There are many great spinning reels on the market today that will work in saltwater fishing applications. However, if you want a reel that consistently performs on the water and will last for seasons to come, selecting a quality reel from a reputable manufacturer really makes a huge difference.
A quality saltwater spinning reel is built using only the highest quality materials and processes available today. These reels are specifically designed to withstand the tough environment associated with saltwater fishing, in the areas of strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. Most quality saltwater reels are resistant to saltwater intrusion but the best reels are fully sealed making them impenetrable by sand, dust, and water.
In this article, we go over our favorite saltwater spinning reels among the various types of saltwater fishing to include inshore fishing, offshore fishing, and surf fishing. Because there isn't a one size fits all reel that is perfect for all these styles of fishing, we decided to break down our favorites by category in order to guide you to the best reel options for your needs.
Best Spinning Reels For Inshore Fishing
There are many attributes of a spinning reel that is taken into consideration when selecting the best reel for the application. These attributes include total weight, size, line capacity, drag, speed, durability, and overall construction quality.
In this section, we go over what makes a good all-around spinning reel for inshore fishing and provide some examples of our favorite models.
For an even deeper look at inshore fishing spinning reels check out our article, Top 10 Best Spinning Reels for Inshore Fishing, where we take a deeper look at what makes a good spinning reel for the common species of fish caught when inshore fishing and provide a list of our top 10 favorites.
What makes a Good Inshore Spinning Reel
Inshore fishing is usually associated with fishing bays, saltwater lagoons, and saltwater rivers. Typically, while inshore fishing, anglers are either targeting fish such as redfish, speckled trout, snook, flounder, various snapper, and even tarpon. Most of the time, when inshore fishing, fishermen are fishing around structures such as bridges or docks, along the mangrove shorelines, or on saltwater flats. Most often this fishing is done with artificial lures, but live or natural bait is used as well. Depending on your style of fishing and targeted species will determine the best reel for your needs.
For general inshore fishing, we find that the best reel is one that can be easily operated with both artificial lures as well as live bait fishing. An inshore shinning reel should be lightweight to decrease arm fatigue associated with a long day of casting but is also strong enough to handle some larger, more aggressive fighting fish such as the redfish and snook.
Because we are talking saltwater fishing, the spinning reel you choose should be corrosion resistant which means it should be constructed of higher quality components such as stainless steel, anodized aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. Additionally, while the inshore fishing reel doesn't have to be fully sealed, our recommendation is that it is at least has a water-resistant frame and drag. If you are inshore fishing from a kyack, paddleboard, or perhaps wade fishing, a reel with a good seal becomes more important as you are more susceptible to getting the reel wet.
When it comes to size, we find that the best size range for an inshore fishing reel is somewhere in the 2500 to 5000 series range, again, depending on the style of fishing and species you are after. If you are primarily casting small artificial lures near mangrove shorelines or docks for fish such as redfish, snook, and trout, we find that the 3000 series reel is ideal. This reel generally will hold anywhere from 140 to 220 yds of 20lb braid, depending on the brand and model of the reel.
If you are targeting larger species of inshore fish, such as larger bull red and tarpon, using large live or natural cut bait, a slightly larger reel may be preferred. This is because a larger reel, in general, will be able to handle slightly more weight needed to cast out heavier weight associated with live or natural bait style fishing. These larger reels will also hold more line which might be needed for larger fish and will generally have more pulling power.
For live or natural bait style fishing, a reel size in the 3000 to 5000 series is recommended. It is important to remember though, bigger reels will be of higher weight which equates to more strain and stress on your casting motion throughout the day. If you are soaking live bait and waiting for a bite, this may be low impact, but for those artificial lure days, fewer ounces on the reel can mean a lot to your casting arm.
Best Overall Inshore Spinning Reel
Now for the good stuff, what is the best spinning reel for inshore fishing?
Through a lot of hands-on trials of many 2500 to 5000 series spinning reels, we have found that the best all-around spinning reel for inshore fishing is the Shimano Stradic FL 3000. This reel made our top choice for several reasons to include its feather-light weight, its smooth cast and retrieve performace, a precise and quality drag system, and its durability.
I will start off by saying I have three of these reels because I believe in them so much. After I dropped one on a custom rod I built my Dad, I knew the Stradic was legit and I had to have one (or three) for myself.
When you pick up this reel the first thing you notice is how smooth it is. A quick crank of the handle and you would think that it will spin forever if left untouched. Thanks to Shimano’s MicroModule Gear II, the Stradic has a rotational smoothness and power transfer that rivals reels of much higher price points.
As we mentioned above, weight is a very important factor when it comes to a good inshore spinning reel, especially for those anglers fishing artificial. Weighing in at 7.9 ounces, the Shimano Stradic 3000 is the lightest reels in our top 10 list of inshore spinning reels. This reel paired with a good lightweight inshore spinning rod will let you cast for days with little to no effort at all.
Another reason the Shimano Stradic takes the “W” for the best inshore spinning reel is its cast performance. Similar to that of a surf fishing reel, the Shimao Stradic has a longer spool which allows the line to more easily slide off the spool which reduces overall friction during the case. Having the ability to cast to the spots that your boat can't quite get to can really open up your ability to get to more fish.
One of the big improvements Shimano made to the Stradic most recently was an upgrade from the felt drag washers to their cross carbon drag system. This upgrade to the carbon fiber drag washers not only provides smoother drag feel but also provides a wider range of drag settings. This really allows you to dial in the Stradic to meet your exact drag needs for your line weight, and fighting needs.
Finally, one of the main reasons the Stradic took the top spot is its overall construction quality and durability. While it isn't listed as a Saltwater Reel on the Shimano website, it is certainly built to the level of quality suitable for Saltwater fishing. This is thanks to Shimman's X-Protect water-repellant coating and specially designed, water channeling, labyrinth construction that prevents water penetration.
While there are much more expensive reels in this category, the Shimao Stradic is a little pricey coming in at a little over $200. This would still be considered a midrange reel with reels such as the Shimano Stella coming in at around $850 and the Van Staal Vr 50 coming in at a little over $500. I personally think the Stradic is highly competitive to these much more expensive reels.
Best Inshore Spinning Reel For The Money
Coming in at a reasonable price of about $109, the Daiwa BG 2500 is a great reel that is affordable while also being packed with some great features. Even though it is on the lower-end price point range, the Daiwa BG reel looks like a much higher-end reel thanks to its fully machined frame and spool and stylish accents.
Also, for a lower-end reel, the BG has a decent amount of drag with the ability to apply up to 13 lbs of drag. This will be plenty in most inshore fishing applications even if you are fishing for snook and red that are deep undercover.
The Daiwa BG is also pretty impressive in the area of rotational smoothness. Again, you would think you are holding a much higher-end reel when you feel how smooth this reel's retrieval is, even under a decent load.
Where BG makes up for some ground against the higher dollar reels is with its line capacity. The Daiwa BG 2500 comes in with the ability to pack about 170 yds of 20lb braid on the spool, which is a solid amount of line for a 2500 series reel, especially compared to the Shimano Stradic 3000 that can only hold 140 yds of the same line.
Last but certainly not least, the Daiwa BG reels are extremely durable. Many professional guides actually prefer the Daiwa BG as their boat reel because they tend to get beat up so much and they need a reel to perform even after being abused. If you want a good, affordable reel that will last, the BG can certainly take some punches.
Best Spinning High End Inshore Spinning Reel
If budget isn't an option, and you want to be envied by every angler you pass, then look no further than the Van Staal VR50. This reel is nearly perfect in every way (except the price tag). Not only is it packed with high-end features it is also very versatile and can handle many different fishing styles.
With a fully sealed and waterproof frame and waterproof drag, the Van Staal is perfect for those fishermen who tend to be a little clumsy with their equipment. This reel is one of the few, if not only, reels that are so waterproof they say they can be completely submerged and fished underwater. Being machined from aircraft-grade aluminum and other high-end materials, this reel is nearly indestructible and is sure to outlast nearly any other reel out there.
The biggest selling point to me is its low weight to line capacity ratio. This reel weighs in at a feather-light 8.9 ounces, just about an ounce heavier than the Shimano Stradic 3000, but at the same time has an amazing line capacity and is able to pack on 360 yds of 20 lb braid. That is over 200yds more braid than the Shimano Stradic with only a 1 oz weight increase (and $300 price difference).
Last, the reason that I like the Van Staal so much is for its versatility. I do a lot of different types of fishing with my inshore reels, from fishing artificial around the mangrove flats to fishing live bait deep in the channels, paddleboard fishing around the mangrove shorelines, and even wade fishing along the beaches. The Van Staal VR50 is a reel that I can easily pick up and use for any of these right out of the box. Furthermore, for those fishermen that like a bail less setup with their reels, the Van Staal can easily convert within a few min and some basic tools.
Best Spinning Reel For Offshore Fishing
Offshore fishing is a demanding sport that requires equipment of top-caliber quality, strength, and durability. These reels need to be able to stand up to being knocked around a boat during long runs offshore, need to be corrosion resistant to withstand large amounts of saltwater spray, and need to be strong enough and properly sized to bring in some of the larges gamefish species in the water.
In this section, we will go over what makes a good spinning reel for offshore fishing and lists a few of our favorites. To take a deeper look at spinning reels for offshore fishing, and to see our full top 10 rated list of deep-sea spinning reels, click to read our Top 10 Spinning Reels for Offshore Fishing article.
What makes a good Spinning Reel for Offshore Fishing
There are several styles of fishing that can be done while deep-sea fishing. These methods include sight casting, bottom fishing, trolling, kite fishing, and jigging. All of these styles of fishing can be done effectively with a spinning reel, but there are some limitations to what a spinning reel can do. For the most extreme offshore fishing, such as large bluefin tuna fishing or larger sailfish, a conventional style reel may be preferred over a spinning reel. However, for the most common offshore fish, a good spinning reel can do the trick quite nicely.
Because offshore fishing has such a broad range of fishing as well as many ways to fish, there isn't a perfect one-size-fits-all spinning reel. Depending on where you are fishing, what depths you are fishing, what fish you are targeting, and the style of fishing you are doing will vary the ideal reel for your needs.
In general, an offshore spinning reel will be in the size category between 8000 series on the small end up to the max size of a 25000+ series reel. The ideal spinning reel for offshore fishing is constructed of high end materials, has a sealed frame and drag system such that is it water resistant, has a quality drag system with at least 40lbs of drag, and is able to hold at least 200yds of properly sized fishing line.
Continue to read along to see our favorite reels, selected from our top 10 list of spinning reels for deep sea fishing applications.
Best Overall Offshore Spinning Reel
What is our number one choice when it comes to the best spinning reel for offshore fishing?
After putting our hands on a bunch of saltwater spinning reels, the reel that really stood as the best for offshore fishing is the Shimano Saragosa SW 18000. At just about $350, this reel is packed with some incredible features, comparable to many other high-dollar reels, and is offered at a very reasonable price.
To start, the Shimano Saragosa's internal gear box come constructed with Shimano's patented infinity drive technology that allows the Saragosa to deliver a large amount of torque to help fight some tough battling gamefish such as wahoo, tuna, and swordfish. Combine that with a very rigid aluminum body that will not flex under load means you are able to transfer so much more energy to the fish without sacrificing rotation smoothness. Bottom line, this reel can efficiently handle some big fish, especially for its price point.
Additionally, thanks to the Saragosa deep cut spool, this reel can really pack on a large amount of fishing line needed for some of the longer fights seen on the open waters. This reel can hold right at 600 yds of 50lb braid which is one of the highest capacity spinning reels on our top 10 list.
Finally, and probably the main reason we love the Saragosa so much is that it is a very durable reel that can last season after season with a high level of reliability. Offshore reels can really be expensive and we do not want to have to replace them every other season. Thanks to Shimano's waterproof Cross Carbon drag system as well as X-Protect system, the Saragosa is essentially a waterproof reel, meaning it can take a lot of saltwater spray and can even be submerged underwater without risking damaging the internal gearbox or drag system. Just rinse it off after a day on the water and it is ready to go for the next trip.
Best Offshore Spinning Reel For The Money
If you are looking for a good quality spinning reel, that is perhaps a little easier on the pocketbook, we recommend the Penn Spinfisher VI 9500 spinning reel. This reel is a beast that is packed with a lot of great features and offered at a more-than-reasonable cost under $240. This is a great option if you are looking to outfit your boat with a few reels and you don't want to break the bank.
The reason so many anglers are turning to the Penn Spinnfisher VI for their offshore spinning reels is for their overall durability and longevity. These reels are built to take a beating out on the water be it from fighting big fish, getting tossed around the deck, or getting drenched with saltwater spray. These reels are built with an IPX5 sealed body and spool design which keeps its gearbox and drag protected from the corrosive saltwater. Furthermore, the Spinfisher VI's full metal body and side plate reduce flex of the reel under heavy loads which keeps the CNC gear system in alignment which increases retrieval efficiency and reduces gear damage.
Tack all this on with a line capacity of over 700yds of 50lb braid and quality drag system with carbon fiber washers and you really do have yourself a great reel. The only real downside I see with this Spinfisher VI reel is that it is a little bulky, both in overall size and weight. Weighing in at 37.1 ounces, this is the heaviest reel we showcased in our top 10 spinning reels for deep sea fishing list.
Best Spinning High End Offshore Spinning Reel
Get ready to toss down a pretty penny with this next reel. Coming in at a price tag of just over $1K, the Shimano Stella SW 14000 is a reel that is to be envied by all. This is the perfect reel for offshore fishing that can do it all and is built to perform.
With a fully waterproof drag, x protect system, and x shield, the Shimano Stella is a reel that can take a day on the water without the fear of getting the internals contaminated with saltwater. Ride-on with the confidence that your reels are safe and when you are done, just rinse them off and you are good for the next day.
Furthermore, featuring HAGANE body, the Shimano Stella SW is super rigid with hardly any frame flex under a load. This translates into more energy being transferred to the line and fish which means more pressure on the fish to bring them to the boat. This is even more important if you are fighting very aggressive fish such as bluefin tuna or big sailfish.
This rigid body design pairs great with the super high quality 15 ball bearing gearbox that delivers superior rotational smoothness. Whether it be while popping, twitching, or jigging and even during an aggressive battle, Shimanno Stella's rotational smoothness is unmatched across the industry.
In short, if you are looking for a high-end reel to do some serious offshore fishing, the Shimano Stella SW is a great reel that will last a lifetime. While the price tag is high, you are getting what you pay for, which is the best quality reel on the market today.
Best Spinning Reel For Surf Fishing
Surf fishing is one of my favorite styles of Saltwater fishing and is one of the most popular for its ease of entry. No need for a fancy boat, just a rod, reel some bait, and your local beach. If you just looking to get into the fishing hobby or are just looking to expand your fishing reach to include beach fishing, a quality reel is an important first step.
In this section, we talk through a high-level explanation of surf fishing and what makes a good reel for the various styles you can do from the beach. For a more in-depth look at spinning reels for surf fishing, and to see some of our favorites, check out our article Top 10 Spinning Reels for Surf Fishing.
What makes a good Spinning Reel for Surf Fishing
Surf fishing is somewhat interesting in that there are actually two types of reels and associated rigs that you can use to catch fish from the beach, spiked fishing, and active (cast and retrieve style) fishing. The more common setup seen along the beaches is the spiked fishing setup. This involves casting out heavy weights with artificial or natural cut bait and placing your rod/reel setup in a sand spike (rod holder) between bites. When people think about surf fishing, spiked fishing is usually what they are envisioning.
For spiked fishing, the best spinning reel for surf fishing is a 4000 to 6000 series reel that can hold at least 200 yds of 30 lb braid. This size reel, when paired with the right quality surf rod and proper rigs, can successfully catch the majority if not all of the most common fish caught from the beach. The ideal surf reel is constructed of salt water resistant materials and ideally, is fully sealed to prevent sand, dust, and water from penetrating the internals of the reel.
The other style of fishing, what I call active fishing, is really your traditional cast and retrieve style fishing. This style of fishing usually involves lighter tackle with smaller, lighter weight, rods and reels and artificial lures such as plugs and spoons. For this type of surf fishing, the type of reel recommended is actually the same as the inshore fishing recommendations provided earlier in this article.
The best spinning reel for more active, cast and retrieve style fishing is an inshore style spinning reel in the 3000 to 4000 series range. This reel will be able to hold 150 to 200 yards of 20 lb braid which is plenty for common fish caught from the beach such as pompano, jack, permit, redfish, and snook. The ideal spinning reel for sight casting from the beach is light weight, to reduce the workload of the angler, and also durable enough to withstand the tough saltwater conditions.
When I go surf fishing, I always bring out rigs for each style of surf fishing, active and spiked. I typically start out my day by casting out 2 to 3 spiked setups and, while I wait for bites, I walk up and down the beach with an inshore fishing setup where I cast plugs, jerk baits, jigs, and spoons.
Best Overall Spinning Reel For Surf Fishing
We have gone through many reels in our time while surf fishing. There are a lot of good reels out there that can certainly do the trick, but in our experience, the best spinning reel for surf fishing is the Shimano Saragosa 5000.
This reel is a high-quality, mid-range reel that is super smooth on the cast and retrieves and tough enough to handle some big and powerful fish. Furthermore, this reel is ultra-durable and boasted as a workhorse among the Shimano saltwater reel lineup. Featuring a fully sealed frame and waterproof drag, the Saragosa can take a beating on the baches and keep on performing.
This reel also has a great cast and retrieve performance. The Saragosa can handle long-distance casts with ease thanks to its efficiently designed spool and bail system that greatly reduces the amount of friction against the line. Plus, with a line capacity of 225yds of 20 lb braid, you will be able to get your bait out as far as you need to if you happen to be targeting fish a good ways away from the shoreline.
Finally, with a strong carbon fiber washer drag system, the Saragosa can really apply pressure to your fish. With 22 lbs of drag available, you will be able to stop most fish on a dime, and at least slow down the big ones. Tack that on with the very rigid body and you are able to apply a huge amount of pressure to the fish while also maintaining a very smooth and efficient retrieve.
Bottom line, I like the Saragosa so much I have 3 surf rods outfitted with one, 2 in the 5000 series, and 1 in the 4000 series. I haven't lost a fish from the beach yet that was because this reel couldn't handle it.
Best Surf Fishing Spinning Reel For The Money
For many reasons, it may be wise to go for a slightly more budget-friendly reel, especially if this is your first venture into saltwater fishing. When beach fishing, there is a pretty significant risk of damaging your reel from accidentally submerging your reel in the saltwater or more often dropping the reel in the sand.
In our opinion, the best budget spinning reel for surf fishing is the Daiwa BG4000. This reel, while easy on the pocketbook, is still packed with some great features, and is a reel that will last several seasons if cared for properly.
The Daiwa BG reel, while on the lower end price point, is still sealed meaning the internals of the reel is protected from saltwater spray. While it is not wise to submerge this reel in the water, an accidental dunk probably isn't the end of the world. However, I do recommend that you clean it thoroughly after every use, especially if it has made contact with the water or sand.
As for line capacity, the Daiwa BG 4000 packs on an impressive 280 ft of 30lb braid which is more than enough for the common fish caught from the beach. Tack that along with a respectable 17.6 lbs of drag, and you can even bring in some of the larger species such as tarpon and larger shark with the proper setup and good drag management.
In short, if you are new to surf fishing, just want to give it a shot, or just, in general, want to work within a reasonable budget, the Daiwa BG 4000 is a great option. Pair this with a good surf rod and start catching fish today.
Best High End Spinning Reel For Surf Fishing
If you can look past the high dollar price tag, The Van Staal VR saltwater spinning reel is where to go. For the surf fishing application, any of the VR reels in sizes 50, 75, or 125 will be a great addition to your arsenal. All of these reels are lightweight, have plenty of drag, and have more than enough line capacity to catch any fish commonly caught from the beach, assuming you are rigged up appropriately.
The Van Staal VR50 was also our choice for the best high-end inshore fishing reel earlier in this article. I think this size reel is perfect for fishing artificial from the beach. I like to walking the beach to sight fish for snook and redfish swimming in the break as well as tossing larger spoons out for bluefish and mackerel and the VR 50 is a great size reel when paired with a good quality lightweight rod.
If you are spiked fishing, and using live bait or cut bait, larger weights, and a rod holder, I would recommend stepping up to either the VR 75 or VR 125 series reels. This isn't because the VR 50 cant handle the load, I just like to have that extra line capacity associated with VR 75 and drag associated with the VR 125.
These reels are just about the highest quality you can buy, constructed of machine aircraft-grade aluminum, are super lightweight for their size and features, and are basically indestructible. If you can get past the price, I highly recommend you pick up a Van Staal. You will not regret it.
