Description
Daiwa Saltiga LD80-2SPD
Daiwa says it spent more than six years developing and testing this reel. The construction is centered around a one-piece frame machined from solid aluminum, oversized stainless-steel main and pinion gears, corrosion-resistant bearings, and Daiwa’s ATD carbon drag system.
R
|
Model |
SAGLD80-2SPD |
|
High Gear |
3.9:1 |
|
Low Gear |
1.7:1 |
|
Retrieve – High |
48.6 in/turn |
|
Retrieve – Low |
21.6 in/turn |
|
Maximum Drag |
59.5 lb |
|
Bearings |
6 CRBB |
|
Weight |
60 oz / 3.75 lb |
|
Braid Capacity |
120 lb / 700 yd |
|
Braid Capacity |
150 lb / 550 yd |
|
Mono Capacity |
80 lb / 350 yd |
|
MSRP |
$1,499.99 |
That 1.7:1 low gear is particularly interesting. You’re getting only 21.6 inches per crank, which means Daiwa clearly wasn’t chasing marketing-friendly speed numbers. This thing is intended to turn a genuinely big fish when you’re under very heavy drag.
What Daiwa built it for
This isn’t really an oversized conventional reel intended to cover everything. Daiwa specifically identifies giant bluefin, cow yellowfin and marlin as primary targets. With 700 yards of 120-pound braid and nearly 60 pounds of maximum drag, we’re firmly in heavy stand-up/rail-rod and trolling territory.
And the timing is interesting: Daiwa lists it as a 2026 model at $1,499.99, while dealers are only now getting inventory; one retailer had listed an estimated October 2026 ship date.
Where I think this gets VERY interesting for Palmarius
This reel is almost tailor-made for the heavy tuna rod project we’ve been discussing.
The LD80 gives us an excellent benchmark around which to define the top Palmarius tuna rod. Rather than simply saying “80–130 lb trolling rod,” I’d design the flagship rod around what an LD80 can actually deliver:
120–150 lb braid → 35–45 lb realistic fighting drag → 50+ lb short-duration load → harness/rail capable → Winthrop hardware.