Topic: The Best Surf Fishing Reels for 2022 (Read 118 times)
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Key Features
Why It Made The Cut
Shimano Ultegra XTD surf reel features super-slow oscillation for unmatched casting performance.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
You need the best spinning reel for surf fishing to throw a big lure at trophy fish. A spinning reel casts farther than a conventional reel because there is less friction on the line. To get the most out of this advantage, Shimano’s Ultegra XTD reel uses super slow oscillation to wrap the line tightly around the spool and reduce friction on the cast. Also, a spinning reel is more ergonomic for working a plug, spoon, or jig, and the Ultegra XTD moves the reel closer to the rod for a more balanced retrieve. My favorite feature is the X-Ship gears, which are strong and stiff for more cranking power. To maximize casting distance, retrieve performance and fighting power. Shimano built the Ultegra XTD to live up to the expectations of the best spinning reel for surf fishing.
Key Features
Why It Made The Cut
Small but mighty, PENN’s Slammer IV has heavy drag in a co*pact package for light tackle surf fishing.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
I love to wade the beach with a medium-action surf rod and light spinning reel casting jigs and plugs to sloughs and cuts in search of redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. Switching to bait, I pluck sea mullet, pompano and flounder from the shorebreak. My choice for a light tackle surf fishing co*bo is PENN Slammer IV 3500 matched to a eight-foot medium-action rod. PENN Slammer is an iconic saltwater spinning reel, and the fourth generation continues the family’s best traits. The main reason the Slammer IV makes my list is the sealed body and drag. The best way to prevent corrosion and damage is keeping water out of the works. To further improve durability, add corrosion-resistant stainless ball bearings, brass gears, and a full-metal body. The PENN Slammer IV isn’t a dedicated surf reel, but the sturdy construction and co*pact design make it my choice for the best saltwater reel for surf fishing. Read the PENN Slammer IV review to learn more.
Key Features
Why It Made The Cut
Tough construction and precision engineering make the Seigler Star Drag a beauty and a beast.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Seigler’s Star Drag was designed with input from tournament long casters, and hardcore Outer Banks drum anglers for distance, power, and durability. Out of the box, the reel looks like a Sherman tank wrapped around a Ferrari. The machined, anodized aluminum body protects precision-cut gears and heavy-duty drag for the best conventional reel for surf fishing. ABEC ceramic bearings absorb heat and roll smoothly to reduce friction and increase casting distance. To squeeze the most distance out of each cast, a large knob on the side of the reel allows me to control the magnetic brake during the cast. My favorite feature: Seigler reels are made a few miles from my house in Virginia Beach.
Key Features
Why It Made The Cut
An all-time classic surf reel, the Daiwa Sealine X30SHA is still the best performing, most durable reel for the money.
Pros
Cons
Less drag pressure
Product Description
My first surf fishing reel was a Daiwa Sealine X30SHA, called a “Slosh 30” by devoted surf fishing fans. The X30SHA is so reliable, that I still keep a couple as backup reels. Even though the X30SHA is a great value, it includes some of the same features on more expensive reels like a free-floating spool, sealed drag washers, and stainless steel and bronze gears. My biggest co*plaint is that the large reel is difficult to grip with my small hands.
After your tackle turns to rust, it will be too late to ask how to care for surf fishing reels. Surf fishing puts your reels in direct contact with salt and sand, two of the most corrosive elements on earth. To cast maximum distance and maintain consistent drag pressure, surf fishing reels are precision engineered machines fine-tuned for ultimate performance. Keeping the reel running smoothly requires serious attention to maintenance. I wash my reels with fresh water after each fishing trip, then shake excess water-free and dry the reel with a chamois cloth. I loosen the drag and leave the reels to dry. After three or four fishing sessions, I remove the side plate and spool and wipe away dust and grit with a dry cloth and soft brush. I also change the monofilament line on my reels every two or three trips. I take my reels to the local tackle shop for maintenance and repair during the offseason. Even the best surf fishing reels require constant attention to keep precision parts moving smoothly.
Like all types of fishing, a surf fishing reel should match the surf fishing rod. First, co*pare the line rating on the reel with the line rating on the rod. Line capacity is one of the biggest differences between a surf fishing reel and other reels. That’s because surf anglers make long casts requiring more fishing line. So, a surf fishing reel has a larger spool to hold more line. A larger spool also allows the line to leave the reel more quickly and efficiently to further increase casting distance.
Because surf fishing reels co*bine sturdy construction with precision engineering, these reels usually cost more than other fishing reels. The most expensive surf fishing reel in this review, the Seigler SM, costs $400. That money buys you a full-metal, anodized aluminum body with stainless steel gears. It includes ceramic bearings and a whopping 40 pounds of drag pressure. On the other end of the scale, the Daiwa X30SHA is one of the best values in surf fishing reels. At just $139, the Daiwa includes many of the essential elements of a more expensive surf reel like a free-floating spool, sealed drag, and corrosion resistant bearings at half the price of the other reels in this review. While the X30SHA won’t get every inch out of a cast, it is a reliable reel with respectable performance. So, you can spend $400 on the top-of-the-line surf reel, or get a good reel for a little over $100.
As a die-hard surf angler who targets big red drum, my choice for the best surf fishing reel is PENN’s Fathom II SD15 Casting Special. Not only does the Fathom II SD15 include all the advances that make a reel appropriate for surf fishing, but it represents an important recognition of big-game surf fishing by one of the most respected fishing tackle brands. PENN has a long history of building high-performance saltwater fishing tackle at a great price. The Fathom II SD15 takes PENN’s reputation into the toughest fishing environment.
Testing surf fishing reels is easy: I take them to the beach, fish hard and the survivors win. Sand, salt, long casts and big fish push these reels to the limit of durability and performance. Surf fishing is often a group activity with dozens of anglers fishing the same area. With so much co*petition, the best surf fishing reels quickly co*e to the top. Not only can I test reels standing side by side with other anglers, but word quickly spreads about the best and worst reels. To win a place on this review, every aspect of the reel must co*e together. Designers build surf reels with special features like a larger spool, precision casting brakes, high-speed bearings and shaft, and solid construction built to shake off salt and sand. To test these reels, I want to see if these features function as advertised. For the reels in the list, the answer is yes.
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