Designed Exclusively for Swordtip Squid

In the Kanto region, small swordtip squid (kensaki-ika) are called "maruika." Around Wakasa Bay and the Sea of Japan area, small swordtip squid are called "maika." In the Sea of Japan area off San'in, swordtip squid are called "shiro-ika" (white squid). In the Genkai Sea off Fukuoka, Saga, and Nagasaki, swordtip squid are called "yari-ika." Off Koshikijima in Kagoshima, and off Kochi and Wakayama, they are called "aka-ika." Developed for the Kanto and Kansai areas where the No.2.5 size is used heavily, this is the "hard-foam floating sutte, KensakiSP." To achieve a horizontal underwater posture—something extremely difficult with an ordinary floating sutte—we adopted a hard-foam urethane material, delivering the outstanding balance of a level, horizontal posture. It is a sutte born to conquer the wary swordtip squid of Kanto and Kansai.

The Special "No.2.5" Size

When targeting swordtip squid in Kanto and Kansai, the No.2.5 size is used most often. While this depends on the average size of the squid, it is thought to be because they are chasing schools of small baitfish. For this reason, a great many squid anglers prefer to use No.2.5 to No.3.0. However, the biggest problem with a No.2.5 sutte is that its small volume gives it little buoyancy. By using a hard-foam urethane material, the "KensakiSP" succeeds in overcoming this weakness, achieving high buoyancy despite its compact No.2.5 size.

Why We Insist on High Buoyancy and a Horizontal Posture

If the prey that swordtip squid feed on are schools of small baitfish, it stands to reason that maintaining a horizontal posture—closer to that of a baitfish—is more effective. The "KensakiSP" succeeds in controlling buoyancy so that it holds a horizontal posture even in flowing seawater. Naturally, many sutte that catch well pursue this same balance, but because of the tiny buoyancy of the No.2.5 size, most of those sutte drastically reduce the number of hooks and use only a single-tier hook. In other words, most No.2.5-class sutte sacrifice the strength of their crown hooks (kanna) in exchange for better balance. This is the single biggest cause of losing hooked squid. To reduce the loss of squid finally hooked, strong, robust squid hooks are essential. The "KensakiSP" achieves this in two ways.

Fitted with a Powerful Crown Hook: The "KensakiSP Single-Tier Hook"

Made possible by its high buoyancy, the KensakiSP Single-Tier Hook is fitted with a crown-hook (kanna) type hook. It is a robust crown hook strong enough to be mounted on an egi (squid jig), so you can hook even parasol-sized swordtip squid with confidence. Hook diameter: 0.7 mm. It is also effective in the Kanto area, where single-tier hooks are widely used. By adopting a powerful crown hook, the single-tier hook works not only with swing (buranko) rigs but also with direct-drop and direct-tie rigs.

The Reassuring "KensakiSP Two-Tier Hook"

Ideally we would have mounted two tiers of robust crown hooks, but even with the buoyancy of the "KensakiSP," maintaining balance proved impossible. So the two-tier version adopts the "monofilament-wound" (tegusu-maki) hooks also used on the Bibin Sutte. Hook diameter: 0.6 mm. The point worth noting here is that most floating sutte—including the Bibin Sutte—cannot maintain balance at the No.2.5 size even with a "monofilament-wound" two-tier setup, because their buoyancy is too low. The "KensakiSP," despite being a No.2.5 size, achieves outstanding balance even in a two-tier configuration.

Comparison with the Bibin Sutte No.2.5

The Bibin Sutte, made by KeyStone using blow molding. The Bibin Sutte and the KensakiSP look almost identical—so what exactly is the difference? It is the "high-buoyancy design that was extremely difficult to achieve in a No.2.5-class sutte." A floating sutte made by ordinary blow molding cannot hold much air inside its body, because it must be built with thick walls so the body does not collapse under water pressure. As a result, blow-molded floating sutte of No.3.0 and smaller could not be called both "high-buoyancy" and "well-balanced." But this "foam floating sutte, KensakiSP" is what finally achieved—in a compact floating sutte that had never before been possible—"high buoyancy," "excellent balance," and "water-pressure resistance to 200 m."

Compatible with Swing (Buranko) Rigs

A sutte with no buoyancy sinks when the branch line is set long, leaving the sutte hanging low and prone to tangling with the main line. But the high-buoyancy KensakiSP readily holds a horizontal posture when it catches the current, so it tangles little even with a long leader. Of course, it also works with direct-drop rigs. Its balanced design suits a wide variety of presentations, tempting swordtip squid and making them grab hold.

Low Water Absorption

The hard-foam urethane material used in the "KensakiSP." Even unprocessed hard-foam urethane naturally resists absorbing water, but at a depth of 200 m the water pressure can force water in and upset the balance. That is why the hard-foam floating sutte series is given a special treatment that resists absorbing water, so it stays water-resistant even when used in deep areas. Furthermore, to maintain excellent balance even after a full day of use, no cotton (wata) is wound on; instead a water-repellent-treated cloth is used, achieving both "sustained excellent balance" and "water-pressure resistance to 200 m."

For Multiple Hookups, Buoyancy and Posture Hold the Key

"I want to out-catch everyone else on the boat..."—something every angler thinks. When you want to compete on numbers, the quickest way is the "multiple hookup" (renkake). Landing two or three squid per cast builds your count far more efficiently than one per cast. Before you know it, you've caught twice—or three times—as many as your fellow anglers. When you jerk to entice with one squid already hooked, you can sometimes lose it to tearing and the like. So what should you do? When one is hooked, either reel up at ultra-low speed or, while keeping line tension, feed out a little line—the hooked squid will pull the rig into the school, and you may hook even more. What matters then is "buoyancy and posture." A sutte with no buoyancy hangs with its hooks lowered, so its posture is poor and it won't move unless you actively work it. A buoyant sutte drifts softly in the current, tempting still more squid. For "multiple hookups," "buoyancy and posture" are what matter.

Choosing the Right One for the Situation

The fishermen who land over 200 kilograms of swordtip squid and spear squid (yari-ika) in eight hours are after squid that are bigger, and more numerous. Watching how they work, one important thing you notice is that they never convince themselves that "this sutte is the most versatile of all!" Depending on the underwater situation at the time, sometimes the "KensakiSP" is best, sometimes the "Ukipura Hybrid Hook" is best, and sometimes the "Bibin Sutte No.6" is best. To make the most of this, we believe the most effective approach is to keep several sutte that clear the basic performance requirements and switch between them according to the conditions. To determine whether the squid are responding to the sutte's color or to its size, it is safer to prioritize the sutte's basic performance. KeyStone's "Ukipura Hybrid Hook," "Bibin Sutte," and "KensakiSP" each possess basic performance with their own distinct characteristics. Use them skillfully according to the situation and enjoy your swordtip squid fishing.

Color Chart

COLOR CHART

Price, Specs & Other Details

・ "Hard-foam floating sutte, KensakiSP, No.2.5, single-tier hook" ... Overall length: 75 mm　 2 pieces per pack　 Open price

・ "Hard-foam floating sutte, KensakiSP, No.2.5, two-tier hook" ... Overall length: 85 mm　 2 pieces per pack　 Open price

・ "Hard-foam floating sutte, KensakiSP, No.3.5, two-tier hook" ... Overall length: 95 mm　 2 pieces per pack　 Open price