Shimano 26STELLA SW

Shimano's flagship saltwater spinning reel, the Stella SW (Stella SW), rebuilt for the 2026 model year under the concept "Conquer the Impossible." The new XX Tough Drag sandwiches the spool with large carbon washers top and bottom, raising drag durability up to 10x on 18000-and-larger sizes (max drag 30kg, 27kg on the 30000) while a Heat Sink Drag cuts heat-related drag fade by roughly 30%. Infinity Loop is a dedicated 2-speed oscillation system for tighter line lay and smoother casting, Infinity Cross widens gear-tooth contact for durability, and a new Anti-Twist Fin and barrier-coated AR-C spool reduce line trouble. X Protect and X Shield sealing achieve IPX8-equivalent waterproofing at the body and stopper, and the drag knob is roughly 25% larger for faster adjustment.

The range runs from 4000 to 30000. The 4000HG/XG are light-jigging and plugging models for 1.2–2# PE; the 6000PG/HG are offshore-and-shore all-rounders for 2–3# PE; the 18000HG is the standard big-fish casting size for kihada tuna, hiramasa amberjack, GT, and tuna on 8–10# PE; and the 30000PG is built specifically for giant bluefin tuna and big marlin, holding 420m of 12# PE.