I tried out the best fishing reels to help you pull in those big boys and create a memorable experience out on the water. Here are hands-on reviews.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
1. PENN Spinfisher VI - Max Drag 15lb/6.8kg
Highlight: Recovers at a rate of thirty three inches.
Helpful review: Let’s be real, there’s a lot of different fishing rods on the market, and a lot of people have different opinions about these things. For me at least, I think it’s possible to use any kind of reel in the ocean, as long as you don't, you know, dunk it in the saltwater. And just make sure that you’re actually rinsing that off when you get home. That’s really the most important part of using reels like this in the ocean.
BUT. Yep, there’s always a but–if you’re going to use your rod for surf fishing–as in you’re wading into the actual water and fishing like that, well then there’s a big difference in how this is going to perform. With surf fishing, you’re going to have a lot of issues come up.
Surf water has this super fine sandy grit to it, and that can seriously destroy a reel over time. It can get so bad, that you won’t even be able to reel in the line, yeah, trust me, it gets that bad. I say all this to say that when it comes to saltwater reels, there’s two different ways to judge them–based on if you’re using them from a boat, or if you’re using them when you’re actually standing in the surf.
I’d say that this specific reel is actually amazing for using in the surf. I’ve had them get completely doused and covered in water and not only do these rods come to operate well, but they do it well! The only thing is pretty much sealed to stop it from getting damaged.
That being said, make sure you take care of this. I always hose these off after a surfing trip and I actually end up using an air compressor to really clear off that grit. Sometimes I spray silicone on the knob and bearing, and honestly, this just keeps them working perfectly. Sounds like a lot of work, but it’s really not when you consider that you’d have to do the same on any other rod, and you’re lucky if they still perform well.
A FEW WORDS FROM MY FRIEND, DOUG MILLER:
After six months, I can say that short term durability is pretty good, but I’d have to touch base after a longer amount of time to know for sure. I’m pretty impressed so far, though. Especially considering the fact that I’ve been going out once a week since I’ve gotten this thing, sometimes multiple times a week to fish in the surf, and even after dropping it in the sand, it still works well! I rinse it down with my wife’s garden hose when I’m home, but some days I forget, I’ll admit. Even with that, it’s sealed so well, I never had to lube it. It lasted longer than my other reels and that was even after ripping those up to clean them. This one is still killing it! And just use in general, it casts great, doesn’t get tangled, and is super smooth to use. It’s a little pricey, yeah, but this is something that I can honestly say is definitely just worth the cost. And I’ve caught some solid surf perfectly, and some bay bass, nothing massive, but enough that I’m happy with its performance. I will definitely be keeping this and using it as my main reel, and updating as time goes by! — Dave Gregorski
Get it from Amazon now: $189.95 & FREE Returns
2. PENN Battle III - Max Drag 15lb/6.8kg
Highlight: Recovers at thirty seven inches.
Helpful review: I love surf fishing more than any other type of fishing. There’s just something about standing in the wake that I love, but beyond that, I always make sure I have a reel that can handle the wake, and I’m happy to say that I officially found that in this rod.
I haven’t had any issues with sand intrusion, and all I have to do is take it apart and oil it up on my own, and as long as I maintain it, the bearings survive and hold up well, however, with my past models, the metal gears end up corroding and wearing out relatively fast. Usually I end up just getting new gears to replace the old ones, but it’s kind of a pain in the butt if you ask me. This newer Battle is definitely an improvement off of previous models and other reels I’ve used in the past. It is on the heavier side, but I don’t really mind that.
When I first got it, I did take it apart to gauge how it was working and found that the inside bar is on the thin side, and it seemed like a design flaw to me. I was afraid about replacing it with the screw pressure, so I ended up just contacting Penn directly and spoke to their customer service. I made the mistake of saying that I planned to use it for surf fishing and the guy immediately said it wasn’t covered for that use, and yet, it is promoted as being able to use for surf fishing
I asked if they could at least send me over a replacement part for that should it get damaged and he pretty much shot me down. So that was annoying.
He did end up recommending I use a third party company for parts but that I’d still have to pay to send it out. So just keep all that in mind before considering the other parts of my review.
In terms of the actual reel, I think it works really well. The drag is solid, it has a good design (minus the one I noted), and the housing and bearings are solid. If you like to fish regularly, just make sure you take good care of it (more than just rinsing it off with your hose mind you). Just keep in mind that you’re likely going to have to replace some of the gears over time. And for customer service? Yeah, it can be better.
A FEW WORDS FROM MY NEIGHBOR, RICK WILSON:
When I got this on Amazon, it was so far from what I expected. It was used, and abused if you ask me, and wasn’t even the 6000 I wanted, but was the 5000 with a missing handle. Yeah. Not cool. The replacement was what I actually wanted. Not sure what wires got crossed in between there. In regards to negative reviews, I read that it won’t spool the line evenly, but not only did I not have that issue, the gasket it came with actually had a different thickness and there’s instructions to fix it on its own. Looks great, the snafu was odd, but I have read some negative stuff about customer service, so guessing it was just a mix up. Beyond that, I love it, and am so excited to get out there and fish my days away! — Mike Rae
Get it from Amazon now: $139.95 & FREE Returns
3. Daiwa BG5000 - Max Drag 22lb/9.9kg
Highlight: Recovers at just over forty-seven inches.
Helpful review: Honestly, it's a really great reel, especially when you compare it to other reels. It’s super smooth, and just has a great power behind it. I read some negative reviews about this, but that was mostly from people who didn’t do research and didn’t realize that for the price of a hundred bucks, you’re getting something good here. And all the positive reviews are one thousand percent accurate.
It’s smooth and steady and makes it easy to catch the bigger fish out there. I’ve used this for all types of fishing, both saltwater and freshwater, and have zero complaints, seriously.
I did have some issues fitting the 4000 version onto my Shakespeare seven foot medium. The foot on the longer side of this reel was a bit too large for the reel seat of the Shakespeare but I still somehow managed to force it in. I love surf fishing and trout fishing with this, and just switch my leader to make it happen. My braided line is about fifteen pounds and I usually switch it between twenty pounds to four pounds depending what I’m going after. Haven’t had any issues with this!
UPDATE 1:
I loved this reel so much and can definitely recommend it. I plan to buy multiple sizes for all my different set ups, and even after falling and getting tangled - it still works smoothly.
UPDATE 2:
Love using this for saltwater fishing and have had zero issues with it. For maintenance I just rinse it off with tap water and it works great. Doesn’t even squeak, and honestly it works flawlessly, even with some scratches from fishing it off jetties and whatnot. Considering I use this thing about twice a week, honestly it works great and I love it. This will be my new main rod going forward.
UPDATE 3:
Zero complaints. This thing is still rockin the fishing world in my life! Yeah, it got some more dings and stuff from just using it, but considering how often I go fishing, like once a week, and the fact that I haven’t yet gotten it serviced (even though I probably should) it’s still working that well. My dad’s rod just broke and lucky for him, he’s got a birthday coming up, so this is going to be his next gift for sure. I love this thing that much! And to answer any pesky questions, I’ve had this for two years! That’s how awesome it is! Just make sure you rinse it off after using it in saltwater, and then get it maintenance once a year! Should last for a lifetime at that rate.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND, WILLY MOORE:
Eighty percent of my reels and rods are from Penn and this one is my second from Daiwa and honestly I think it’s becoming my new favorite. It’s so durable and solidly built, and the drag is great and honestly it’s super affordable. I’ve used it a few times and I just can’t get enough of it. I’m done going with cheaper rods that aren’t reliable. This is just overall a great rod with superb quality and better than anything I’ve owned before. — Craig Johnson
Get it from Amazon now: $137.00 & FREE Returns
4. Piscifun Alijoz - Max Drag 33lb/14.9kg
Highlight: Meant for catching the largest freshwater fish along with in shore saltwater species.
Helpful review: I spent so much of my life doing fishing tournaments and I got pretty skilled at it, and I’ve tried a lot of brands, but honestly nothing really compares to this one. When it comes to consistency for casting, this is where it's at. When I was at my peak as a power fisherman, I was making about two thousand casts in a single day, so trust me when I say I know how these things work.
I ended up switching to saltwater fishing a few years after I got bored with the bass fishing, and that’s when I switched over to spinning reels, although I just found myself missing baitcasters, especially when I was out on the boat for hours slinging out lures.
I originally wanted to get a Shimano Tranx 300, but the price was just not justifiable, so I ended up getting this one as a Christmas gift to myself, and I’m so happy I did! I first spooled it with about three hundred meters of twenty pound braid and honestly I’m really impressed with this thing. The reel performed really well with my 18g jig rigged up. Got great distance and had zero over runs when I had the brakes set on four, but pro-tip: I use my thumb to control the spool. Got a bunch of bluefish just yesterday, so while I didn’t get a chance to really test the drag, I can confidently say it works well.
THOUGHTS:
- Reel is gorgeous and feels durable .
- The large frame and the power handle will take some getting used to.
- Overall, the retrieve works pretty good, especially for burning saltwater lures.
ALL IN ALL:
Casts super well and feels very durable. I’d rate it at about five stars, but after some use, I’d say it’s probably closer to four stars, mainly because I haven’t tested it out fully in saltwater yet. After I have more experience with that, then I’ll update it for sure!
A FEW WORDS FROM MY NEIGHBOR, :
After a nine day fishing trip, I really love this thing. The power handle worked great and the double blades were awesome, but there was a little struggle with gathering the slackline. You can really cast pretty far with it, and I ended up only bumping it once during casting, but this is pretty common when you’re using the power handles on reels. The drag is great, but once you hook the fish, you might need to let it run a little. It does make a little bit of noise and the release button moves, but it still performs really well. Overall just really happy with the performance and the affordability of this. I’d say it gets five stars right out the gate.
MY FRIEND’S REVIEW (RICKY ANDERSON):
I’m proud to say that I own two of these reels (with the 8 to 1 ratio) and I have them matched to the Daiwa harrier rods and honestly, I’m of the subjective opinion that this is truly the best of the best combo and I’m grateful I figured it out. So far I’ve caught rockfish and lingcod. This is the combo I went with and think I hit one out of the park. Have been using this combo lingcod and rockfish up to five hundred feet down. I love how the rod is lightweight, and honestly this reel holds a lot of line. I think a thirty pound braid is more than enough. My only real complaint is that the handle knob has come off because the screw fell out, and I’ll need to fix that. But overall, for the price, I’d say it’s great. — Alice Goddard
Get it from Amazon now: $99.99 & FREE Returns
5. KastKing Royale Legend II - Max Drag 17.6lb/7.9kg
Highlight: Comes with an additional main shaft made of stainless steel.
Helpful review: Super silky reel, and zero issues when it comes to tuning. I was ready to use it right out of the gate, and ended up setting it up with a twenty five pound reel to use for some shore fishing–my favorite. I usually go for guitar fish, calicos, and maybe if I’m lucky, some sharks, usually small stuff though.
I definitely recommend playing around with how you dial it in, but I’m pretty confident that once you figure it out, you’re going to love this thing as much as I do. It’s just so smooth, I can’t recommend it enough. Yeah, you’re definitely going to want to keep the maintenance on point as you keep using it, but you’ll definitely be able to use this right out the gate.
UPDATE:
If I could scream my love for this baby off the rooftops, then I’d probably go deaf in how loud I yell. I used this to go after a thirty five pound bat ray and it was just amazing. I had zero issue adjusting the drag. I just love this so much, i plan to take it out on all my future fishing trips. If you’re catching the bigger fish, then trust me when I say that this is definitely for you. It was a winner through and through. Also love the fast retrieve and I had zero issues gaining back the line to stop it from spooling.
MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW (ALEX COOK):
After ten months of playing around with this reel, I can officially say that I’ve found possibly the best fishing reel in all of Florida, and I love using it for bass fishing. It’s just overall great for the price. Sure, you can argue that you can spend more for a high quality reel, but I’m really glad I took the chance on this thing. I will warn you, though, make sure you play around with the combos you want to to use, and keep in mind that you’ll have to take some time to dial everything in to make sure it works to your standards, especially when it comes to playing with the magnetic side and the end knob, mainly because they’re so sensitive. At the end of the day, this is now my favorite, for sure, especially when it comes to shore fishing, and accuracy is priority. Zero back lashes. It does depend on what spool you pair it with and the rod you use, but once you play around with it, you’re gonna find it’s super successful. If I get five years out of this, I’ll be happy, and at this rate, I don’t think that will be a problem.
A FEW WORDS FROM MY FRIEND, NEIL MITCHELL:
I love using this reel for fishing, mainly throwing different crankbaits and lighter spinners on it. It’s so smooth, and just as solid as the first day it came out of the box. I typically do river fishing or sometimes throw a line from my kayak in the stream, and usually go out at least once a week from Spring to Summer. Of all the types I’ve tried, this is by far my favorite. Even my fifteen-year-old son has figured it out and after a little bit of adjusting, he was casting super well and a great distance. Really nice to be able to share that with him, and I love that this is the kind of reel you can use for both novices and professionals. It’s not just solid, it’s affordable. And it hits the spot. — Mike Sunderland
Get it from Amazon now: $42.99 & FREE Returns
6. PENN Pursuit IV - Max Drag 15lb/6.8kg
Highlight: Recovers at thirty seven inches.
Helpful review: I have so many different Penn reels, but honestly this is my first newer model, and you can really tell that they’ve taken into consideration all the requests to improve these things. I love using it for freshwater streams around New Hampshire, and I like to use a fifteen pound braided line because of how thin it is. I found it matched this Penn perfectly.
The smaller diameter of the braid let me spool upwards of two hundred and seventy five yards with it. I really like having a full spool, mainly so I can cut off six feet or so, usually after rocky fishing.
Overall, the reel is really light weight and smooth to handle. With my cheaper reels, once I stopped reeling, it often wouldn’t back pedal at all. And I’m so happy to report that this thing doesn’t have that issue at all. Finally! This reel locks tight and won’t reverse, which is some serious pro level stuff for the money if you ask me.
Overall, I’d say that the reel is super impressive and has a 6 to 2 ratio that allows for smooth casting. I love how it's braid friendly too, and it's super easy to spool the line using just a standard knot. Finally no more line slips! Honestly, you can seriously fish an entire season with this thing. Thank you so much Penn for making such a great reel! You have in me a customer for life!
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
What great luck I’ve had with this thing with pier fishing in the sea! I’ve even dropped it from up high and the performance hasn’t wavered at all. Zero malfunctions, too. I like to use a twenty five pound game line, which is the top end of what’s recommended for this reel. I’ve caught catfish and a twelve pound jack, and just can’t get enough of this thing. Zero complaints, and for the price of this, you really can’t get anything better if you ask me. I love the distance for casting, definitely further than other reels I’ve used. On top of that, I often forget to do maintenance, and even forget to lock the drag down when I’m spraying it off, and I’ve still had zero issues. Maybe I’m just super lucky, but honestly, if you ask me, it’s just a testament to how great this reel is. Highly recommend this baby! — Greg M. Liberman
Get it from Amazon now: $69.99 & FREE Returns