Daiwa SeaPower Electric Reels
Electric reels have changed deep-sea fishing, making it easier to bring up heavy rigs and big fish from deep water without wearing yourself out. Daiwa’s SeaPower is one of the best-known big-capacity electric reels in the US, built for deep dropping and even swordfish. This review covers its key features, what it does well, and its limitations, to help you decide if it belongs on your boat. For Daiwa’s full electric lineup, see our Daiwa electric reels review.
Key Features
The SeaPower is driven by a brushed, variable-speed electric motor through oversized planetary gearing, built for the long, heavy retrieves of deep dropping. A power lever controls retrieve speed, and Daiwa’s ATD drag gives up to 66 lb of maximum drag on the SeaPower 1200, enough for big grouper, tilefish and swordfish.
An LED screen shows the line counter and reel settings, and Daiwa says it’s easy to read and available in multiple languages. The reel also has an aluminum body, an oversized line guide that lets swivels and connections pass through, and a metal ball knob for cranking by hand.
Performance and Power
The SeaPower 1200 is rated at 108 lb of momentary winding power and picks up about 140 yards of line a minute, according to Daiwa. It holds 1,110 yards of 80 lb Daiwa J-Braid, which gives you room for deep drops and break-offs. Daiwa describes it as a proven performer for deep dropping for a variety of species, including swordfish. The aluminum construction is built for saltwater, but rinse the reel after every trip and keep the power connections clean and dry.
Usability and Convenience
The power lever makes the SeaPower easy to learn: push it forward for more speed and ease off when a fish surges. The line counter on the LED screen shows your depth, so you can drop back to the same depth after each fish. Because the reel keeps a handle, you can still crank by hand if you need to.
Limitations
The SeaPower is a big, heavy reel (the 1200 weighs about 72 oz) and is best fished from a rod holder rather than held all day. Like every electric reel, it needs a strong power source: hard-wired boat power or a high-capacity lithium battery. It also uses a simpler brushed motor rather than the premium motors and features of Daiwa’s Seaborg line. Some anglers also prefer the challenge of a manual reel.
For serious anglers who deep drop often and want big line capacity and pulling power at a lower price than Daiwa’s Seaborg flagships, the SeaPower is an excellent choice. If you want lighter, more advanced reels, compare the Seaborg and Tanacom models below.
Daiwa SeaPower 1200 Electric Reel Review
The Daiwa SeaPower 1200 is a powerful electric reel for anglers who pursue deep-water species and need heavy-duty gear for long days offshore. It combines a large-capacity spool, strong winding power and simple controls, which makes it a popular choice for deep drop fishing. Daiwa’s list price is $1,199.99.
SeaPower 1200 Specifications
| Momentary winding power | 108 lb |
| Max drag | 66 lb (Daiwa US); some retailers list 55 lb |
| Line capacity | 1,110 yd of 80 lb J-Braid · 850 yd of 30 lb or 600 yd of 40 lb mono |
| Retrieve | about 140 yd per minute · 23 in per crank by hand |
| Gear ratio | 2.1:1 |
| Weight | 72 oz |
| Bearings | 5 |
| Motor | Brushed, variable speed, oversized planetary gearing |
| List price | $1,199.99 |
Design and Build Quality
The SeaPower 1200 has an aluminum body and handle knob built for saltwater, plus an oversized line guide so swivels and wind-on connections pass through smoothly. The LED screen shows the line counter and settings, so you can target specific depths accurately.
Power and Performance
With 108 lb of momentary winding power and room for 1,110 yards of 80 lb braid, the SeaPower 1200 can bring heavy rigs and big fish up from deep water. The variable-speed power lever lets you retrieve empty rigs quickly and slow down when a fish is on, and you can always switch to cranking by hand.
Powering the SeaPower 1200
A reel this size draws serious current under load. Hard-wire it to the boat’s batteries with heavy-gauge cable and a fused marine plug, or use a high-capacity lithium pack made for Daiwa reels. See our Daiwa battery guide and Abyss Battery review for options.
Verdict
The Daiwa SeaPower 1200 is a strong, simple, high-capacity electric reel for deep dropping and daytime swordfish. Its winding power, line capacity and easy power lever make it a good value at $1,199.99 compared with Daiwa’s Seaborg 1200M ($2,099.99). If you want a lighter reel with more advanced features, compare the Seaborg and Tanacom models below.
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