Tsurinoya MERLIN Ultralight Spinning Reel – 165g Metal Body | 9+1BB 5.2:1 | 1000 / C2000S / 2500M / 3000M

Tsurinoya MERLIN Ultralight Spinning Reel – 165g | 9+1BB | 5.2:1

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

Specifications

• Brand: Tsurinoya
• Model: MERLIN
• Type: Ultralight Spinning Reel
• Body Material: Metal
• Weight: 165g
• Bearings: 9+1 (9 ball bearings + 1 anti-reverse)
• Gear Ratio: 5.2:1
• Max Drag: 4kg (1000, C2000S) / 5kg (2500M, 3000M)
• Handle: Ambidextrous
• Sizes: 1000 / C2000S / 2500M / 3000M (select variant)
• Use: Spinning / lure fishing
• Target Species: Bream, Estuary Perch, Whiting, Bass, Flathead, Light Trevally

Note: All specifications are manually measured or manufacturer-stated — slight variations may occur. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water after each saltwater use.