The spool brake device is equipped with a brake unit, a detector, and a controller. The controller controls the braking force by the brake unit based on the rotational speed of the spool detected by the detector. When the rotational speed is less than the predetermined rotational speed, the controller controls the braking force by the brake unit in the regular braking mode. In the regular braking mode, the controller changes the braking force by the brake unit according to the rotational speed. On the other hand, when the rotational speed is equal to or higher than the predetermined rotational speed, the controller controls the braking force by the brake unit in the emergency braking mode, during the period of predetermined time. In the emergency braking mode, the controller makes the braking force by the brake unit larger than the braking force in the regular braking mode.