New Daiwa Saltiga 2020 Model Review: Technologically Advanced Fishing Reel

The new Daiwa Saltiga 20 series of reels released in 2020 will make many anglers’ dreams come true. In 2024 Daiwa Saltiga will return to the market with the introduction of an MQ body and brand-new cosmetics. The larger diameter radiation drag knob with a heat sink system coupled with a newly designed drive gear brings strength and smoothness to the reel whilst the latest technology spool creates trouble-free casts. By adding every element of newly developed Daiwa Technology, we are certain by far that the new 20 Saltiga is the toughest reel produced throughout the long history of Saltiga.

Check Reviews

Technical Specifications Chart:

Quick Pick Features:

• Monocoque Body
• Atd Drag (Carbon Atd 1800 Sizes)
• Aluminium Machine Cut Handle
• Mag Sealed
• Aluminium Forged Spool
• Twistbuster 2 Mag Sealed Line Roller
• Aluminium Radiation Drag Knob
• Aluminium Handle Knob
• Air Bail
• Manual Bail Trip
• Infinite Anti Reverse
• Tough Digigear
• Lc-Abs Spool
• Air Rotor
• Engine Plate
• Cross Wrap

Daiwa Saltiga Saltwater Spinning Reel Review

Now, in 2024 the new Daiwa Saltiga is re-imagined, delivering anglers the most technologically advanced Daiwa Saltiga ever produced. Original Daiwa Saltiga field tester Mr. Murakoshi says-

“The original Daiwa Saltiga was all about the angler and field tester, 10 Daiwa Saltiga was all about the engineer and their creations. Now, 20 Daiwa Saltiga is the perfect mixture of both.”

G1 Gerolamine

New Daiwa Saltiga 20 Saltiga is equipped with a newly developed machine to cut tough drive gear made of G1 Gerolament. The drive gear is one of the key elements which brings unmatched cranking power to the reel.

The material properties of G1 Gerolamine deliver perfect meshing of the gear teeth, which creates a gear design that is smoother under rotation to produce the feel of smooth and effortless winding. Adding thickness to the gear design reduces the deflection of the gear set by more than 50%.

Upgraded Model

In comparison to the previous model in the new Daiwa Saltiga, the drive gear diameter has increased 112% with the added thickness. The durability of the drive gear has increased by 225%; combining these two elements creates power nobody has ever seen. Daiwa’s unique creation and technology monocoque body allow a larger size gear which provides extra strength to the drive gear.

MONOCOQUE Body Design

The durability of the body comes from the use of high-strength aluminum. The monocoque body creates more space for a larger diameter drive gear while improving the performance of the water-resistant system even more. Daiwa Saltiga is light and strong like a Formula 1 racing car. Lighter and stronger through MONOCOQUE Body technology.

Since the first saltwater spinning reels, it was common sense that the body is made up of two parts: The reel body and the body lid. With its introduction in 2016, the MONOCOQUE body design simply crushed this long-standing paradigm. In the MONOCOQUE design, the reel body serves as a stiff and distortion-proof frame, which is handy and compact at the same time. Thus the body lid has no longer to be secured with a screw, and the resulting free space can be used for a larger driving wheel. By this design, the reel body can house a driving wheel, which diameter is about 85% of the body surface. To put it simply: This design allows the use of larger and thus stronger driving wheels at the same body size.

Durably Constructed

MagSeal water-resistance to the next level. The newly developed finishing technique has elevated the adhesion of protective coatings and resulted in higher corrosion resistance to the reel.

Extra strength has been added to the real foot and bearings to accommodate the increased power of the internal construction. The newly developed aluminum rotor has an increased strength of more than two hundred percent in comparison to the models in the past. It works in conjunction with the increased strength brought to the real by the larger diameter drive gear installed in the monocoque body.
Check Today’s Price

Heat dissipation technology with a balanced rotor 

The perfectly balanced rotor has an increased retrieve ratio along with reducing the retrieve load, creating the feel of effortless winding under pressure. Well-designed heat dissipation technology is critical as built-up heat has a large impact on the drag performance and weakens the system; the original plastic drag knob has been replaced with an aluminum radiation drag knob which functions as a heat sink to remove heat from inside the drag stack increasing the diameter of the drag knob by 42 percent further improve the functionality and volume of heat dissipation the new heat dissipation drag system reduces the chance for line damage and allows the angular to fight the fish longer and harder without stress.

Keeps Dust and Grit Away

Magsealed reels utilize Daiwa’s patented technology to apply magnetic oil that can change density and shape when a magnetic field is added. When Magseal technology is applied to the main shaft and/or line roller of a spinning reel, it produces a low-friction seal that keeps water, dust, and grit from encountering the internal components of the reel. The result is a watertight seal with much lower resistance than rubber-type seals.

Maximum drag pressure

Increasing the amount of carbon drag washers in each dry system allows 2020 Daiwa Saltiga to get to achieve a higher max drag pressure. It also increased the smooth performance of the drag system by 75% since installing the new drag washer system by identifying the line troubles encountered with the older ABS2 system; a redesigned long cast ABS spool has created a perfectly balanced line flow while casting and gives a smoother feel and more effortless casting performance.

Introducing the latest technology wilt implementing the latest construction techniques with high-grade aluminum material has created a truly durable and high-strength reel.

Features Details: Break your record with the new Daiwa Saltiga!

Re-engineered for 2022, the latest generation of Daiwa Saltiga Spinning Reels features Daiwa’s single-piece Monocoque Body and a 12% larger G1 Duralumin drive gear. Since the first Daiwa Saltiga was released in 2002, the demand for heavy-duty saltwater spinning reels has constantly increased. The original Daiwa Saltiga set a new standard for this category and has continually evolved throughout its eighteen-year history.

New MQ body with the brand-new drive gear

At the heart of the re-design is the brand new Monocoque body. A single-piece body capable of holding much larger internal gearing components is machined from high-strength aluminum to provide unheralded strength and improved sealing. Up until 20 Daiwa Saltiga, reel bodies consisted of two key elements known as a body and body cover. The MQ System does not require a body cover, and it allows an Engine plate to screw on direct to the body. Therefore, the body no longer has a need for body cover screws, and this development allows a larger diameter drive gear to be fitted, providing the reel with more power.
Check Today’s Price

Housed within the MQ body is a brand-new drive gear, providing gear strength more than double that of its predecessor. The new MQ body also boasts a new rear cover design, eliminating screws from the underside of the reel to improve against intrusion. The cover is also produced from reinforced ABS to eliminate potential electrolysis with the aluminum body. Improved paint and finishing processes also extend the durability to the cosmetic side, delivering much-improved corrosion protection.

10x Drag Durability

Our engineers created a new drag stack, increasing the number of washers to deliver ten times the drag durability compared to the previous model Daiwa Saltiga. A newly designed aluminum heat-dissipating Drag Knob delivers improved cooling & heat dissipation. A newly designed ABS Long cast spool design offers improved casting performance and enhanced line management.

Being able to trust your reel while in use becomes a major advantage for an angler. The larger diameter and the added thickness will reduce the amount of wear, including twist and deformation to the drive and also to the pinion gears. In comparison to 15 Daiwa Saltiga, it is more than double the strength.

Waterproof and saltwater compatible

From the first Daiwa Saltiga, a water resistance system has been a must-have technology. I am starting off with rubber sealing, evolving to the way of the Magseal system, and then the addition of Magseal bearings. Now with the MQ Body system, 20 Daiwa Saltiga has finally obtained a perfect water resistance system.
After the great success of Magseal, Daiwa has decided to install the Magseal system into a ball bearing. By adding the fluid, it creates a magnetic seal within the bearings to support and reduce the amount of saltwater intrusion. Instead of the use of rubber seals, it is far more effective and creates a smoother spin of the reel. In 20 Daiwa Saltiga, Daiwa has installed the Magseal bearings on each side of drive gear just like 15 Daiwa Saltiga. This structure will protect the internals of the reels and eliminate the intrusion of saltwater.

Air Rotor

The magnetic oil barrier does not only prevent the intrusion of water. It also increases the ease of motion and the delicacy of feeling of the reel. You feel better connected to the lure, detect softer bites and experience more sensitivity during the fight with the fish. Especially for this new feeling, we developed the “Air rotor.” The aluminum air rotor is more than double the strength compared to the 15 Daiwa Saltiga. It is also 1.5 times more durable compared to the original Daiwa Saltiga (2002 Model).

First, the enormous strains, which affect the rotor via the line and the line roller, are better distributed. This causes less pressure on the single parts of the rotor. Second, the new rotor is 15% more light weighted than usual rotors of the same material – this reduces vibrations and enhances the rotational balance thanks to a very low center of gravity.

Magsealed Body Design

To prevent the penetration of water, dust particles, or salt crystals between the rotor and reel body as far as possible, we have developed a nearly frictionless barrier based on magnetic oil, which can hardly be overcome by neither water nor the smallest particles. The result is a silky-smooth running.

In most cases, salt crystals and other solid particles are in charge of unpleasant winding noises as well as the loss of smooth running. Of course also, “accidents “can lead to similar results. Despite these special cases, the cases with unpleasant winding noises are significantly decreased at reels with MagSealed, as depicted in the right figure.

Magsealed Line Roller

The smoother a line roller turns, the less friction emerges between line and roller. If delicate salt or dirt particles penetrate the line roller, it is continuously dragged, and the friction is considerably increased. Our Exist was the first reel featuring the MagSealed line roller. The magnetic Mag Seal oil forms a barrier, which prevents the intrusion of water and, therefore, also of salt and dirt particles into the line roller almost entirely, which could affect the free rotation.

Magsealed Ball Bearing

Our DAIWA technology further changes the fishing tackle market. Our engineers succeeded in further devolving the MagSealed invention to a new level. First, we sealed the axis to the greatest possible extent, then the line roller, and now the ball bearing! MagSealed is a new chapter in the history of the fishing reel. Thanks to our targeted research and development, we succeeded in integrating MagSealed into a ball bearing. For a long lifespan and a silky-smooth running over a long period. A revolution!

Out of all the components within the reel, the Line Roller takes the most damage from the salt, sand, and other elements your line picks up whilst fishing. Adding the Magseal bearing into the line roller assembly makes the roller remain smooth and extends its life. The long life of the Magseal line roller bearing system will decrease the number of line troubles whilst fishing.

More advanced than 15 Daiwa Saltiga

In comparison to 15 Daiwa Saltiga Drag washers, it is more than 10 times stronger and less likely to burn out quickly. We have added more drag washers, which means the workload gets spread evenly across the drag stack. By designing the washers with a slightly smaller diameter, it runs a lot smoother. Smaller means the per-drag washer Max Drag Kg will decrease, but we have solved that issue by adding more washers.
Check Reviews

Advanced Tournament Drag Technology

ATD (Advanced Tournament Drag) is the latest drag technology introduced to drag systems. ATD implements structural changes to the spool metal of the reel that provides greater support for the spool across the entire length of the main shaft. This additional support of the spool reduces spool twist under load, promotes more even pressure on the drag washers, and ultimately reduces “pulsing” of the drag when fighting the fish. Implementing a high-density woven carbon impregnated with specially designed grease, the combination creates a smooth and fluid drag across all levels of pressure.

A maximized core diameter and reversed taper mean 100% usable line, with no more “dead” line buried in a deep core. You can fill it with a line right up to the edge of the spool lip without fear of tangles. The ABS reverse tapered design causes less casting friction for longer and easier casting.

All The Daiwa Saltiga Models:

Daiwa Saltiga 8000-P – The specialty of this reel is PE3-4 jigging. It will accommodate all types of jigging techniques.

Daiwa Saltiga 8000-H – High gear with a powerful crank. Mainly suitable for PE3-4, perfect for casting or jigging inshore and offshore.

Daiwa Saltiga 10000-P – PE4-5 and can spool up to 300m of PE5. This little powerhouse is perfect for jigging deeper water for bigger pelagics.

Daiwa Saltiga 10000-H – Minimum PE5, built to suit Kingfish or Tuna SW Casting Game.

Daiwa Saltiga 14000-P – Ideal for PE5-6 with deep jigging. If you are chasing Kingfish or Amberjack, this is the reel for you.

Daiwa Saltiga 14000-XH – Minimum PE6, can take up to PE8. Great cast-ability, speed, and also torque. This reel has it all. Perfect for someone targeting GT, Tuna, and Kingfish.

Daiwa Saltiga 18000-P – Ideal for PE6-8 deep jigging with slow pitch or power jerk motion involved. Suitable for targeting truly giant fish in all areas of the globe.

Daiwa Saltiga 18000-H – Designed for someone who would like to use heavy lines yet would like to gain distance casting. PE8 300m on LC ABS is definitely for the angler who is chasing giants.

Daiwa Saltiga 20000-H – Made for anglers to target the biggest Bluefin and Yellowfin Tuna. Line capacity, torque, and speed, this reel has it all—the largest one of the series. Perfectly balanced specs will blow your mind.