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Which size for the job?
Start with the fish and the technique; the size follows.
Trout and light game
1000 to 2500
PE0.3 to 0.8 · 150 to 200m
Small, light reels for trout, harbour lures and ultralight softbaits.
Softbaiting snapper
3000 (Shimano C3000, Daiwa LT3000)
PE0.8 to 1.2 · about 200m
The standard NZ softbait size: light enough for a 7ft rod all day, with enough line and drag for a big snapper.
Bigger snapper, kahawai and light jigs
4000
PE1 to 1.5 · 200m plus
A step up in line and drag for deeper reefs, heavier jigheads, micro jigs and workups.
Land-based and light kingfish
5000 to 6000
PE2 to 3 · 300m
More line and drag for rock fishing, surf lures and smaller kingfish on light topwater or jigs.
Kingfish jigging and topwater
8000 to 14000
PE3 to 6 · 300m plus
The offshore sizes: up to 25kg of drag on the top models for kingfish on jigs and stickbaits.
Slow pitch and slow jigs
Small overheads
PE1 to 3 · 300 to 650m
Narrow-spool overheads and baitcasters that drop and wind jigs straight up and down.
Size chart
Spinning reel sizes, 1000 to 18000+
Typical line and capacity are from the specs of the reels we stock.
| Size | Fish | Technique | Typical line |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Trout and small harbour fish | Ultralight lures, micro softbaits | PE0.2 to 0.8 |
| 2000 | Trout, kahawai, small trevally | Light lures, light-game softbaits | PE0.4 to 0.6, about 150 to 200m |
| 2500 | Trout, harbour snapper, kahawai | Finesse softbaits, light game, squid | PE0.6 to 0.8, about 200m |
| 3000 | Snapper, kahawai, gurnard | Softbaiting, light jigs, all-round inshore | PE1, about 200m |
| 4000 | Bigger snapper, kahawai, trevally | Deeper softbaiting, micro jigs, workups | PE1 to 1.5, 200 to 300m |
| 5000 | Snapper and kahawai from the rocks, small kingfish | Land-based lures, light topwater | PE2 to 2.5, about 300m |
| 6000 | Kingfish, big snapper | Rock fishing, light kingfish jigging and topwater | PE2 to 3, about 300m |
| 8000 | Kingfish | Mechanical jigging, topwater | PE3 to 4, 300 to 460m |
| 10000 | Kingfish, smaller tuna | Jigging and topwater | PE4 to 5, 300 to 400m |
| 14000 | Big kingfish, tuna | Heavy topwater and jigging | PE5 to 6, 300 to 360m |
| 18000 plus | Tuna, giant kingfish | Heavy topwater for tuna and giant kingfish | PE6 to 8 and up, 300m plus |
Line figures are ranges from the published specs of the Shimano and Daiwa reels we stock; check the exact reel's spec before you spool up.
Size equivalence
Shimano and Daiwa sizes side by side
Same number, similar spool and line capacity.
| Shimano | Daiwa LT | Typical line |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | LT1000 | PE0.3 to 0.8 |
| 2000 | LT2000 | PE0.4 to 0.6, 150 to 200m |
| 2500 | LT2500 | PE0.6 to 0.8, 200m |
| C3000 | LT3000 | PE1, about 200m |
| 4000 | LT4000 | PE1 to 1.5, 200m plus |
| 5000 | LT5000 | PE2 to 2.5, 300m |
| 6000 | LT6000 | PE2 to 3, 300m |
| 8000 to 20000 | 8000 to 20000 (20 Saltiga on) | PE3 to 8 |
Upgrading an older Daiwa (before the LT range, around 2018)? Old 2500 = LT3000, old 3000 = LT5000, old 4000 = LT6000. Daiwa renumbered the Saltiga in 2020: old 4500, 5000, 5500, 6500 and 8000 became 8000, 10000, 14000, 18000 and 20000. Old-to-LT sizes follow Daiwa's LT sizing chart; Shimano to Daiwa matches are by the line capacities of the reels we stock.
Model letters
Model letters, translated to retrieve per turn
Retrieve per turn is from the published specs of the reels we stock.
| Letter | Shimano | Daiwa | 3000 size | 4000 size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power gear | PG | P | not common | not common |
| Standard | no letter | no letter | Shimano 75cm, Daiwa 77 to 80cm | Shimano 87cm, Daiwa 82cm |
| High gear | HG | H | Shimano 84 to 91cm, Daiwa 85cm | Shimano 93cm, Daiwa 90cm |
| Extra high gear | XG | XH | Shimano 94cm, Daiwa 93cm | Shimano 99 to 101cm, Daiwa 98 to 99cm |
| Compact body | C before the size: C3000 | C after: LT3000-C | bigger spool on a smaller body | bigger spool on a smaller body |
| Shallow spool | S: C2500S | S: LT2500S | for thin PE | for thin PE |
| Deep spool | no letter | D: LT2500D | more line on the same body | more line on the same body |
| Double handle | DH | DH | ||
| Saltwater | SW | SW | ||
| Light and Tough | no equivalent | LT |
Offshore sizes follow the same pattern: at 10000, Shimano PG winds 99 to 102cm and HG 116cm; Daiwa P winds 98 to 99cm and H 117 to 121cm.
Line capacity
Reading line capacity in PE
A spec like PE1-200m means the spool holds 200m of PE1 braid.
Read the spec
The first number is the PE size, the second the metres it holds. Thinner braid fits more; thicker fits less.
Softbaiting
Snapper on softbaits rarely needs more than 150 to 200m of PE0.8 to 1.2.
Kingfish
Kingfish on jigs and topwater: 300m or more of PE3 to 5, so a big run can't empty the spool.
Fill it right
Fill to about 2mm below the spool lip. Overfilled spools throw loops; underfilled ones cast short.
Deep spools
Put mono backing under the braid on a deep spool so you don't pay for braid you'll never use.
Shallow spools
S models hold less line on purpose, for thin PE0.4 to 0.6 without backing.
Drag
How much drag you really use
A common rule: set the drag to about a third of the line's breaking strain.
| Braid | Rated strength | Drag at a third | Typical reel | Its max drag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE1 | 22lb, about 10kg | about 3.3kg | 3000 | 9 to 10kg |
| PE1.5 | 30lb, about 13.6kg | about 4.5kg | 4000 | 11 to 12kg |
| PE2 | 40lb, about 18kg | about 6kg | 5000 | 11 to 15kg |
| PE3 | 50lb, about 22.7kg | about 7.5kg | 6000 to 8000 | 12 to 25kg |
Rated strengths are XBraid Upgrade X8 as we sell it. Max drag is the ceiling the reel can lock to, not a setting to fish at; a light leader breaks long before it.
Balance
Balancing the reel to the rod
A balanced outfit sits level on one finger just in front of the reel seat.
Softbait rods
Most 7ft softbait rods balance with a 2500 to 3000 reel; a 4000 suits the heavier H and XH softbait rods.
Reel too light
The tip dips and your wrist works all day to hold it up. Go up a size, or a heavier reel.
Reel too heavy
The tip lifts and you lose feel through the blank. Go down a size.
Match the line
Check the rod's PE rating and the reel's capacity agree: a PE1 rod with a PE3 reel fights itself.
Short jigging rods
Short 5'6" to 6'3" jigging rods carry 6000 to 14000 spinning reels or small overheads.
Try them together
Put the reel on the rod in store and hold it level before you buy.
Overhead sizes
Overhead and baitcaster sizes
Overhead size numbers differ by series, so match by line capacity and drag.
| Class | Examples we stock | Typical line | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 to 200 baitcasters | Tatula TW 100 and 200, Saltist TW 100, Barchetta, Grappler and Engetsu 150 | PE0.8 to 2, 200 to 400m | Slow jigs and sliders, light slow pitch, baitcast softbaiting |
| 300 to 400 | Saltiga IC 300, Saltiga 300, Saltist TW 300 and 400, Ocea Conquest 300 | PE1 to 3, 200 to 600m | Slow pitch in deeper water, heavier slow jigs |
| Slow pitch overheads | Saltiga 10 and 15, Ocea Jigger 1500 and 2000 | PE1.5 to 3, 320 to 650m | Slow pitch jigging |
| Heavy jigging | Saltiga 35, Ocea Jigger 4000, Talica 12 and 16 | PE3 to 5, 570 to 700m | Deep slow pitch, kingfish jigging, light game |
| Big lever drags | Talica 20 and 25, Speedmaster | PE6 to 8, about 690m | Livebaiting kingfish, tuna |
| Game reels | Tiagra 30 to 130 | 15 to 40kg line classes | Trolling for tuna and marlin |
Line figures are from the published specs of the reels listed.
Go deeper
Every reel guide
Brand and series guides, and the softbait rod to match.
Shimano
Shimano reel guide
Every Shimano saltwater series we stock, from Nasci to Stella SW, matched to the job, with the model codes decoded.
Daiwa
Daiwa reel guide
Legalis to Saltiga: every Daiwa series we stock, matched to the job, with the LT, MQ and Magsealed codes decoded.
Shimano
Twin Power guide
Twin Power and Twin Power SW: sizes, gear ratios and which model suits softbaiting, jigging and topwater.
Daiwa
Saltiga spinning guide
The 25 Saltiga spinning range for kingfish and tuna: sizes, gears and drag, matched to topwater and jigging.
Daiwa
Saltiga overhead guide
Saltiga overheads and IC counters for slow pitch and jigging: sizes, gears and which one for which depth.
Reels
Shimano vs Daiwa guide
Series by series at each price tier, from the makers' own specs, with each brand's tech and model codes translated.
Reels
Softbait reel guide
The best spinning reels for snapper softbaiting by budget, each paired with a softbait rod, plus ready-made kits.
Softbaiting
Softbait rod guide
Softbait rods matched to the spot: harbour finesse to deep reef and workups, with the spec line decoded.
Related guides
Keep reading
Reels
Shimano vs Daiwa guide
Series by series at each price tier, from the makers' own specs, with each brand's tech and model codes translated.
Reels
Softbait reel guide
The best spinning reels for snapper softbaiting by budget, each paired with a softbait rod, plus ready-made kits.
Rods
Softbait rod guide
Softbait rods matched to the spot: harbour finesse to deep reef and workups, with the spec line decoded.
Reels
Shimano reel guide
Every Shimano saltwater series we stock, from Nasci to Stella SW, matched to the job, with the model codes decoded.