Home Forums Fishing Saltwater Lokking for some advice on Reels...

Not fishing as much as in the past but I used to fish two fays a week in the salt. Surf, wading and boat fishing. I used spinners almost exclusiving. What I didnt have shimano stellas on I used either Penn SS or Quantum Cabos. Cabos would be in your price range. I used them on both my shark and tarpon rods as well as my guest surf rods. Some of these reels are 12-13 years old and in perfect working condition. I would occassionally ruin a bearing on the bail on the shimanos as I used them for wading and they might spend up to 5 to 6 hrs in the saltwater getting dunked. I never had any troubles with any thing else. The Penns are tough but heavy. The quantums took a beating as sharks are rough on drags. I guess I would say take a look at the quantums and the penns.

You're not going to have a " coffee grinder" condition with a Shimano Stradic, or Quantum Cabo. Nor will there be anything that can ruin an Accurate twin spin.

I think that after using these for a long time and bringing in a lot of big fish primarily lemon, bull, and blacktip sharks, plus decent size groupers too. They still function as if they were brand new. This is from both shore and boat. When from the boat some fish were chased to simply expedite the retrieval process, not because they could not winch them in.

I caught 15 sharks last week all on spinning gear. My wife had one blacktip on her rod when we were fishing for snook with live pinfish. This was a small Shimano stradic FJ with 20lb braid. Not knowing instantly what she had on, she used her thumb on the spool to slow down the departure, The drag knob was already fully tight ( max drag 20 lbs). We did not want the snook to get into the Mangrove roots and we were fishing on the edge of them. So the drag was already tightened down hard. The Blacktip shark came out of the water 4 times during this lightening speed run.

It took 10-15 seconds for the drag to stop screaming, I asked her if he broke off, (we were using a mono leader). She turned to me and said, I don't have any line left! 220 yards of 20lb braid gone in a blink of an eye with 20lbs of drag pressure.

No damage to the reel other then a hella hot spool! I have 100% confidence in the Stradic reels, they are the feel and function of the highest quality reels made by anyone anywhere at any price. However they don't have the bling and name recognition of the saltiga, expedition, the Stella, or the Accurate twinspins etc.

The 2015 Stradic FK now has a forged drive train now as well. They are simply excellent spinning reels at a price that is difficult to believe when compared to those reels that are " famous" for setting insane price levels!

I dont think I would pay todays prices for a Stella. I have a half dozen 4000 stradics , older 2002/4 models. Never had any problem with those so long as we didnt wade with them and dunk them in the water. Sounds like they have improved them. I would buy one for certain.

Pete,

For your purposes, like JJ, I'd recommend the Stradic FJ if you can find them. That will be the one with the white metal body. They've been replaced with the FK now, so you may be able to find them at a discounted price, if they're still out there. I've got (2) 4000's on inshore 7'-0 rods and they work well for speckled trout (2-4#) up to 40"+ long redfish, or red drum, which are known for their fighting. For your purposes, I might step on up to a 6000 for a little more power and line capacity. Find yourself a surf rod of choice and a jigging rod around 6'-0 long and you're set for most anything up to, and likely in excess of, the 50# mark. Simply switch the reel between the 2 rods as needed.

David Walker

Sorry - where in the US are you moving to and what will you be fishing for? That will answer a lot of quesitons, casting far does not equal fish for example....

Wardman,

I am over in the UK and will be fishing the coast and estuaries not too far from my home..

Due to work and other things, not really had time to myself over the last several months. However I've just finished moving house now, so hopefully will be able to get back into shooting, deer stalking and some fishing in the New year..

Regards,

Peter