AFTA’s Best in Show awards are an important part of the Australian tackle industry’s annual trade show, but this year we wanted to take a broader look at the new tackle arriving on the Australian market. Some of our winners were launched at AFTA, while others came from distributors who were not exhibiting at the show, so Best in Show no longer accurately describes what we are judging. Hooked Up Best New Tackle 2026 is simply our take on the standout new products available to Australian anglers in the second half of the year.
The biggest difference is the categories. Traditional awards can place products built for completely different jobs against one another. A lightweight spin reel designed for lure casting is not trying to achieve the same thing as a reel chosen for bait fishing, while a 70mm trout or bream hardbody should not be judged against a 200mm lure built for cod or barra. Our categories are designed around how anglers actually choose and use their tackle.
Rod and reel awards are judged by series rather than one individual model. We may use a particular model as the main reference, but the award recognises how successfully the complete range has been designed for its intended purpose. Soft plastics and hardbodies are split into small, medium and large categories, while specialist areas such as game fishing, squid, offshore casting, fly fishing, line, leader and terminal tackle are assessed separately.
We have also deliberately kept the awards tackle-focused rather than creating categories simply because something new happened to be displayed at the show. The official AFTA awards are determined by retailer voting, where demand, price, margin and sell-through naturally matter. Our awards are an editorial assessment focused on purpose, design, build quality, innovation, value and what a product genuinely offers the angler.
There is no requirement to name a winner simply to fill a category. If we do not believe a new product genuinely deserves an award, we would rather leave it out. Every winner is then considered for our Hooked Up Product of the Year – the single new tackle product that stood out most to us in 2026.
There was also plenty we wanted to see and did not. Most notably, we want manufacturers to put far more development into premium tackle for bait fishing. Snapper rods, garfish and King George whiting rods, surf rods and dedicated bait-fishing bream rods deserve the same level of thought we routinely see poured into barra, lure-fishing bream and Murray cod ranges. Bait anglers represent a huge part of Australian fishing, yet too often they are treated like the poor cousins of the tackle market. The assumption seems to be that they will not engage with premium, technique-specific gear; our view is that the gear largely has not been built or marketed to them. Build it properly, explain why it is better and anglers will come.
We would also like to see more rods and lures developed specifically for big dusky flathead. It is arguably one of Australia’s biggest lure fisheries, yet purpose-built rod development for techniques such as working large jerkbaits from a boat remains surprisingly thin. Tackle storage was another area that left us wanting more. There were some useful products, but not enough genuinely new or better solutions to justify an award this time. We suspect that is partly timing, and with the major Japanese shows still to come we expect to see more innovation in storage, organisation and purpose-built tackle systems over the months ahead.
Best Spin Reel Series – Lure Fishing
Winner: Shimano Miravel A
The Miravel has quickly become one of Shimano’s most appealing light-tackle reels, and the redesigned Miravel A strengthens the case. It remains the accessible entry point into the MagnumLite platform, with a low-inertia rotor that suits responsive lure work. The update adds InfinityDrive for easier winding under load, a One-Piece Bail and Anti-Twist Fin for cleaner line management. Offered from 1000 to C5000, it delivers genuinely useful lure-fishing technology without pushing into flagship pricing.
Best Bait Reel Series
Winner: Daiwa BG
The BG name has earned its reputation as a tough, uncomplicated workhorse. For bait fishing, that matters more to us than chasing the lightest reel possible. The BG combines a rigid aluminium body with proven Daiwa gearing, ATD drag and a screw-in handle to provide solid cranking power and dependable performance. It also avoids some of the complexity found in Daiwa’s premium platforms, keeping it straightforward to own and service. We have used BG reels extensively and they remain smooth, durable and very hard to fault for the money.
Best Overhead Reel Series – Lure Fishing
Winner: Shimano Curado DC
Curado has long been one of those baitcasters that simply works, and adding Shimano’s DC braking makes an already proven platform even easier to use. The I-DC4 system manages spool speed electronically, with four simple external settings that help reduce overruns without removing control from experienced casters. A HAGANE body, MicroModule gearing and Cross Carbon Drag add the strength and refinement Curado is known for. It suits a first serious baitcaster just as well as a fleet of reels for an experienced angler.
Best Game Fishing Reel Series
Winner: Daiwa Saltiga LD 80
There was not a huge field in this category, but the Saltiga LD80-2SPD is serious game-fishing hardware. Its one-piece machined aluminium frame keeps the drivetrain aligned under extreme load, while oversized stainless-steel gearing, two-speed transmission and ATD carbon drag provide the power required for large tuna and marlin. It also delivers the line capacity expected from a true heavy-tackle reel. For anglers stepping beyond 50-size tackle, the LD80 is a purposeful addition to the Saltiga lever-drag family.
Best Spin Rod Series – Lure Fishing
Winner: Daiwa TD Battler AGS
Battler has always sat at the premium end of Australian lure rods, and the new TD Battler AGS continues that tradition. The SVF Compile-X Nanoplus blank is reinforced with 3DX and X45X Full Shield, while the latest AGS carbon-fibre guides and lightweight ZERO SEAT keep weight down and sensitivity high. We also welcome the return of an AGS stripper guide to the layout. The range spans ultralight finesse through to heavy baitcast work, covering everything from trout and bream to snapper and barra. Expensive, yes – but Battler remains the Porsche end of lure rods.
Best Bait Rod Series
Winner: Daiwa BG Bluewater
The BG Bluewater is exactly what a bait-rod category should recognise: a broad, affordable offshore range built to handle hard use rather than chase minimum weight. The 13-model series spans spin and overhead formats, using unidirectional graphite/fibreglass blanks for resilience, backbone and lifting power. Fuji guides, EVA grips and rubber gimbals are sensible choices for bait fishing, where rods get knocked around, loaded hard and spend plenty of time in holders. From snapper and gummies through to reef fishing and heavier offshore work, it covers a huge amount of Australian bait fishing for the money.
Best Overhead Rod Series – Lure Fishing
Winner: Samaki Zing
The cast models in Samaki’s latest Zing range feel like they were designed with Australian lure anglers firmly in mind. HyperKinetic Nano+ graphite blanks, custom ergonomic reel seats, tactile locking nuts and Fuji Concept O guides give the series a strong specification for the money. More importantly, the actions and handle layouts make sense across light estuary work, cod and barra applications. These are practical, purpose-built rods rather than a technology exercise, and the breadth of useful baitcast models is a major part of their appeal.
Best Game Fishing Rod Series
Winner: Shimano Talica
There are only two rods in Shimano’s new Talica series, but both have a very clear purpose. One is a PE6-10 spiral-wrap jig rod; the other a 50-80lb spiral-wrap game rod with a carbon bent butt. High Pressure Carbon, Biofibre and Diaflash construction provide strength and resistance to blank twist, while Fuji SiC guides handle heavy line and sustained pressure. It is a small range with very little filler, designed around the way modern anglers target tuna, marlin and other serious offshore fish.
Best Travel Rod Series
Winner: Daiwa Saltiga Expedition
Travel rods cover everything from trout to GTs, but Daiwa has aimed the Saltiga Expedition squarely at anglers travelling for genuinely big fish. Premium HVF Nanoplus blanks, X45X Full Shield and V-Joint Alpha are used to retain strength and a smooth action across the multi-piece design. Two casting and two jigging models cover stickbaits, poppers and heavy vertical work for GTs, dogtooth and tuna. Most importantly, they pack into travel tubes and airline luggage without asking anglers to compromise on offshore performance.
Best Small Soft Plastic
Winner: Daiwa Bait Junkie Herring
Small paddle tails are among the most versatile lures in Australian fishing, so getting the profile, action and size right matters. Daiwa has done that with the new Bait Junkie Herring. It has the slim baitfish profile and tail action needed for bream, trout, perch and light estuary work, while still having enough presence for larger predators. Add Daiwa’s proven Bait Junkie material and a strong colour range and it is easy to see this becoming one of those plastics anglers keep permanently stocked.
Best Medium Soft Plastic
Winner: Z-Man Stuntman
Soft jerkbaits and hover-style presentations continue to evolve, and the Stuntman was one of the more interesting plastics we saw. Z-Man has built it from a new sinking ElaZtech formulation, giving the lure greater density while retaining the durability and flexibility the material is known for. Its profile is designed for an erratic darting action and natural fall, opening up everything from mid-strolling and suspended presentations to deeper snapper work. It is genuinely different rather than simply another shape in an existing plastic range.
Best Large Soft Plastic
Winner: Daiwa Bait Junkie Megaminnow
Big paddle tails are essential for barra, mulloway, cod, snapper and trophy flathead, but rigging them can be the awkward part. The Bait Junkie Megaminnow is built with those heavy applications in mind and gives anglers a large, durable baitfish profile that can be adapted to different terminal setups. That flexibility is the key attraction: it can be rigged to suit single hooks, stingers and other heavy-duty systems without fighting the lure’s shape. It is a big plastic designed around the way Australian anglers actually fish big plastics.
Best Small Hardbody Lure
Winner: Samaki Redic SF70LC
A 70mm jerkbait has an enormous number of applications in Australian rivers, lakes and estuaries, which is why the Redic SF70LC stood out. Samaki has been building the Redic family for years and this smaller format brings the same approach into a size suited to trout, bream, perch and a host of estuary species. The lure gives anglers a compact jerkbait with the casting ability and colour selection needed for both fresh and salt water. It fills a genuinely useful gap rather than simply shrinking an existing bait for novelty.
Best Medium Hardbody Lure
Winner: Molix Finder Jerk EVO 125 F
Large jerkbaits around the 120-130mm mark have become a go-to presentation for trophy dusky flathead, yet the number of genuinely well-equipped options is smaller than you might expect. The Finder Jerk EVO 125 F gets the important details right: an internal magnetic weight-transfer system for long casts, stainless through-wire construction and corrosion-resistant trebles. At 125mm and 15g, with a 50-130cm running depth, it is a versatile floating jerkbait that also has obvious crossover appeal for barra and other predators.
Best Large Hardbody Lure
Winner: Samaki Redic Swimbait
Many large swimbaits are designed first for largemouth bass markets in the US or Japan, so it was good to see Samaki take an Australian approach with the Redic Swimbait. It is built tough, comes ready to fish with quality terminal tackle and is available in different sink rates, giving anglers useful control over the water column. More importantly, it has applications across Murray cod, barramundi, mulloway and big flathead. You can take it from the packet and fish it without immediately changing hooks or adding weights.
Best Topwater Lure
Winner: Longin Jinpen Ocean 180
The Jinpen Ocean 180 represents the premium end of Japanese offshore stickbaits, a part of the market we do not always see well represented at Australian shows. That alone made it worth recognising. This is the type of lure GT and yellowfin anglers seek out when they want carefully finished, specialist tackle rather than another mass-market stickbait. At around $180 it is certainly not cheap, but anglers shopping in this category are buying refinement, finish and confidence. For serious topwater enthusiasts, it was one of the show’s more memorable lures.
Best Squid Jig
Winner: Yamashita EGI-OH K DEEP
The EGI-OH K has long been one of our favourite jigs for current and deeper water because of its stable fall. The new DEEP version pushes that strength further, with a faster sink designed for depths beyond 10m, strong crosswinds and hard-running tide. Yamashita has also added 2.5 and 3.0 sizes alongside the 3.5, giving anglers more control over profile without giving up the deeper presentation. For spring and autumn calamari when current and depth are dictating the session, it is an extremely purposeful addition.
Best Game Fishing Lure
Winner: Shimano Ledge Runner 160F
The Ledge Runner solves a very practical trolling problem. Shimano’s Adjustable Depth Range gives the 160F three tow points so anglers can change its running depth without changing lures, while the Hydro Control Wing keeps it tracking cleanly at speed and in rougher water. That makes it much easier to stagger a spread and keep lures below prop wash. It arrives rigged and is offered in six useful offshore colours. From Spanish mackerel and wahoo through to southern bluefin tuna, it is a genuinely versatile trolling lure.
Best Offshore Casting Lure
Winner: Daiwa Saltiga Skyfin 210
The Saltiga Skyfin 210 offers a useful point of difference for offshore casting anglers. Big stickbaits often demand good rod work to produce their best action, but the Skyfin is designed to create plenty of presence with a straightforward retrieve. That makes it approachable for anglers still learning heavy topwater technique while remaining useful to experienced tuna and GT fishers who want a different action in the box. It also comes ready for serious work, so there is no immediate need to rebuild the terminal tackle before the first cast.
Best Fly Fishing Product
Winner: Redington Wrangler 890-4 Salt Outfit
Fly fishing is a smaller part of our overall coverage, so we judged this category from the perspective of the general Australian angler. The Redington Wrangler 890-4 Salt Outfit makes a lot of sense on that basis. It is a complete 9ft, 8-weight, four-piece saltwater outfit from an established fly brand, supplied with a Crosswater reel, line and travel case. A specialist fly publication might reward a more exotic product, but for someone wanting a credible, straightforward entry into saltwater fly fishing, this is an excellent package.
Best Fishing Line
Winner: Gosen GUIDUS PE x9
Gosen is one of the world’s genuine braid specialists, so a new flagship construction from the Japanese line maker deserves attention. GUIDUS PE x9 uses a high-strength PE core strand surrounded by eight braided outer strands, a structure designed to increase strength and sensitivity while retaining a smooth, round profile. The range covers useful PE ratings and spool lengths, with multicolour, light green and a standout purple option. For technical lure fishing, jigging and casting, it brings something genuinely different to the crowded premium-braid market.
Best Leader
Winner: Sunline SYSTEM SHOCK LEADER NYLON Tough-Flexx
Sunline nylon shock leader is a staple in the Hooked Up tackle room, so the new Tough-Flexx immediately caught our attention. This range is aimed squarely at heavy game and casting applications, covering 130 through 330lb. Sunline has focused on balancing strength, controlled stretch and flexibility, particularly to improve knot stability in the very heavy diameters that can be difficult to work with. Parallel spooling and a wide spool band are thoughtful finishing touches. For tuna, GT and other big-game anglers, the expanded heavy leader range is extremely useful.
Best Hook
Winner: Daiichi Garfish Specialist Hooks
Garfish remain one of Australia’s most popular light-tackle species and are also one of the best baits you can put in the water, yet genuinely purpose-specific garfish hooks are surprisingly uncommon. Daiichi’s Garfish Specialist stood out because it addresses that exact job rather than asking anglers to adapt a generic small hook. The fine presentation and compact size are suited to tiny baits and delicate mouths, while Daiichi has a long reputation for quality hook manufacture. It is a simple product, but sometimes the best ideas are the ones that solve a very specific fishing problem.
Best Terminal Tackle Product
Winner: Black Magic Power Chuck
The Black Magic Power Chuck is a clever new take on the pulley-style surf rig. Rather than reinventing surf fishing for the sake of it, the design focuses on the things that matter: cleaner casting, better bait presentation and a more effective release system for the sinker. Anyone who regularly casts substantial baits from the beach knows how much drag and instability a poorly arranged rig can create in flight. The Power Chuck packages those problems into a purpose-built system that should make immediate sense to serious surf anglers.
Best Fish Finder / Sonar Product
Winner: Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 XL
ActiveTarget 2 XL takes Lowrance live sonar in a useful direction: more coverage rather than simply another incremental screen update. The new transducer provides a 180-degree live view in Forward, Down and Scout modes, with strong resolution and a much wider picture of what is happening around the boat. Pair two systems with HDS PRO and 360 Scout XL becomes available, giving a full live view around the boat. For anglers who already rely on live sonar, the wider field of view is a meaningful improvement.
Best Fishing Accessory
Winner: DECOY DT-1 Rubber Threader
The DECOY DT-1 is a small tool with a surprisingly useful purpose: it lets anglers thread rubber or silicone tubing onto hooks and lure hardware for custom rigging and tuning. That opens up plenty of options for changing profiles, adding colour, protecting knots or creating your own lure modifications at home. It is not an expensive piece of electronics or a major tackle system, but it encourages anglers to experiment and solve little rigging problems themselves. Those are often the accessories that end up living permanently on the workbench.
Best Fishing Apparel
Winner: XTRATUF x Salty Crew Legacy Elevate Ankle Deck Boot
Once you spend serious time on a wet boat, a proper deck boot quickly becomes one of those pieces of gear you wonder how you lived without. XTRATUF has decades of heritage in this space, while the Salty Crew collaboration gives the Legacy Elevate Ankle Deck Boot a much sharper look than traditional commercial-style footwear. The Ranger Camo black and green colourways stood out, and the $199.99 price keeps them competitive with premium fishing footwear. They combine genuine boat practicality with apparel anglers will happily wear off the water.
Best Fishing Sunglasses
Winner: Shimano Powered by Revo
Shimano’s new eyewear collaboration with Revo stood out because the technology has a direct fishing benefit rather than simply a good marketing story. Revo’s lens platform is based on technology originally developed for NASA satellite optics, with polarised multi-layer lenses designed to manage glare, contrast and harsh light. Shimano brings its understanding of anglers and fishing-focused frame design, while Revo brings more than four decades of optics expertise. The result is premium eyewear that feels like a genuine piece of fishing equipment rather than fashion sunglasses wearing a fishing badge.
Best Value Product
Winner: Shimano Nexave
The upgraded Nexave is exactly what a value award should recognise: a mainstream reel that gains useful technology without losing sight of price. Shimano has added SilentDrive, Anti-Twist Fin, G-Free Body and an AR-C spool, with sizes from 1000 through C5000 covering most common light and medium spin applications. At around the $120 mark, it is affordable enough for a beginner but refined enough that an experienced angler will not feel they are settling for a throwaway reel. It is a lot of usable spinning reel for the money.
Hooked Up Environmental Award
Winner: Scaled Outdoors Gillotine
The Gillotine is exactly the sort of product we wanted this award to recognise. It cuts a fishing-line tag and captures it inside the tool in the same motion, preventing those tiny offcuts from ending up on the deck, in a pocket or in the water. Better still, its body is injection-moulded from recycled commercial fishing nets and the design can be disassembled, repaired and fitted with a replacement blade. It is a smart Australian idea tackling fishing waste from both ends, created by a small Melbourne team.
Hooked Up Product of the Year
Winner: Shimano Ocea Jigger CT
The Ocea Jigger CT was our standout product because its innovation solves a genuine problem for jigging anglers. Its vertical LCD gives precise, real-time line-out and depth information, while a programmable alarm can be set to alert you once you have jigged above the strike zone, telling you when it is time to drop back down. InfinityDrive adds winding power under load, while SilentDrive and MicroModule gearing keep the reel refined. Jigging is physically demanding; knowing exactly where to start and stop working the lure saves energy and keeps you fishing where the fish actually are.
