10 Best Reels For Tuna Fishing In 2023

You get a lot of tuna fighting power in a small package with the Shimano Talica II sea fishing reels. The lever drag offers you heavy drag pressures and the powerful drag system with up to 60lbs maximum drag doesn’t jerk when under extreme pressure. The slower gear gives you so much torque that any heavy tuna you land has no chance.

Featuring larger gears and a one-piece stamped side plate that eliminates flex in the drive, the gearing system provides plenty of leverage and cranking power for smooth retrieves. Thanks to six ball bearings, these top rated tuna fishing reels are as smooth as butter even under heavy loads. As for quality, the Shimano Talica II reels are some of the highest quality sea fishing reels on the market.

For bottom fishing and trolling for big tuna, you can’t go wrong with the new generation Shimano Tekota baitcasting reels. They are rugged enough for these applications and equipped with palmable line counters and extra loud bait clickers. The star drag on these reels is phenomenal – powerful, smooth and easy to adjust even with a heavy fish on.

These deep sea fishing reels for tuna offer plenty of cranking power and the sturdy power handle is comfortable to use even when pulling something heavy. The spools have plenty of line capacity and the level winder minimizes line issues, making this a user-friendly baitcasting reel. The rigid, all-metal body provides flex-free performance under heavy loads.

The Shimano Triton reels are the best all-around tuna reels due to their excellent live-baiting, casting and trolling performance. The lever drag system is capable of dragging just about any tuna to the boat. These reels are smooth in every aspect thanks to the four ball bearings, drag system with a titanium-impregnated fabric, precision gears and one-piece construction.

Lightweight in the hand, easy to adjust and equipped with a power handle, the Triton reels are a joy to fish with. As you can expect with Shimano, these are finely engineered reels that can hold up for years with saltwater use.

The gorgeous Gomexus saltwater trolling reels are capable matches for even the heaviest Tuna species. Equipped with powerful drags that will pull any beast, they are among the best yellowfin and Bluefin tuna fishing reels. Two-speed gears give you quick line retrievals and plenty of cranking power when you need to haul a big one to the boat.

Spools with 40/800 to 200/2140 pounds/yards line capacities ensure you have all the fishing line you need when going after fast swimming tunas. Thanks to the precision gears, ball bearings, and a roller bearing, this reel is silky smooth in action.

Absolute power is what these new Stella saltwater spinning reels are all about and they provide enough power to handle even giant tuna species. Equipped with strong and smooth drags and 14 +1 high-quality Shimano bearings, they can withstand hours-long fights with 28.7 - 55.1 pounds of drags engaged.

Another factor that makes them such powerful, efficient and smooth tuna reels is the sheer strength. All-metal construction makes for super rigid reels that won’t flex when under heavy loads. This means more cranking power for pulling big fish. They are also waterproofed to prevent saltwater and sand intrusion. The Stella reels are top rated tuna fishing reels and well worth the price.

A beefy offshore reel equipped with a lever drag and dual force drag system, two-speed gears and a beefy build, the Okuma Makaira is a powerful tuna trolling reel that can handle the rigors of offshore trolling and pulling hard fighting and fast swimming fish.

The lever drag is capable of higher drag pressures while the thrust bearing eases the side load on heavy drag settings ensuring a silky smooth tuna reeling experience. The lower gear ratio offers the torque needed to pull big catches with ease. The Makaira reel is an exceptional Okuma reel built for offshore trolling and won’t let you down if you land a trophy-size catch.

If you want a reel you can travel with to the best tuna fishing spots in the world, this Avet conventional reel is the best tuna fishing reel to travel with as it is impressively lightweight and compact. The best thing is that this size advantage isn’t at the expense of strength and durability or power and smoothness on the water.

This is still a robust reel that delivers plenty of power for tuna fishing. The lever drag system is capable of extremely high drag pressures without sacrificing smoothness. A one-piece frame, precision machined stainless steel gears and eight ball bearings ensure you will enjoy a smooth reeling experience. You get all this for under $200!