Max drag on Cabo 80?

[lite-liner]

Hey all. just wondering about this reel for a 50# tuna spinner.
I was about to buy the Fin-Nor, but after reviewing the line roller
pics, I'm hesitant. Obviously, I don't have the $$ for a Stella, or this
wouldn't be an issue.
On the other hand,I wonder if the line-roller bushings on the Fin-Nor
are Delrin, like the shaft spacer.
Input needed!
tight lines
-B

[ALW]

The head boat trips we do in the GOM, we don't really need a stella. The tuna run no bigger that about 70lbs. Very few bigger than that. Lately there ant been many YF's at all. Only small BF's. You can buy 3 or 4 Cabo 80's for the price of the stella. We don't have no offshore boat. I do have a stlla 8000. I think the 20000 is too heavy to sling all nite.

[TLore]

I just used 5 brand new cabo 80s for 4 days on a private boat, fishing for sails. After 5 or 6 fish we smoked 3 of the 5 drags, and 1 anti reverse. This was with 20 lb mono! These reels are not made for salt water. Maybe snook or yellowtailing, but tuna? SAVE YOUR MONEY. I have worked on private and charterboats for 16 years. I know good equipment. Buy a thunnus 12000 or a stella. It's worth the extra money. TW

[Spinning Reel]

I just read on the Caranx forum of two guys not liking the Cabo drag (just like I didn't) and then comes this post.. mmm.. the Cabo stocks are heading down.

[Pescador]

I tested a Quantum Cabo for an international importer just after they came out.
Loaded it with 25lb power pro and had a hot bite on bass on an ebbing tide.
The reel performed very well,especially the drag which was very smooth indeed (I had burnt it in before I started).
The line lay was a little lumpy, which would have been better with 40/60lb in my opinion.
The anti-reverse was a real dream and well up the task, but I didn't like the loud clonk as the bail arm went over.

After returning the reel to the importer, it was sold to a guy in my fishing club (mmm?)
Within 6months he had the bail arm snap clean thro at the carrier end!

Just observations, you pays your money and makes your choice.

[Spinning Reel]

I have read also the size 20/30 having lotsa trouble at the anti-reverse, right out of the box:
OutdoorsBest Forums: CABO 30 CONTINOUS ANTI-REVERSE PROBLEM
CABO 40 CONTINOUS ANTI-REVERSE PROBLEM

[Gunsmoke]

Why in the world do you people keep buying this junk. Did you know that scrape metal on average goes for .06 per pound. That means all these spinning reels that are designed to handle 10 pound fish are going to be in the junk pile. You better buy about one dozen just to get a penny from the scrap dealer.

This is like going to Walmart and buying the cheapest weedeater and using it to mow your yard. You might do your yard once or twice then you will have to discard the weedeater. Doesn't it make sense to buy a lawnmower?

Being a penny pincher does not pay off. Face the facts. It's expensive to design and build a spinning reel that can withstand constant drag pressure. Just save up and buy a decent one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gman]

Its all about Budget...if you want to spend sub $300 on a reel, they are great reels. But I would strongly disagree with most of whats being said based on my personal use. I had 4 Quantum Cabo 60's. I thought and still do that the reel performed great. I used 2 of them with the other two sitting on a shelf

I know what quality is I buy all quality gear becuase I fish HARD, with that said the 2 Quantum Cabo's that I used my son and I killed tarpon to 100lbs, small yellowfins, blackfins, blacktip sharks etc. Most of the tarpon guides in the boca grande pass area of Florida use those reels in the 60 and 80 size

Gunsmoke is right in one respect, fish the gear appropriate for the cause. I wouldnt use those spinners for tuna just because of line capacity. Inshore species or blackfin that reel is more than enough and for $200 dollars is worth it

If you want to catch big fish all the time without troubles I would suggest Stella

[A.whitman]

I have a cabo 60 and now a 50. i love them. i use the 60 as my primary jigging reel. i catch snapper, grouper, cobia,jacks, and kings, all with not a single problem. I cant say anyting about tuna, but for the money there is no better.

[sachin2021]

So far my Cabo 80 has been put to work on GTs and landed a few to 35 pounds. No problems with the drag or bail arm. I had a problem with the continous anti reverse and stripped the reel down. The magnetic one way roller bearing has what looks like a brass coated metal cover. The metallic side was assembled facing up. I reveresed this to face down towards the roller bearing and this solved the problem. Also asked Quantum for a replacement part as the housing had cracked and this was mailed to me free. The could make the handle knob a little bigger though.

[awesum]

I have a Cabo 80 with about 300 yards of 65# braid and a topshot of 40# Momoi Diamond (which I think breaks at around 60#). This reel is mounted on a 7' Diawa Saltiga 50# spinning rod. I threw this setup on TBB08 for about 2 hours + but never got bit. One observation is that I was fishing next to Tom (Ragman) and with his Stella and OTI popping rod he was consistently hitting beyond me by 15 - 20 yards. I am determined to give this reel a workout Monday on my 48 with John on the Pelican. If it blows up on me (and it could) I'll get a Sustain like Tom S. did but I'll never have the bucks for a Stella.

I'm taking a Spheros 14000 with 65# braid and drag upgrades for a backup. We'll see. ....