Best Offshore Spinning Reels 2021
Best Offshore Spinning Reels – Saltwater spinning reels are great for offshore fishing. The best offshore saltwater spinning reels can be used to cast baits and tail sailfish off the Florida Keys. They also make it possible to pitch live baits to striped marlin off Cabo Santa Lucas, Mexico. Saltwater spinning reels can hold 600 yards of braid of 80 pounds and have a stopping power exceeding 60 pounds.
A Reel Drag
Offshore Spinner reels – To be able to cope with the strength and speed of today’s offshore quarry, you need smooth and powerful drags. Most spinning reels that are larger than 40-55 pounds have between 40 and 55 pounds of drag. You will need to have a strong grip on your rod if you want to catch fish that pull more than 30 pounds of pressure.Maximum drag for the Shimano Stella 2000 SW is 55.1 pounds This means that the reel can lift 55 pounds off the ground.Gant says, “In theory yes.” We measure drag by measuring the line from the reel. Then we attach the scale to the line and pull. If the reel can pull 55 lbs, it should be able to hold a 55-pound load.
Bail on Your Bails
Spinners that don’t have bails, such as those made by Van Staal and ZeeBaaS, can seem daunting or awkward at first. You’ll learn how to open the bail before you cast.Chris Littau is the director of marketing at Zebco. He explains that bailless reels have many advantages. Bailless reels may not be necessary in every fishing situation, but they are worth considering. This simple design is more durable than other reels and has fewer chances of failure. There are no springs or wires that can break.Littau says that once you know how to use it, it’s much easier than fiddling with a bail. This is great for fishing in the dark and in the surf.
Live-Baiting Success
11 Best Offshore/ Saltwater Spinning Reels 2021
Canyon Reels Salt 7500
Canyon Reels Salt 7500 is an American-made spinning reel. The solid aluminum body and rotor are complemented by stainless steel drive, pinion, and gears. Double ball bearings are used in the spool. The drag washers, made from both carbontex and stainless steel, can deliver more than 66 lbs of stopping pressure. The nine bearings of the Salt 7500 have double-shielded ZZ bearings that will ensure smooth fighting for your next catch.
- Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 325 yards
- Braid Line Capacity (60 lb): 500 yards
- Max Drag: 66 pounds
- Gear Ratio: 4.4%
- Line Retrieve Per Crank 42 Inches
- 9 Ball Bearings
- 26 ounces
- Retrieve: Reversible
- MSRP: $249.99
Daiwa Saltiga Dogfight 8000
- Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 510 yards
- Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 600 yards
- Line Retrieve Per Crank 56.7 inches
- Max Drag: 66 pounds
- Gear Ratio: 5.8:1
- Ball Bearings: 13
- Weight: 30 ounces
- Retrieve: Reversible
- MSRP: $1.099.95
Daiwa Isla 7000 Bull
- Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 470 yards
- Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 550 yards
- Line Retrieve Per Crank 54.7 inches
- Max Drag: 66 pounds
- Gear Ratio:
- Ball Bearings: 10
- 29.4 oz
- Retrieve: Reversible
- MSRP: $899.95
Okuma Makaira MK3000LS
- Mono Line Capacity (40 lb): 490 yards
- Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 700 yards
- Line Retrieve Per Crank 65.7 Inches
- Max Drag: 66 pounds
- Gear Ratio 5.8:1
- Ball Bearings: 10
- Weight: 36.7 ounces
- Retrieved from: Left or Right
- MSRP: $879.99
Okuma Cedros CJ-14000
- Mono Line Capacity (20 lb): 380 yards
- Line Retrieve Per Crank: 45.8 Inches
- Max Drag: 44 pounds
- Gear Ratio: 5.4:1
- Ball Bearings: 4HPB +1RB
- 23 ounces in weight
- Retrieve: Reversible
- MSRP: $179.99
Penn Slammer III 10500
- Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 435 yards
- Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 540 yards
- Line Retrieve Per Crank: 43 Inches
- Max Drag: 60 pounds
- Gear Ratio: 2.2%
- Ball Bearings 7
- 43.1 oz
- Retrieve: Reversible
- MSRP: $349.95
Penn Spinfisher VI 10500
- Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 435 yards
- Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 540 yards
- Line Retrieve Per Crank: 43 Inches
- Max Drag: 50 pounds
- Gear Ratio: 2.2%
- 6 Ball Bearings
- Weight: 43.1 ounces
- Retrieve: Reversible
- MSRP: $249.95
Penn Torque II TRQ9500S
- Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 330 yards
- Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 490 yards
- Line Retrieve Per Crank: 50 Inches
- Max Drag: 60 pounds
- Gear Ratio: 5.1%
- Ball Bearings: 10
- Weight: 27.8 oz
- Retrieve: Reversible
- MSRP: $799.95
Shimano Saragosa SW 25000
- Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 360 yards
- Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 520 yards
- Line Retrieve Per Crank: 45 Inches
- Max Drag: 44 pounds
- Gear Ratio: 4.4%
- 6 shielded antirust ball bearings
- Weight: 34.2 ounces
- Retrieve: Reversible
- MSRP: $409.99
Shimano Stella SW 30000
- Mono Line Capacity (40 lb): 340 yards
- Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 700 yards
- Line Retrieve Per Crank 52 Inches
- Max Drag: 44 pounds
- Gear Ratio: 4.4%
- Ball Bearings: 14
- Weight: 34.9 ounces
- Retrieve: Reversible
- MSRP: $1.419.99
Shimano Twin Power SW 14000
- Monoline Capacity (30 Pounds): 260 Yards
- Braid Line Capacity (80 Pounds): 240 Yards
- Line Retrieve Per Crank 53 Inches
- Max Drag: 55 pounds
- Gear Ratio: 6.2.1
- Ball Bearings 10+1
- Weight: 22.9 ounces
- Retrieve: Reversible
- MSRP $619.99
The Best Saltwater Spinning Reels: Factors to Consider
WHERE CAN YOU FISH?
It is important to think about where you fish. For example, if you fish in the Florida and South Carolina coasts, you won’t want to use a Penn Battle II 6000 model because it is too large for this purpose. We need to know which reels are best for each situation.
You could use the smaller model, such as a 3000, for both inshore and offshore fishing. But you wouldn’t be able to handle anything too large.
There are many options, such as the Shimano Stradic, that offer the greatest flexibility for fishing both inshore or offshore. They also have a lightweight and easy-to-use reel.
If I am referring to inshore bass anglers, there is a whole other topic. These reels might not be right for you. You may want to go specifically for an inshore spinning reel because they’ll be lighter with faster gear ratios intended for lighter monofilament lines. If you are fishing for bass, you don’t have to bring a 25-ounce reel.
What are you fishing for?
Another important thing to think about is the purpose of your fishing. While this is related to the previous point, it’s important to separate the two. Which type of fish do you want? Do you want to catch red snapper or a variety of other fish? You might be interested in the Shimano Stradic, or the Penn Battle II.
However, if you want to hunt marlin or tuna, you will need something stronger like the Saltiga, or a Penn Battle II.
Technical Considerations
CAPACITY OF LINE
When we talk about saltwater fishing, your line capacity will always be an important factor. It’s like talking about the difference between an ice fishing reel and a deep sea trolling reel. The one requires high line capacity, while the other almost requires none.
The reel’s line capacity refers to the amount of line that you can put on it to give the fish enough space to move around. The bigger the fish is, the more line you will need. Line capacity is why I consider it one of the most important aspects when buying a saltwater spinning rod.
A spinning reel that can carry at least 200 yards braided line is a good choice. You might need to fish offshore for mahi mahi or other aggressive species so you can double the line capacity to 400. However, there is no standard on how much you should use. This is simply a matter of experience and knowledge about the waters in which you are fishing.
BRAID-READY
Other features such as pins or indicators are also available on reels. These indicate how many lines you should have depending on the target. While this is not a deal-breaker, it’s something you should be aware of.
GEAR RATIO
Whatever reel you are talking about, the gear ratio will always be an issue. The gear ratio is the number of revolutions that the spool makes each time the handle is turned. A gear ratio of 5.4 to 1 means that the spool will move around 5.4 times each time you turn it. A higher gear ratio is generally better as it requires less cranking, and eventually reduces fatigue.
This is a reasonable assumption when it comes to freshwater fishermanship. Saltwater fishing is a different story. There are many other factors to consider.
First, it’s not possible to just crank the handle and hope to catch anything. You’ll either snap your line, grind up your internals, and tear down the bearings. Our drag is here to help.
Your gear ratio is determined by how you work with the drag. To target large game fish, a lower gear ratio is best. To avoid snapped lines or damaged gears, you need to slow down.
BEARINGS
Many people don’t understand bearings, but think they do. It’s a common misconception that more is better, but it is not always true. Daiwa Saltiga is a case in point. They have invested a lot of technology into the product. They didn’t add more bearings just for the sake.
A smoother cast and retrieval is generally achieved by using more bearings. However, it is the quality of the bearings as well as the rigidity of the body that can make a difference. You won’t have a smooth retrieve if your reel has too much flex. This is because your internals will grind on your teeth, making it harder to bring in the fish.
You don’t need to worry about the bearings. Instead, focus on the quality reel and only shop for brands that you trust.
CORROSION-RESISTANCE
You will notice that I have a lot of product reviews that talk about sealed bodies, magnetic oils, and all metal frames. These features are designed to limit the amount of junk that can enter your reel and cause it’s to fail. These aren’t features you’ll find on any ultralight spinning reel, they’re dedicated to saltwater reels to prevent corrosion.
The reel could easily fail without these parts after a few trips to water.
Keep in mind that the more you spend, the better the features you get. This is why some premium reels such as the Saltiga are so expensive. It might be more expensive than $1,000 but you get as many features as possible packed into one reel, making maintenance and care much easier.
Although I wouldn’t say no to the Shimano Stradic reel, it is in this area that this reel falls short. It’s lightweight and versatile, so it’s not just for saltwater. They had to divert some of their resources from saltwater protection in order to use them elsewhere.
Make sure to be aware of the features on your reel and how they protect it from being clogged with salt and sand.
WEIGHT
Let’s not forget about the weight. Your reel’s weight is directly related to the number of power-packed features it has. A lightweight reel will not be able to handle large fish without breaking down the internals.
A 30 ounce reel will make fishing offshore much more enjoyable, but it can be tiring if you try to finesse cast for bass with it.
Although there is no way to know what the “right” weight is, I suggest keeping all of these factors in your mind and using weight as one part of the puzzle.
A reel such as the Shimano Stradic, which is extremely lightweight for this guide, could be an option. But remember what you are sacrificing and what risk you are taking. Fishing lighter tackle is better as you won’t be able to catch anything too big.
Most of the reels in this guide are suitable for offshore fishing, as well as inshore fishing. You can also choose from many different sizes depending on your fishing style.
Last Thoughts
Did you understand all that? You need to be able to see what saltwater can do to your reel before you buy one. It will corrode a normal reel in a matter of days if you don’t maintain it properly. All reels need maintenance, no matter how advanced the technology or fancy terminology.
The best saltwater spinning reel can only be as good as the angler that uses it. These five reels would make me happy, no matter if I was fishing in South Florida or offshore in the Gulf. Have fun and good luck!
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