HAYABUSA - SR422/SR423 SQUID FISHING RIG SET 1 WAY 2 WAY

Hayabusa SR422 / SR423 Squid Fishing Rig Set 1 Way / 2 Way

These are squid leaders, not baitfish rigs. Hayabusa builds them for ika-metal — the Japanese boat method where a weighted metal sutte or egi hangs at the bottom of the leader and a lighter dropper sutte rides on a short branch above it, so two different presentations fish the same drop. The leader comes pre-tied with the branch and loops formed, which is the part most anglers get wrong: a dropper arm that is too long or too soft wraps the main line on every fall. The SR422 is the 1-way, a 90 cm ultra-short spec with a single dropper branch. The SR423 is the 2-way double spec, 1.2 m long with two branches. Both come two complete sets to a pack. In Malaysian waters this is the same job as a candat sotong rig, run off a lighter rod with more finesse.

Key Features

• Pre-tied ika-metal leader with the dropper branch and connection loops already formed
• SR422 — 1-way, single dropper, 90 cm ultra-short spec, harisu #5 with #5 main line
• SR423 — 2-way, double dropper, 1.2 m, harisu #4 with #4 main line
• Two complete sets per pack
• Short, stiff branch arms so the dropper stands away from the main line instead of tangling on the drop
• Ultra-short branch transmits rod movement directly to the dropper for a sharp, controlled lure action
• Runs a weighted metal sutte or egi at the bottom and a lighter sutte on the branch

How To Fish It

• Rigging the set — Tie the main line to the top loop, hang the weighted metal sutte or egi at the bottom, and clip a lighter sutte to the branch. Drop straight down; this is a vertical method, not a casting one.
• Squid hug, they do not bite — A squid wraps its arms around the sutte and pulls it toward itself. There is no thump. You feel weight arriving, weight disappearing, or the line going slack — all three are takes.
• Never strike — Do not swing the rod. Lift smoothly and keep winding. The barbless sutte crowns hold only while the line stays loaded, and a hard hookset or a moment of slack drops the squid every time.
• Working the drop — Lift the rod steadily, pause, and let the rig settle. Most takes happen in that pause. Count the rig down and stop at different depths until you find the holding layer, then stay there.
• Night under lights — Squid stack at the edge of a boat light or a jetty lamp where the beam meets the dark. Fish the shadow line, not the middle of the glare, and let the dropper sutte hang above the metal in the lit zone.
• Choosing 1-way or 2-way — Take the SR422 when squid are close to the metal, when current is strong, or when you want the cleanest rig on the drop. Take the SR423 to test two sutte colours or sizes on one pass and to cover a wider band of water.

Target Species By Region

• Southeast Asia — Sotong (bigfin reef squid and mitre squid) on night candat sotong trips off Kelantan, Terengganu and the Riau islands, plus small cuttlefish over sand and rubble.
• North America — Market squid on West Coast night boats under deck lights, and inshore longfin squid over Atlantic sand edges in spring and autumn.
• Japan & East Asia — The method's home water: kensaki-ika and yari-ika on ika-metal boats, worked alongside standard eging tackle and tuned by dropper length and sutte weight.
• Australia, Middle East & Europe — Southern calamari off Australian jetties and reef edges; cuttlefish and squid in the Gulf; European squid and cuttlefish over Mediterranean and Atlantic sand banks.

Specifications

Harisu and main line figures are Japanese go (号) line sizes.

Recommended Pairing

• A dedicated ika-metal or light jigging rod with a soft, visible tip — the tip is how you see a squid arrive, not your hands
• PE 0.4–0.8 braid on a 2000–2500 size spinning reel, or a small baitcaster where depth counting matters
• Weighted metal sutte or egi to suit depth and current at the bottom position, with a lighter unweighted sutte on the branch
• Keep drag light and smooth; a locked drag tears the arms and loses the squid at the surface