What is メタルジグ（イワシ）?
Meet Daiso's third-generation metal jig — simply called "メタルジグ (イワシカラー)" — and it might be the most surprisingly capable fishing lure you'll ever find at a 100-yen shop. At just ¥110 (roughly $0.70), this slim sardine-colored metal lure goes head-to-head with brand-name jigs that retail for ¥600–¥1,000 at tackle shops. Yes, really.
The body is cast from a lead alloy and measures a sleek 9.3 cm × 1.5 cm × 1.5 cm — a stick-shaped profile that cuts through wind far better than its flatter predecessor (the now-legendary "Jig Rock"). Construction details are genuinely impressive for the price: a carbon steel hook, SUS304 stainless steel wire and split ring, epoxy resin eyes, strontium aluminate glow paint, acrylic resin body paint, polyurethane topcoat, polyester resin primer, and an aluminum hologram film sealed with epoxy acrylate. That's a full professional-grade material stack on a ¥110 budget.
The standout design feature is the center-balance weight placement. Unlike the rear-weighted Jig Rock, this jig maintains a horizontal fall posture, creating a slow, natural glide that mimics dying baitfish — exactly the action that triggers strikes from pelagic targets like Spanish mackerel (サワラ), yellowtail (青物), cutlassfish (タチウオ), and flatfish (ヒラメ). The sardine hologram coloring is considered the single most versatile color in saltwater jigging, making this an instant all-rounder for boat, surf, and shore fishing.
Source: daisonet.com
How to Use It — Hack Ideas
Primary Use — Cast & Retrieve: Tie a snap to your mainline, clip on the jig, and cast as far as possible. You can work it three ways: slow retrieve off the bottom, a lift-and-fall jigging action (sharply raise your rod then let it flutter down on slack line), or a high-speed surface retrieve that creates commotion simulating a fleeing bait school. That last method — ripping it across a calm surface — is reportedly explosive fun when predators are feeding near the top.
Hack #1 — Budget Surf Photography Weight: The 9.3 cm lead-alloy body is surprisingly aerodynamic and heavy for its size. Landscape photographers who need a compact, cheap casting weight to test wind and current direction at a surf shoot? Clip one onto a spare leader, toss it out, and watch how the line lays. Lose it to a snag and you're out ¥110 — not ¥800.
Hack #2 — Glow-in-the-Dark Keychain Lure Display: The strontium aluminate glow paint charges in sunlight and emits a cool blue-green glow in the dark. Remove the hook (safely!), thread paracord through the split ring, and you have a luminous, conversation-starting keychain or bag charm with genuine fishing heritage. Charge it under a lamp before a night out and it glows for hours.
Reviews & Verdict
Fishing media and tackle bloggers who have tested all three generations of Daiso metal jigs consistently rank this third-generation model as the best of the line. The most cited improvement over the second-gen Jig Rock is dramatically better paint durability — where the older model would shed its finish within a handful of casts on rocky surf, reviewers report the current sardine jig holding color through multiple sessions on sand and rock alike. Side-by-side comparisons with premium Shimano lures show the Daiso jig holding its own in appearance, even if the hook quality is the one area where anglers typically recommend an upgrade swap.
The center-balance design earns consistent praise for making the lure beginner-friendly — you don't need expert rod technique to get a fish-attracting horizontal flutter on the fall. "Buy ten, lose them without guilt" is a sentiment that appears repeatedly, and it reflects a real strategic advantage: anglers fish more aggressively in snag-heavy areas when each lost lure costs less than a vending machine drink.
The one caveat worth noting: the stock hook is functional but not exceptional. Serious anglers often swap it for a quality assist hook or treble for improved hook-up rates on larger species. That said, countless casual reports confirm it catches fish straight out of the package. For a beach day, a beginner's first jig, or a backup lure to fill your tackle box without financial pain, this is a near-perfect buy.
Value Score: 92/100
A professional-spec material list, genuine fish-catching performance, and glow-paint versatility at ¥110 make this one of Daiso's most defensible value stories — the only thing keeping it from perfection is a hook that serious anglers will want to upgrade. A true Daiso gem — don't miss this one.
