The Ocea Conquest series boasts overwhelming reliability and a proven track record, and is a reel that stands out from the rest in terms of rigidity, durability, and reeling feel. It is a versatile model that can be used for a wide range of fishing methods, including jigging and tairaba.

The lineup includes the basic "Ocea Conquest," the "Ocea Conquest CT" with a counter that is excellent for determining water depth, and the newly launched "Ocea Conquest FT."

— Innovation in the "FT" model, designed specifically for tairaba —

The Ocea Conquest FT is an innovative model born from the honest feedback of sea bream anglers. It eliminates the level wind interlocking mechanism used in other series and maximizes spool rotation performance. Even in complex and fast currents, it can accurately detect bottom contact when using a lightweight head. The spool responds sensitively to subtle signals that cannot be detected by rod tip movement or hand feel, allowing you to detect bottom contact from changes in spool rotation.

This high-performance spool rotation is the key to success in tough conditions. The FT will demonstrate its true value as a new standard for tai-rubber and a trump card for finesse tai-rubber in the most competitive areas.

A lightweight spool is essential for improved bottom-hit detection. Not only is it designed specifically for PE, but its line capacity is set to just 200m of PE 0.6 and 150m of PE 0.8, eliminating unnecessary underwinding. Another benefit is that the small diameter spool allows for more spool rotations when releasing line at the same speed, making it easier to determine when the rotation stops than with a larger diameter spool. It's easy to sense the bottom hit, just like using a heavier tairaba head, and a quick start of reeling helps avoid snags and increase your catch.

The spool is not only thin and lightweight, but also uses the same highly corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy as the Ocea Conquest series.

The OCEA CONQUEST FT is equipped with an FTB brake. By removing the brake unit from the spool, it contributes to further reducing the spool's inertia and can be easily adjusted using only the external dial. Not only is it useful for undercasting, but it can also be used to precisely control line slack by increasing the brake force with the external dial when the line slacks due to changes in the current during the fall.

The key to success is to set the mechanical brake so that there is no play in the spool, and not tighten it any further. This is an important setting to maximize spool-free performance.

When using a tai rubber lure, it is best to start with the external dial set halfway between MAX and MIN. If the current causes line slack on the spool or when undercasting, you can prevent line trouble by increasing the brake to the MAX side. If you are using a lighter tai rubber lure head and want to reduce the brake during the fall, adjust it to the MIN side.

Adjusting the FTB (external dial) is the key to making the most of this model's true performance. Fine-tuning the settings to suit the situation is the key to determining your catch.

The Ocea Conquest FT inherits the tradition of the series and is equipped with a brass micro-module gear. At its heart, wrapped in a highly rigid HAGANE body, is the X-SHIP mechanism that ensures smooth and powerful reeling, providing a sensual reeling feel, delicate operability, and stable power.

It is approximately 60g lighter than the Ocea Conquest 200. Furthermore, the shorter distance from the reel foot makes it easier to palm, and its compact design fits naturally in the palm of your hand, reducing fatigue even during extended use.

While inheriting the design philosophy of the Ocea Conquest series, which is characterized by its powerful and high-torque winding performance, the Ocea Conquest FT is a model that thoroughly pursues agility and operability. It is the perfect choice for anglers who want a light and easy operation feel and high responsiveness.

Yasuhiro Akazawa

The newly released Ocea Conquest FT is a reel we recommend for finesse red snapper lures. While the standard 200 and 300 models are primarily designed for larger fish, featuring a large spool capacity and a level wind interlocking mechanism, the FT is designed to prioritize spool rotation and bottom-hit detection. The standard models lack the level wind interlocking mechanism. So why do we need such a reel? Because we want to clearly sense when the red snapper lure hits the bottom, even in complex currents like two-layer currents. We wanted to be able to accurately sense the bottom even when the fish are not biting or when using a lightweight head for small bait patterns. This model's lightweight spool rotates quickly and stops precisely, making it easy to visually determine when the lure has hit the bottom. It also features FTB (Finesse Tune Brake), which makes spool behavior very clear. This is a unique advantage of the FT that is not available in the standard Ocea Conquest series. In addition to braking during undercasts, the FTB also controls spool rotation during the fall. Just like a fall lever, setting the brake to the MAX position allows you to control line slack during the fall without thumbing, while setting it to the MIN position makes it easier to sense changes in the tide and the reel hitting the bottom. Furthermore, the dial is located on the outside of the reel, so you can adjust it even during the fall. This time, we have the 60MG model, and MG is a long-awaited gear ratio for a reel specifically designed for taira-rubber fishing. With MG, you can comfortably use a 100g head even in waters nearly 100m deep in Akashi, for example. The difference in power felt by the gear ratio is incredible. The FT also comes standard with a 55mm (total length 110mm), but even with the MG gear, you can really feel the increased power. However, even so, it tends to lack power in areas where the average depth exceeds 100m. In those conditions, I tend to use the Ocea Conquest or Ocea Conquest CT in sizes 200 or 300. Instead of using just one, try using the FT when fishing in inland seas or shallow waters, and the regular Oshicon when targeting large sea bream in the open sea or deep waters and enjoy the Tai Rubber game.