The Leoblitz S300J is Daiwa's size-300 electric reel that came out in Jul 2026. List price JPY 71,000 (excl. tax), 540g. A buy as electric reel No. 1 for handheld fishing, from red sea bream and amberjack to mid-deep-sea targets.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
The core of the S300J is that it keeps the 540g, 13kg-drag body of the 23 Leoblitz 300J and brings it into the JPY 70,000 range. What was cut is only the top end of hauling power and speed; the light weight in the hand and the strong drag remain. That is why I pick the S300J as a first size-300 electric reel.
Key points
- Out Jul 2026. JPY 71,000 (excl. tax)
- 540g, PE #3 400m and 13kg max drag
- JPY 12,100 cheaper than the 23 Leoblitz 300J
When is the Leoblitz S300J released, and at what price?
Released in July 2026. List price JPY 71,000 (excl. tax). It is a size-300, 540g electric reel for handheld fishing, from red sea bream, tilefish, horse mackerel, grunt and cutlassfish to amberjack-class fish such as warasa and mejiro, and mid-deep-sea targets such as spear squid and akamutsu (blackthroat seaperch).
What surprises me is that its body numbers match those of its big brother, the 23 Leoblitz 300J. The differences are hauling power and speed, and the drag type.
| Item | S300J | 23 300J |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 540g | 540g |
| Max drag | 13kg | 13kg |
| JAFS standard retrieve force | 8kg | 11kg |
| Standard hauling speed (1kg load) | 135 m/min | 145m/min |
| List price | JPY 71,000 | JPY 83,100 |
How I judged it
With 30 years of fishing and a boat license behind me, what matters most in a handheld electric reel is weight. So I lined up the S300J and the 300J. The 540g is the same. The 13kg drag is the same too.
What I hesitated over was the 3kg gap in hauling power. If you reel heavy sinkers up from deep water all day, the 300J is easier. Still, for handheld fishing from shallow water to mid-deep-sea, I think spending the JPY 12,100 difference on tackle and a battery is the better deal.
I decided. My pick is the S300J. For anyone buying a size-300 electric reel for the first time, this is the one I recommend.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Leoblitz S300J
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 52,798 (as of Oct 18). Some stores go up to JPY 69,558. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on NaturumSee it on Rakuten IchibaWhat does the JOG Power Lever change?
The dial in the middle of the body sets the reeling speed. With one thumb of the hand gripping the rod, you can reel and engage or disengage the clutch. The free hand can work the rod, so you can focus on the lure action.
It also has a fall brake dial. Within 180 degrees, your thumb sets everything from spool free to maximum brake. When bait shows up on a drop, or a squid touches mid-water, you can change the fall speed right away.
The drag is UTD, a type that removes the catch when it starts to work, replacing the ATD of the 23 300J. It also supports the electric mobile setting of DAIWA CONNECTED, which links to a smartphone, so you can send the line length from the app.
The screen is a dot LCD with big characters, easy to read against glare or through polarized glasses. It does not reel by motor from depth 0.0, so there is less risk of winding the rod tip in. The stop at the boat rail can be set at 1–5m. The display has 9 languages.
Does a max hauling power of 59kg lift 59kg?
No. An electric reel's max hauling power is a reference value for the shaft torque at 13V power, in kgf·cm. It is a different scale from weight in kg.
For comparison, the JAFS-standard hauling power, measured under the rules of the Japan Fishing Tackle Industry Association, is the guide. The S300J has 8kg and the 300J has 11kg. That is what the price gap buys.
How many seconds does it take to reel up 100m?
With a 1kg load, the S300J's standard hauling speed is 135m/min. For 100m, 100 ÷ 135 × 60 = about 44 seconds. The 23 300J is 145m/min, about 41 seconds. The gap is 3 seconds, which is small.
By hand, at 70cm per handle turn, 100m is 10,000 ÷ 70 = about 143 turns. A 72.5mm handle with an EVA round knob makes it easy to put force into hand reeling too.
How does it differ from the Seaborg 300J?
The 26 Seaborg 300J is JPY 112,000 and 570g. Max drag is 16kg, JAFS-standard hauling power 14kg and standard hauling speed 157m/min: it wins on power and speed in every number. It costs JPY 41,000 more than the S300J and weighs 30g more.
Which to choose? If your sea often has big amberjack-class fish, or you work deep water over and over, the Seaborg. If you value light weight in the hand and price, the S300J.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa 23 Leoblitz 300J (right handle)
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 59,708 (as of Oct 18). Some stores go up to JPY 82,260. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on NaturumSee it on Rakuten IchibaThings to watch
This part is so-so. The JAFS-standard hauling power is 8kg, weaker than the 23 300J's 11kg. If you reel heavy sinkers up from deep water all day, the higher model suits you better.
Mind the power source too. It is DC 12–16.8V. It cannot run on household AC 100V or a boat's DC 24V. A battery is not included, so prepare a genuine Daiwa electric-reel battery separately.
Who is the Leoblitz S300J for?
- Anglers who want one electric reel for everything from red sea bream, tilefish and cutlassfish to amberjack-class fish
- Anglers who spend long hours working lures by hand and want a light size-300 reel
- Anglers who want a first electric reel in the JPY 70,000 range
For deep water with a size-500 reel, compare the Leoblitz 500J review; for a lighter light-game reel, the Seaborg 150J review. For a small electric reel for wakasagi, see the Christia Wakasagi CRS II review, at about 90g.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa Leoblitz S300J
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 52,798 (as of Oct 18). Some stores go up to JPY 69,558. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on NaturumSee it on Rakuten IchibaFAQ
When is the Leoblitz S300J released?
It's out in Jul 2026. List price is JPY 71,000 excl. tax.
What is the difference between the Leoblitz S300J and the 300J?
The differences are hauling power and price. The S300J has a JAFS-standard hauling power of 8kg (the 300J: 11kg) and is JPY 12,100 cheaper. The 540g weight and the 13kg drag are the same.
How much PE line can the Leoblitz S300J hold?
PE #3 400m, #4 300m and #5 230m. For nylon, as a guide, #5 280m and #6 200m.
