In New Zealand we don't just fish; we test gear to destruction. Whether it's a 30kg kingfish trying to brick you on the Ranfurly Banks or a massive southern bluefin in the Waihau Bay barrels, the Daiwa Saltiga has long been the gold standard for Kiwi anglers. With the family now split into the 23 Saltiga (technical, light to mid) and the 25 Saltiga (heavy, expedition), choosing the right tool for the job is more critical than ever.

Start here

Which Saltiga for the job?

Pick the size for the fish, then the gear ratio for the technique. The spec line is the product's own; prices and stock are live.

Decoder

Decoding the suffixes: P, H and XH

Before choosing a size, select the right transmission. In NZ conditions the wrong gear ratio makes your day much harder than it needs to be.

P

Power gear

The low range. Essential for mechanical jigging: the torque to winch a stubborn kingi or bass off the pins without breaking your back.

H

High gear

The Kiwi all-rounder. Fast enough for lure work and standard retrieves, with enough grunt for a deep-water scrap.

XH

Extra high gear

The topwater specialist. Crucial for stickbaiting and popping: it recovers line fast enough to stay tight to a fish charging the boat.

At a glance

Size by size

Every size in the two families, with the NZ target, the job and the Xbraid to spool it with. Prices and stock are live.

Model Series NZ target species Best applicationRecommended XbraidFrom
23 Saltiga 4000 Airdrive Trophy snapper, trevally Heavy softbaiting, micro-jiggingUpgrade X8 PE 2.0
$1,248
1 in stock
Shop
23 Saltiga 5000 Airdrive Snapper, schoolie kingfish Hauraki Gulf lure fishingUpgrade X8 PE 2.5
$1,270Elsewhere: $1,299
2 in stock
Shop
23 Saltiga 6000 Airdrive Coromandel kingfish, albacore Heavy reef-flat casting, light jiggingUpgrade X8 PE 3.0
Sold out
Shop
25 Saltiga 8000 Powerdrive Standard kingfish, bluenose The standard mechanical jigging reelFull Drag PE 4.0
$1,498
2 in stock
Shop
25 Saltiga 10000 Powerdrive Large kingfish, hapuku Deep-water mechanical jigging, 100m plusFull Drag PE 5.0
$1,478Elsewhere: $1,499
2 in stock
Shop
25 Saltiga 14000 Powerdrive Trophy kingfish, bluefin The stickbaiting king, Far North topwaterFull Drag PE 6.0
$1,498
1 in stock
Shop
25 Saltiga 18000 Powerdrive Southern bluefin tuna Topwater tuna, big-game castingFull Drag PE 8.0
$1,698
In stock
Shop
25 Saltiga 20000 Powerdrive Giant bluefin, striped marlin The spin-to-win big-game specialistFull Drag PE 10.0
$1,688.69Elsewhere: $1,699
2 in stock
Shop
25 Saltiga 25000 Powerdrive Monsters of the abyss Specialised winching, ultra-deep jiggingFull Drag PE 12.0
$1,698
In stock
Shop
NZ target species
Trophy snapper, trevally
Best application
Heavy softbaiting, micro-jigging
Recommended Xbraid
Upgrade X8 PE 2.0
$1,248 1 in stock
Shop
NZ target species
Snapper, schoolie kingfish
Best application
Hauraki Gulf lure fishing
Recommended Xbraid
Upgrade X8 PE 2.5
$1,270Elsewhere: $1,299 2 in stock
Shop
NZ target species
Coromandel kingfish, albacore
Best application
Heavy reef-flat casting, light jigging
Recommended Xbraid
Upgrade X8 PE 3.0
Sold out
Shop
Powerdrive
NZ target species
Standard kingfish, bluenose
Best application
The standard mechanical jigging reel
Recommended Xbraid
Full Drag PE 4.0
$1,498 2 in stock
Shop
Powerdrive
NZ target species
Large kingfish, hapuku
Best application
Deep-water mechanical jigging, 100m plus
Recommended Xbraid
Full Drag PE 5.0
$1,478Elsewhere: $1,499 2 in stock
Shop
Powerdrive
NZ target species
Trophy kingfish, bluefin
Best application
The stickbaiting king, Far North topwater
Recommended Xbraid
Full Drag PE 6.0
$1,498 1 in stock
Shop
Powerdrive
NZ target species
Southern bluefin tuna
Best application
Topwater tuna, big-game casting
Recommended Xbraid
Full Drag PE 8.0
$1,698 In stock
Shop
Powerdrive
NZ target species
Giant bluefin, striped marlin
Best application
The spin-to-win big-game specialist
Recommended Xbraid
Full Drag PE 10.0
$1,688.69Elsewhere: $1,699 2 in stock
Shop
Powerdrive
NZ target species
Monsters of the abyss
Best application
Specialised winching, ultra-deep jigging
Recommended Xbraid
Full Drag PE 12.0
$1,698 In stock
Shop

01 · Technical, light to mid

23 Saltiga

Snapper workhorses, sizes 4000 to 6000

The 23 Saltiga features the Airdrive Design, creating a lighter rotor and better balance. These reels are perfect for technical lure fishing where feel is everything: heavy softbaiting and micro-jigging for trophy snapper on the 4000, Hauraki Gulf lure fishing on the 5000, and heavy reef-flat casting or light jigging on the 6000.

The mission
Technical lure fishing where feel is everything
Best for
Trophy snapperTrevallySchoolie kingfishHauraki Gulf
Recommended Xbraid
Upgrade X8 PE 2.0 to 3.0
3 in stock · from$1,248
Shop the 23 Saltiga

02 · Heavy, expedition

25 Saltiga

Blue-water artillery, sizes 8000 to 25000

This is the Powerdrive generation, built with 10% larger gears and the new DRD durable drag system for the most violent encounters in our oceans. The 8000 is the standard mechanical jigging reel, the 10000 the deep-water winch, the 14000 the stickbaiting king for trophy kingfish and bluefin, the 18000 and 20000 the topwater tuna and big-game casting specialists, and the 25000 the ultra-deep winch.

The mission
The most violent encounters in our oceans
Best for
KingfishHapukuBluefinStriped marlin
Recommended Xbraid
Full Drag PE 4.0 to 12.0
8 in stock · from$1,478Elsewhere: $1,499
Shop the 25 Saltiga

03 · Line

Spooling for success

The Xbraid advantage

Premium gear requires premium line. We recommend YGK Xbraid Full Drag for the NZ environment: high abrasion resistance against reefs, and a specialised coating that handles the extreme heat generated by Saltiga drag systems during long tuna runs. Upgrade X8 is the high-performance casting braid for the 23 Saltiga, and Jigman Ultra X8 the specialised jigging braid.

The mission
Abrasion resistance and heat tolerance
Best for
Full Drag offshoreUpgrade castingJigman jigging
Pairings
23 Saltiga: Upgrade X8 · 25 Saltiga: Full Drag X8
3 in stock · from$60.95$75Save $14.05
Shop all Xbraid

The Saltiga maintenance manifesto

In NZ's high-salt environment, even a MagSealed reel needs proper care

Tighten the drag

Do this before rinsing to seal the drag stack from moisture.

The light mist

Never high-pressure wash or dunk your reel. A fine mist of fresh water is all you need to clear the salt.

The storage secret

Once the reel is dry, loosen the drag completely. Storing it tight compresses the washers and leads to a sticky drag later.

No WD-40

It will destroy the MagSeal oil. Use only official Daiwa lubricants or authorised NZ service agents.

Jigging on an overhead?

The 21 IC, 22 Saltiga 15 and 25 Saltiga 35 overheads have their own guide, star drag versus lever drag included.

The full range

Every Saltiga spinning reel we stock

23 and 25 Saltiga

Everything in our Saltiga spinning collection that is in stock right now.

12 in stock · from$1,248
Shop all Saltiga spinning reels