How much Drag?

Depends on what ya targeting and where?

Catching 25-30 kilo YTF in 20 meters of water will require much more drag than 12 -15 kilo fish in 50 meters of water.

Targeting  GT,s up against the reef requires lots a drag and luck, targeting the same class of fish at a channel marker  in open country  doesn't require the same amount...


Some reasonably priced second hand Saltiga Z and Catalinas are available on Ebay.

My next door neighbour wanted a reel for his wife, when I told him how much a Stella or Saltiga cost he stoppped looking me in the eyes and stared at the ground, I pointed him in the direction of  the new Saragosa....... He just purchased a 1000O SW , It will do everything she asks of it and last... That would be my pick at the lower end of the price range your talking about

Thanks for the info. In terms of what - Kingfish. I do the occasional long range charter to the usual haunts but 95% of it will be from small boats in Northland, Coromandel and Auckland waters.

I got a 5000H  Catalina from Fishhead.com .au in 4 days just before Christmas , great service , came in at just over $800. Same guts as a Saltiga I think , minus a couple of bearings , 15kg drag.

From the choices in that price range I would look at the Catalina 5000h which feels good but is quite stiff to start with. Others are the new Saragosa but the gear ratio of the $10k is a bit slow. Another option is the Penn Torque 7 which is a very solid reel, nowhere near as refined but will last and last. All have sufficient drag. The Catalina can be had in Oz for AUD $650, the Penn around the same and the Gosa for about $320.