Home Forums Fishing Saltwater Tackle for Salt Water

Are there any brands that are better than others or types of material I should be looking at to buy for terminal tackle. I don't fish saltwater a lot but I want to start building a modest assortment of tackle. Some of the stuff seems to go to crap immediately even with a good rinse in the sink. Some lures the paint is gone only after a few outings

The old saying, you get what you paid for, holds true in salt water tackle. buy well known brands know for their quality and don't look back. You probably will pay more but you only have to do it once.

I understand that looking for the preferred brands

I have some Rapalla`s and Yo-Zuri`s that are 20+years old and still catching Trout and Reds.

Avet, Penn, Shimano

Penn, Shimano also have lower-end models, just depends on what you are looking for, Avets are the best.

+1 gazillion.

My Avet is one of my favorites but my Penn international gets the most time fishing. My Shimanos Calcuttas, Charter Specials, Tekotas are used for specific types of fishing (usually).

Abu Garcia makes some good stuff too but like Roger said it’s hard to go wrong with the 3 he mentioned. For saltwater spinning I use Penn while my Shimano Stradics are almost strictly freshwater use now.

The Avet 2 speed is my absolute favorite reel!

Sea striker for some cheaper stuff, coast lock swivels, sinker slides etc…
Gamakatsu and Owner hooks. Spro for better swivels and snap swivels.
Yozuri, Mann, mirro-lure, rapala stick baits, gotcha plugs,
Lots of good options for spoons. Sea Striker diving planers.
Local shops always have what works locally, so ask the guys at the local tackle shop.
Wash you stuff off really well in fresh water and let it dry before storing it.

I mostly use the storage boxes with rubber gasket that seals when you shut it for all my terminal tackle, my opinion it helps.

Thanks thats the type of info I was looking for, I just dropped a couple hundred bucks at tackle direct on some gear

Excellent info
I was going to ask what you meant by terminal tackle, but this above is plenty info and seems you acted on it.

I have Penn and Shimano rods, Penn, Daiwa and Shimano reels. Avet is used a lot for bigger fish, and Abu 6500 is a good all-around inshore/bay reel

For my surf leaders with chunk bait/mullet I use Gamakatsu 8/0 Octopus circle hook, but have used Eagle Claw and others in sizes 1/0-6/0.
Catch-All tackle has a good assortment of swivels that I use, but have used Bass Pro shop and FTU branded also.
Spoons I have bought on ebay the 1.5oz and 2oz KastKing clones, but I recommend to change hooks.
Rapala and Yo-zuri are my favorites hard baits, but have also DUO International branded ones (really good japanese lures work excellent for the surf in Peru, tide minnow models)

Gulp! and Fishbites always work if there is fish around. I have caught countless species on fishbites, from southern stargazers, whiting, specks up to a nice 29" reds a couple weeks ago.

I may be the odd man out, but I take a hard PASS on Avet.

Like other members mentioned; Shimano/Daiwa/Penn/Accurate/Okuma and a few JDM spec components.

Terminal tackle; SPRO/Gamakatsu/Owner/Decoy/Eagle Claw.

Line, lots of choices but Momoi/Izorline/SoftSteel/Seaguar/Ande/Big Game/YoZuri are usually the most used brands.

For lures, Rapala/Yozuri for run of the mill surface and sub-surface, Roberts Rangers, and a host of JDM equipment for top water/sub surface and jigging.

My go-to shop is Charkbait in SoCal.

Now go help the GNP!

Just curious why you say hard PASS on Avet?

I will admit I am a diawa slut and have stacks of the stuff. Avets are good, but as I learned you got to change that pinion bearing and learn how to set your drag properly. You crush that bearing and it’s a coffee grinder.

The big thing is spend the $45 or so and send it back to the factory every year or other year for service. I never rinse my stuff and it gets used 80 days a year. I seem to have the same failure ratio as the guys who rinse/clean daily.

Gamakatsu hooks, big game line, Mercury engines. I keep things simple.

Under heavy drag, lots of sideload pressure leading to bearing failure. I've had a fleet of Avet from SX single speeds to Raptors and 4/0, 30's, 50's.

The sideloading isn't as pronounced with the bigger reels but I've had a 30 flat lock up and unable to turn the handle at 30lbs of drag.

But there are MANY MANY Avet users out on the water and they are happy with the performance, just not for me.

IMO, the sturdiest open face reel out there for barn door 'buts up to granders; Shimano Tiagra.

Good to know WDEA. A few buddies around here have boxcar loads of AVETS but I haven't seen that issue. They do need cleaning and a bearing change out here and there, but nothing major.

You talking about crushing that pinion bearing by having the drag cranked down while reeling?

have only had one smaller avet, never had a problem with it, mainly use the 50s and 80s

Fishing heavy leader and heavy drag for YFT and BFT, side load on the pinion bearing is too much for it to handle. Granted you can change them out easy enough but not during mid-fight. Crank handle locks up even though the drag lever isn't at sunset.

Reels with thrust bearing (Okuma Makaira/Penn VISX) help side load under heavy drag.

Again, there are many many Avet users that are happy with their reels just I am not one.

Make mine a Okuma or Penn.

+1 on the Tiagra.

Some of the tackle storage trays have corrosion resistant ingredients built into them. The ones I own have worked very well. I think they're made by Flambeau.

St Croix rods.