Brand: Beat · Country: Japan · Classic jigs: Zigray, Greatray, Beeline · Category: Slow pitch jigs
Beat is one of the Japanese slow jigging brands that serious slow pitch anglers talk about. Japanese Anglers Secrets places it in its top “Class A” tier with Deepliner and Seafloor Control. Its three classic jigs each do a different job. The Zigray is a slim long-fall jig. The Greatray is a fatter, slower-falling jig for deep water. The Beeline is a short-pitch jig built to hover. For light jigging, Beat also partnered with VARIVAS on the Baby Zigray.
This review covers each jig’s action, weights and prices, which to use off Florida, and how to buy.
Brand overview
Beat’s current product list (beat-jigging.com) shows the Potbelly and Bream jigs and the Propagate rods, while the Zigray, Greatray and Beeline still have their own pages. For Beat’s rods, see our Beat Propagate rods review.
At a glance
| Long-fall jig | Zigray, 80–200 g |
| Deep-water jig | Greatray, 130–350 g |
| Short-pitch jig | Beeline, 110–270 g |
| Light jig | beat x VARIVAS Baby Zigray, 30–110 g (discontinued) |
| Japan price | ¥1,250–¥2,600 (+¥100 for glow colors) |
| US availability | Limited; VARIVAS US (Baby Zigray, limited stock) |
Zigray: the long-fall jig
Beat calls the Zigray a “next-generation long-fall” jig. It has a slim body, gives a “micro-wave wobbling” action on slow lifts, and on the fall it rolls and flashes while sliding diagonally.
| Weight | Japan price (before tax) |
|---|---|
| 80 g | ¥1,250 |
| 100 g | ¥1,350 |
| 130 g | ¥1,500 |
| 160 g | ¥1,750 |
| 180 g | ¥1,900 |
| 200 g | ¥2,050 |
Glow colors are ¥100 extra. Greek retailer Tsouros Marine sells the 80 g at €33.
How to fish it: Long, smooth lifts, then let it fall on a controlled line. The diagonal, flashing fall covers water and draws strikes from fish that follow the jig up.
Florida use: Mid-depth ledges and wrecks in about 100–250 ft, and suspended fish such as amberjack and almaco jacks.
Greatray: the deep-water jig
The Greatray has a fatter body than the Zigray, with a slower slide-fall and stronger flash. Beat built it for deep water.
| Weight | Japan price (before tax) |
|---|---|
| 130 g | ¥1,500 |
| 160 g | ¥1,750 |
| 200 g | ¥2,050 |
| 250 g | ¥2,300 |
| 300 g | ¥2,500 |
| 350 g | ¥2,600 |
Why fatter helps deep: In deep water, a jig needs to stay in the strike zone and be seen in low light. A wider body falls more slowly and flashes more, so fish get a longer, brighter look at it.
Florida use: Deep ledges in 250–400 ft for grouper, snowy grouper and big snapper. Pair it with a glow color.
Beeline: the short-pitch jig
The Beeline is built for short-pitch sideways action, with a “hovering static state” that gives it longer hang time after each move.
| Weight | Japan price (before tax) |
|---|---|
| 110 g | ¥1,350 |
| 130 g | ¥1,500 |
| 160 g | ¥1,750 |
| 180 g | ¥1,950 |
| 210 g | ¥2,150 |
| 240 g | ¥2,250 |
| 270 g | ¥2,400 |
How to fish it: Short, quick strokes with small handle turns. The Beeline darts sideways, then pauses and hovers. Fish often eat during the pause.
Florida use: Fish holding tight to structure, and days when fish want a jig that stays in one place.
beat x VARIVAS Baby Zigray
A small Zigray made with Japanese line and hook maker VARIVAS, sold at VARIVAS US for $13–$20:
– Weights: 30, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95 and 110 g
– Hooks: two VARIVAS assist hooks included, SLJ Little Monster (30–65 g) or Bear Claw (75–110 g)
– Status: discontinued, limited stock remaining
Images: Beat / VARIVAS
Florida use: Super light jigging on shallow reefs and wrecks, and casting to Spanish mackerel and false albacore.
Choosing a Beat jig
| Situation | Best Beat jig |
|---|---|
| Suspended fish, covering water, 100–250 ft | Zigray 130–200 g |
| Deep ledges, low light, 250–400 ft | Greatray 200–350 g |
| Fish tight to structure, want hang time | Beeline 160–240 g |
| Shallow reefs, light jigging, casting | Baby Zigray 45–110 g |
A three-jig kit for Florida ledges: Zigray 180 g, Greatray 250 g and Beeline 210 g. That gives you a long fall, a slow deep flutter and a hovering short-pitch action to rotate through until the fish respond.
Rigging
Beat’s main jigs aren’t listed with hooks included (the Baby Zigray is the exception).
– Rig twin assist hooks at the head, sized to the jig and target
– Front hooks only around rough bottom, to cut snags
– Use glow colors in deep or dim water
Rods to pair: Beat designs the Propagate rods to work its jigs. A Propagate BLX or Type S is the natural match, but any slow pitch rod rated for the jig weight works.
Images: Beat / VARIVAS
Working Beat jigs through a drift
Many slow pitch anglers carry all three Beat jigs and rotate them through the day:
- Start with the Zigray to find where fish are in the water column. Its long lifts and diagonal fall cover the most water.
- Switch to the Greatray when you’re marking fish on the bottom in deep water, or when the light fades. Its slower, brighter fall keeps it in view longer.
- Try the Beeline when fish follow but won’t commit. Short strokes and a hovering pause often trigger fish that ignore a moving jig.
Weight choice: go as light as you can while still reaching and holding the bottom. In strong current, move up a size or switch to the more compact Beeline, which holds its place better than the slim Zigray.
Caring for your jigs
- Rinse after every trip and let jigs dry before putting them back in the box, so hooks and split rings don’t rust.
- Check the paint and glow. Chipped jigs still catch fish, but glow finishes lose brightness with wear.
- Recharge glow with a UV torch or sunlight before each drop in deep water.
- Replace assist hooks as soon as the points dull or the cord frays.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Three classic jigs with clearly different actions
- Greatray goes to 350 g for deep water
- Beeline’s hovering action is unusual and effective
- Reasonable Japanese prices (¥1,250–¥2,600)
- “Class A” brand per Japanese Anglers Secrets
Cons
- Hard to buy in the US
- Hooks not included on the main jigs
- Lengths aren’t published
- Beat’s current product list no longer shows the classic jigs, so stock may be limited
- Baby Zigray is discontinued
Beat vs. other slow pitch jigs
| Brand | Known for | Weight range | US availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beat | Zigray, Greatray, Beeline | 80–350 g | Limited |
| Deepliner | Spy, Slow Skip | 200–500 g (to 900 g) in the US | Specialist importers |
| Seafloor Control | Handmade jigs with defined actions | about 100–500 g | Specialist importers |
| Palms Slow Blatt | S, R and L balances | 40–500 g | Limited |
| Daiwa Saltiga SK | Affordable all-rounder | 20–300 g | Wide |
Where to buy Beat jigs
- VARIVAS US · varivas.fishing: Baby Zigray (limited stock)
- Tsouros Marine (Greece) · tsourosmarine.gr: Zigray
- Japanese retailers and proxy services for Zigray, Greatray and Beeline
- Beat (official) · beat-jigging.com
Verdict
Beat’s jigs are for anglers who want to match the action to the fish. The Zigray covers water with a long, flashing fall, the Greatray stays in the strike zone in deep water, and the Beeline hovers for fish tight to structure. They’re reasonably priced in Japan but hard to find in the US, and you’ll need to rig your own hooks. If you can get them, a Zigray, Greatray and Beeline make a strong three-jig kit for Florida ledges.
Deep-Drop.com rating: Action 5/5 · Range 4/5 · Value 4/5 · US availability 1.5/5
FAQ
What’s the difference between the Zigray, Greatray and Beeline?
The Zigray is a slim long-fall jig, the Greatray a fatter, slower-falling deep-water jig, and the Beeline a short-pitch jig that hovers.
What weights do Beat jigs come in?
Zigray 80–200 g, Greatray 130–350 g and Beeline 110–270 g.
Do Beat jigs come with hooks?
The main jigs aren’t listed with hooks. The beat x VARIVAS Baby Zigray comes with two VARIVAS assist hooks.
Where can I buy Beat jigs in the US?
VARIVAS US has limited Baby Zigray stock. For the main jigs, order from Japanese or European retailers.
Details were checked against beat-jigging.com, Tsouros Marine, VARIVAS US and Japanese Anglers Secrets on September 26, 2026.