The ‘SEABORG 500MJ’—a monster of a machine that combines mega power and mega speed to help you target fish a cut above the rest, whilst offering comfortable handling and exceptional durability.
Equipped with DAIWA Technology and having undergone repeated testing across a wide range of fishing grounds, it is now unveiled.
A true ally to offshore anglers, truly worthy of the name ‘MONSTER’.
Now, out on the open sea, experience its true worth for yourself.
At the heart of its manoeuvrability lies the MAGMAX motor, which has been tuned to deliver both torque and instantaneous power. The motor housing incorporates aluminium components, resulting in a Tough design that offers excellent heat dissipation and durability.
It also features the MEGATWIN-PRO system, which allows for comfortable, shock-free shifting between power and speed gears. Furthermore, the Tough Drag ATD system absorbs the powerful runs of bluefish whilst maintaining comfortable, consistent drag, ensuring you’re well prepared to handle even unexpected Big Ones.
In terms of operability, the rod features the JOG Power Lever, which allows for comfortable one-handed operation and ensures you never lose control thanks to its instantaneous winding. Furthermore, the Fall Brake Dial, which allows you to instantly adjust the descent speed, is an excellent feature for ensuring that bait sticks to the hook as it sinks during Bottom Fishing and for detecting the mid-water reactions of Japanese common squid.
In terms of durability, the MAGSEALED ball bearings—featuring waterproof and durable technology—ensure that the product maintains its initial performance. Furthermore, the counter section features a large-dot LCD display that remains clearly visible even when wearing polarised sunglasses in direct sunlight.
It is suitable for a wide range of species, from bluefish such as yellowtail amberjack, yellowtail and kampachi, to multiple catches of Japanese common squid, as well as red seabream, Japanese seabream and cod in mid-depth waters, and even Sagami Bay kimeji and skipjack tuna.
*The L-shaped knob can be replaced
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Mega Power & Mega Speed: ‘MEGA MONSTER MEGATWIN’
DAIWA Technology
MAGMAX MOTOR
The MAGMAX MOTOR is a custom motor designed exclusively for DAIWA electric reels. The ‘special neodymium magnets’, which form the core of the motor system, are ideal for generating sufficiently high torque even at low speeds under light loads, combining toughness with power. As well as accommodating delicate power adjustments such as ‘slow reeling’ and ‘gentle stops at the Gunwale’, this responsive brush motor also excels in burst power.
MEGATWIN PRO
The MEGATWIN System—which has realised the long-standing challenge of combining power and speed in electric reels—is a mode-switching mechanism unique to DAIWA electric reels, featuring two Gear ratios. Whilst the MEGATWIN is forced to pause briefly when shifting between Hi and Lo gears, the MEGATWIN PRO switches smoothly without any gear-change shock, ensuring a seamless transition that does not jar the Rig.
ATD
The ATD operates smoothly in response to the fish’s pull and maintains a consistent drag. Designed to minimise slippage and ensure excellent tracking, it allows you to concentrate on the fight without having to worry about drag settings.
JOG POWER LEVER
The power lever has been repositioned to the centre of the body, and its design has been changed from a lever to a jog dial style. This allows the angler to perform reeling and engage or disengage the clutch using just the thumb of the hand holding the Rod, completely freeing the other hand from operating the lever so that the angler can concentrate fully on handling the Rod. This flexible one-thumb operation enables precise control of the lever, allowing the angler to adjust the reeling speed at will.
MAGSEALED BALL BEARING
Using its proprietary technology, DAIWA has succeeded in becoming the first in the world to apply MAGSEALED technology to the ball bearing itself. A wall of magnetic fluid prevents water and foreign particles from entering the interior of the ball bearing, thereby significantly reducing rust, salt deposits and abnormal noises whilst maintaining the ball bearing’s inherent rotational performance.
Product Details
MEGA POWER, MEGA SPEED
Mega Power & Mega Speed: Take on targets a cut above the rest
MAGMAX MOTOR
It is equipped with the ‘MAGMAX motor’, a special neodymium magnet that has been power-tuned specifically for the SB500MJ to achieve a balance between torque and instantaneous power. The motor housing incorporates aluminium components to enhance heat dissipation, resulting in excellent motor durability (endurance and breaker activation range).
The magnets that generate the power are ‘special neodymium magnets’. Not only do they deliver winding torque and instantaneous power, but they also handle slow winding with ease.
The magnets that generate the power are ‘special neodymium magnets’. Not only do they deliver winding torque and instantaneous power, but they also handle slow winding with ease.
MEGATWIN-PRO (Mega Twin Pro)
It features the ‘MEGATWIN-PRO’ system, which allows for smooth, comfortable shifting between power and speed gears with minimal shock. The manual system, controlled by the angler, enables operation exactly as desired.
Left: Hi (SPEED) ⇒ Secure the Lo gear with your fingernail
Right: Lo (POWER) ⇒ Release the latch
Left: Hi (SPEED) ⇒ Secure the Lo gear with your fingernail
Right: Lo (POWER) ⇒ Release the latch
ATD (Automatic Drag System)
The ‘ATD’ tough drag system absorbs the powerful runs of bluefish whilst maintaining smooth, consistent drag, giving you peace of mind when unexpectedly landing a Big One.
The Aluminium Star Drag offers excellent heat dissipation and durability, ensuring consistently high-performance drag action. Maximum drag: 23 kg; features a drag sound (electronic tone) function.
The drag mechanism is fitted with five carbon drag washers.
The Aluminium Star Drag offers excellent heat dissipation and durability, ensuring consistently high-performance drag action. Maximum drag: 23 kg; features a drag sound (electronic tone) function.
The drag mechanism is fitted with five carbon drag washers.
USABILITY TECHNOLOGY
A monster machine offering even more comfortable operation and enhanced durability
JOG POWER LEVER
Features the ‘JOG Power Lever’ for comfortable one-handed operation that allows you to maintain control with instant responses.
With just your left thumb, you can switch the clutch from OFF to ON and then engage the JOG winding. Operating the power lever by pinching it between your right thumb and index finger to wind the reel is particularly useful when fishing with the rod set down or when wearing gloves in cold weather.
With just your left thumb, you can switch the clutch from OFF to ON and then engage the JOG winding. Operating the power lever by pinching it between your right thumb and index finger to wind the reel is particularly useful when fishing with the rod set down or when wearing gloves in cold weather.
When holding the rod, you can operate the JOG dial with your left thumb. When the rod is set down, simply grip the central lever with your right hand to perform reeling effortlessly, just like a conventional power lever.
Its design has been carefully thought through to ensure it is as practical as possible in a wide range of situations when fishing from a FUNE.
Its design has been carefully thought through to ensure it is as practical as possible in a wide range of situations when fishing from a FUNE.
MAGSEALED (MagSealed ball bearings)
Equipped with ‘MAGSEALED ball bearings’, designed with a focus on durability for hunting.
By fitting it to the spool shaft—the part most prone to salt build-up and the most difficult to maintain—it dramatically improves water resistance and durability, whilst maintaining the initial performance in terms of winding efficiency and spool freedom.
By fitting it to the spool shaft—the part most prone to salt build-up and the most difficult to maintain—it dramatically improves water resistance and durability, whilst maintaining the initial performance in terms of winding efficiency and spool freedom.
FALL BRAKE DIAL
The ‘Fall Brake Dial’ allows you to instantly adjust the falling speed of the Rig. The large aluminium dial enables precise control even with wet fingertips.
In bottom fishing, it ensures stable control of the fall, improving the Bait’s appeal as it sinks; in squid fishing, it allows you to detect the subtle bites of squid in the mid-water column.
It can be adjusted from MIN (FREE) to MAX in approximately half a turn.
(Two sets of dial alignment stickers are included, including spares)
In bottom fishing, it ensures stable control of the fall, improving the Bait’s appeal as it sinks; in squid fishing, it allows you to detect the subtle bites of squid in the mid-water column.
It can be adjusted from MIN (FREE) to MAX in approximately half a turn.
(Two sets of dial alignment stickers are included, including spares)
DOT MONITOR (dot matrix display)
It features a large-character display that offers excellent visibility in the field, utilising a dot-matrix LCD that remains clear even when viewed through polarised sunglasses in direct sunlight. It is equipped with useful functions such as line input procedures and the ability to switch between Japanese and English. The menu voice prompts are clear, allowing the device to be operated without the need for a separate settings manual.
The large, easy-to-press buttons further enhance the comfortable user experience.
*To prevent the line from becoming entangled, the electric winch cannot be operated when the depth counter reads 0.0 or less.
The large, easy-to-press buttons further enhance the comfortable user experience.
*To prevent the line from becoming entangled, the electric winch cannot be operated when the depth counter reads 0.0 or less.
Tester Impressions
The Shin ‘SEABORG 500MJ’, delivering outstanding power and speed.
As this is the new 500-size model—the most versatile of DAIWA’s electric reels—we decided to entrust three anglers with providing their first impressions, as they set out on fishing expeditions from Hokkaido to Kyushu and Okinawa to test it out for various fishing styles and a wide range of fish species.
I have attempted to capture the sheer power and speed beyond imagination in a vivid report, focusing on these powerful fish species. (Report: Shigemitsu Kitamoto)
As this is the new 500-size model—the most versatile of DAIWA’s electric reels—we decided to entrust three anglers with providing their first impressions, as they set out on fishing expeditions from Hokkaido to Kyushu and Okinawa to test it out for various fishing styles and a wide range of fish species.
I have attempted to capture the sheer power and speed beyond imagination in a vivid report, focusing on these powerful fish species. (Report: Shigemitsu Kitamoto)
Having already enjoyed a string of enviable catches on this island, I’ve brought along the latest model, the SEABORG 500MJ, to target a powerful big fish: the Amberjack.
I’d gone fishing with Kannagi in the back of my mind. Whilst preparing his tackle, Kojima psych himself up, saying, ‘They’re pretty strong and powerful. Shall we give it our all and go for a big one!’
‘Look, that’s the movement of the Amberjack chasing them from below—the horse mackerel are fleeing higher and higher. ‘Right, it’s on! First, I’ll play it safe in Power Mode… I can reel it in really fast – you’d never think this was a 500-size reel with all this power,’ I found myself saying, completely absorbed in the moment. With Power Mode at full throttle, I really felt that the sheer power on offer made it hard to believe it was a 500-size reel; and the large characters displayed on the LCD screen, which are easy to read even in bright sunlight, are certainly a point worth noting.”
‘Wow, that’s huge. To think we can actually catch a 500-size fish like this. The drag’s brilliant too, thanks to the ATD. It’s really easy to use—you can adjust it to suit the fish,’ I said, seeking Kojima’s agreement, and Kojima replied… ‘It’s on, it’s on~. Wow, the fish is really pulling hard. It’s fast, so fast. ‘Speed Mode’ is really fast, isn’t it?’” Kojima, impressed by the power and speed, had a blue chibiki on the line. It was a blue chibiki of a record size for him. “Eh, a 500-size? To be honest, I was surprised that such a large fish could be landed with a SEABORG that’s small enough for me to hold in one hand,” he said, and I nodded in agreement, seeing the look of astonishment at the reel’s evolution rather than sheer satisfaction. “Right then, I’m going to set the hook. This power is incredible. In Power Mode, it felt like it brought a fish dashing along the reef to the surface in an instant. It cut through the reef, and even when I switched to Speed Mode and started winding, it still had plenty of power and came up with a vengeance. If it can bring a fish up with this 500-size reel, even a 10-kilo class would be a breeze. And Speed Mode—it was fast.” I found myself more impressed by the sheer range of Speed Mode than by the sheer power of Power Mode.
This two-day fishing trip to Miyako Island in Okinawa was dedicated to catching Amberjack. Although they didn’t manage to catch any particularly large specimens, the pair felt the fish were of a respectable size and even remarked that, in the Kanto region—for example, around Zenzu—they would be perfectly suitable for ‘live bait fishing’.
I was convinced that the SEABORG 500MJ had no weaknesses. ‘For such a compact electric reel, it didn’t feel as though it was being pushed to its limits at all; in fact, I even got the impression it still had plenty in reserve. The potential of this SEABORG 500MJ is truly immeasurable,’ I said, before leaving Miyako Island, having promised to undertake some challenging test fishing trips in the future. Please look forward to my reports from the front line of the FUNE, detailing exactly what kind of fishing I’ll be getting up to.
I’d gone fishing with Kannagi in the back of my mind. Whilst preparing his tackle, Kojima psych himself up, saying, ‘They’re pretty strong and powerful. Shall we give it our all and go for a big one!’
‘Look, that’s the movement of the Amberjack chasing them from below—the horse mackerel are fleeing higher and higher. ‘Right, it’s on! First, I’ll play it safe in Power Mode… I can reel it in really fast – you’d never think this was a 500-size reel with all this power,’ I found myself saying, completely absorbed in the moment. With Power Mode at full throttle, I really felt that the sheer power on offer made it hard to believe it was a 500-size reel; and the large characters displayed on the LCD screen, which are easy to read even in bright sunlight, are certainly a point worth noting.”
‘Wow, that’s huge. To think we can actually catch a 500-size fish like this. The drag’s brilliant too, thanks to the ATD. It’s really easy to use—you can adjust it to suit the fish,’ I said, seeking Kojima’s agreement, and Kojima replied… ‘It’s on, it’s on~. Wow, the fish is really pulling hard. It’s fast, so fast. ‘Speed Mode’ is really fast, isn’t it?’” Kojima, impressed by the power and speed, had a blue chibiki on the line. It was a blue chibiki of a record size for him. “Eh, a 500-size? To be honest, I was surprised that such a large fish could be landed with a SEABORG that’s small enough for me to hold in one hand,” he said, and I nodded in agreement, seeing the look of astonishment at the reel’s evolution rather than sheer satisfaction. “Right then, I’m going to set the hook. This power is incredible. In Power Mode, it felt like it brought a fish dashing along the reef to the surface in an instant. It cut through the reef, and even when I switched to Speed Mode and started winding, it still had plenty of power and came up with a vengeance. If it can bring a fish up with this 500-size reel, even a 10-kilo class would be a breeze. And Speed Mode—it was fast.” I found myself more impressed by the sheer range of Speed Mode than by the sheer power of Power Mode.
This two-day fishing trip to Miyako Island in Okinawa was dedicated to catching Amberjack. Although they didn’t manage to catch any particularly large specimens, the pair felt the fish were of a respectable size and even remarked that, in the Kanto region—for example, around Zenzu—they would be perfectly suitable for ‘live bait fishing’.
I was convinced that the SEABORG 500MJ had no weaknesses. ‘For such a compact electric reel, it didn’t feel as though it was being pushed to its limits at all; in fact, I even got the impression it still had plenty in reserve. The potential of this SEABORG 500MJ is truly immeasurable,’ I said, before leaving Miyako Island, having promised to undertake some challenging test fishing trips in the future. Please look forward to my reports from the front line of the FUNE, detailing exactly what kind of fishing I’ll be getting up to.
If you’re after yellowtail using the ‘Bottom Fishing’ technique… Well, we’ve decided to ask Miki Gohara to share her impressions of the ‘SEABORG 500MJ’. ‘With its quick retrieval and powerful performance, the SEABORG 500MJ is the perfect electric reel for Bottom Fishing. Right then, let’s go and catch some yellowtail with that mega power!’
The baitfish of the day were sardines. The shoals of sardines were moving quickly, so as soon as the skipper gave the signal, we cast our Rigs and, working the line efficiently, hooked some sardines at the bait depth… Then, when we finally lowered the bait down to the depth of our target, the yellowtail amberjack, the sardines began thrashing about as they tried to escape, and we could see from the Rod Tip that they were being targeted by the amberjack. ‘I’ve got a bite! Whoa, a bite… Hit!’ Gohara had hooked the first yellowtail of the day. ‘Wow, I can reel it in fast.’ Gohara manoeuvred the JOG POWER LEVER with practised ease, holding the rod firmly upright as he fought the fish. ‘It’s thrashing about, thrashing about.’ Just as I was marvelling at Gohara’s skilful handling of the tackle as he neatly landed the fish, he exclaimed, ‘It’s a massive one. ‘Eh? It was that big?’” Gohara’s expression of surprise as he overpowered the yellowtail—which was shaking its head in resistance—with sheer force, completely ignoring its struggle, was a moment that truly highlighted the potential of the ‘SEABORG 500MJ’.
‘That gave me a right shock. It’s got more power than I ever imagined—it can easily target fish beyond the depth gauge. It’s really impressive—perfect for Bottom Fishing in the Genkai Sea.’ This was Gohara’s second catch, as he skilfully handled his own tackle. ‘When you reel them in steadily in “Speed Mode”, the yellowtail amberjack just give up—the reel’s so powerful. You can land them with remarkable ease…’
Once you’ve cast your Rig and adjusted its fall speed using the ‘Fall brake dial’ to efficiently present the bait, you can clearly see the sardines becoming frightened and scattering from the school of yellowtail. ‘The Bait the yellowtail amberjack is targeting. Here it comes~~. It’s a big one.’ The yellowtail amberjack comes up effortlessly. In Speed Mode, it comes up surprisingly easily. If he thinks the fish is slightly larger than usual, he could simply switch to Power Mode, but Gohara is really putting the SEABORG 500MJ through its paces.
With this Bottom Fishing, there are times when the yellowtail amberjack are really on the bite and get hooked one after another. In preparation for such prime moments, Gohara says, ‘There are two ways to operate the JOG POWER LEVER. Use your left thumb for the JOG function, and pinch the lever on the right-hand side. Today’s Bottom Fishing is absolutely brilliant. This reel is the best,’ unable to hide his excitement, helped along by the excellent fishing conditions. Gohara’s rod is once again bending into an arc. “It’s in shallow water, so it’s pulling really hard. This resistance tells me it’s a good-sized fish. But I was a bit nervous. When it made a sudden run midway through, I was secretly worried and thought about switching to Power Mode, but to be able to land it straight from Speed Mode…” These words from Gohara perfectly encapsulate the essence of the SEABORG 500MJ. It allows for a consistently powerful reeling, and when the yellowtail amberjack makes a run, it gives you the confidence to focus on the fundamentals of the fight—making fine adjustments with the JOG POWER LEVER whilst making full use of the Rod. On this day, Gohara reeled the fish in relentlessly using only Speed Mode, without resorting to Power Mode at all.
‘“Since Bottom Fishing involves using live bait, the Sea Bream tend to be a good size…”’ said Gohara, only to snag the line due to overconfidence when he felt a bite that wasn’t from a bluefish. The last fish of the day was a Sea Bream. ‘“I wonder if the line’s snapped… Phew~. Even in Speed Mode it’s coming up like this, so there’s plenty of headroom in the reel.” With calm, controlled reel work, he overpowered the fish’s resistance, bringing it right beneath the boat. “Stay calm, stay calm. Seven metres to go,” said the skipper. “Wow, it’s huge! I’ve got it! Blimey, it’s so heavy I can’t lift it.” For a moment there, it looked like it was going to get away, but the reel had the stopping power, and the drag was surprisingly smooth. After it broke free from the reef, I loosened the drag and switched to Speed Mode.” This catch is surely a testament to the reel’s power. “No worries about power. You can make fine adjustments with the JOG POWER LEVER, so even if it makes a sudden run, you’re fine,” he reflected emphatically. In Gohara’s satisfied expression, I felt as though I had glimpsed a new style of fishing.
When fishing with a ‘Bottom Fishing’ rig, the way the bait settles is also a key consideration. It was a day that served as a reminder that, with this reel, a single operation of the JOG POWER LEVER can make a significant difference in that regard.
In response to my words, ‘I look forward to seeing you again’, Gohara replied with a beaming smile, ‘It was brilliant. It was absolutely brilliant, wasn’t it?’. The appeal of the Genkai Sea just keeps growing. This interview reaffirmed my decision to return, this time with the SEABORG 500MJ in hand.
The baitfish of the day were sardines. The shoals of sardines were moving quickly, so as soon as the skipper gave the signal, we cast our Rigs and, working the line efficiently, hooked some sardines at the bait depth… Then, when we finally lowered the bait down to the depth of our target, the yellowtail amberjack, the sardines began thrashing about as they tried to escape, and we could see from the Rod Tip that they were being targeted by the amberjack. ‘I’ve got a bite! Whoa, a bite… Hit!’ Gohara had hooked the first yellowtail of the day. ‘Wow, I can reel it in fast.’ Gohara manoeuvred the JOG POWER LEVER with practised ease, holding the rod firmly upright as he fought the fish. ‘It’s thrashing about, thrashing about.’ Just as I was marvelling at Gohara’s skilful handling of the tackle as he neatly landed the fish, he exclaimed, ‘It’s a massive one. ‘Eh? It was that big?’” Gohara’s expression of surprise as he overpowered the yellowtail—which was shaking its head in resistance—with sheer force, completely ignoring its struggle, was a moment that truly highlighted the potential of the ‘SEABORG 500MJ’.
‘That gave me a right shock. It’s got more power than I ever imagined—it can easily target fish beyond the depth gauge. It’s really impressive—perfect for Bottom Fishing in the Genkai Sea.’ This was Gohara’s second catch, as he skilfully handled his own tackle. ‘When you reel them in steadily in “Speed Mode”, the yellowtail amberjack just give up—the reel’s so powerful. You can land them with remarkable ease…’
Once you’ve cast your Rig and adjusted its fall speed using the ‘Fall brake dial’ to efficiently present the bait, you can clearly see the sardines becoming frightened and scattering from the school of yellowtail. ‘The Bait the yellowtail amberjack is targeting. Here it comes~~. It’s a big one.’ The yellowtail amberjack comes up effortlessly. In Speed Mode, it comes up surprisingly easily. If he thinks the fish is slightly larger than usual, he could simply switch to Power Mode, but Gohara is really putting the SEABORG 500MJ through its paces.
With this Bottom Fishing, there are times when the yellowtail amberjack are really on the bite and get hooked one after another. In preparation for such prime moments, Gohara says, ‘There are two ways to operate the JOG POWER LEVER. Use your left thumb for the JOG function, and pinch the lever on the right-hand side. Today’s Bottom Fishing is absolutely brilliant. This reel is the best,’ unable to hide his excitement, helped along by the excellent fishing conditions. Gohara’s rod is once again bending into an arc. “It’s in shallow water, so it’s pulling really hard. This resistance tells me it’s a good-sized fish. But I was a bit nervous. When it made a sudden run midway through, I was secretly worried and thought about switching to Power Mode, but to be able to land it straight from Speed Mode…” These words from Gohara perfectly encapsulate the essence of the SEABORG 500MJ. It allows for a consistently powerful reeling, and when the yellowtail amberjack makes a run, it gives you the confidence to focus on the fundamentals of the fight—making fine adjustments with the JOG POWER LEVER whilst making full use of the Rod. On this day, Gohara reeled the fish in relentlessly using only Speed Mode, without resorting to Power Mode at all.
‘“Since Bottom Fishing involves using live bait, the Sea Bream tend to be a good size…”’ said Gohara, only to snag the line due to overconfidence when he felt a bite that wasn’t from a bluefish. The last fish of the day was a Sea Bream. ‘“I wonder if the line’s snapped… Phew~. Even in Speed Mode it’s coming up like this, so there’s plenty of headroom in the reel.” With calm, controlled reel work, he overpowered the fish’s resistance, bringing it right beneath the boat. “Stay calm, stay calm. Seven metres to go,” said the skipper. “Wow, it’s huge! I’ve got it! Blimey, it’s so heavy I can’t lift it.” For a moment there, it looked like it was going to get away, but the reel had the stopping power, and the drag was surprisingly smooth. After it broke free from the reef, I loosened the drag and switched to Speed Mode.” This catch is surely a testament to the reel’s power. “No worries about power. You can make fine adjustments with the JOG POWER LEVER, so even if it makes a sudden run, you’re fine,” he reflected emphatically. In Gohara’s satisfied expression, I felt as though I had glimpsed a new style of fishing.
When fishing with a ‘Bottom Fishing’ rig, the way the bait settles is also a key consideration. It was a day that served as a reminder that, with this reel, a single operation of the JOG POWER LEVER can make a significant difference in that regard.
In response to my words, ‘I look forward to seeing you again’, Gohara replied with a beaming smile, ‘It was brilliant. It was absolutely brilliant, wasn’t it?’. The appeal of the Genkai Sea just keeps growing. This interview reaffirmed my decision to return, this time with the SEABORG 500MJ in hand.
When it comes to big ones, we’re talking over 10 kilograms. If I were to be greedy, I’d say well over 15 kilograms. Filled with enthusiasm at the prospect of reeling them in one after another, secretly targeting halibut as well, and capturing the powerful action of the SEABORG 500MJ during those epic fights, I decided to tag along to the Kita seas. Wanting to put the SEABORG 500MJ through its paces with electric Jigging for cod—it was a request that was truly typical of Kojima.
“Right then, Hokkaido—here comes the first cast,” he said, selecting a 330-gram Orange Zebra SALTIGA SL jig and casting it out straight away. At this point, Kojima began performing a rather peculiar manoeuvre. He appeared to be adjusting the ‘Fall brake dial’ fitted to this SEABORG 500MJ to check the jig’s descent.
For Kojima, who has enjoyed a wide variety of fishing styles to her heart’s content, jigging for cod in Hokkaido was by no means a novelty; her priority was to familiarise herself with the various functions of the new reel so that she could make the most of the day’s electric Jigging. ‘She really is the industry’s leading female angler,’ thought the entire crew, taking their hats off to her as she so effortlessly demonstrated the true purpose of the location shoot, which was also serving as a product test. Just as the crew were marvelling at Kojima’s skill, the Jig hit the bottom. The highly visible LCD panel displayed ‘97 metres’, clearly legible even through her polarised sunglasses.
‘It’s a slow jig, but they should bite just as you’re baiting them up and letting it flutter down, you see. It’s not the sort of fishing where you’re aggressively working the jig upwards—it’s all about the bottom…’ It was as if he were saying that it was down to the angler’s skill to get the cod to bite. It was like listening to an easy-to-follow guidebook providing an audio commentary. ‘But reeling in a jig is quite tiring, isn’t it? I’ve had experiences where I’d only just cast the jig and the skipper would say, “Right, reel it in,” which almost brought tears to my eyes… ‘An electric reeller makes it a breeze, and it’s quick too, isn’t it?’ said Kojima, and everyone nodded in agreement.”
‘It’s here, it’s here~ Good, good. Is it a cod? I reckon so, from the feel of it. The pull feels a bit light… As it’s the first one, I’m reeling it in at a moderate speed. I wonder what it is??? It’s putting up quite a strong fight—really powerful,’ said Kojima, his effortless struggle with the fish causing the crew on board to neglect their camera preparations. ‘The fish in Hokkaido are quite unique, aren’t they? They’re completely different from those on Honshu every single time. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the first one turns out to be. What could it be???” Peering over the side of the FUNE, the fish came into view. “Oh… it was a cod (laughs).” “I suppose that’s what I should have said—the reel’s power really is too strong. I actually thought it was quite a small fish. It came up so easily I actually thought it might be a groundfish,” said Kojima with an embarrassed smile, realising he’d misjudged the fish’s strength based on his own experience. “It’s got quite a strong run—it’s powerful,” remarked the crew on FUNE, who found themselves neglecting to prepare their cameras due to Kojima’s effortless fight.
‘The SEABORG 500MJ is a reel for landing Big Ones. It’s actually become possible to hold it with just one hand—an electric reel that lets you battle Big Ones,’ came the delighted yet scathing critique from Kojima.
‘Got one! A good-sized blue whiting.’ Blue whiting is a fish that’s particularly tasty when it’s in season and full of fat; Kojima had already landed two of these premium fish and was on a roll. ‘That’s a good size, isn’t it? It was thrashing about like mad… I’m rather envious of that one,’ I remarked, and the very moment I said it, Kojima felt another bite. ‘Right, right, here it comes~. There it is. ‘Let’s pick up the pace a bit. It’s got power, but I won’t let it outdo me,’ said Kojima, clearly enjoying himself as he reeled in one after another. ‘Cod, cod!’ Although the size was supposed to have increased, his unchanging, composed fight with the fish left everyone on board unable to gauge just how big the cod actually was. ‘Still plenty of room to spare. You can really feel the weight of the cod when you lift it out of the water and hold it in your hands. That’s how much power it has to spare,’ said Kojima, bringing the shoot to a swift close.
On this day, we called it a day early, partly due to Kojima’s busy schedule as he was rushing off to his next filming location. Unfortunately, we ended the session without landing a cod weighing over 10 kilograms. ‘I reckon the SEABORG 500MJ could handle any kind of fishing in Hokkaido,’ Kojima remarked. ‘Not just autumn Mackerel, of course, but also yellowtail and cod. It should handle multi-hook squid fishing with ease, too…’ Kojima concluded. Sensing new possibilities in this powerful yet compact new model, he hurried off on his way home.
“Right then, Hokkaido—here comes the first cast,” he said, selecting a 330-gram Orange Zebra SALTIGA SL jig and casting it out straight away. At this point, Kojima began performing a rather peculiar manoeuvre. He appeared to be adjusting the ‘Fall brake dial’ fitted to this SEABORG 500MJ to check the jig’s descent.
For Kojima, who has enjoyed a wide variety of fishing styles to her heart’s content, jigging for cod in Hokkaido was by no means a novelty; her priority was to familiarise herself with the various functions of the new reel so that she could make the most of the day’s electric Jigging. ‘She really is the industry’s leading female angler,’ thought the entire crew, taking their hats off to her as she so effortlessly demonstrated the true purpose of the location shoot, which was also serving as a product test. Just as the crew were marvelling at Kojima’s skill, the Jig hit the bottom. The highly visible LCD panel displayed ‘97 metres’, clearly legible even through her polarised sunglasses.
‘It’s a slow jig, but they should bite just as you’re baiting them up and letting it flutter down, you see. It’s not the sort of fishing where you’re aggressively working the jig upwards—it’s all about the bottom…’ It was as if he were saying that it was down to the angler’s skill to get the cod to bite. It was like listening to an easy-to-follow guidebook providing an audio commentary. ‘But reeling in a jig is quite tiring, isn’t it? I’ve had experiences where I’d only just cast the jig and the skipper would say, “Right, reel it in,” which almost brought tears to my eyes… ‘An electric reeller makes it a breeze, and it’s quick too, isn’t it?’ said Kojima, and everyone nodded in agreement.”
‘It’s here, it’s here~ Good, good. Is it a cod? I reckon so, from the feel of it. The pull feels a bit light… As it’s the first one, I’m reeling it in at a moderate speed. I wonder what it is??? It’s putting up quite a strong fight—really powerful,’ said Kojima, his effortless struggle with the fish causing the crew on board to neglect their camera preparations. ‘The fish in Hokkaido are quite unique, aren’t they? They’re completely different from those on Honshu every single time. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the first one turns out to be. What could it be???” Peering over the side of the FUNE, the fish came into view. “Oh… it was a cod (laughs).” “I suppose that’s what I should have said—the reel’s power really is too strong. I actually thought it was quite a small fish. It came up so easily I actually thought it might be a groundfish,” said Kojima with an embarrassed smile, realising he’d misjudged the fish’s strength based on his own experience. “It’s got quite a strong run—it’s powerful,” remarked the crew on FUNE, who found themselves neglecting to prepare their cameras due to Kojima’s effortless fight.
‘The SEABORG 500MJ is a reel for landing Big Ones. It’s actually become possible to hold it with just one hand—an electric reel that lets you battle Big Ones,’ came the delighted yet scathing critique from Kojima.
‘Got one! A good-sized blue whiting.’ Blue whiting is a fish that’s particularly tasty when it’s in season and full of fat; Kojima had already landed two of these premium fish and was on a roll. ‘That’s a good size, isn’t it? It was thrashing about like mad… I’m rather envious of that one,’ I remarked, and the very moment I said it, Kojima felt another bite. ‘Right, right, here it comes~. There it is. ‘Let’s pick up the pace a bit. It’s got power, but I won’t let it outdo me,’ said Kojima, clearly enjoying himself as he reeled in one after another. ‘Cod, cod!’ Although the size was supposed to have increased, his unchanging, composed fight with the fish left everyone on board unable to gauge just how big the cod actually was. ‘Still plenty of room to spare. You can really feel the weight of the cod when you lift it out of the water and hold it in your hands. That’s how much power it has to spare,’ said Kojima, bringing the shoot to a swift close.
On this day, we called it a day early, partly due to Kojima’s busy schedule as he was rushing off to his next filming location. Unfortunately, we ended the session without landing a cod weighing over 10 kilograms. ‘I reckon the SEABORG 500MJ could handle any kind of fishing in Hokkaido,’ Kojima remarked. ‘Not just autumn Mackerel, of course, but also yellowtail and cod. It should handle multi-hook squid fishing with ease, too…’ Kojima concluded. Sensing new possibilities in this powerful yet compact new model, he hurried off on his way home.
Mid-depth slow jigging allows anglers to target premium fish using simple tackle. Among these, Sea Bream is a target that everyone dreams of catching.
Although it is often considered a bit of a challenge to fish at depths of around 350m to 550m using metal Jigs weighing between 400g and 800g (and sometimes over 1,000g), the SEABORG 500MJ makes it very comfortable to target large Sea Bream.
First and foremost, the reel capacity is key. In areas with a depth of 500 metres, the Lure won’t sink in a straight line, so at least 530–580 metres of line will be paid out. As a No. 2 PE line can be spooled to a length of 1,000 metres, even if 100 metres is lost due to snagging on the seabed, you’ll still be able to continue fishing for the rest of the day.
And the speed and power when reeling in are simply breathtaking. It’s incredibly quick! As someone who usually enjoys mid-depth slow Jigging using a manual reel, I was truly amazed by the speed. The most gruelling part of mid-depth slow Jigging is reeling in the Jig. Naturally, an electric reel retrieves the Lure from a depth of 500 metres. If you were to do this by hand, anyone lacking strength—or women in particular—would be put off after just one attempt.
This is an absolute must-have item for mid-depth slow Jigging, where on a busy day you might be raising and lowering the line as many as 20 times (approximately 10,000 metres).
What surprised me even more was how well the reel fits in the palm of your hand. Whilst large electric reels tend to be quite bulky, the SEABORG 500MJ is compact enough to fit comfortably in the hand, offering excellent manoeuvrability and balance, allowing for nimble rod work when imparting action to the Lure. If the reel is too large, it places a heavy strain on the arm during jerking, making it difficult to detect subtle bites from fish such as Sea Bream. During testing, carried out at a depth of 550 metres with an 800g Jig and a current of 1.7 knots, I was able to detect the subtle bites of Sea Bream.
As someone who wants as many people as possible to enjoy mid-to-deep-sea slow jigging, I highly recommend the SEABORG 500MJ. It combines speed, power and comfortable handling, and minimises physical strain when retrieving metal jigs, making it the ideal item for tackling mid-to-deep-sea slow jigging in comfort.
Although it is often considered a bit of a challenge to fish at depths of around 350m to 550m using metal Jigs weighing between 400g and 800g (and sometimes over 1,000g), the SEABORG 500MJ makes it very comfortable to target large Sea Bream.
First and foremost, the reel capacity is key. In areas with a depth of 500 metres, the Lure won’t sink in a straight line, so at least 530–580 metres of line will be paid out. As a No. 2 PE line can be spooled to a length of 1,000 metres, even if 100 metres is lost due to snagging on the seabed, you’ll still be able to continue fishing for the rest of the day.
And the speed and power when reeling in are simply breathtaking. It’s incredibly quick! As someone who usually enjoys mid-depth slow Jigging using a manual reel, I was truly amazed by the speed. The most gruelling part of mid-depth slow Jigging is reeling in the Jig. Naturally, an electric reel retrieves the Lure from a depth of 500 metres. If you were to do this by hand, anyone lacking strength—or women in particular—would be put off after just one attempt.
This is an absolute must-have item for mid-depth slow Jigging, where on a busy day you might be raising and lowering the line as many as 20 times (approximately 10,000 metres).
What surprised me even more was how well the reel fits in the palm of your hand. Whilst large electric reels tend to be quite bulky, the SEABORG 500MJ is compact enough to fit comfortably in the hand, offering excellent manoeuvrability and balance, allowing for nimble rod work when imparting action to the Lure. If the reel is too large, it places a heavy strain on the arm during jerking, making it difficult to detect subtle bites from fish such as Sea Bream. During testing, carried out at a depth of 550 metres with an 800g Jig and a current of 1.7 knots, I was able to detect the subtle bites of Sea Bream.
As someone who wants as many people as possible to enjoy mid-to-deep-sea slow jigging, I highly recommend the SEABORG 500MJ. It combines speed, power and comfortable handling, and minimises physical strain when retrieving metal jigs, making it the ideal item for tackling mid-to-deep-sea slow jigging in comfort.
Product Specifications
| DESCRIPTION | Standard weight (g) | Line per handle turn (cm) | Gear ratio | Standard reel capacity: Nylon (No. – m) | Standard reel capacity (PE, No.-m) | Bearings (BB/RB) | Maximum Drag Force (kg) | Maximum winding power (kg) | Normal winding speed with a 1 kg load (m/min) | JAFS Standard Winding Power (kg) | JAFS Standard Winding Speed (m/min) | Handle Knob Replacement Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEABORG 500MJ | 980 | 56 | 3.6 | 6–350_7–300 | 5–400_6–300 | 21/1 | 23 | 96 (107) | High 175 (192) Low 120 (132) | 22 | Hi210_Lo140 | L |
- The manufacturer's suggested retail price is listed excluding tax.
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*The reel capacity is a guide only and may vary depending on the manufacturer, items and line tension.
*The retrieve length is the amount of line wound in with each handle rotation.
*The maximum winding power is a reference value based on a supply voltage of 13 V and shaft torque. *kg = kgf·cm (for the Mega Twin mechanism, this refers to the power range)
*The standard winding speed is the average speed at which 100 m is wound with a 1 kg load at a supply voltage of 13 V.
*The JAFS standard winding power (power range for the Mega Twin mechanism) and speed are approximate values based on the regulations of the Japan Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association, assuming a supply voltage of 13V.
*The JAFS standard winding speed refers to the value measured at a supply voltage of 13V in accordance with the Japan Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association standards. It is the winding speed under no-load conditions at the outer diameter of the Spool.
*The figures in brackets are approximate values based on the use of Super Lithium.
*Regarding the power supply*
This electric reel is compatible with 12V to 16.8V direct current (DC). It cannot be used with power sources outside the specified range, such as 100V alternating current (AC) from a domestic mains supply or 24V DC from boat equipment. Furthermore, due to generators and wiring, the voltage of a boat power supply can easily become unstable, which may cause the reel’s protection circuit to activate, resulting in the reel stopping or rotating intermittently. To ensure the reel performs to its full potential, please use a genuine Daiwa battery designed for electric reels (please check ‘View Details’ for compatible batteries).
This electric reel is compatible with 12V to 16.8V direct current (DC). It cannot be used with power sources outside the specified range, such as 100V alternating current (AC) from a domestic mains supply or 24V DC from boat equipment. Furthermore, due to generators and wiring, the voltage of a boat power supply can easily become unstable, which may cause the reel’s protection circuit to activate, resulting in the reel stopping or rotating intermittently. To ensure the reel performs to its full potential, please use a genuine Daiwa battery designed for electric reels (please check ‘View Details’ for compatible batteries).