitUSA]

Thanks, I'm not that sharp... But, I do like the rods a lot, they did a very good job in their design.

[@andrewmorke]

Good video.

[@blackBUNNY2530]

Aloha from Kauai. Ordered the okuma cedros and okuma hawaiian custom popping rod from ya’ll but i only receive the reel. Idk when ya’ll ship the rod. Can’t wait to try it out. 🤙

[@giannisgavrielatos9074]

hi from greece!!!

[@CharkBaitUSA]

Good fishing to you and thanks for dropping by!

[@IBleedBolts]

Hello, great vid. What size(s) reel would you recommend for the smaller Hawaiian Popping rod? Looking to cast smaller poppers and stick baits for the finicky bluefin. Thank you.

[@CharkBaitUSA]

It's all about the line test and capacity needed, that's going to determine the size you need to run.

[@werenotfriends6243]

What color are the popping rod blanks?

[@rrarogal7958]

awesome info on the popping rods. Looked on the Okuma website and they have a new 2020 version with Alconite inserts vs alps/zirconium inserts. Are they updating the popping rod?

[@marksmith4452]

Good question... the Hawaiian popping rods use the Fuji Alconite guides - that's the only way these were made. The older series, blue colored rod blanks, used ALPS, and they are going away. Big difference in the two series, these are a higher grade product in my estimation - better to own, nicer to fish. I just wish they also made 'em in conventional form...we'll keep pushing on Okuma.

[@rrarogal7958]

Mark Smith hoping that’s the case with the alconites. The check charkbaits link in the description and they listed zirconium. On Okuma USA it also states zirconium. So confusing.

[@marksmith4452]

@@rrarogal7958 Hawaiian Popping and Jigging rods - different guides used on the popping and jigging rods, but both alconite. Older series ALPS guides used, newer series Fuji used on this series. Son Sergey here is a better guy to call, he's thinking Okuma info was on their old series, not the new. Sergey also used their info for our description. Sergey is now making an adjustment to our site to reflect reality in terms of guide selection.

[@rrarogal7958]

Mark Smith awesome mark. Thank you for taking the time to clarify this. With the new Fuji components, it is definitely on top of my list! Hopefully I’ll be able to pull the trigger sometime Black Friday or so. 🤞🏽

[@JoshJ1563]

Is this rod good for stickbaits and poppers for mainly dorado and tuna? Just want a light spinning setup for the cattle boats

[@CharkBaitUSA]

Sure bet on that application.

[@christianflores7583]

I need a popping rod for my saragosa 25000, okuma makaira popping 7'4 xh, or the pch 7'6xh, similar specs but which is really better

[@CharkBaitUSA]

Both very good rods. The Makaira rods emulated Calstar’s construction and action while the PCH series looked at United Composites as the model in terms of blank construction (not the same but some aspects similar which will provide greater durability thru abuse). Both good pieces, actions a bit different with the PCH being a little bit faster. The Hawaiian Popping rods are a different animal, skinnier blank and somewhat slower action, lighter weight as well. Sorry if I am confusing things further. Either direction, wonderful rods, excellent components and warranty from manufacturer.

[@christianflores7583]

@@CharkBaitUSA actually that helps alot, for the saragosa 25k ill go either pch or makaira in xh, the hawaiian custom maybe on a 10k size reel.

[@bettapyro2613]

Hey Mark, have any Mustad hooks came in?

[@CharkBaitUSA]

Depends which ones...? I've not done our BIG order for the summer season yet, that's something I generally do in late February/March, and bulks us up enough to usually make it thru August without gaps in stock...unless we have a run on smaller hooks like we did late summer/fall given small baits that put most supplier's inventory out of balance. Pretty good stock here on their hooks, couple gaps but not much missing on the wall. Not sure which you were looking for, it's best to email us directly, I don't usually catch posts here as regularly.

[@ungerlj87]

I’m a huge Okuma fan, but I was saddened when my Hawaiian custom slow pitch rod came. I didn’t order it from charkbait I ordered it from a dealer here on the east coast and what did upset me was the made in China sticker on it. I guess I expected more from Okuma since they own there own factory in Taiwan. And really I put it beside my grappler and trevala s and they are pretty much they same minus the foam handle and maybe an ever so slightly stiffer section behind the reel. Fished them all three side by side and I can’t tel the difference in the blanks used. They feel the same.

[@CharkBaitUSA]

Hi Luke, you will not find a USA made rod of this style. All are imports, and vast majority produced in china - like it or not. The bike maker's rods are made in china. Differences with Okuma, they own their overseas factory, they don't have rods built by another entity - they do the design and building. That's unlike others, such as phenix which many thing is a USA product when in fact it's far from that, just pieces from a secondary supplier in china. The action is different than other similar rods, these are in fact stiffer before the front grip. We also support Temple Reef, great jigging rods, some different actions available, range up top $500 territory though most in the 300 range. These too are built in china, though blanks are Japanese for many of the rods produced. To go USA made, at this time it would have to be custom wrapped United Composites. Understand that UC originally wrote the book on this stuff back in the '90's. When they went under it created a vacuum for other manufacturers to get involved. Blanks run closer to $200 vs $50 for an import, and then there's the build cost. Realistically, $500-600 for a UC jigging rod. Reality check... We need USA manufacturing, to achieve that, firms need support from the angling community. Not realistic to think it can be done at the $200 range. You mentioned two other rods, chinese produced pieces I believe. Frankly, I encouraged UC to build their Jigging RODS vs more 8-10 foot jig sticks. They already own that market, more beneficial for them to have gone into other areas - areas they already had the design work done. But, this was foreign turf to owner of UC at this time. We'll keep working on 'em.

[@ungerlj87]

@@CharkBaitUSA oh I know that they wouldn’t be made in the USA. I just was surprised at the made in China. I thought they were made in their factory in Taiwan. Being at the 200$ price point. I thought possibly it would be along the lines of a temple reef. That kind of quality and don’t get me wrong it’s a fine rod. I like the extended grip. What do you guys think about it compared to temple reef? Your carrying them now correct?

[@CharkBaitUSA]

@@ungerlj87 My son and GM here Sergey, made the call to bring in Temple Reef last year, in part because UC was not producing their jigging rods in finished form. UC was involved with Temple Reel many years ago, there's history. And when I say UC/GUSA had jigging rods prior to other firms I mean it, they laid down the original designs 30+ years ago and owned that market before GUSA was destroyed. Thankfully Peter Williams of Oz brought the firm back to life with a rebranded name - United Composites. TR is singularly focused on this style of rod, in my estimation. That gives them some advantages, they're more of a specialist. I'll suggest calling our shop and speaking to Serg. I think that discussion will be helpful.

[@sai_bfishing4547]

How many guides are on the jigging rod.spinning model?

[@CharkBaitUSA]

Always best to contact us direction thru email, to our business rather than YT. www.charkbait.com Having said that, for the popping rod six plus tip-top. For the jigging 9 conventional, 7 spinning. Come back to our website and please get hold of us directly for questions, I don't visit YT often but caught this message.

[@KC-gh5hw]

Is it a lifetime warranty? Because on Okuma web, it says 1 year limited warranty...

[@CharkBaitUSA]

Terms and conditions can change. In Japan, there's no such thing as a rod warranty since any rod can be broken thru misuse or abuse. There are manufacturers who commonly see increases in "warranty" claims once a new version of the rod comes out. Abuse can lead to changes in coverage over time. I believe the info I presented was correct at the time of publication, but things can change.

[@andrewmorke]

Do you like the Okuma Cruz series popping rods?

[@CharkBaitUSA]

Sorry, I can't speak to that series, do not have experience.

[@kenth6140]

is this rod popping and jigging ?

[@dannydnice1]

Both

[@bgschultz]

Hi Mark, In Okuma rods, what would recommend for fishing Yellowtail?

[@CharkBaitUSA]

They make a lot of rods, certainly the PCH series has gotten a lot of attention. Very good rods, great components, well priced rods. Those are more typical saltwater rods, emulating some aspects of UC's build design. In the case of the jigging and popping Hawaiian series rods, all are capable and all will deal with yellowtail effectively. If I had to pick two, the lighter 8'3" Popping model and the medium Jigging rod would likely be my two first picks. Note, in the case of the jigging rods, the selection is more about picking a rod to match the lure weights used. Any of the rods can deal with yellowtail, the match to the rod should strongly consider the line test and drag level to be used - that's #1 concern on the popping rods I'll suggest. In the case of the jigging pieces, #1 consideration should be lure weight and then match the line test to determine the drag load. Keep the drag load reasonable, within the line test parameters of the rod in question (if the rod says 30-60# then drag load could be 10 to 20 lbs based upon the line test used. Long answer to a short question....

[@CharkBaitUSA]

@@andrewrollins4898 - On these rods the seats are composite. The other material used on some other rods from Okuma and others would be an aluminum seat. It's one or the other for all rods built these days. The composite seats are lighter in weight, saves a few bucks on the build, and is all that's needed for these rods used as intended in terms of strength.

[@BBB_025]

CharkBaitUSA , can you suggest a lure weight and reel for the Southern California 3/4 day and overnight trips? Thank you for the awesome video, I have had my eye on these rods on the charkbait site for awhile. I didn’t see any other rods that said they were specific to vertical jigging. Is there a united composites vertical jigging rod on the site? Could 1 spinning reel fish vertical jigs on the Okuma jigging rod and then take it off and put it on the Okuma popping rod and fish poppers? 1 reel 2 rods? Not ideal but maybe a way to try out both styles before financially commuting to 2 full setups?

[@worthdoss8043]

For a $500 dollar rod it better be made by a grey whiskered old coot in the US that has been doing it for 50 years. Not something made in China. The mark up must be incredible from the wage of the poor slave that made it to the price we would pay for it. I'm a grey whiskered old coot so I can say grey whiskered old coot.

[@CharkBaitUSA]

The Okuma jigging and popping rods are priced realistically. Okuma has control of their rod factory, unlike most who source rods from China. For a USA made jigging or popping rods, United Composites produces those very well - but only the blanks, not in finished form. With that firm you get the gray bearded fellow who has been building for 50 years...well, not quite fifty but we're getting there and the price for a finished rod likely in that $500 range.