Shimano – Torium Jigging Special Star Drag Reels

Description

The Shimano Torium Jigging Special takes the proven Torium star-drag platform and adds two features that make a real difference when the reel is used the way Northeast anglers actually jig. A dedicated Spool Lock prevents the spool from rotating when an angler needs to pull hard against a snagged jig or stuck bottom rig, allowing pressure to be applied without loading the reel’s internal drivetrain in the normal fighting position. Shimano also adds an Auto-Engage Clutch: once the reel is in freespool, a turn of the handle immediately puts it back into gear, helping the angler react faster to strikes that happen while a jig is falling. Those upgrades sit inside the same rigid HAGANE Body, compact S-Compact frame and Cross Carbon Drag architecture that made the standard Torium a dependable saltwater workhorse.

The three-model lineup is deliberately simple but covers three distinct jobs. The TOR1500HGA weighs only 15.3 ounces and retrieves 38 inches per crank, making it the most comfortable choice for fluke, sea bass, striped bass and lighter blackfish jigging where all-day fishability matters more than maximum drag. The TOR2000HGA adds substantially more line reserve and jumps to 46 inches of pickup with 24 pounds of max drag, giving it the speed to work knife jigs, recover slack in deep water and handle school bluefin, yellowfin and other fast-moving pelagics. The TOR2000PGA is the power model: its 4.6:1 gearing slows pickup to 34 inches per crank but increases max drag to 33 pounds, making it the better reel for heavy tog, deep wrecks, slower jig styles and situations where controlled torque matters more than speed.

Shimano’s S A-RB shielded bearings improve resistance to salt and grit, while Port Tackle and current specialty dealers also identify X-Protect around the drive-gear bearing for additional corrosion protection. The Torium Jigging Special should be positioned as a dedicated vertical-fishing reel rather than simply another Torium colorway: the Spool Lock and Auto-Engage Clutch directly address two common jigging problems—freeing stuck tackle and instantly engaging on a drop bite. For Port Tackle customers, the 1500HG is the premium-value inshore jigging choice, the 2000HG is the fast offshore option, and the 2000PG is the torque-first model for structure and heavy-duty jigging.