Best Deep Sea Fishing Reels

Penn International VIS 2 Speed Fishing Reel

Penn has a long-standing history when it comes to deep sea fishing reels. They were one of the first in the market and have continued to make quality reels ever since.

Once you’ve owned a Penn reel, you’ll fall in love with them and find it hard to move away.

The Penn International VIS 2 speed is one of the best reels Penn makes and that is certainly reflected in the price tag. This reel is at the top end in terms of price and quality, once you buy it, it will be with you for a lifetime and you won’t regret your investment.

The first thing you notice about this reel is how pretty it is. The gold finish around the machine aluminum body and side-plates is stunning and super durable. The reel is sealed to ensure no salt or grit gets inside.

It comes with a large line capacity and an amazing drag with an adjustable strike which allows you to set the strike level to your chosen pressure. The drag can also be tweaked in very fine adjustments so you can get to that perfect amount of stopping power.

The reel comes with a 2-speed system that allows you to retrieve in a high or low gear ratio at the flick of a switch.

This is ideal and necessary when you’re fighting big fish, using the high gear ratio to wind in that slackline quickly and the low gear to get every inch on a fish you’re trying to pull up from the depths.

This is a reel to seriously consider if you’re an offshore fisherman, especially when chasing big tuna and marlin.

Daiwa SGT50H Seagate Star Drag

Daiwa SGT50H Seagate Star Drag is an awesome little reel if you’re into your light inshore fishing for stripers/yellowtail or bottom fishing. It’s a well-made trolling reel that doubles up as a bait caster so it is truly versatile for anything you might fancy throwing it at in the ocean.

It handles everything from sailfish down but I wouldn’t put it in front of a marlin if I was you.

It’s made from a corrosion-proof composite frame that stops any salt or dirt from getting into the inner workings whilst keeping the reel light and durable. The retrieve is quick, the drag is smooth and strong plus all the components are made to last, from the aluminum spool to the corrosion-resistant ball bearings.

If you’re looking for an all-around deep-sea reel at a great price, look no further. The only drawback is that it’s tricky to cast for beginners.

SHIMANO Charter Special

We have all heard of Shimano and we know they make awesome reels. The Shimano Charter Special, while not being the same standard as the TLD or Tiagra, is an excellent reel for the price. If you’re looking for a reliable trolling reel but don’t want to break the bank, this could be a great option.

It’s light but durable thanks to the graphite frame and super easy to use. The level-wind feature works well and makes fighting fish a lot easier, especially for beginners, as it spreads the line for you.

The drag is strong, smooth, and reliable plus the inner workings are made up of stainless gears and anti-rust bearings, making this reel excellent at handling corrosion and ensuring a long life at sea.

You can use this reel for anything; jigging, trolling, kite fishing for sailfish. Just don’t go looking for offshore giants with it as it’s not quite hefty enough for that.

Daiwa Sealine-X SHA

Daiwa Sealine-X SHA is a deep-sea all-rounder if there ever was one. You can use it for anything from jigging to trolling and casting. Although it’s not the best caster, you can throw a live bait out quickly if you need to but if you’re looking for a pure casting reel, this isn’t it.

The line capacity and drag are big enough and strong enough to handle any fish from a sailfish down. So whether you’re chasing stripers or bagging cobia in the Keys, this reel has got you covered.

It comes with a free-floating spool for castability, a 3 bearing system, and a six-element sealed drag. The component parts are all made from either bronze or stainless steel, making this reel very durable and you can be confident going out to sea with it every day.

One of my favorite things about this reel is how easy it is to maintain. You can easily take it apart, service it, and put it all back together by following simple online instructions. This means you can look after it well and enjoy it year after year.

Penn Squall LevelWind

This is the second Penn reel to feature in this article and it’s dramatically different from the first one. Penn Squall LevelWind still holds the Penn stamp of quality but with such an affordable price tag, it had to lose some of the good stuff right?

The reel is made from graphite and comes in a range of sizes to suit the line and fish you want to target. They’re durable, reliable, and can be used for anything from trolling to casting.

It comes with a level-wind which can be very useful but if it doesn’t work properly it causes a lot of issues. In rare cases, the level-wind on this reel can fail completely and often produces an uneven line-lay. This can take countless fishing hours away from you, so be sure to bear this in mind.

Overall it’s a good reel made with quality materials, but it’s not made for big offshore fishing, so don’t take it out there.

Sougayilang Line Counter Trolling Reel

If you’re on a budget and love bottom fishing, then this might be your perfect match. The Sougayilang Line Counter Trolling Reel, although it is labeled for trolling, is also the perfect bottom fishing machine.

The line counter tells you roughly what depth you’re dropping down to, its not 100% accurate, but it ensures you know what depth the fish are lurking at when you get your bites. This is particularly useful when you don’t have a depth sounder, or while you’re drifting and your sounder takes its time to catch up.

Another great thing is that the level-wind lets you get on with winding your fish up rather than having to think about spreading the line, which is ideal for a beginner or anyone really. The level-wind doesn’t fail but it can make an uneven line-lay on occasion, so be aware of that.

Overall the reel is made for quality materials, has a powerful drag, and holds enough line for just about anything. But again, don’t go chasing monsters with it.

Shimano TLD 2-Speed Conventional Reel

The Shimano TLD has made a name for itself as one of the most trusted deep-sea reels of our time. It’s probably the second-best reel Shimano makes after the Tiagra (which is next in the review).

The reel is super-light, super-fast, easy to use with ample line capacity, and has a powerful and smooth drag. Its component parts are made from quality materials and it is very easy to take apart, service, and put back together again.

The retrieve comes in two speeds, giving you both a high and low gear ratio to match the fight of the fish. What more could you ask for?

Some would say this reel isn’t going to cut it for big marlin and tuna, they wouldn’t be wrong. If you’re consistently hooking fish over 500lbs, there is going to be a day where the TLD doesn’t hold enough line.

But if you’re hooking those big ones 5 times a year and you know what you’re doing as a skipper and a fisherman, an arsenal of these reels is a great choice.

SHIMANO Tiagra Reels

The Shimano Tiagra, in my opinion, is one of the best reels ever made. If I had to pick any reel in the world to go up against a 1000lb tuna or marlin, the Tiagra would be it.

This reel is made to be indestructible. It features a one-piece machined aluminum frame that holds a ton of goodies inside that gives this reel serious torque when it comes to its drag and retrieves.

The largest Tiagra gives you a whopping 99lbs of drag pressure and a line capacity of over 3000 yards of 150lb braid..do you know a fish in the ocean that can deal with that? I don’t.

The reel comes in a range of sizes from 30lb-130lb, each with varying drag pressure and line capacity to suit the respective line class. Each one has a 2-speed retrieve so you can choose to be in high re or low ratio, depending on what the fish you’re fighting is doing.

These reels are expensive but they’re worth the investment and will be with you for the rest of your life.