Company: Palms Co., Ltd. (株式会社パームス) · Based: Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, Japan · Label: Anglers Republic · Category: Slow pitch rods
Palms is the Japanese company behind the Slow Blatt jigs, and it builds slow jigging rods under the Metal Witch name. The rods marked SF (“Slow & Fall”) are the slow pitch models. There are two generations: the one-piece Palms Elua Metal Witch (MTGC codes) and the newer Metal Witch Quest α (MTTC codes) with a detachable handle.
They are light, fairly cheap by Japanese standards, and rated from 60 g to 230 g. The catch for Florida anglers is that Palms has no US distributor, so you’ll be importing.
Company overview
Palms Co., Ltd. is based in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa and sells its gear under the Anglers Republic label. Palms doesn’t publish a founding year on the pages we could reach, and its English product pages returned errors when we checked. Its rods are easiest to find in Japan, Europe and Australia. For the jigs these rods are made for, see our Palms Slow Blatt jigs review.
At a glance
| Brand | Palms / Anglers Republic |
| Slow pitch rods | Elua Metal Witch SF (1-piece) · Metal Witch Quest α SF (handle detaches) |
| Jig range | 60–230 g (Quest α SF) |
| Rod weight | 132–164 g |
| Price | ¥22,330–¥27,170 in Japan · €166.60–€186.60 · £229.99–£239.99 · AUD $300 |
| US availability | No US distributor. Import or eBay |
Metal Witch Quest α SF
Images: Palms
The Quest α is the current rod. The blank and handle separate for travel. Lure Heaven says the α adds “a detachable handle for easy transport & storage” and lists a 1.29 m closed length for the 6’3″ models. JDM Tackle Heaven describes the build as “1 and grip.”
| Model | Length | Weight | Jig weight | PE | Japan price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTTC-631SF | 6’3″ | 132 g | 60–110 g | 0.8–1.5 | ¥22,330 |
| MTTC-632SF | 6’3″ | 134 g | 100–150 g | 1.0–2.0 | ¥22,880 |
| MTTC-633SF | 6’3″ | 137 g | 130–180 g | 1.2–2.5 | ¥25,960 |
| MTTC-634SF | 6’3″ | 144 g | 150–200 g | 1.5–3.0 | ¥24,200 |
| MTTC-685SF | 6’8″ | 164 g | 180–230 g (fall max 400 g) | 1.5–3.5 | ¥27,170 |
Specs from JDM Tackle Heaven, Lure Heaven and PecheXtreme; Japan prices from JDM Tackle Heaven, where all SF models were sold out and on pre-order in September 2026.
Features (from Lure Heaven’s MTTC-633SF listing)
- NanoAlloy “R” blank
- “X” Carbonology wrapping to stop the blank twisting
- Nine Fuji stainless SiC K-guides
- Handle protector included
Prices outside Japan: PecheXtreme (France) had the MTTC-634SF at €166.60 (out of stock) and the MTTC-685SF at €186.60 (in stock, down from €233.25). Lure Heaven (UK) listed the 632SF at £229.99 and the 631SF and 633SF at £239.99. Tsouros Marine (Greece) had the 634SF at €262.20.
The Quest α range also has non-SF models (632T, 633T, 682M and spinning 633B/634B). Those aren’t slow pitch rods.
Elua Metal Witch Slow & Fall (MTGC)
Images: Palms
The earlier Metal Witch rods carry the Palms Elua name and MTGC codes. Japanese retailers Naturum and Okizanmai list them as one-piece rods.
| Model | Length | Weight | Jig weight | PE | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTGC-632SF | 6’3″ | 130 g | 100–150 g | 1.0–2.0 | For the most-used jig weights in 40–60 m nearshore water. ¥22,800 at Okizanmai |
| MTGC-633SF | 6’3″ | 133 g | 130–180 g | 1.2–2.5 | For deeper water and faster current. Sold out at Naturum |
Okizanmai also lists MTGC-631SF, 634SF, 685SF, 686SF, 782SF and 783SF, but we didn’t find full specs for those.
A note on names: Boss Outdoor in Australia sells a “Palms Metal Witch Slow Fall Overhead Rod” in 632SF and 633SF as a 2-piece rod at AUD $300 (regular $399.99). Its weights (134 g and 137 g) match the Quest α MTTC models, not the one-piece MTGC rods. If you want the travel handle, check the MTTC code before you buy.
Choosing a Palms SF rod
| Your fishing | Palms rod |
|---|---|
| Shallow reefs, 60–110 g jigs, light PE | MTTC-631SF |
| Typical Gulf reef slow pitch, 100–150 g | MTTC-632SF or MTGC-632SF |
| Deeper ledges or more current, 130–200 g | MTTC-633SF or 634SF |
| Atlantic side current, 180–230 g | MTTC-685SF |
These pairings are our suggestions based on Palms’ jig ratings.
Palms rods with Slow Blatt jigs in Florida
- The lighter SF rods suit the lighter Slow Blatt sizes on shallow reefs and wrecks
- For 250 g+ jigs in the Gulf Stream, Palms has no SF rod heavy enough. Look at heavier rods on our slow pitch rods hub
- The 6’8″ MTTC-685SF gives a longer lift, which helps work jigs in current
- Pair with a compact lever drag reel. See our slow pitch reels hub
- Stay inside the PE rating. The lighter SF rods are rated for PE 0.8–2.0, so heavy braid on a 631SF or 632SF overloads the tip
- Rinse the handle joint on a Quest α after every trip. Salt left in the joint makes it hard to separate
Pros and cons
Pros
- Light: 132–164 g
- Good value: about ¥22,000–¥27,000 in Japan, under €190 in France
- Quest α handle detaches for travel
- Fuji SiC K-guides and anti-twist blank wrap
- Built to match Palms’ own slow jigs
Cons
- No US distributor
- Tops out at 230 g, light for deep Florida current
- Model names are confusing between the MTGC and MTTC lines
- Palms’ own product pages returned errors when we checked
Palms vs. other slow pitch rods
| Brand | Rod | Jig range | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palms | Metal Witch Quest α SF | 60–230 g | €166.60–€186.60 |
| Gamakatsu | Luxxe Jigdrive R | 30–240 g | ¥37,500–¥39,500 list |
| Smith Ltd. | Offshore Stick HSJ-CS66/M | Ave. 200 g | $490 |
| Temple Reef | Elevate 3.0 | See review | $249 |
| Shimano | Game Type Slow J | See review | $499.99 |
Where to buy Palms slow pitch rods
Import from Japan
- JDM Tackle Heaven · Metal Witch Quest α: pre-order
- Okizanmai · MTGC-632SF
- Naturum · MTGC-633SF (sold out)
Europe
- PecheXtreme (France) · pechextreme.com
- Lure Heaven (UK) · lureheaven.co.uk
- Tsouros Marine (Greece) · tsourosmarine.gr
Australia
- Boss Outdoor · bossoutdoor.com.au
US: we found no US Palms dealer. Quest α rods turn up on eBay.
Verdict
The Metal Witch Quest α SF is a light, well-priced Japanese slow pitch rod with a travel handle and good guides. The 632SF to 634SF cover the 100–200 g jigs most Florida reef anglers use, and the 685SF stretches to 230 g. It’s not a rod for heavy Gulf Stream jigs, and you’ll have to import it. If you already fish Slow Blatt jigs, it’s a natural match.
Deep-Drop.com rating: Value 4.5/5 · Build quality 4/5 · Range 3.5/5 · Spec transparency 3/5 · US availability 1.5/5
FAQ
What does SF mean on a Palms rod?
“Slow & Fall.” The SF models are Palms’ slow jigging rods.
Is the Metal Witch Quest α 2-piece?
The handle detaches from the blank. Lure Heaven lists a 1.29 m closed length for the 6’3″ models.
How much is the Palms Metal Witch Quest α?
¥22,330–¥27,170 in Japan, €166.60–€186.60 at PecheXtreme and £229.99–£239.99 at Lure Heaven in September 2026.
Can I buy Palms rods in the US?
We found no US dealer. Buy from a Japanese exporter such as JDM Tackle Heaven or a European shop.
Specifications and prices were checked against JDM Tackle Heaven, Lure Heaven, PecheXtreme, Tsouros Marine, Boss Outdoor, Okizanmai and Naturum on September 28, 2026.