When you’re going to Tuna fishing you need the perfect gear to start because tuna fishes are a bit tricky and they run faster than other fishes. To hook them up, the best tuna fishing reels can be a real helping hand. A reel that’s specially made for tuna fishing will have at least 500 yards of line capacity, a great drag system, and bearings of high-quality material to make your fishing action smooth.

You might be thinking, which one is the best tuna reel then? Well, the answer is given below with a list. We picked a few reels and ranked them. You Can Choose Any Of Them. These Reels Are Approved For Tuna Fishing, So Don’t Worry.

These are our top picks from the market. Our experts ran on a survey and they market these 11 as the best ones. These reels are made with high-quality building material, the gear system and drag system are great too! They come up with huge line capacity and they are specially made for tuna fishing.

So, if you’re looking for a reel that’s made for tuna fishing, choose any of these as soon as possible. You can rely on these reels undoubtedly. I also wrote an article about Best Tuna Fishing Rods you can check this.

Let’s start from here!

How to choose fast (cheat sheet)

• Target size first:
  Schoolie (10–40 lb) → lighter star/level winds; mid-grade (40–100 lb) → compact 2-speeds; large (100–200 lb+) → heavy 2-speed lever drags.

• Technique: Live-bait & jigging prefer smooth startup drag and compact frames; trolling needs capacity and staying power.

• 2-speed lever drag = best all-around control for tuna surges; level wind = easy line lay for trolling; star drag = lighter, fast casts for schoolies.

9 Best Tuna Fishing Reels With Pros & Cons

1) Okuma Makaira MK-20II 2-Speed Lever Drag (B004TDQ8G4)

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Best for: 80–200 lb yellowfin/bluefin; live-bait, chunking, heavy jigging
Why it’s great for tuna: Makaira’s full-metal build, helical-cut stainless gearing, and Carbonite Dual Force Drag (DFD) deliver huge, buttery drag with low startup—ideal when a big fish surges boat-side. 
Key features

• 6061-T6 machined aluminum frame/sideplates; helical-cut 17-4 SS gears; 2-speed system.

• Factory DFD drag architecture designed for high end pressure and smoothness. 
  Pros

• Brick-solid frame & torque under heavy drag

• Excellent freespool & heat management on long runs

• Proven long-range reliability
  Cons

• Heavier than “compact” 2-speeds

• Pricey service parts vs. mid-tier reels

2) Shimano Talica 25 II (2-Speed) Lever Drag (B0049C03N4)

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Best for: 60–150 lb tuna; live-bait, vertical jigging, light troll
Why tuna anglers love it: Compact, fast retrieve in high gear, powerful low gear, and ~45–50 lb class max drag (model dependent)—a sweet spot for mid-grade tuna without carrying a brick. 
Key features

• 2-speed drive (high speed for line pickup; low for torque)

• Lightweight, small footprint that balances modern rods
  Pros

• Great castability and ergonomics

• Versatile across techniques
  Cons

• Not a dedicated “cow bluefin” winch

• Spool capacity is good, but below 30/50-size big-game frames

3) Daiwa Saltiga Lever Drag 2-Speed (SALD series) (B08N71CRXC)

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Best for: 60–180 lb tuna; jigs/live-bait where drag smoothness matters
Why it’s great for tuna: The latest Saltiga LD uses ATD (Advanced Tournament Drag) for exceptionally low startup inertia—hook-set to landing stays silky even on big head-shakes. 
Key features

• Multiple 2-speed sizes (25–60) to match line class and technique

• Rugged, dependable build for offshore abuse 
  Pros

• Class-leading drag feel on light bites

• Powerful low gear for vertical fights
  Cons

• Premium pricing

• Larger sizes add some weight

4) PENN International 20VISXS (International VISX) (B074WJ6QH5)

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Best for: 100–200 lb+ tuna; heavy live-bait, chunking, troll to stand-up
Why it’s great for tuna: A USA-built classic—Quick-Shift II 2-speed, Dura-Drag, and ~50 lb max drag give the control and headroom you want when a cow sounds. 
Key features

• Machined and anodized aluminum body/sideplates; stainless main & pinion gears

• Deep braid capacity (e.g., ~890 yds/65 lb on 20 size) for long runs 
  Pros

• Big-game pedigree; ultra-durable

• Massive drag with stable, smooth curve
  Cons

• Heavier & pricier than “compact” reels

• Overkill for school-size tuna

5) PENN Fathom II 40N Lever Drag 2-Speed (B00LDYLKBU)

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Best for: 40–100 lb tuna; high-value workhorse for jig/live-bait/troll
Why it’s great for tuna: A budget-friendly 2-speed LD with ~40 lb max drag and strong capacities—arguably the most cost-effective step into serious tuna gear. 
Key features

• 6.0:1 / 1.9:1 gears on 40N; 5 SS bearings; robust frame 
  Pros

• Superb value-to-power ratio

• Simple, dependable, easy to service
  Cons

• Not as refined/smooth as top-tier reels

• Graphite accents show wear sooner

6) PENN Squall II Lever Drag (2-Speed) (B00EOTBNUY)

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Best for: 20–80 lb tuna; nearshore/offshore mixed bag, lighter tackle trolling
Why it’s great for tuna: Dura-Drag on a light, affordable frame—great for schoolies and mid-grade fish, with sizes up to 60 for more headroom. 
Key features

• Broad size range (25N–60, incl. 40N HS); stainless main/pinion 
  Pros

• Light in hand and on wallet

• Good all-rounder for charter/party-boat duty
  Cons

• More flex and roughness under max load than metal-framed elites

• Not ideal for sustained 150 lb+ battles

7) Okuma Makaira SEa (Special Edition) 2-Speed LD (B07ZBLKPQ8)

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Best for: 80–200 lb tuna; live-bait fly-lining where freespool matters
Why it’s great for tuna: Same Makaira bones, with lower low-gear for extreme torque, oversized handle, and SEa tweaks known for excellent freespool—perfect for picky live-bait bites on bigger grade fish. 
Key features

• Carbonite DFD drag; gun-metal/silver finishes; torque-biased gearing 
  Pros

• Legendary stopping power + refined freespool

• Ergonomics that win long stand-up fights
  Cons

• Heavier than “compact” 2-speeds

• Premium pricing vs. Fathom/Squall

8) PENN Squall II Level Wind Conventional (B096G79RYK)

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Best for: 10–50 lb tuna; trolling cedar plugs/feathers, simple line lay
Why it’s great for tuna: Level wind simplifies line management on the troll, with HT-100™ drag and the new Fast Gear Access sideplate for easy upkeep. For school-size tuna and mixed pelagics it’s a stress-free choice.
Key features

• Graphite frame/sideplates; 3+1 shielded SS bearings; HT-100 drag
  Pros

• Beginner-friendly on the troll

• Affordable, low-maintenance
  Cons

• Level wind adds friction for casting

• Not my pick for 80–100 lb fish or vertical slug-outs

9) Daiwa Seagate SGT40H Star-Drag Conventional (B005R114ZW)

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Best for: 10–40 lb tuna (albacore/skipjack/“footballs”), fast-cast bait work
Why it’s great for tuna: Light, quick star-drag reel with ~19–20 lb max drag—perfect for schoolie chaos when you want speed and casting ease; not a big-fish grinder.
Key features

• ~6.1–6.4:1 high-speed ratio; compact 40-size platform (SGT40H) 
  Pros

• Light and castable for surface feeds

• Budget-friendly entry to tuna trips
  Cons

• Limited drag headroom vs. lever-drags

• No 2-speed; not for large bluefin

Quick Comparison (what to buy for your target tuna & style)

Tip: For true giants (200–400+), step up to 30/50-size heavy frames (e.g., larger International VISX or Makaira 30/50). The 20/25-size “compact power” reels above are fantastic up to the low-200s with the right rod/line and a skilled crew.

Which reel should you buy?

• Mostly schoolies (10–40 lb), easy trolling: PENN Squall II Level Wind; Daiwa Seagate for castable fun.

• Mixed-grade (40–100 lb), value rig: PENN Fathom II 40N LD2 or Squall II LD 2-Speed.

• Chasing 100–200 lb class: Shimano Talica 25 II, Daiwa Saltiga LD 2-spd, or Okuma Makaira MK/SEa.

• Heavy duty, long runs, deep spools: PENN International 20VISXS.

How to Choose The Best Tuna Fishing Reel: The ultimate guide

Choosing the best fishing reel is a bit confusing when all those reels have great features and options open for you. So what you are going to do when it’s on you to choose a reel when you’re willing to catch tuna?

Don’t you worry my good man! I’m here to help you. I’m sharing a guide regarding how to choose the best fishing reel. By this guide, you’ll get to know what are the things and facts you should beware of when you’re buying a fishing reel. Let’s get started.

Building components and method

• This is one of the important things to check when you’re buying a fishing reel. Reel made of an ordinary component doesn’t last long. Besides, you won’t get the actual service from a reel made with some ordinary component.
• Always try to have a lightweight fishing reel made with aluminum. It helps in offshore fishing.

Gear ratio and drag

• Another important thing is the gear ratio. For tuna fishing, it’s not that much high as usual. If your gear reel’s gear ratio is between 3:1 to 5:1, that’s quite enough.
• Tuna fishing is a bit different from other fishing and it doesn’t require the highest drag. But the maximum drag of 40 lb will be enough.

Gear shifting and bearing

• In common, choosing a 2-speed fishing reel is good. But it must have the feature of quick and easy shifting from low to high or high to low.
• Always choose a reel that contains bearings with an anti-corrosion features. Without anti-corrosion, your bearings will get rusted and you won’t feel the smoothness of fishing then. Bearings made with stainless steel are considered ideal for tuna fishing.

Tuna Fishing Tips that’ll help a lot

Tuna fishes are amongst the trickiest fishes and it’s not easy to land on them. To do this, you need to stick to some rules and regulations. Here are a few tips that’ll help you whether you’re a pro or a beginner.

• Use proper gears

Don’t forget to take proper gear that is specially made for tuna fishing. the smallest tuna will be a challenging task too because of their strength. So, it’s essential that you start fishing with proper reel, rod, line, and lures.

• Try using electronics to locate

Locating tuna fish is a difficult task. To do this we recommend you use electronics. It makes easy to find your targets. If you have one, you can just locate them and go for them at once.

• Use precise techniques

Two popular tuna fishing techniques are drifting and trolling. If you opt to troll, you need to keep your speed in 4-8 knots.

• Keep your eye on the surrounding

To hook up a tuna, you need to focus on bait fishes first. Try finding them. There’ll be birds above them and you can easily locate where they are. Big tunas wait under their foods. To get to them, you need to know where they are first.

• Match the size of the bait

You must fish with a lure that looks almost the same as bait fishes. It makes the tuna confused and they easily take your lure. A 3.75″ lure will be perfect for tuna fishing.

• Try fishing closer in the summertime

While you’re fishing tuna in the summertime, target near to the surface. They stay in the ray of the sun back then. In the winter, tunas are too much difficult.

• Use single strand wires sometimes

Tuna fishes have great eyesight. They can see almost everything. In this case, a double-strand wire can scare them off.

• Try fresh baits sometimes

Fresh baits are the key to success in tuna fishing. Tuna eats the bait easily and without any doubt. So, if you’re using artificial lures, that’s totally fine. But, you should use fresh baits sometime too!

Last words

In this article, I have shared the top 7 best tuna fishing reels with their feature highlights and options. At the very end, I’ve shared a buying guide to help you in choosing the best tuna reel.

So, if you are looking for the best tuna fishing reels, grab one of these I described above. All these are great and have a great positive review from their users all over the world. To learn more about fishing, read other articles on my site.

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