Unboxing The BRAND NEW Daiwa Tatula MQ Spinning Reel
- By: Justin Ritchey
- on
This one comes from the Salt Strong Reel Room as we are unboxing the BRAND NEW Daiwa Tatula MQ Spinning Reel!!!
We are beyond PUMPED to see these come into our shop.
This reel is just a few weeks old so you’re getting a first look right here!!
Unboxing The BRAND NEW Daiwa Tatula MQ [VIDEO]
Find NEW Saltwater Fishing Spots In Your Area In 60 Seconds or Less!!!
Get the Daiwa Tatula MQ Spinning Reel
I personally have fished with the original LT Tatula Spinning Reel before.
It is a lightweight Zaion body reel that is well-established in the freshwater realm.
But with the new addition of the MQ Series, it has made its way over to saltwater fishing!
Keep in mind – this reel is BRAND NEW and I myself can’t wait to get my hands on a 3000 size to hit my local waters.
The lightweight design is ideal for finesse presentations like small paddletails in skinny water.
The 2500 Daiwa Tatula MQ comes in at 6.7 ounces with the 3000 sitting right around 7 ounces.
All sizes are equipped with a high-speed gear ratio and include way more than enough drag than you need.
It is a lightweight, speedy reel in the MQ design.
Even with all that said, there is something else that makes this reel unique.
The Tatula follows the single-body design that is well sealed but in the Tatula MQ ONLY, Daiwa began to incorporate some of the features of their high-end Exist reel into the Tatula.
You won’t find that in the BG MQ, Saltist MQ, or Ballistic MQ.
Advanced Features & Updates
The Tatula MQ sits around the $200 price point from the 1000 size all the way to the 4000 sizes.
It is a singular one-piece body in the MQ design made using Zaion V material but does NOT include MagSeal Technology.
But this is the only Daiwa Series of reels that includes an AirDrive Design other than the Exist.
This is VERY new to the market as is the Exist (7 months on the current market at a retail price of $900).
There are specifically THREE features that Daiwa has chosen to trickle down to the Tatula MQ Series from the Exist.
AirDrive Design
The first is an AirDrive Bail which is simply a one-piece wire bail.
It is similar to the BG MQ with the only visible difference being the thickness of the bail is slightly thinner on the Tatula MQ.
Daiwa claims this design saves 30% of the weight compared to other wire bail designs.
Moreover, this is not to be confused with Daiwa’s AirBail Design.
The AirBail Design is actually a hollow bail designed to minimize weight and serve the same purpose as a one-piece wire bail would.
In terms of performance, I think they are both about the same.
I don’t see most anglers noticing a difference between the two bail designs.
I have always personally liked the feel and the sound of one-piece wire bails.
The AirBail Design, although lightweight, can sometimes snap shut on you if you are casting heavier jigs and lures.
AirDrive Rotor
The AirDrive Rotor is a bit thinner and slightly more compact than the rotor used in the past.
It is still made using Zaion V material to keep it lightweight while bringing the rotor a bit tighter to the spool.
This reduced the overall weight of the Tatula MQ by about 15%.
This may seem minor but it is a refinement aspect of this reel.
Streamlining a rotor serves two purposes.
The first is it helps makes sure there is no flex at the spool when under a heavy load.
The second is the reel will overall feel smoother and have a better feel when retrieving lures.
AirDrive Shaft Design
Lastly, the third feature included in the Tatula MQ from the Exist is Daiwa’s AirDrive Shaft.
This provides oscillation support around where the main shaft makes contact with the pinion gear and the main gear.
So Daiwa has added bearings and collars to enhance the smoothness and fluidity of the reel.
They refer to this as “frictionless contact”.
Final Thoughts
We’re definitely going to have to hit the water with this reel to discover more and learn more about how it performs out in the field.
But if this is any testament to the MQ Series (Ballistic, Saltist, BG), I know this reel will perform right up there with the rest.
I further wanted to discuss the Tatula MQ Spinning Reel to compare it to the BG MQ.
I picked up a couple of BG MQ reels two years ago and it has been one of the smoothest and most consistent reels I have ever purchased at that $200 price point.
While I do like aluminum-bodied reels, lightweight reels pack a punch for shallow inshore applications.
If you like the Fuego, Procyon MQ, and Ballistic MQ, then take a look at the Tatula MQ.
This reel will make its way into the lineup of spinning reels for inshore finesse fishermen in no time.
Have you had the chance to personally fish with the Daiwa Tatula MQ yet?
I would love to hear your feedback so please get the conversation started in the comments section below!!
Do you have any questions about other Daiwa Reels or other reels in our shop?
Go ahead and let me know!!
Get the Daiwa Tatula MQ Spinning Reel
If you are a Salt Strong Insider Member, if you buy any reel in our tackle shop, we’re going to give you FREE braided line AND we’ll spool it up for you on top of FREE SHIPPING!
All you have to do is pair it up with a fishing rod, tie on a leader, and hit the water!!
Finding The Fish Help
In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.
1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)
These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.
2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)
This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.
3. Community Reports (live feed)
The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.
Related categories:
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I recently purchased a 3000. Right out of the box when reeling you can hear a slight whooshing sound like the internal gears are making noise. Is that normal or should I return it?
These reels are normally very quiet. If the noise is loud enough to bother you, then I recommend taking it to a local Daiwa dealer to get their team to take a look at it.
Hola! Tengo el nuevo tatula 2500S quisiera saber si una bobina del modelo 2500D es compatible con mi tatula de bobina de poca profundidad. Gracias!
¡Hola Luis! Creo que el carrete 2500D sería compatible con el modelo 2500S, ya que el eje principal de ambos carretes tiene el mismo diámetro. Debería poder comprar uno directamente de Daiwa. ¡Espero que esto ayude!
On the 2000 series, can someone PLEASE tell me what thickness each washer is on the reel as how they come and how many are on there? Please!??
Justin, great explanation and unboxing as usual. I am intrigued by this new offering from Daiwa. Do you have any skepticism in fishing this reel in salt water? Are the gears sufficient in your opinion to handle trout, mangrove snapper and small redfish in the backcountry? Thanks Bart
Hey Bart, great question. The Main Gear used on the Tatula is the same as other MQ Series Reels (Procyon MQ, BGMQ, Ballistic MQ & so on), it will handle a wide variety of Inshore Species without any issues. In terms of overall sealing, all MQ Reels come standard with 7 Internal Seals throughout the body, spool & main shaft to help prevent water ingress.
what are the major differences between the ballistic MQ and the tatula MQ in terms of mainshaft support? I thought i saw a video or read an article that stated the ballistic MQ also benefited from a larger mainshaft spool bearing to help with heavier use? If I’m wrong please educate me
Great question, Ethan!
What was mentioned in the Ballistic MQ was that there are 2 ball bearings located in the spool, which help provide improved smoothness of the drag and offer better stability when under a load.
The Tatula MQ utilizes Daiwa’s New AIRDRIVE SHAFT is very unique. The main shaft runs through the pinion gear and is supported at both the top & bottom end of the pinion gear, creating added rigidity and smoothness when turning the handle (both freely & under a load). It’s essentially these rubber collars that help stabilize the shaft, reduce noise, and keep things running smoothly. It’s a really nice feature!
I personally would air towards the Tatula MQ for overall smoothness.
Hi, great content! Any Idea what material is used for the main gear?
It is a Zinc Main Gear.
Any comparison to the new airity or the shimano vanquish?
Those are not apples-to-apples comparisons. Both the Airity and the Vanquish are not Domestic (American Branded) products, nor are they in the same price points as the Tatula MQ.
I have a sizing question. Are all the reels 2500 and up based on the same 2500 platform with just bigger rotors and spools? I see the models are 3000C and 4000C, whereas it looks like the Ballistic MQ comes in a different 3000 size since it has no compact designation. Debating between the two and want to make sure I understand the sizing in the different models.
It’s a good question to ask. According to the reel specs, the Ballistic MQ 3000 has a list weight of 7.6oz whereas the Tatula MQ 3000 has a list weight of 7.1oz. In truth, I didn’t notice a drastic difference between the rotors of the Tatula MQ 2500 and the Ballistic MQ 2500, but I didn’t check those minute differences between the 3000 sizes between both reels. All in all, there isn’t that much difference between the two 3000s other than their list weight. If you asked for personal preference between the two, I think I’d choose the Tatula MQ over the Ballistic MQ in the 3000 size.
I watched the video the other night and ended up ordering a 3000 series. It arrived today. It is butter smooth when reeling. Now I have to decided which rod to put it on and replace a lesser reel.
Did anyone one question the line capacity quoted on Daiwa for Tatula 4000 looks wrong to me
Good catch, Vincent. I’ll ask Daiwa about that. The 4000 model is not a 4000 “D” (Deep Spool), so it may be a shallower spool than the other sizes they offer.
We didn’t add the 4000 to our Shop because a lightweight Zaion-V Body better serves anglers that fish with a 1000, 2500 and 3000 size. A 4000 size should really just be reserved for Bigger Species that require the additional line capacity, and to that point, should be fishing with an Aluminum Body reel.