The Shimano POP-ORCA Slim is a technologically advanced offshore popper that combines an aerodynamic, slim profile with an innovative open-mouth chamber system inspired by jet-engine principles. It delivers long casting distance, explosive surface commotion, diving and erratic swimming action, and versatile presentations. Easy to maneuver and highly effective on pelagic predators like tuna, it can be worked as both a popper and a stickbait, making it a standout modern lure for serious offshore anglers.
Testing advanced technology and introducing modern aerodynamic concepts into lure design has transformed offshore fishing, delivering impressive results against some of the ocean’s most formidable predators. The Shimano POP-ORCA Slim represents the latest evolution in Shimano’s ORCA offshore lure series—a popper engineered with precision, innovation, and performance in mind.
At the heart of the POP-ORCA Slim lies a distinctive technological feature: an open-mouth chamber system. This internal chamber is designed to maximize underwater commotion, amplifying sound, splash, and turbulence to provoke aggressive strikes from pelagic species. The result is a lure that does more than imitate prey—it disrupts the marine environment in a way predators cannot ignore.
What sets this lure apart is its diving capability and erratic swimming action, making it exceptionally effective for targeting fast-moving pelagic fish such as tuna. Shimano’s Propulsion Weight Transfer System enhances casting distance by shifting internal weight during the cast, while the lure’s slim, aerodynamic profile ensures stability and accuracy even in windy offshore conditions. Compared to conventional poppers, the POP-ORCA Slim is notably easier to maneuver, allowing anglers to maintain precise control throughout the retrieve.
The open-mouth design allows anglers to produce three distinct surface presentations. When retrieved at high speed, water flows dynamically through the chambers, creating sustained surface disturbance. Short, sharp rod jerks generate a diving action with explosive frontal splashes, while longer, sweeping jerks produce a pronounced bubble trail from the rear chamber—each technique offering a different visual and acoustic trigger.
Interestingly, the chamber design draws inspiration from jet engine principles, where airflow is manipulated to convert low pressure into high pressure. In the lure, this concept translates into intensified water displacement and sound output, significantly increasing its fish-attracting potential.
Key Observations
- Capable of retrieve, popping, and jerking actions
- Unique bubble-generating chamber system
- Maximized surface commotion through sound and splash
- Shimano’s Propulsion Weight Transfer System for long casts
- Diving and erratic swimming motion
- Aerodynamic, slim-profile design
- Proven reliability for tuna fishing
- Strong, consistent popping action
- Available in multiple color patterns
Angler Feedback
Experienced anglers report that the POP-ORCA Slim can be worked effectively as both a surface popper and a stickbait. Reviews consistently highlight its exceptional action, ease of use, and impressive casting distance.
In essence, the Shimano POP-ORCA Slim is a compelling example of how engineering principles and angling experience converge—resulting in a lure designed not just to float on the surface, but to dominate it.
