Fin-Nor Conventional Reels: Marquesa, Lethal and Primal Buying Guide and 2025–2026 Brand Status
Review method: Researched editorial buying analysis based on dealer specification tables (Nootica, Hinelson, Marine-Deals, FishermanDepot), Marlin Magazine and Pure Fishing ownership announcements — not personal field testing. Fin-Nor's official website blocks automated access, so we could not confirm current official specifications or US MSRPs. Dealer prices in other currencies are labeled.
← Conventional Reels Directory · Feature table · Model specifications · 2025–2026 updates · Company overview · Marquesa · Lethal and Primal
Fin-Nor Conventional Reels — features in separate columns
The current Fin-Nor conventional catalog consists of Asian-made aluminum lever-drag and star-drag reels. Many dealers show them sold out or discounted.
| Family | Role | Drag type | Speeds | Body | Max drag | Bearings | Price (dealer) | Generation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquesa Lever Drag / 2-Speed | Trolling and stand-up for tuna, billfish | Lever | 1 or 2 | 6061-T6 aluminum | 6.8–13.6 kg (dealer) | 6+1 to 7 | US$432.50–$557.99 | About 2011 |
| Marquesa Pelagic | Light stand-up for sailfish and marlin | Lever | 1 | 6061-T6 aluminum | 0–15 lb range | 6 | Not found | By 2015 |
| Lethal Lever Drag / 2-Speed | Tuna, jigging, live bait | Lever | 1 or 2 | Aluminum | 34 lb (16 2-speed) | 7 | NZ$279–$359.99 | Not found |
| Lethal Star Drag | Trolling, jigging, bottom, live bait | Star | 1 | Aluminum | 25 lb (16) | 6+1 | NZ$349 | Not found |
| Primal Lever Drag | Low-profile lever casting reel | Lever | 1 | Aluminum | Not found | 6+1 | US$195.99 | Not found |
| Sportfisher and Biscayne | Entry-level trolling | Lever | 1 | Graphite (Biscayne) | Not found | 4 (Biscayne) | Not found | Older |
Selected exact-model specifications
Dealer specifications; Fin-Nor's own tables could not be reached. Metric figures are shown as published.
| Exact model | Hand | Ratio | Weight | Max drag | Line per crank | Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquesa 16 (MA16) | R | 6.1:1 | 595 g | 6.8 kg | 109 cm | 265 m / 0.30 mm | Not found |
| Marquesa 20 2-Speed | Not stated | 6.1 / 3.1:1 | 814 g | 11 kg | 130 cm | 275 m / 0.35 mm | US$432.50 |
| Marquesa 50T 2-Speed | Not stated | 5.2 / 2.8:1 | 947 g | 13.6 kg | 130 cm | 425 m / 0.50 mm | US$557.99 |
| MA30TP (Pelagic) | Not stated | 6.1:1 | Not found | 0–15 lb | Not found | 450 yd 20 lb mono | Not found |
| Lethal 16 2-Speed | R | 5.8:1 (high) | 714 g (25.2 oz) | 34 lb | 45 / 21.4 in | 350 yd 20 lb mono | NZ$279–$359.99 |
| LTC16 (Lethal Star) | Not stated | 6.2:1 | Not found | 25 lb | 49 in | 450 yd 50 lb braid | NZ$349 |
| PR12LS (Primal) | R | 5.8:1 | 14.1 oz | Not found | 36 in | 440 yd 50 lb braid | US$195.99 |
2025–2026 updates and current generations
Brand status in 2026: Pure Fishing bought Fin-Nor and Van Staal from W.C. Bradley/Zebco in December 2019. We found no later sale. As of 6 October 2026, fin-nor.com redirects to purefishing.com, and Pure Fishing's brand list does not include Fin-Nor. Dealers in the US and New Zealand show Fin-Nor conventional reels sold out or discounted.
No 2025–2026 models: we found no new Fin-Nor conventional reel and no Fin-Nor presence in ICAST 2026 saltwater reel coverage. The most recent Fin-Nor product news we found dates from 2022. Treat any Fin-Nor purchase as buying remaining stock, and check parts and warranty support before you buy.
Fin-Nor company and conventional-reel overview
A famous name in big-game history
Fin-Nor was founded in Miami in 1933 and its reels set more than 900 IGFA records. The brand was owned by Zebco (W.C. Bradley) from 2005 and by Pure Fishing from 2019. Its recent conventional reels are mid-priced aluminum designs made overseas, rather than the Miami-machined reels of its history; one dealer describes the Marquesa as USA-built, which other sources contradict.
Should you buy one?
A discounted Marquesa or Lethal can be good value, but with the brand apparently inactive, parts and warranty service are uncertain. For a new reel with long-term support, compare PENN, Shimano, Daiwa or Okuma lever drags at similar prices.
Fin-Nor Marquesa
Marquesa Lever Drag and Marquesa 2-Speed — detailed review
Buying role: Fin-Nor's best-known trolling and stand-up reel.
Read the full Marquesa Lever Drag and Marquesa 2-Speed review (113 words)
Specifications
Two-speed (Nootica): Marquesa 20 6.1/3.1:1, 814 g, 11 kg drag, 6+1 bearings, US$432.50; Marquesa 30 6.1/3.1:1, 828 g, 12.3 kg; Marquesa 50T 5.2/2.8:1, 947 g, 13.6 kg, US$557.99. All about 130 cm per crank. Single-speed MA16 (Hinelson): 6.1:1, 595 g, 6.8 kg, 7 hybrid ceramic bearings, 109 cm, right hand.
Conflicts
Marlin Magazine (2012) quoted 50+ lb of drag and 1,000 yd of 60 lb braid for the MA50T, far more than the 13.6 kg (about 30 lb) a dealer lists; the figures may describe a different generation or setting.
Verdict
A capable 6061-T6 aluminum two-speed praised at EFTTEX in 2011; worth buying only at a clear discount given the brand's status.
Marquesa Pelagic — detailed review
Buying role: Light-tackle lever drag for sailfish and marlin.
Read the full Marquesa Pelagic review (66 words)
Specifications
MA30TP: 6.1:1, 450 yd of 20 lb mono or 670 yd of 50 lb braid. MA40TP: 5.2:1, 440 yd of 30 lb mono or 700 yd of 65 lb braid. Both have 6 stainless bearings, a two-stage cam with 0–15 lb linear adjustment, a one-piece 6061-T6 frame and double-ratchet infinite anti-reverse. Weight and price not found.
Verdict
A light stand-up billfish reel; availability is limited.
Marquesa Pelagic dealer announcement (2015) · Back to comparison
Fin-Nor Lethal and Primal
Lethal Lever Drag and Lethal 2-Speed — detailed review
Buying role: Mid-priced lever drag for tuna and jigging.
Read the full Lethal Lever Drag and Lethal 2-Speed review (68 words)
Specifications
Lethal 16 2-Speed: 5.8:1 high, 45/21.4 in per crank, 25.2 oz, 34 lb drag, 7 bearings, 350 yd of 20 lb mono or 450 yd of 50 lb braid, right hand. NZ$359.99 RRP (NZ$279 sale, out of stock). Sizes 16, 20 and 30 exist in single and two-speed. Aluminum frame and sideplates, carbon drag, double-dog anti-reverse.
Verdict
Good drag-to-size ratio; buy only with confidence in parts supply.
Lethal 16 2-Speed specifications (Marine-Deals) · Back to comparison
Lethal Star Drag (LTC) — detailed review
Buying role: Star-drag all-rounder.
Read the full Lethal Star Drag (LTC) review (52 words)
Specifications
LTC16: 6.2:1, 25 lb drag, 6+1 hybrid ceramic bearings, 49 in per crank, 350 yd of 20 lb mono or 450 yd of 50 lb braid, NZ$349. An LTC20 also exists. MegaDrag carbon washers, MegaLock multi-stop clutch, MegaShield corrosion protection.
Verdict
A fast star drag for trolling, jigging and live bait.
Lethal LTC16 specifications (Marine-Deals) · Back to comparison
Primal Lever Drag — detailed review
Buying role: Low-profile lever-drag casting reel.
Read the full Primal Lever Drag review (44 words)
Specifications
PR10LS: 5.8:1, 13.7 oz, 6+1 bearings, 36 in, 415 yd of 30 lb braid. PR12LS: 5.8:1, 14.1 oz, 440 yd of 50 lb braid. Right hand, MegaDrag, one-piece aluminum frame. US$195.99, sold out.
Verdict
An unusual low-profile lever reel, now hard to find.
Sportfisher and Biscayne — detailed review
Buying role: Older entry-level lever drags.
Read the full Sportfisher and Biscayne review (47 words)
Specifications
Sportfisher SLD20/SLD25 remain listed by a few retailers; we found no specifications. Biscayne FBLD20/FBLD25: 4.1:1, 4 bearings, graphite frame, aluminum spool, carbon drag; FBLD20 420 m of 30 lb, FBLD25 320 m of 50 lb. Probably discontinued.
Verdict
Budget trolling reels; modern alternatives offer better support.
Fin-Nor reel history (Saltwater Sportsman) · Back to comparison
Official sources
Fin-Nor's official site blocks automated access; specifications are from dealers and press.
- Fishing Tackle Retailer — Pure Fishing acquires Fin-Nor (2019)
- Pure Fishing — brand list
- Nootica — Marquesa 2-Speed
- Wide Open Spaces — Behind the Brand: Fin-Nor
Compare manufacturers: PENN · Shimano · Daiwa · Accurate · Avet · Okuma · Seigler · Alutecnos · TICA.