This past November, angler Earl Gill, IV was on a 10-day trip aboard Excel Sportfishing out of San Diego, CA when he chunked up a 443-pound yellowfin on 100-pound test, good for a new IGFA world record yellowfin. And how about the reel? Glad you asked; Gill was using an Okuma Makaira 20 two-speed lever drag. “This is the kind of moment we dream of building gear for,” said John Bretza, Director of Product Development for Okuma. A proud moment, for the angler and the reel designer alike.
This month at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) in Orlando, Okuma will proudly launch another new tuna tamer for 2025, this one geared towards offshore jigging. Inspired by the Asian jigging market, the all-new Tesoro Lever Drag Jigging Reel (LDJ) is expected to deliver more record-breaking drag power and strength under pressure, along with super durability.
Engineered specifically for the demands of modern saltwater jigging, Bretza describes the soon-to-be-released Tesoro Lever Drag Jigging Reel Series as being designed from the ground up for power and performance, with a precision-machined frame and heavy-duty components, crafted to excel in big game applications using slow pitch and vertical jigging techniques.
“We didn’t just build another jigging reel, we built this to go toe-to-toe with the best in the game. Everything’s dialed, the way it feels in your hand, the way the handle grips when you’re locked in. There’s even a cutout in the spool so you can feather the line as your jig drops,” Bretza said, describing the deepwater design of the new 2000-size Tesoro jigging reel from Okuma.
At the core of the Tesoro LDJ is a machined rigid frame, CNC-cut from a solid block of 6061-T6 aluminum. According to Bretza, both side plates are forged and machined from aluminum to maintain alignment and strength under extreme pressure, while a cold-forged, Type-II anodized aluminum spool ensures the durability needed for high-drag loads.
The Tesoro LDJ features XL Gearing, built with oversized 303-grade stainless steel drive and pinion gears for maximum torque and cranking power. The Flite Drive system enhances gear support and smoothness, maintaining stability even under full drag. Okuma’s Carbonite Dual Force Drag System is at the heart of the reel according to Bretza, with drag washers on both sides of the spool delivering drag pressure of up to 26 pounds at strike, 46 pounds at full. The reel is further optimized by Cal’s drag grease for smooth operation and efficient heat dissipation.
“If you’re fishing the Northeast for bluefin, yellowfin, or dropping way deep for bottom fish, this reel’s a total game-changer,” said Bretza, adding “It’s got the finesse to work a jig just right through the column, but when it’s go time, the power and drag are there to handle straight-up beasts.”
A sneak peek at the 2000 series reveals an ergonomically designed reel weighing in at roughly 20 ounces, with power handle that will reduce fatigue from a long jigging session, one which hopefully includes a few tuna battles as well. With line capacity of 1,300 yards of 30-pound braid (710/40 and 490/50), whether you’re slow pitching for tuna or horsing tilefish from the deep, this newest entry from Okuma could be chasing a few new records itself in the coming years.
We’ll be meeting with Bretza during the week of July 14th in Orlando for a personal tour of the new Tesoro LDJ at ICAST, but keep an eye out for this $449.99 lever drag workhorse from Okuma arriving later this month at Northeast tackle shops.
