TUNA Jigging Reel
 

In the market for a new jigging reel for Tuna. I narrowed it down to either a SALTIST 35 or AVET HXJ. Any thoughts would be helpful. I'm leaning toward the AVET.

Re: TUNA Jigging Reel
 

What's your budget?
What line will you pair it with? How many yards do you want? How much drag?
What size fish?

I take tuna jigging very seriously and personally I would avoid both reels for different reasons.
If its in your budget the best tuna jigging reels (and best reels in general) are the Jigging Master PE reels.

Re: TUNA Jigging Reel
 

What line will you pair it with? daiwa samurai braid 55 - 70lb haven't decided yet.

How many yards do you want? 220 yd

How much drag? Strike 21lb/Full 27lb

Re: TUNA Jigging Reel
 

Go with the Avet..

Re: TUNA Jigging Reel
 

99% will go with Avet.

Re: TUNA Jigging Reel
 

The saltist won't fish that kind of drag, they fall well short of their specs.
The avet will be pushing it, it may be OK but reels generally don't fair too well when always fished at their max for prolonged time. If you can deal with the "backslap" of the avet it's otherwise not a bad reel, but I personally cannot tolerate it. If you want to stick with one of these two reels this has to be the one.

I know these reels are priced higher than what you are already looking at, but the Shimano Talica 12 or 16 two speeds are good reels. My only "complaints" are the rather sharp drag curve once you go past strike, the rubber handle (prefer T-bar), and they don't have the power I've become used to from JM reels (but then again, nothing else does either). JM PE are the best choice but also the most $$$. Just depends how much you are OK with spending.

Re: TUNA Jigging Reel
 

Thanks Sea Bear! I'll keep all that in mind before I make my decision.

A

Re: TUNA Jigging Reel
 

I am not a big fan of avets for jigging, chunking the 30 and 50 are great. If I was going to use an avet for jigging tuna it would be a JX. It has plenty of capacity and enough drag for the yellowfin we catch locally.

A couple of issues I see with your specs. You say you want 21# of drag at strike and 28# at full, but fishing with 55-70# line your drag should be more like 12-18# at strike and 18-23# at full. Also 220 yards is not going to be enough line if you hook a bigger fish. I would go with at least 300 yards of line, I prefer 400 or better.

Like Seabear said the JM reels are the best of the best. I love mine and am looking to pick up another, it is the best jigging and bottom fishing reel I have ever used.

Re: TUNA Jigging Reel
 

Going to go with the Avet JX. Thanks guys

Re: TUNA Jigging Reel
 

what size JM would you use for jigging tuna