Best Saltwater Spinning Reel Under $200

Okuma Cedros High Speed Spinning Reel

This reel has been made for a life at sea and has been specifically made for jigging. It comes with a customized jigging handle to help you wind as fast as you can.

It’s made from brass and aluminum, making it very durable. The reel has a high gear ratio for a quick retrieve and a very large line capacity. The gears have been covered with a special corrosion-resistant coating to ensure their longevity.

The drag on this reel has some good stopping power with a max of 33lbs, it’ll handle most situations but I would be a little nervous hooking a 100kg tuna with it. It’s made of a multi-disc oil felt system making it smooth and it’s sealed with Okuma’s watertight hydro-clock technology. 

It’s quite a light reel which will make for easy casting but the body is hard to get open so maintaining will take some time.

SeaKnight Rapid Saltwater Spinning Reel

This reel is made for inshore fishing, is light and a great caster. The body, rotor and side plate are made from aluminum making it durable and corrosion-resistant.

The spool and sides are sealed to protect the gears and bearings from salt and dirt. This will help the reel survive the salty conditions and give it a long life at sea. The spool is braid-ready and easy to fill up with an even line lay.

The larger models of this reel have enough line capacity and drag to be used in the surf but don’t go offshore with it. The drag has a max of 33lbs and is made from a carbon fiber disc system. It’s smooth but can be a little catchy on occasion. The drag is not sealed and you’ll need to give this reel some constant care and maintenance.

The gear ratio is a bit low on the reel and this reduces your retrieve rate. You’ll need to wind fast if you want your bait in quickly.

Quantum Cabo PT Spin Reel

This spinning reel has been made from Quantums own aluminum that’s designed to remove impurities and therefore weak spots where corrosion may latch on.

The spool has been made to release lines in tight coils to reduce friction for an increased casting distance. It’s braid-ready but the line can bunch up when you fill the reel and may take some time to get right.

On the largest model, the line capacity and max drag are huge. The drag is made from a carbon fiber disc system and is assisted by ceramic washers to make it smooth and durable. The reel is not sealed but they have coated it with a corrosion-resistant primer to help it survive the salt.

The anti-reverse on the reel can fail to engage on rare occasions and the largest model is very heavy. If you plan on casting all day, look at a smaller, lighter model.

PENN Spinfisher V

Penn makes great spinning reels and you wouldn’t be said if you bought the Penn Spinfisher, promise. The reel is watertight, fully sealed for a long life at sea. The body, rotor, side plate, and bail wire are all made from heavy duty aluminum for durability.

The drag is made from Penn’s renowned HT-100 Slammer drag system. It’s sealed, powerful, smooth and stops big fish quickly. The retrieve rate is fats and combined with a drag, you can put a lot of pressure on a fish when you need it. 

This spool is braid-ready and comes with capacity rings marked at 1/3, 2/3, and full capacity. This makes filling the reel very easy and you’ll always know how much line you have to work with. 

It is a bit heavy and will get tiring to cast with all day. The seals on this reel do let a little bit of water in but they don’t let it out. How annoying is that? You’ll have to take it apart to dry it fully.  

The reel includes a live liner mode so you can use a little drag when you’re live- baiting. It’s quiet though so pay attention while you do it.

Penn Battle II

Penn has done it again and made a great saltwater spinning reel – the Penn Battle. It’s durable thanks to the aluminum body, it’ll take some abuse while keeping the gear alignment nice and tight. The gear ratio on this is no joke and it gives the reel an astounding retrieve rate, your baits will be skipping across the water if you want them to be.

The drag used the HT-100 Slammer drag, a multi-disc carbon system with ceramic washers. It’s smooth, powerful and will stop any fish in its tracks. The drag is not fully sealed and will need to looking after. 

Thew spool is braid ready with line capacity rings making it super easy to fill. The main gear can fail after a few seasons but it is rare, if it does happen it’s cheap and easy to replace. The spinning reel is heavy for long casting days, but you’ll need the heaviness against big fish. 

SHIMANO Stradic FL

Shimano has made this saltwater spinning reel with a full metal body to ensure high rigidity. This makes it impact resistant and stops the body from flexing while you’re winding against a load. This drives all your power into the retrieve, making it super-efficient.

The drag is Shimano’s CrossCarbonDrag which is super smooth and sensitive thanks to its adjustability. The bearings are stainless steel and shielded to stop salt or dirt from getting in there. The reel is also sealed to prevent anything from getting to the inner workings. 

The reel includes the G-FreeBody system that moves the center of gravity closer to your hand for easy casting. 

The Shimano Stradic has been designed for inshore use with its average max drag and line capacity. I wouldn’t take it offshore. The reel is not fully sealed and you’ll have to maintain it well.

Abu Garcia Revo Inshore Spinning Reel

This saltwater spinning reel has been made for inshore use as the name dictates. The aluminum body, aluminum gears, and carbon drag are all made to stand up to corrosion while being durable,

The drag is easy to adjust, smooth and powerful. The reel comes with the Rocket line management system which helps you cast far and accurately. The spool is made from aluminum and is braid-ready for easy filling. 

It’s a light reel and made for casting all day on the flats or creeks you might find yourself on, it won’t handle monster fish though unless you can chase them in a boat.

In rare cases, the reel can stick and the bearings start to grind.

Daiwa Bg Spinning Reel

This is one of my favorite saltwater spinning reels. Daiwa made with to last and handle big fish with an excellent price tag. It’s made from heavy-duty aluminum to handle the salty conditions. The Digigear System gives you a smooth and fast retrieve, great for lure fishing.

The spool is braid-ready and has a huge line capacity. When combined with the powerful, waterproof drag, the fishing reel is perfect for targetting big offshore species. The pick up on the bail reduces twists and loops for easy casting.

This saltwater reel is heavy due to its big fish design and will be tiring to cast with. The roller on the bail is not very corrosion resistant but this is rare and easy to replace if it happens.

KastKing Sharky III

This a very light fishing reel for what it can do. This is thanks to the graphite body, which is light, durable and corrosion-resistant. The drag is, smooth, powerful and made from a carbon fiber triple-disc system. The max is 39.5lbs which is enough for most situations. The line capacity is very large and combined with the drag, gives you a fishing reel that you can target big fish with. 

The retrieve is smooth and quick but the line can knot and bunch. This will get on your nerves over time. The reel includes a braid-ready spool, aluminum handle, and anti-reverse. It is said to be sealed but there are reports of it failing after being used in saltwater. I’m not sure I would trust the seal on it and you’ll need to take extra care with it.

It’s not the highest quality saltwater fishing reel and parts do fall off it on occasion. Perhaps they tried to do too much with too little on this one.

PENN Slammer III Spinning

Penn have updated the slammer to this model and somehow made it even better. The body, rotor and side plate are made of aluminum like the old models, keeping their durable design.

The line capacity is huge, especially on the largest model and if you’re planning on catching monsters in the surf, look at this saltwater reel closely.

The retrieve is super fast and smooth, you’ll get your line in quick and be able to put a lot of pressure on a fish.

The drag has been upgraded, is even smoother and tougher, plus the max on the largest model is 60lbs. That is huge!

The reel is sealed with their PIX6 design that covers the body and spool. This protects the drag and gearbox for a lifetime of salty punishment.

There is an auto bail-trip on the 3500-5500 models and the 6500-10500 models come with a manual bail trip. Overall this saltwater fishing reel is designed for any salty situation with its combination of reel features. It is heavy and if you’re planning on casting all day, pick a model that is lighter.