Our Top of the Best Saltwater Conventional Reels
A standout amongst the most urgent segments of your angling gear is the reel—the piece of the bar that houses the angling line. Reels come in various sorts, with each kind intended to suit a particular sort of angling procedure or a specific type of gamefish. Getting the correct reel enables you to cast with exactness and effectively reel in your catch, so it’s critical to require the investment to do your exploration and select the most proper one for your necessities and inclinations.
Besides the sort, another significant factor to think about when reel shopping is whether the reel is reasonable for the waters where you intend to angle. Saltwater conditions will, in general, consume particular kinds of metals because of the high salt substance, so in case you’re arranging an angling trip in the sea, you’ll have to choose a reel that is made of consumption safe metals.
To enable you to locate a solid and sturdy reel that will keep going you quite a while and can deal with a portion of the greater and more grounded gamefish that are ordinarily found in the sea, we’ve assembled a rundown of the best saltwater angling reels available.
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| PENN Fathom Level Wind | PENN Rival Level Wind | PENN Torque Lever Drag 2 Speed | PENN Special Senator Star Drag | PENN General Purpose Level Wind | PENN Fathom Star Drag | PENN Fathom II Level Wind | PENN International VISX | PENN Fathom Lever Drag 2 Speed | TEKOTA | TEKOTA-A | TORIUM | TYRNOS II | TALICA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Shimano | PENN | PENN | Shimano | PENN | PENN | Shimano | PENN | PENN | PENN | PENN | Shimano | Shimano | PENN |
| Gear ratio | 6.2:1 | 5.5:1 | 4.1:1 / 1.4:1 | 5.2:1 | 5.1:1 | 3.2:1 | 5.0:1 | 5.5:1 / 2.8:1 | 4.3:1 | 5.5:1 / 2.7:1 | 6.0:1 | 4.2:1 | 6.3:1 | 3.3:1 |
| Anti-reverse feature | – | Instant Anti-Reverse | Multi-Stop | – | Multi-Stop | Multi-Stop | – | Multi-Stop | Instant Anti-Reverse | Multi-Stop | Instant Anti-Reverse | – | – | Multi-Stop |
| Bearing count | – | 5 | 5 | – | 2 | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | – | – | 2 |
| Braid capacity yd/lb | – | 860/20 645/30 450/50 | 750/100 625/130 460/200 | – | 865/20 650/30 455/50 | 575/30 400/50 330/65 | – | 635/50 525/65 455/80 | 675/20 500/30 350/50 | 635/50 525/65 455/80 | 625/50 500/65 440/80 | – | – | 925/50 750/65 650/80 |
| Color | – | Black Gold | Silver | – | Black/Silver | Black | – | Gold | Black Gold | Black Gold | Black Gold | – | – | Red/Black |
| Drag material | – | HT-100 | Dura Drag | – | HT-100 | HT-100 | – | Dura Drag | HT-100 | Dura Drag | HT-100 | – | – | HT-100 |
| Drag type | – | Star Drag | Lever Drag | – | Star Drag | Star Drag | – | Lever Drag | Star Drag | Lever Drag | Star Drag | – | – | Star Drag |
| Max drag lb | – | 30lb | 13.6kg | 50lb | 22.6kg | – | 15lb | 6.8kg | 10lb | 4.5kg | – | 33lb | 14.9kg | 30lb | 13.6kg | 33lb | 14.9kg | 25lb | 11.3kg | – | – | 20lb | 9.0kg |
| Model | – | FTHII15LW | INT12VISX | – | RIV15LW | 9M | – | TRQ15LD2 | FTH15LW | FTH15LD2 | FTH12 | – | – | 112H2 |
| Mono capacity yd/lb | – | 475/15 315/20 290/25 | 490/40 365/50 325/60 | – | 475/15 315/20 290/25 | 360/17 290/20 190/30 | – | 440/20 330/30 255/40 | 320/17 260/20 230/25 | 440/20 330/30 255/40 | 440/20 300/30 250/40 | – | – | 440/30 370/40 270/50 |
| Reel handle position | – | Right | Right | – | Left | Right | – | Right | Left | Right | Right | – | – | Right |
| Reel size | – | 20 | 20 | – | 20 | 209 | – | 30 | 20 | 30 | 50 | – | – | 113 |
| Retrieve rate | – | 30″ | 76cm | 41/14 | – | 29″ | 74cm | 19″ | 48cm | – | 38/19 | 24″ | 61cm | 38/19 | 40″ | 102cm | – | – | 26″ | 66cm |
| Weight | – | 20.90 | 51.00 | – | 19.10 | 19.00 | – | 21.50 | 19.50 | 20.00 | 18.40 | – | – | 30.00 |
1. PENN Fathom Level Wind
The PENN Fathom Level Wind’s heavy-duty construction and powerful 4.3:1 gear ratio make it a true workhorse and favorite of charter boat Captains. It is designed to handle extreme abuse day-in and day-out. Whether you are bottom-fishing or casting live bait, the Fathom will stand-up to the hardest fishing conditions. A Full Metal Body and Sideplate keep precise gear alignment under heavy loads. Powerful HT- 100™ drag system. The left hand is available in the 20 and 25 sizes.
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Though Fathom reels have a full metal body, their weights balance well with the majority of saltwater rods. Put them on a Daiwa VIPA, Seeker, or Phenix rod and you’ll have an effective setup.
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Penn Fathom drags are smooth, feature a fine tune knob, and 25 lbs of maximum resistance beats many reels in the same class.
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Penn parts are easily replaceable and they upgraded their bearing system when they built these reels. I stood in the store and watched it spin freely for several minutes before it slowed, rolled back and forth, and finally found its center. Amazing!
- The full metal of the frame and side plate isn’t as durable as aircraft grade aluminum, though this is reflected in a lower price. Metal is also a heavy material, which can make a big difference in larger 2-speed models.
2. PENN Rival Level Wind
The PENN Rival was engineered to be an extremely versatile all-around reel at an affordable price. Features a lightweight graphite frame and side plates with aluminum frame ring for improved rigidity to prevent frame-flex. HT-100 drag washers provide smooth drag under heavy loads. Line Capacity Rings eliminate the question of how many lines you have left when fighting a fish.
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- The value you get from a simple reel like the Penn Warfare is well worth the low price.
- Bonus elements are the aluminum rings that reinforce the graphite frame.
- It’s a great reel for those who prefer to level wind systems and having the left-hand option will certainly be of value to lefties.
- If it’s important to fish at a particular depth or distance behind the trolling vessel, choose a line counter model.
- Line counters are also available in left-hand reels.
- Overall durability is a definite concern with a graphite frame.
- The aluminum rings keep the frame from twisting from the pressure of a strong fish, but the graphite itself won’t last as long as anodized aluminum.
- The drag isn’t terrible at 15 pounds max, though 18 should be the least amount you really want to have.
3. PENN Torque Lever Drag 2 Speed
PENN Torque Lever Drag 2-Speed is made in the USA of domestic and imported components, and features an open top design with a machined and anodized aluminum body and Sideplates, along with a lightweight forged aluminum spool. Quick Shift™ 2-Speed system easily shifts into high or low gear. Engineered to provide long lasting PENN durability, the Dura-Drag System virtually eliminates hesitation, even under extreme drag settings.
- Excellent Power To Weight Ratio
- Very Positive Market Feedback
- Huge Amount Of Drag
- Useful For Many Styles Of Fishing
- Nice And Smooth
- Switch Blade Lugs Are Fiddly Under Pressure
4. PENN Special Senator Star Drag
The PENN Senator needs no introduction. First launched in 1936, the Senator Series has endured the test of time. The Senator is world- renowned for being a universal, respected star drag reel. Its rugged design allows it to be an offshore workhorse that has amassed more IGFA big game world records than any other reel in the industry. The Senator is designed to be a low gear ratio winch, it will pull anything off the bottom. HT-100 drag washers provide smooth drag under heavy loads. Stainless Steel Frame Rings Stainless steel frame rings enhance rigidity to prevent frame-flex.
- Penn US Senator reels offer the same reliability as the standard Senator and Special Senator series.
- Their one-piece aluminum frames, spools, and stainless steel components add a level of durability beyond that of their sister reels.
- Whether casting the narrow spool model or running live bait for yellowtail with the wide spool, anglers have plenty of support using a Penn US Senator reel.
- Penn manufactures the US Senator reel entirely in the USA from imported and domestic parts.
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Anglers may ask for a little more speed. Especially when you consider how smooth the coil rotates.
5. PENN General Purpose Level Wind
The 9, 209, and 309 level wind reels are legendary for their versatile performance. Anglers worldwide have found their reliability and incredible toughness is at home anywhere – fresh or saltwater, casting or trolling. The popularity of these reels is unwavering, even though the design and look date back to the early 1940s with a simplistic, functional, and durable reel that is extremely capable.
- Reliable
- Smooth Drag System
- Smooth Reeling
- Durable
- Line Doesn’t Tangle
- Heavy / Bulky
6. PENN Fathom Star Drag
The PENN Fathom star drag is lightweight, quick on the retrieve, and extremely castable due to its revolutionary Live Spindle design. The revolutionary Live Spindle design assists the Fathom SD in long cast. A Full Metal Body and side plate keep precise gear alignment under heavy loads, and the powerful HT-100™ drag system will stay smooth from start to finish.
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Though Fathom reels have a full metal body, their weights balance well with the majority of saltwater rods.
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Penn Fathom drags are smooth, feature a fine tune knob, and 25 lbs of maximum resistance beats many reels in the same class.
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Penn parts are easily replaceable and they upgraded their bearing system when they built these reels.
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I stood in the store and watched it spin freely for several minutes before it slowed, rolled back and forth, and finally found its center. Amazing!
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The full metal of the frame and side plate isn’t as durable as aircraft grade aluminum, though this is reflected in a lower price.
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Metal is also a heavy material, which can make a big difference in larger 2-speed models.
7. PENN Fathom II Level Wind
The PENN Fathom II Level Wind’s heavy duty construction and powerful gears make it a true workhorse and favorite of charter boat Captains. It is designed to handle extreme abuse day-in and day-out. Whether you are bottom-fishing or casting live bait, the Fathom II will stand up to the hardest fishing conditions. A Full Metal Body keeps precise gear alignment while the Fast Gear Access Side Plate allows for easy maintenance. The Fathom II also houses our powerful HT-100 drag system to stop any fish that bites. Available in standard, line counter, and left-hand models
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It’s inexpensive
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It’s lightweight
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It’s well-crafted and beautiful
- Its seat appears light
8. PENN International VISX
The PENN International VI series is designed and manufactured in the USA of domestic and imported components. Precision machined from high-strength, lightweight, aircraft grade aluminum in our Philadelphia machining center. Our experienced crew has been designing and producing durable, high-quality reels in this facility since 1932. The VI consists of a large stainless steel gear train for strength and speed, and a Dura-Drag system which results in a smoother start up and virtually eliminates hesitation, even under extreme drag settings.
- Penn does a lot right in the current design of International reels.
- Durability and performance.
- With proper maintenance, as is so with any reel, Internationals will last a lifetime.
- Good performance
- Drawbacks might include the lack of an anti-reverse bearing. Some anglers prefer having both ratcheting anti-reverse and an anti-reverse bearing.
- Other anglers don’t care for the back play of the ratcheting dog system and would prefer to only have the anti-reverse bearing. The dual dog anti-reverse of the Penn International is better than a single dog but lacks the anti-reverse bearing.
- The final drawback that anglers might speak of has to do with the application. Even the smallest Penn International models can be too much for an angler’s needs. Inshore saltwater fishing often doesn’t demand such a high-performance reel.
9. PENN Fathom Lever Drag 2 Speed
The PENN Fathom lever drag 2-speed series of reels are compact but loaded with big features. Featuring a Full Metal Body, stainless steel main and pinion gear, Dura-Drag washers, and a double dog ratchet anti-reverse you will find there is no stopping these reels.
- Excellent Power To Weight Ratio
- Very Positive Market Feedback
- Huge Amount Of Drag
- Useful For Many Styles Of Fishing
- Nice And Smooth
- SwitchBlade Lugs Are Fiddly Under Pressure
10. TEKOTA
With line capacity, construction and advanced features, the Tekota is a great solution for anglers who troll for both fresh and saltwater species. Great Lakes anglers will appreciate the Palmable line counter, and saltwater enthusiasts will appreciate the durability and strength.
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There are a lot of benefits to using this. It is durable as the frame is made of aluminum and the other parts of this reel are also made with aluminum.
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It helps the anglers to catch the fishes effectively.
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Another benefit of this is, it is very light and so that, you can carry it anywhere with you.
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One of the biggest disadvantages of using this, it is very costly and as the parts are made of aluminum they are expensive as well.
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For this reason, when the warranty ends, the angler is required to pay a lot of money for the repairing.
11. TEKOTA-A
Tekota’s legacy of durability continues with the fully redesigned Tekota A. Vast improvements have been made, including Coreprotect water resist to increase corrosion resistance, an easy to replace anti-fogging lens (LC models), loud clicker and new ergonomic S-Compact body design.
- Shimano Tekota-A reels offer an excellent choice to personal watercraft fishermen for fresh or saltwater application.
- Much of their value lies in the durable anodized aluminum frames and effective mechanics.
- Coils are sold on trolling but do not come with bosses. This means that they are intended only for the rod holder and cannot move behind a large sport fishing vessel
12. TORIUM
The Lightweight Torium is a solidly-built star-drag saltwater reel perfect for live bait or bottom-fishing applications. Packed with features like Super Stopper, Cross Carbon Drag, A-RB (Anti-Rust Bearings) and High-Efficiency Gearing (HEG), the Torium has it where it counts.
- The star drag fishing reels are affordable than the drag reels for example;
- It is impossible to move a star drag by a mistake thus it offers a steady position when used;
- A star drag is so simple and you could just forget it and leave it;
- This is also a good reel for starters and inexperienced fishermen.
- The star drag fishing reels can have a problem shifting from five pounds of pressure to 15 pounds of pressure within seconds, unlike the lever drag fishing reels;
- The star drag cannot smoothly and slowly shift straight through free-spool and into the strike.
13. TYRNOS II
The Tyrnos 2-Speed allows for selectable Power or High-Speed gear ratio. Rip jigs fast, then put it in low gear for fish-fighting strength. Because two sets of gears always mesh, changes can even happen under load, and the lever drag system provides easy, on-the-fly adjustments.
- 2 speed
- Great reel
- Reel
- Shimono
- Tyrnos
- Large arbor
- Line capacity
- Price
14. TALICA
The Talica is the pinnacle of the small lever drag 2-Speed market. Designed from the ground up to be an excellent casting reel with an ultra-smooth and powerful drag system to handle long battles. These reels were purpose-built to take advantage of modern braided lines such as Power Pro Hollow Ace and shorter fluorocarbon leaders. We offer the Talica in 11 different sizes to tackle a variety of offshore fish from the football size tuna, to record-setting class pelagic species.
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Great Design
- Lightweight
- Versatile
- No Cons
Similarly, as with anything you buy, the sort of saltwater reel you buy relies upon your requirements and angling style. By and by, the above reels are extraordinary entertainers and offer the best in their classes. You can’t turn out badly with any of them, paying little heed to your spending limit.
