NEW TACKLE FOR 2027 AT ICAST ROUNDUP!
- Nick Honachefsky
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Nick Honachefsky
I spent the past week dodging thunderstorms and influencers at ICAST 2026 in Orlando to find the new products I believe I could use in the new year. Here’s my Top roundup of stuff I’m putting in my personal arsenal for the upcoming year.
DAIWA SP MINNOW LC150 HD
Surfcasters look no further. Without a doubt, the Daiwa SP Minnow is the top dog in both mine and the general Northeast surfcaster’s striped bass bag and as if the model couldn’t get any better, the new Long Cast SP Minnow is now out. Available in 6 colors, the weight displacement BB system to load up the plug for a flight past the outer bar to score from the shore. I cannot wait to use these as soon as Daiwa sends them out to me, but rest assured, you’ll be hearing a lot about their striper success this fall. I don’t even have the legit price yet but probably between $12-$14.
SHIMANO INSURGENCE ROD
Perfect for the lighter tackle surf fare. Can handle 15 to 20-pound striped bass as well as be sensitive enough to bucktail fluke in the suds. My favorite in the lineup is the Medium Heavy INS70MH rated for 20-30 lb throwing a 3/8 to 1 ounce weight. Ten purpose-built spinning models cover all species with Hi-Power X construction reinforcing the blank with diagonal carbon tape for crisper action without added weight, while a Carbon Monocoque rear grip transmits every tick and tap directly to your hand. Fuji O Guides ensure smooth, accurate presentations with light artificials, and a CI4+ reel seat locks in a lightweight, ultra-sensitive connection between rod and reel. $329.99-$379.99
MUSTAD DELTA POINT SWORDFISH/TUNA HOOK
Northeast and Florida Keys swordfish and tuna anglers have the ultimate hook for penetration and power with the new Mustad Delta Point lineup. Totally built for big game offshore, use the hooks for swordfish baits or to rig for trolling tuna on your ballyhoo, spreader bars and daisy chains. The Delta Point technology makes its debut on the Mustad 7691S Swordfish Hook, which pairs DeltaPoint™ with a fully welded eye for maximum strength under the heavy, sustained loads of offshore swordfishing, tuna trolling, highspeed wahoo trolling, and much more. Point geometry, welded-eye construction, triangular point structure engineered for knife-edge penetration through a two-step ground tip. An integrated rib runs from barb to point reinforcing strength without adding weight. Engineered for hardcore big game. $7.00
TSUNAMI FORGED REELS
Smooth spinning reels are in my omnipresent quiver for back bay, inshore and surf and the Tsunami Forged spinning reel lineup checks all the boxes. I dig the 4000 to 6000 models for bouncing bucktails on fluke over heavy structure or surfcasting plugs. Premium sealing and all-metal durability featuring IPX7 protection with 16 internal seals, Brass B-Drive gearing for durability and smooth power transfer, Sealed Hammer Drag System, 4 sealed stainless steel bearings + 1 sealed clutch bearing among other attributes mean the reel can stand up to the wear and tear of the saltwater at an affordable price of: $300.
SPRO THREADFIN CHAD SHADD KGB
Stickbaits and glide baits have blown up in the Northeast for stripers with anglers paying over $150 for some models but the Spro Threadfin Chad Shadd allows anglers to grab a solid jointed stickbait at a fairly affordable price point. Its made for muskies and bucketmouth bass, but switch out the trebles for the Gamakatsu Treble XP XH Size 1/0 hooks to make it usable for big stripers. Don’t use em when bluefish are around. Its dimensions are 7.1 inches and weighs 2.4 ounces with a price point of $62.99.
ST. CROIX TIDEMASTER SERIES
Hell yeah its back! My huckleberry rod in the surf from the late 90’s on wasn’t a meat stick nor a popular option, but it was the St. Croix Tidemaster 7-6 series rated for 8 to 17 pound. I was absolutely devastated when St. Croix discontinued the series a couple years ago but felt like I was reborn when I saw the new Tidemaster Inshore Series is now being manufactured again! I am all in on the usual rod models but especially for surf fluke, albies, Spanish mack, blues and bass I like the 27INES70MF, 7-foot medium power for 8-17 pound rated for 3/8 to ¾ ounce. Count me in man. Nobody’s even got stock photos for this yet, so the clipshot will have to do. I don’t know the exact pricing but its around: $150
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