Shimano 23 Antares DC MD XG Review: Specs, Casting & Performance

Are you curious about the evaluation of the 23 Antares DC MD XG? We will review it while introducing its casting distance and other features.

Personally, it has an overwhelmingly better casting feel than the previous model, making it one of my favorite reels.

Specs and Line Capacity

The specs of the 23 Antares DC MD are as follows:

Since the 2020 (or 2023) Metanium weighs 175g, this reel is about 60g heavier, but its rigidity has increased accordingly. The maximum drag of the Metanium is 5kg, but the 23 Antares DC MD feels much more powerful than the 1kg difference suggests.

As for the line capacity, the 23 Metanium 100 size spool holds 14lb-100m, so you can spool about 1.5 times more line on the Antares.

Shimano 23 Antares DC MD XG Impressions: Good for Seabass?

Winding Feel, Drag Performance, and Rigidity

The winding feel is more powerful and smoother than the 18 Antares DC MD. The slight roughness felt in the previous model seems to have been completely resolved in this version.

This is likely due to the addition of a bearing in the drive gear support section. You can feel this even more when you apply resistance, such as when retrieving a lure.

The catalog states a maximum drag of 6kg, and it felt very close to that in actual fishing. When locked down tightly, it doesn't budge at all.

I mainly used it for rockfish from the shore, and you can fight with peace of mind without feeling any lack of power. It can also handle seabass without any issues.

In addition, it should be possible to land medium-sized blue-runners without letting the drag slip. In fact, there are reports of yellowtail being caught with the 23 Antares, proving that it has a certain level of rigidity.

Casting Performance

The casting feel has improved with the installation of the MGL Spool III, allowing you to cast lures nimbly.

The sluggishness at the beginning of the cast that was felt in the previous model has been completely eliminated in this version. The feeling of the line releasing is overwhelmingly different.

Furthermore, the evolved ultra-precise 4x8 DC TUNE achieves both casting distance and trouble-free performance.

I really take my hat off to Shimano's technology for perfectly balancing braking and casting distance, which are inherently contradictory.

These performance improvements ultimately lead to reduced fatigue, so you won't get tired at all even after prolonged use.

True to its heavy versatile model concept, you can fight with confidence even against the powerful pull of a greenling.

Does the 23 Antares DC MD Not Cast Far? What About the Distance?

Doesn't Cast Far?

To conclude, my impression is that it is a baitcasting reel that allows anyone to achieve a decent casting distance.

The casting distance has definitely increased compared to the 18 Antares DC MD. However, it's only an average increase of about 3 meters, so it's true that this model change wasn't entirely focused on maximizing distance.

It might not be enough for casting distance maniacs who don't mind a peaky reel as long as they can cast as far as possible.

However, you will never feel a lack of distance when casting. Considering it balances trouble-free performance and casting distance, it flies exactly as far as you would reasonably expect.

Casting Distance?

Personally, lures around 30g to 40g were the easiest to cast, allowing me to fully utilize its performance. If you do an overhead cast with a 40g metal jig, it will fly around 100m.

As per the "heavy versatile" concept, it shows its true value when casting heavy lures or lures with large air resistance.

You might think it struggles with lightweight lures, but I was able to cast lures around 10g without any problems.

There is no doubt about the wide range of jigs it can handle, making it a highly versatile reel overall.

However, since the body size is on the larger side, if you are mainly handling lures around 10g, I would recommend the 20 Metanium or 24 Metanium DC.

After all, if you want a compact reel that excels with medium-to-lightweight lures, you don't necessarily need the 23 Antares DC MD.

Backlash? Is It Easy to Break?

Compared to previous models like the 18 Antares DC MD and 21 Antares DC, the DC is set to prioritize casting distance, so those who are not used to it might experience backlashes.

*Note: I feel the digital control brake itself is closer to the 16 Antares DC, which was set to maximize casting distance compared to its predecessor.

However, since the brake setting is conscious of balancing distance and trouble-free performance, if you regularly cast baitcasting reels, you probably won't find it difficult to handle.

As for its durability, I haven't experienced any breakdowns so far.

I slipped and dropped it during my first fishing trip, but even so, it hasn't affected its performance in actual fishing. (It took an impact strong enough to scratch the body, so my mental state was broken, though.)

I haven't heard of any malfunctions from people around me, so I think it's fine. However, if you feel something is wrong with the DC in the initial stages, it's best to send it to the manufacturer for repair early on. Initial defects can happen with any product, and in most cases, they will repair it free of charge.

Since it's a reel with a certain level of rigidity, you basically don't need to worry about it breaking as long as you use it within the bounds of common sense.

Torn Between 23 Antares DC MD and DAIWA IMZ? Is XB Mode the Deciding Factor?

If you only want to pursue casting distance, the Daiwa IMZ is recommended. It has a long cast mode in its brake settings, so there is no better choice for long-distance casting.

On the other hand, the XB mode of the 23 Antares DC MD allows you to make optimal brake settings for various lures with just a single dial.

It comes down to the IMZ with its new attempts and high casting distance performance, versus the 23 Antares DC MD with its long history and stability.

Therefore, how about differentiating them as follows:

Although it may fall slightly short in maximum distance, the 23 Antares DC MD is extremely versatile, allowing you to handle various lures with a single dial. Let's use them according to the purpose.

Conclusion

This concludes the introduction of the 23 Antares DC MD XG. Although it is an expensive reel, the casting feel and the texture of the reel are top-tier.

If you are interested, please be sure to give it a try.