The Tsurinoya MERLIN is a 165g ultralight spinning reel available in four sizes — 1000, C2000S, 2500M, and 3000M — designed for finesse and light game lure fishing applications targeting bream, estuary perch, whiting, bass, and light estuary trevally. The MERLIN is built around a metal body construction that provides rigidity and alignment precision between the rotor, spool, and body under load — critical for smooth drag performance and retrieve consistency when fighting fish on light drag settings with fine leaders — while keeping the reel weight at 165g to reduce fatigue on ultralight and light spin rods over long sessions. The 9+1 bearing system and 5.2:1 gear ratio cover the full range of ultralight finesse retrieves from slow, methodical soft plastic retrieves to moderate-pace surface and subsurface lure presentations. Ambidextrous handle. Max drag 4kg (1000/C2000S) and 5kg (2500M/3000M).
Metal body construction – rigidity and precision alignment — the MERLIN is built with a metal body rather than a graphite or composite frame; a metal body provides significantly greater rigidity under load, which maintains the precise alignment between the main gear, rotor shaft, and body that is required for a smooth, consistent retrieve and drag performance; under a graphite body, flex under load can introduce vibration and roughness into the retrieve as the gear mesh shifts slightly — the metal body of the MERLIN eliminates this flex and maintains gear mesh quality throughout the fight; metal construction also improves long-term durability against the corrosion, pressure, and wear of regular estuary and inshore saltwater use
9+1 bearing system – smooth retrieve under load — the 9+1 bearing configuration places bearings at the critical load points throughout the reel — main shaft, rotor, handle, and line roller — to support the moving components and reduce metal-on-metal contact under load; the result is a smooth, consistent retrieve with minimal vibration and noise at all retrieve speeds; the line roller bearing is particularly important for ultralight fishing with thin braid and fluorocarbon leaders, as a poorly supported line roller generates friction and twist that degrades fine line performance over time; 9 bearings plus the anti-reverse bearing provides a smooth, play-free retrieve suited to the sensitivity demands of finesse estuary fishing
5.2:1 gear ratio – versatile retrieve speed — the 5.2:1 gear ratio produces a moderate retrieve speed that suits the full range of ultralight and light game lure presentations: slow enough to fish a soft plastic on a light jig head with a natural, lifelike action on a steady wind retrieve, and fast enough to work surface lures, shallow-diving minnows, and micro poppers at an effective pace without having to wind excessively fast; the 5.2:1 ratio is the standard workhorse gear ratio for AU estuary finesse fishing and covers bream, estuary perch, bass, and whiting applications across all lure types without needing to switch reels
165g body weight – ultralight balance and reduced fatigue — the MERLIN’s 165g weight makes it one of the lighter metal-body spinning reels in its size range; matching a 165g reel to a light 1–3kg rated lure rod of 80–120g produces a well-balanced outfit that sits at or near the balance point of the rod, reducing wrist fatigue during long sessions of repeated casting and retrieving; fatigue management is significant in estuary bream and perch fishing where a session can involve hundreds of casts over 3–5 hours
4–5kg max drag – adequate for light line applications — the 1000 and C2000S sizes provide 4kg max drag, and the 2500M and 3000M sizes provide 5kg max drag; these drag ratings are well-suited to the light leader strengths used in AU estuary finesse fishing — typically 4–8lb fluorocarbon leaders; running the drag at 30–40% of the max rating on light leader (approximately 0.8–1.5kg) produces a smooth, consistent drag pressure that protects fine leaders during the fight while still applying sufficient pressure to turn and control the fish
Ambidextrous handle – left or right hand wind — the handle can be configured for left or right hand retrieve to suit the angler’s preference without requiring a separate left-hand model
Size Selection Guide
1000 — $159.95 — 4kg drag — ultralight finesse; bream, estuary perch, whiting on 1–2kg rods with #0.6–0.8 braid; wacky rig, drop shot, micro lure presentations in clear, shallow estuary
C2000S — $161.95 — 4kg drag — ultralight to light estuary all-rounder; bream, estuary perch, and bass on 1–3kg rods; suits most AU estuary finesse applications; shallow spool suited to lighter braid
2500M — $162.95 — 5kg drag — light estuary and inshore; bream, flathead, trevally, and whiting on 2–4kg outfits; medium spool capacity for slightly heavier braid and longer casts
3000M — $165.95 — 5kg drag — light to medium inshore; flathead, trevally, snapper, and larger bream on 3–5kg outfits; deeper spool for #1.0–1.5 braid with full line capacity for longer-range estuary and inshore presentations
Note: All specifications are manually measured or manufacturer-stated — slight variations may occur. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water after each saltwater use.
⚠️ Safety Notice: This product contains sharp hooks and small parts. Handle with care. Not suitable for children under 3 years. Colours may vary slightly from images shown due to screen settings and product availability. Always follow safe fishing practices.
