Daiwa Tanacom 1200 Review

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Introduction

The Daiwa Tanacom 1200 is Daiwa’s big-capacity electric reel — the workhorse of the Tanacom line for anglers who fish deep and want the most line on the spool. It is built for deep dropping for grouper and tilefish, swordfishing, and kite fishing: jobs where the bait has to travel hundreds of feet down and a heavy fish has to come back up under power.

What defines it is capacity plus simplicity. It holds 1,100 yards of 80-lb J-Braid, pulls with 50 lb of max drag, and runs on a 12V power supply with a variable-speed power lever — no complicated setup, no extra modes to learn before the first drop. The LED dot-matrix display shows a line counter and power-assist prompts in selectable languages, so you always know how much line is out and what the reel is doing.

This is not the lightest electric reel, and it does not try to be. At 72 oz it is a heavy reel, and you feel that on a long day. What you get in return is a proven, easy-to-run reel with the largest line capacity in its class — the reel to pick when the depth and the fish, not the weight on the scale, decide the day.

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Who It Fits

The Tanacom 1200 fits the angler who fishes deep, regularly, and wants the drop and the retrieve handled by the motor.

It is a good fit if you:

• Deep drop beyond 1,000 feet for tilefish, snowy grouper, or other bottom fish, where line capacity and sustained winding power matter more than reel weight.
• Swordfish or kite fish, where the reel has to hold a lot of line and manage a long, heavy fight.
• Run a charter or fish long days and want a simple reel the whole crew can operate — power lever, line counter, and a readable display, with no touchscreen menus.
• Already run a 12V battery setup on the boat and want a reel that plugs straight into it.

It is not the best fit if you:

• Fish mostly shallow water (under 300 feet), where a smaller, lighter electric reel does the same job with less weight to hold.
• Want the lightest possible electric reel — the BeastMaster 9000B is nearly 20 oz lighter with more max drag (see the comparison section below).
• Want a color LCD display or a brushless motor — the Tanacom 1200 uses an LED dot-matrix display and Daiwa’s standard power-assist motor, not a brushless unit.

The Exact Package

This review covers one reel:

• Model: Daiwa Tanacom 1200 (US-market version)
• Type: Power-assist electric reel, right-hand retrieve
• Power: 12V DC

Daiwa sells the Tanacom line in several sizes (including the smaller Tanacom 800) and, in some markets, a newer “22 Tanacom 1200 AJ” version with different specs. A Tanacom 800 is a different reel, and a “1200 AJ” is a different version — do not treat either as interchangeable with the US-market Tanacom 1200 covered here. Before checkout, confirm the listing shows “Tanacom 1200” (not 800, not 1200 AJ) and that it is the US-market version.

Box contents vary by retailer and region. Confirm with the seller exactly what is in the box — reel, power cord / leads, and documentation — and confirm what power source you need, before buying. A 12V battery or power supply is a separate purchase.

Key Features

Capacity and power

• Braid capacity: 1,100 yd of 80-lb J-Braid (880 yd of 100-lb)
• Max drag: 50 lb
• Max winding power: 22 lb (Daiwa’s stated figure)
• Gear ratio: 2.1:1
• Retrieve: 23 in per crank
• Max retrieve speed (powered): 140 m/min
• Voltage: 12V
• Weight: 72 oz
• Bearings: Corrosion-resistant ball bearings (CRBB), repositioned to reduce water exposure

Display and controls

• LED dot-matrix display with line counter
• Selectable-language power-assist prompts
• Variable-speed power lever — one-finger speed and power control
• Aluminum round knob / metal ball knob
• Automatic stop and jigging features (per Daiwa’s launch description)

Build

• Aluminum body
• Sealed electronics package — wash the reel down after the day without worrying about wetting the electronics
• Oversized line-guide aperture — wide enough to let swivels and large knots pass through, so you can crank a rig right up to the rod tip
• ATD drag (per the site’s comparison spec table)

Tanacom 1200 vs the Tanacom 800 and the BeastMaster 9000B

Vs. the smaller sibling — Tanacom 800. The Tanacom 800 is the same idea in a smaller package: lighter and easier to hold all day, with less line capacity. Choose the 800 when your fishing stays in moderate depths and you want to save weight. Choose the 1200 when you regularly fish beyond 1,000 feet, swordfish, or kite fish — the extra capacity is the reason the 1200 exists. (See the site’s full Tanacom 800 review for the 800 in detail.)

Vs. the refined rival — Shimano BeastMaster 9000B. The BeastMaster 9000B is the lighter, more refined reel: 52.4 oz against the Tanacom 1200’s 72 oz, 55 lb of max drag against 50 lb, a brushless GigaMax motor, and a color Fine Dot LCD display against the Tanacom’s LED dot-matrix screen. Its braid capacity is 1,030 yd of 80-lb PowerPro — slightly less than the Tanacom’s 1,100 yd of 80-lb J-Braid. Choose the BeastMaster if you want maximum performance in the lightest package and your budget stretches that far. Choose the Tanacom 1200 if you want proven deep-drop capability with the most line capacity, in a simpler reel that is easier to run. (See the site’s full Tanacom 1200 vs BeastMaster 9000 head-to-head for the spec-by-spec comparison.)

The 1200 is the right pick when capacity and proven simplicity beat light weight — deep drops, swordfish, kite fishing, and long charter days.

Purchase Checks

Run through this list before you buy:

• Confirm the exact model and version. The listing should show “Tanacom 1200” — US-market version. Not the Tanacom 800, not the “22 Tanacom 1200 AJ”. If the listing says “AJ”, it is the other version with different specs.
• Confirm the box contents with the seller. Check what is included — reel, power cord / leads, documentation — and what power source you still need.
• Plan the power. The reel runs on 12V. Confirm your boat battery and wiring can supply it, and confirm the connector type before the first trip.
• Match the rod. A 72 oz electric reel belongs on a bent-butt or heavy deep-drop rod rated for the line class you fish — not a light conventional rod.
• Match the line. Spool with the braid you actually fish. Use Daiwa’s J-Braid capacity figures as the reference, and remember capacities vary by line brand and diameter.

Verdict

The Daiwa Tanacom 1200 is the proven workhorse pick in electric reels: the biggest line capacity in its class, 50 lb of max drag, 12V power, and a simple power-lever layout that any crew member can run. It is heavy at 72 oz, and its LED dot-matrix display is functional rather than flashy — but for deep drops beyond 1,000 feet, swordfishing, and kite fishing, capacity and reliability are what earn the reel its place on the boat.

Choose it when the depth decides the reel. If light weight and a brushless motor matter more, the BeastMaster 9000B is the step up — see the head-to-head before deciding.

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FAQ

Is the Tanacom 1200 better than the Tanacom 800?

It depends on depth. The 1200 is the bigger-capacity reel — pick it for regular fishing beyond 1,000 feet, swordfishing, and kite fishing. The 800 is lighter and easier to hold all day for moderate depths. Same family, different job.

Tanacom 1200 or BeastMaster 9000B?

The BeastMaster is lighter (52.4 oz vs 72 oz), has more max drag (55 lb vs 50 lb), a brushless motor, and a color LCD. The Tanacom holds more line (1,100 yd vs 1,030 yd of 80-lb braid) and is simpler to run. Pick the BeastMaster for maximum refinement; pick the Tanacom for proven capacity and simplicity. The site’s head-to-head covers both spec by spec.

What power does the Tanacom 1200 need?

12V DC. A battery or power supply is a separate purchase — confirm the connector and what is in the box with the seller before buying.

Why do I see different braid capacities listed for the 1200?

Capacities depend on line brand and diameter. Daiwa’s own figures are 1,100 yd of 80-lb J-Braid / 880 yd of 100-lb. Retailer listings using other braid brands show different numbers (for example 80/1000, 100/850 in lbs/yds). Use Daiwa’s J-Braid figures as the reference for this reel.

Is the “1200 AJ” the same reel?

No. The “22 Tanacom 1200 AJ” sold in New Zealand / Australia markets is a newer version with different specs. This review covers the US-market Tanacom 1200 only.

We also ran the numbers against Piscifun's lighter challenger — see how the Tanacom 1200 compares to the Kraken X 5000.

About DeepDropFishing.com

DeepDropFishing.com is run by Bala, an offshore angler who started with deep drop fishing — electric reels, heavy tackle, and bottom fish in hundreds of feet of water — and now covers offshore and onshore fishing too. The site publishes clear, practical guides on gear, rigs, and technique. It is an independent information site; we do not sell trips or charters.

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