The new Fathom 2 reels have finally started arriving, Penn made some significant changes to the design and range of reels they offer. The biggest addition are the new sizes which will do a lot to suit the local bluefin fishing. They have also tweaked some of the gear ratios on the 40N which was popular for the last few years because of how comfortable it is for using jigs at night, the new reel features a higher high gear ratio and a lower low gear giving you the best of both worlds when going for bigger fish.

All of the single speed reels come with the older style torpedo knob which fits the reels better in my opinion. The frame is now a one piece casting instead of having a sideplate which should improve the structural strength of the reel. It seems like the new reels use a different coating on the outside, opting for what looks and feels to be paint which raises some concern about the wear and tear these reels can take in the long term but so far it hasn’t been an issue. The drag lever is much larger and they have changed the drag cam system to something similar to the big game Squall series, the cam itself is plastic but since you have to pull it back to adjust it should prevent any unnecessary damage from people trying to play with the cam while the reel is in strike. Keep in mind the 40HS and 60NHS sizes are low drag high speed models for sailfish and other species, so don't plan on fishing more than 30lb on them. 

Overall the reels feel very similar to the previous generation, we just need time to see how well these reels will fair and if they continue the cult classic legacy of the original Fathom lever drags.