Shimano Talica A Two-Speed Lever Drag Conventional Reels

The Shimano Talica A is the two-speed lever drag reel SoCal anglers reach for when the fish is bigger than the tackle they'd normally bring — shift to low gear and crank a stubborn bluefin off the bottom, shift back to high and pick up line the second it swims at the boat.

Short version if you're just here for the size: the 12 and 16 are 30 lb reels. The 20 and 25 are 50 lb reels. That's the jump that matters — everything else is capacity.

Which Talica A Size Should I Buy?

This is the question we answer most in the shop. Shimano's line ratings do most of the work — match the reel to the line class you actually fish, not to the fish you hope to catch.

The two decisions that actually matter. First, 12 vs 16 and 20 vs 25 are capacity choices, not power choices — within each pair the line rating is identical, so you're buying yards, not muscle. Second, the jump from 16 to 20 is the real step up in tackle class. If most of your fishing is local with an occasional longer boat, buy the 16. If you're chasing bluefin on the sinker rig, start at the 20.

All six sizes are right-hand retrieve. Shimano does not offer the Talica A in a left-hand model.

What's New in the A Series

The Talica A is Shimano's redesign of the two-speed Talica, not a cosmetic refresh. Four changes matter on the water:

• Infinity Drive — a redesigned drive system that increases drag force while cutting side-load pressure on the spool shaft. Shimano rates it at up to 40% lighter rotation under high drag. In plain terms: the reel gets easier to crank exactly when the fight gets hard.
• Cross Carbon Drag — up to 66 lb maximum drag across the series. Smooth through the full lever range, no grab-and-surge at strike.
• X-Protect — water resistance at the key entry points, adding saltwater durability without the heavy, sticky gear feel that sealing usually costs you.
• Included Light-Line Drag Cam — swap it in for a more gradual drag curve when you're fishing lighter line. Most reels in this class make you buy versatility; this one ships with it.

Why Two Speeds Matters

A single-speed reel forces one compromise: enough gear ratio to pick up line fast, or enough torque to move a fish that has sounded. The Talica A gives you both with a push-button shift.

• High gear — pick up slack the instant a tuna runs at the boat, work a surface iron, or clear a line fast when someone gets crossed.
• Low gear — drop into torque when the fish sounds under the boat and the fight turns into a winching match. This is where anglers who bought single-speed reels start losing fish.
• Shift under load — change gears mid-fight without letting off the drag.

Best Species and Trips

Bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, yellowtail, wahoo, dorado, white seabass, and — in the 40 and 50 — marlin and heavy bottom fish. Fished off Catalina and the Channel Islands, on 1.5-day through long-range boats out of San Diego, on private sportfishers running the 43 and the 302, and on Baja trips.

Best Techniques

• Sinker rig — the dominant SoCal bluefin technique; low gear does the heavy lifting on the way up.
• Flylining sardines and mackerel for tuna and yellowtail (12 and 16).
• Yo-yo iron — high gear burns the jig, low gear cranks the fish out of the deep.
• Flat-fall and knife jigs in 200–400 ft (20 and 25).
• Kite fishing and trolling (25, 40, 50).

Rod, Line and Leader Pairings

• 12 II A / 16 II A — a 7'–8' conventional rod rated 20–40 lb. Browse our conventional rods.
• 20 II A / 25 II A — a 7'–8' rail or sinker-rig rod rated 40–60 lb.
• 40 II A / 50 II A — 60–130 lb class trolling or heavy stand-up rod.
• Braid backing — Power Pro. Shimano rates this reel's capacity against PowerPro specifically, so the numbers below are accurate with it.
• Topshot and leader — Seaguar fluorocarbon for leader, mono topshot in the class listed above.
• Terminal — heavy-duty swivels and snaps rated above your topshot.

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Set strike drag with a scale, not by feel. Roughly a third of your topshot's rated breaking strength is a sane starting point for bait fishing. Most anglers who set it by hand are fishing far lighter than they think.
• Try the Light-Line Drag Cam before you write it off. If you fish 25 or 30 lb on a 12 or 16, the gentler curve genuinely reduces pulled hooks at strike. It's in the box — use it.
• Shift to low before you need it. Anglers wait until their arms are gone. Shift the moment the fish stops running and starts circling.
• Rinse with low-pressure fresh water, never a jet. X-Protect is water resistance, not a submarine hatch. High-pressure water drives salt past the seals.
• Back the lever off to free spool for storage. Parking it at full compresses the drag washers and flattens your drag curve over a season.

Common Mistakes

• Buying the 12 or 16 and spooling it with 50 or 60 lb mono. These are 20–30 lb mono reels. Overloading the line class costs you capacity and puts the drag stack outside its design range.
• Overfilling the spool. Line piling above the spool lip jams under the frame at high drag. Leave about 1/8" of clearance.
• Braid straight to the hook with no topshot. Braid has no stretch; on a lever drag at strike, that's how hooks pull.
• Skipping annual service. Two-speed reels have more moving parts. One service a season keeps the shift crisp.

Specifications

Maximum drag pressure up to 66 lb across the series. Specifications from Shimano North America. Shimano does not publish low-gear ratios or per-model maximum drag figures — call the shop and we'll pull them from the service manual for the size you're considering.

What's Included

One Shimano Talica A two-speed lever drag reel in the size selected, plus the included Light-Line Drag Cam for fishing lighter line systems. Covered by Shimano's 1-year warranty against manufacturing defects. Rod, line, and reel cover sold separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size Talica A do I need for bluefin tuna?
For the fish most SoCal boats are on, the 20 II A is the sweet spot — rated for 30–50 lb mono and holds 725 yards of 65 lb braid. For long-range trips targeting fish over 100 lb, the 25 II A gives you the same line class with 900 yards of 65 lb. The 16 II A works for school-grade fish but tops out at 30 lb mono.

What's the difference between the Talica A and the older Talica II?
Four things: Infinity Drive (up to 40% lighter rotation under high drag), Cross Carbon Drag rated to 66 lb max, X-Protect water resistance, and an included Light-Line Drag Cam for a gentler drag curve on light line. It's a redesign, not a color change.

Can I use a Talica A for yellowtail?
Yes — the 12 II A and 16 II A are excellent yellowtail reels, especially for yo-yo iron where low gear pulls a fish up out of the structure.

How much braid does the Talica 25 hold?
900 yards of 65 lb PowerPro, 730 of 80 lb, or 620 of 100 lb.

Is the Talica A available in left-hand retrieve?
No. All six sizes are right-hand only.

Should I fill it with braid or mono?
Braid backing with a mono topshot is standard for SoCal bait fishing. Straight mono is still common for trolling in the 40 and 50.

Do you spool reels?
Yes. We spool reels at our Santa Clarita shop and can spool your Talica before it ships. Add the line and spooling option on this page, or call us.

Does it come with a warranty?
Shimano covers it for 1 year against manufacturing defects. We'll walk you through the service process if you ever need it.

Gear That Goes With It

• Shimano Talica Reel Covers — protects the finish in a rod locker or gunwale rack.
• Shimano Talica-A T-Bar Handle Replacement — more leverage for heavy-drag fights.
• Conventional Rods
• Power Pro Braid
• All Lever Drag Reels

Buy It From People Who Fish It

Tackle Express has been selling Southern California saltwater tackle since 2010, from our shop on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. We fish these reels on the same boats you do. If you want a recommendation before you spend $660 or more, call us or come in — we'd rather sell you the right size once than take a return on the wrong one.

Pick your size above and order today. Bluefin season doesn't wait for shipping.