Quantum Fishing has been one of the industry leaders in rods and reels for decades. With great conventional tackle such as the Smoke and Accurist lines, the company positioned itself as a top fishing manufacturer in the country. But anglers might have noticed some fading from the spotlight in recent years. Quantum still had recognizable reels such as the Vapor PT and EXO, but they were treated by anglers as baitcasters that were part of an older arsenal that continued to perform. New options weren’t introduced year after year, even if the quality of its high-end reels was clearly evident.
While Quantum produced saltwater gear such as spin tackle, freshwater bass anglers have traditionally been a main focus. Still, Quantum had some home runs in the saltwater market, especially its tried-and-true Cabo and Boca options. But anglers even noticed its saltwater offerings had dwindled from stores. So what happened?
Long and short, Quantum went through structural changes. Quantum Fishing, along with brands like Zebco, were acquired by Rather Outdoors in the early 2020s. You might recognize Rather Outdoors for owning other brands such as Strike King and Lew’s. Once Rather Outdoors had Quantum, its latest transformation started.
And the progress was clearly evident in 2024, when Quantum introduced two new saltwater products — the Benchmark and Strive series. Quantum Fishing immediately created two new spin series that make your day on the water more enjoyable and memorable. And they packed in specs, design elements and materials at an affordable price.
New for 2025, Quantum has released more products, as well as one reel that many saltwater anglers will recognize. Those products are the new Merit spinning reel, Zeal spinning rod, and re-released Cabo spinning reel. I recently had the opportunity to head to Stuart, Florida, to fish with the crew from Quantum and test out new products. Needless to say, I’m extremely impressed.
The Cabo is Back
The Cabo is that spinning reel Quantum is most known for, especially for saltwater anglers. It’s the first name that comes to mind and it’s their flagship spinning reel for good reason. The Cabo is responsible for thousands upon thousands of fish catches, with the reel absolutely taking over the Florida Keys during its heyday.
Now it’s back. And anglers should be on the look out. Here’s what to know about the 2025 model. The reel incorporates a rigid aluminum frame and side plate, while incorporating the latest in carbon infused materials for the rotor. The Cabo’s gear train is machined from the lightest and strongest metals for better gear feel and durability. Lastly, the Cabo is fully sealed, lighter, more compact, and offers best in class drag performance. From a line management stand-point, the Cabos utilize a slower oscillation. At $229.95, this sealed reel is hard to beat. Ranges in size span from 2500 to 8000.
Of all the new products, this reel stood out the most. I still have my original Cabo from years ago when they first came out. It still performs flawlessly. I expect even more from the newest version — smooth drag, light weight and a sealed system to protect from water intrusion.
I fished the reel on both days of my trip, but inshore fishing for snook along docks is where this reel shined. Its casting ability when paired with the new Zeal rods is superb for getting those pilchards and other baits underneath the docks. More importantly, the power this reel had to pull fish out of the pilings was exceptional.
Cabo Reel Features
- Sealoq 8: Sealed (13 seals on 2500-5000, 15 seals on 6000/8000) to IPX8 standards to prevent the drag system and gear box
- GearTEQ: Proprietary machined gear design for ultimate smoothness and durability
- CFX200: Carbon fiber extreme drag system for superior smoothness and power
- Casteq: Slow oscillation for superior line management when using braided lines
- Rigid aluminum frame: Keeps seals, bearings, and gears in precise alignment
Quantum’s Merit Spinning Reel
If you’re looking for an entry level spinning reel that’s completely sealed, then this is the reel for you. You’ll notice a trend with Quantum spinners — almost all of the newest reels are sealed to protect against saltwater intrusion. The reel is built on a rigid and corrosion resistant graphite frame and rotor (with aluminum side plate). It’s fully sealed, compact, and offers a best in class drag system. The Merit comes in 2500 to 8000 sizes, priced to sell from $79.95 to $129.95. The reel is also available in a combo, paired with a rod that utilizes Quantum’s HD304 guides.
Of the whole lineup, this is the reel I was most skeptical about. It passed with flying colors. It doesn’t have that cheaper feel like other reels in the $100 price range. Its strong frame and excellent drag have the power to tackle any saltwater species. Of the two days of fishing, one of the days we spent offshore fishing. I got to tangle with some pretty big fish using the Merit, including a 300-plus pound goliath grouper, 180-pound man in the brown suit (shark), as well as countless snappers, snook, barracuda and bonito. This reel is a true work horse.
Merit Reel Features
- Sealoq – Sealed (11 seals on 2500-5000, 13 seals on 6000/8000) and tested to IPX6 standards to prevent water from entering the drag system and gearbox
- CFX200 – Carbon fiber extreme drag system for superior smoothness and power
Quantum’s Zeal Spinning Rods
The Zeal is a high-quality series of inshore, boat, jig, and surf rods. They are made up of different rod actions that work from Texas to New England. They utilize high quality components not typically seen with other rods at these price points. The Zeal rod is one you can cover all your bases from coast to coast. The rods range from 7-foot light action rods to 12-foot two piece surf rods. Most surprisingly, these rods are priced from $119.95 to $169.95.
Being a custom rod builder myself and designing rods to my exact specs, I am very particular about the rods I use. These new Zeal rods are some of the best “over-the-counter” rods I’ve been able to put my hands on. The custom reel seats fit perfectly in your hand and they are incredibly sensitive to light bites. They’re also built with backbone; even goliath groupers can’t stop them.
Zeal Spinning Rod Features
- HSX24: High strength carbon fiber fusion blanks, built for the ultimate combination of strength and sensitivity
- Premium cork handles on inshore models, reverse taper foregrip for a secure feel in the hand
- EVA wrapped with rubber shrink tube on jig, boat, and surf rods
- New graphite double locking reel seat
- Stainless steel braid-friendly guide frames with Zirconia inserts
Overall, I was impressed with the newest from Quantum. Affordable prices blended with quality designs and components. And to have the Cabo back on the market is a game changer. All of these products will have a release date of either fall or winter of 2025. So be on the lookout! 2025 follows a great 2024 year for the brand, with new saltwater rods and reels entering the market that are definitely worth exploring. We love seeing the evolution of Quantum in real time over the last two years.
