Best Saltwater Spinning Reels

Last Updated: November 18th, 2019

Finding the best saltwater spinning reel for you can be a hard task. There are so many things to consider and the last thing you want is for your fishing to be affected by the one you choose.

Here we are going to review some of the best saltwater spinning reels on the market, to help make your choice a little easier.

OUR TOP PICKS

Daiwa BG5000 BG Saltwater Spinning Reel, 5000, 5.7: 1 Gear Ratio, 6+1 Bearings, 47.40' Retrieve Rate, 22 lb Max Drag,Black/Gold
Daiwa BG
  • This reel has an excellent drag.
  • Durable
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Daiwa SALTIGA5000H Saltwater Spinning Fishing Reel, 17-20 lb, Blue
Daiwa SALTIGA
  • Large Line capacity
  • Huge drag pressure
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PENN 1338222 Battle II 8000 Spinning Fishing Reel
Penn Battle II
  • Fast retrieve
  • Strong, smooth drag
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Abu Garcia Revo Inshore Spinning,Blue,Black,40
Abu Garcia Revo Inshore
  • Lightweight
  • High retrieve rate
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Accurate TwinDrag SR Spinning Reels (SR30)
Accurate TwinDrag SR Spinning Reels
  • Huge line capacity
  • The quality is unbeatable
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SHIMANO STRADIC C3000FL XG STRADIC-US
SHIMANO Stradic FL Spinning Fishing Reel
  • Lightweight
  • Reduces twist and backlashes by up to 50%
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Penn 1259880 Spinfisher V Spinning Fishing Reel, 8500LL
PENN Spinfisher V
  • Live Liner system
  • Powerful reel
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No products found.
Penn Slammer 3
  • Durable
  • Great casting range
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Daiwa BG

Daiwa BG5000 BG Saltwater Spinning Reel, 5000, 5.7: 1 Gear Ratio, 6+1 Bearings, 47.40' Retrieve Rate, 22 lb Max Drag,Black/Gold

Daiwa has put a lot of technology and durability into this reel. The aluminum body, dynamic cut ABS spool, and the Digigear System make this a silky smooth reel.

With a large diameter braid ready spool, you can be confident of your line lay and expect no bunching, while also being able to stack a lot of line on there. The large roller and pick up on the bail helps to alleviate line twist and any looping, making it smooth casting all day long. The drag is waterproof and tough and is ready for any saltwater experience.

The reels are a little heavier than others in their class. Daiwa could have made the reel with lighter materials but it would have increased the price point.

The bail roller can corrode when the reel is used in saltwater, they are easy to replace but it could become a headache.

Pros

  • This reel has an excellent drag.
  • Durable
  • Smooth retrieve
  • Made of high-quality materials
  • Good value

Cons

  • A bit heavy
  • Bail roller can corrode
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Daiwa SALTIGA

Daiwa SALTIGA5000H Saltwater Spinning Fishing Reel, 17-20 lb, Blue

Daiwa has put a lot of technology and durability into this reel. It has been manufactured to avoid reel failure. An issue a lot of saltwater reels face is debris and saltwater getting into the rotor bearing and wearing it away. Daiwa uses magnetic oil to stop this happening and to make the reel smoother. 

The reel is built for durability with its aluminum body, handle and drag system, and you won’t be worried about big fish with it either. It holds so much line, up to 550 yards and can have 66 pounds of drag. If that isn’t a reel built for a big fish, I do not know what is. The retrieve rate matches the line capacity with a pick up of 50 or so inches per crank. 

It is heavy, this is because it is made for big fish. If it wasn’t it would probably fail against those monsters out there. This isn’t something you want to be casting all day. 

Pros

  • Large Line capacity
  • Huge drag pressure
  • High retrieve rate
  • Very durable
  • Reel is reliable

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Expensive
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Penn Battle II

PENN 1338222 Battle II 8000 Spinning Fishing Reel

Another great reel from Penn. It is pretty, durable and smooth. The retrieve is awesome thanks to the gearing and ratio, you can get your line in really quickly. The body, side plate, and rotor are made from aluminum so it’ll take a lot of punishment and still keep its gear alignment. 

It includes the HT-100 Slammer drag which uses carbon fiber drag washers. If you’ve had a reel that uses this drag, you know how smooth and powerful it is. The reel has 5 sealed stainless steel ball bearings, an instant anti-reverse bearing, a heavy-duty aluminum bail wire, and the Superline spool. This spool is braid ready with line capacity rings make it super easy to fill.

Pros

  • Fast retrieve
  • Strong, smooth drag
  • Durable
  • Reliable
  • Good Vale

Cons

  • A bit heavy
  • Main gear can go after a season or two
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Abu Garcia Revo Inshore

Abu Garcia Revo Inshore Spinning,Blue,Black,40

This reel will put any inshore species to the test. Don’t go taking it offshore though, the spool doesn’t have the capacity for larger lines and you’ll get schooled by a big fish. The reel has been made for inshore and is designed for saltwater. The aluminum body, machined aluminum main gear, and the carbon drag system are all built to brush off corrosion. 

The drag system is smooth and easily adjustable while being powerful. The reel also includes the Rocket line management system which helps you cast far and accurately. You can put braid directly onto the spool, as is machined aluminum and braid ready. 

The reel is super light whilst being smooth and durable. It’s perfect for inshore fishing where casting matters and you do a lot of it. 

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • High retrieve rate
  • Increases casting distance
  • Durable

Cons

  • Not for offshore
  • Reel arm can stick
  • Bearings can grind after some use.
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Accurate TwinDrag SR Spinning Reels

Accurate TwinDrag SR Spinning Reels (SR30)

This reel seems immortal. The quality of design and materials is second to none. It is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and has barely any plastic parts inside, so there is nothing to corrode or break. It uses a twin drag system, the only true one in the world, with a heat-dissipating system. If you have ever dealt with a big fish, you know how hot your reel can get when they take a huge run, and accurate have built this reel for just that situation. 

The reel also includes a unique pre-set knob for drag tension, a bit like an offshore reel, and a spool that can take a huge amount of line, both are key when you are fishing for giants. 

Pros

  • Huge line capacity
  • The quality is unbeatable
  • The twin drag is the only one of its kind
  • You can really hurt a marlin on this drag
  • Super smooth
  • Powerful

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Very heavy
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SHIMANO Stradic FL Spinning Fishing Reel

SHIMANO STRADIC C3000FL XG STRADIC-US

Shimano is known for its quality and is always improving their products. This reel is made with a full metal body constructed to ensure high rigidity. The stiffness makes it impact resistant and removes body flexing. This means all your winding power is directed into your retrieve, making it really efficient. 

The drag is super smooth and is made from Shimano’s CrossCarbonDrag. This allows more drag settings along with smoothness. It is labeled as the smoothest Shimano drag ever, and everyone agrees. 

Internally the stainless steel bearings are shielded on both sides, reducing the possibility of salt or sand sticking in their rotation. Combine this with the sealed X Protect system and the metal body and you have a reel that will stand the test of time. X Protect gives a water repellent coating and a water channeling, labyrinth construction so water doesn’t make it to the important parts if it does make it in there. 

And, as with all new Shimano reels, it includes the G-FreeBody system. This moves the center of gravity closer to your hand’s position, to make it easier to cast all day.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Reduces twist and backlashes by up to 50%
  • Durable
  • Reliable

Cons

  • Small spool capacity
  • Reel is not fully sealed
  • It has a pretty low max drag
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PENN Spinfisher V

Penn 1259880 Spinfisher V Spinning Fishing Reel, 8500LL

We all know Penn makes excellent reels and this one is no different. It’s made to handle the salt and sand thanks to its watertight durable construction. Its full metal body, side plate, rotor, and heavy-duty aluminum bail wire will handle the saltiest of environments. 

The reel uses the HT-100 Slammer drag system. This system is sealed, smooth, durable and powerful. It’s an awesome drag against big fish and stops them quickly. The crank on this reel matches the drag, it’s smooth and you’ll be able to put pressure on a fish when you need it. There are 5 shielded stainless steel ball bearings and instant anti-reverse bearing, while a friction trip ramp prevents any premature bail trips when casting. The Superline spool needs no backing and is braid ready. It comes with capacity rings marked at 1/3, 2/3, and full capacity, making it easy to load and not overfill your spool. This reel comes in various sizes, so you can choose which one suits you best.

Pros

  • Live Liner system
  • Powerful reel
  • Smooth drag
  • Durable
  • Good value

Cons

  • The Live Liner mode is very quiet when a fish takes
  • A heavy reel a
  • The seals on this reel do not let the water out
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Penn Slammer 3

No products found.

The Penn Slammer 3 is a big fish reel. It is bulky, heavy but durable. It needs to be though so it can handle the 150lb fish it is made for. The reel has an awesome casting range and a super drag. It is a really reliable reel.

It is made to last with its full metal body and carbon drag system. The handle is aluminum and it has an excellent retrieve rate for when you need to get those topwater baits moving fast.

Pros

  • Durable
  • Great casting range
  • Reliable drag

Cons

  • Heavy
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What to Look for When Buying a Spinning Reel

There are a few key things to consider when buying a spinning reel and some are not that obvious.

What are you trying to catch?

This is important. Do you want a reel for a specific species or do you want a reel that you can use for many species and in multiple environments? This will have quite a big influence on the size and type of reel that you buy. If you are going for snapper, you won’t be needing a reel that’ll handle a 20kg fish. If you want a reel you can catch snapper with today and big tuna tomorrow, you’re going to need something a little sturdier.

Line Capacity

Every reel out there comes in different sizes which will affect a few things, one of them being line capacity. This is defined by the weight and diameter of the line you are using. You’ll need enough line to make a long cast, with some to spare, and enough line to fight a fish without running out. All reels come with line capacity specifications. You should follow them, as the manufacturer has already thought about this for you.

If you’re chasing smaller fish, then you can use a lighter line with a smaller diameter, and therefore a smaller sized reel. When fishing for small fish, a reel specifying 6, 8 or even 10-pound line is about right. If you plan to go for monsters, then you may want a larger reel that can handle 50-pound line.

Using Braid

Braid does have issues when being put on a spinning reel as it tends to slip and bunch up when you are winding it on. Nowadays a lot of reels come with braid ready spools, meaning they are designed for braid. This helps to avoid bunching and overwinding that in the end cause a lot of tangles and headaches.

If you plan on using braid, which is recommended due to its longer life and increased castability, this is a must.

Does It Matter What Weight My Reel Is

A lot of similarly sized reels come in different weights,  and that’s usually due to the materials used to make the reel. The biggest effect the weight of the reel will have is how it feels when you are using it. If you plan on casting all day long, then you may notice if your reel is heavy and it could become uncomfortable, that being said you may just get used to it. The differences can be up to 50-60 grams across different models. If you think this will affect your fishing, make sure to check the weight in the specs.

The Most Important Factor – Corrosion & Durability

Each reel has its own little quirks to get to know when you first start using them. The more you use them, the more you may end up loving them.

If your reel is not built with corrosion and durability in mind, it’ll need a lot of maintenance.  You could suffer from a lot of issues meaning you won’t get to use it very often. Your reel has got to last the test of time. It should be made of quality corrosion-resistant materials and should be protected. Make sure to read the reviews and ensure it has a sealed system to protect its inner workings.

Drag, It Needs To Be Smooth

The drag provides resistance against a hooked fish and let’s line out during the fight. You want your drag to be smooth and unhindered. If it’s not, you can end up with broken lines, losing you your prize catch and tackle in the process. The line should pull off the reel smoothly at every drag setting. Make sure you test this when you’re buying the reel. You should also get a waterproof sealed drag to ensure the drag system lasts for years to come.

Our Favourites

The best on a budget reel is the Daiwa BG. This reel comes with all the features you need and at the right price. Yes, it is a little heavy but that is thanks to the quality of the materials inside it. It is built to last, has excellent line capacity and a large maximum drag so you can target big fish with confidence when you want to.

The allrounder prize goes to the Penn Battle II. This reel is built to survive, as long as you take care of it. The drag is powerful, the line capacity is big and it casts like a dream. It is made of quality materials and will stand the test of time in salty conditions.

The editor’s choice has to be the Daiwa Saltiga. The reel is a piece of art when it comes to targeting big fish. You can confidently put a bait in front of a marlin and know the reel is not what is going to fail you. It is built from the best, for the best and biggest fish out there.