Let?s back into it and see what we come up with.

Couldn't find any data on how fast a Permit can swim, but found out that a Tuna is good for 40mph.

40 mph X 5280 ft/mi x 12 in/ft / 60 min/hr = 42240 Inches per minute

42240 in/min / 16000 rpm = a spool with a circumference of 2.64 inches.

2.64" / pi = a spool .84" in diameter.

So your typical Hardy standard arbor reel, just prior to getting spooled, would be turning at 16,000 rpm with a 40mph tuna on the other end.

Don't know how fast a permit is in comparison to a Tuna, but from what I understand they are a pretty fast fish.

So the claim isn't entirely unreasonable.