Makaira - Design, Drive, Drag, Durability

The flagship of the Okuma product line, Makaira derives its name from the genus name of marlin and billfish, representing ultimate strength, power and endurance.

The platform of the Makaira series was designed around what Okuma calls its 4D concept, which incorporates the Design, Drive, Drag and Durability of the overall reel. The Makaira series represents the first Okuma project where Okuma worked jointly with Tiburon Engineering USA, setting out to build the ultimate game reel.

The heart of the Makaira series revolves around the patented DFD or Dual Force Drag system that was designed by Tiburon Engineering. This unique drag system was engineered around a pull bar drag system principle that virtually eliminates the pressure commonly created by the alternative style push bar drag system, which completely relies on the strength of the reel frame for structural support. The DFD is a wet drag system utilizing dual Carbonite drag washers and Cal Sheet’s drag grease. To further enhance this ultimate drag system, Tiburon custom-designed a thrust bearing that is designed to absorb side load pressure. This abnormally large bearing allows anglers to fish extremely high drag loads without the increase in handle pressure.

Enhancing the overall performance of this series, Okuma has equipped the Makaira with EZO Japanese ABEC-5 ball bearings that provide excellent freespool for live baiting and casting.

The Makaira series sets itself apart from all other reels by offering Okuma’s proprietary silent anti-reverse system that Okuma equates to high performance luxury products such as a Lexus. Working in conjunction with the silent retrieve system is our unique helical-cut gear process. The Makaira is the only machined aluminum 2-speed trolling reel to feature helical-cut gears which are smoother, quieter, offer more torque and receive less impact blows when compared to the traditional spur-cut or straight-cut gearing used in most 2-speed reels. For a combination of ultimate hardness and corrosion resistance Okuma machines all of its gears, shafts and drag plates from 17-4 marine-grade stainless steel for uncompromised durability.

For ultimate strength and precision tolerances, the Makaira is supported by 6061-T6 grade forged aluminum side plates and extruded 6061-T6 aluminum frame. All aluminum parts are either anodized gold with a type-II anodizing process or black anodized with a Type-III process in critical corrosion points.

Pack all of these features into one reel series and throw in the patented T-bar handle with an 18-degree offset handle and you have the blueprint for one of the industry’s top offshore lever drag reels.

Click here to see models and specifications of the Makaira line.