Fishing in the ocean is an enjoyable and rewarding experiences ever, though you do need to find a spinning reel that can withstand the harshness of saltwater and the corrosion it causes to the internal parts of the reel.
In today’s article, we’ll walk you through a brief overview of our 5 favourite options on the market and show you how to pick a good saltwater spinning reel.
Best Saltwater Spinning Reels Available on the Market
There are tons of spinning reels on the market. However, not all of them will stand the test of time when fishing in saltwater because it’s a major corrosive that speeds up the rusting process.
To help you pick the ideal one for your needs, here’s a list of our top 5 options:
Penn Battle II Spinning Fishing Reel – Our pick for best saltwater spinning reel
The Penn Battle series offers some of the best spinning fishing reels on the market, which is why they’re an excellent all-rounder. The Penn Battle II is designed to power through fishing in salty water and prevent corrosion thanks to its exemplary sealing system!
It comes in a wide range of size options, ranging from 1000 to 10000. The first 5 sizes are equipped with a full-metal aluminium main gear and a brass pinion gear.
Additionally, the body of this fishing reel, including the ball bearings, side panels, and rotor are all made of high-grade stainless steel. The heavy-duty aluminium bail wire also offers excellent resistance against saltwater corrosion. The drag system of the fishing reel is made of HT 100 carbon fiber.
This grants the fishing reel an extremely smooth retrieval without affecting performance or making the reel too bulky.
It also has a Superline braid-ready spool that doesn’t need mono backing. This makes them extremely long-lasting and able to handle a lot of pressure as well as saltwater corrosion.
At the medium-sized 4000, the fishing reel has 5 fluid cranking sealed ball bearings. It also has a 6.2:1 ratio and 260 yards of 20lb line capacity. Moreover, it comes with an anti-reverse bearing that doesn’t glitch to eliminate interruption while pulling back.
What we like:
- Outstanding durability and resistance to saltwater corrosion
- The spool is designed for immediate use and suits multifilament fishing line
- Premium ball bearings for a smooth retrieval
What we don’t like:
- The reel may feel a bit heavy
Daiwa BG 2000 Saltwater Spinning Reel
The Daiwa is one of the biggest names in the reel manufacturing industry because they make extremely functional and high-end models.
Daiwa’s BG 2000 is specifically designed to handle the harshness of saltwater on metals. This one is made from black anodised aluminium housing and is machine cut for the utmost precision.
In addition to durability and sturdiness, the design and finish will look pretty cool on your fishing rod. It has an oversized digigear system and a dynamic cut aluminium ABS spool.
As for the ball bearings, this one comes with 6 stainless steel, which is relatively less than other reels.
It provides an extremely reliable retrieval and corrosion resistance, which is all that you’re looking for. The extra anti-reverse ball bearing is excellent for providing quick hooksets.
This reel is compatible with braided line spools and has a fully waterproof drag system. It can power up to 13.2 lbs. and has a gear ratio of 5.6:1 with a manual return bail.
What we like:
- Great value for money
- An excellent choice for fishing with a braided filament
- Excellent resistance against salt and moisture for longevity
What we don’t like:
- Might get difficult to reel with time.
SeaKnight Rapid II Saltwater Spinning Reel
The protection against saltwater corrosion requires a special type of sealing that makes the spinning reels quite pricey. However, if you’re on a budget but need a spinning reel that can power through saltwater, you should consider the SeanKnight Rapid II.
This relatively affordable fishing reel has a body and a handle that is made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel. This gives it both the durability to handle heavy and the sleek finish that makes it an aesthetically pleasing choice.
Moreover, it comes with a sealed rotor structure and aluminum spool, which prevents salty water and sand from entering the gear system.
The spinning reel comes with a carbon fiber drag system that is capable of landing up to 33 lbs. This immense drag power is enough to help you catch the largest game fish out there!
Another great aspect of the spinning reel despite being highly affordable is the quality and quantity of the ball bearings!
The SeaKnight Rapid comes with 10 stainless steel ball bearings that are engineered to offer an ultra-smooth retrieval experience.
What we like:
- Ideal for buyers on a strict budget
- Remarkably high drag power
- Features 10 stainless steel ball bearings for smooth retrieval
What we don’t like:
- Only suitable for relatively light saltwater use
Daiwa Saltist Spinning Reel
If you don’t mind spending a little extra for a long-term investment, the Saltist spinning reel from Daiwa should be your way to go!
Everything about this spinning reel is built to last and resist corrosion. The reels feature magnetic oil sealing. This one is a new generation of nanofluids that are designed to change shape and density to ensure that no gaps are left behind.
The sealing system protects the main shaft as well as the rollers and ball bearings for a much longer service time. In fact, Daiwa claims that the Magnetic oil-sealed ball bearings are able to last up to 12 times as much as the standard stainless steel ones.
The Air rotor is rugged and remarkably lightweight. It’s designed to weigh up to 15% less than regular rotor systems on the market. This means it has a perfect weight distribution design that grants it the maximum strength.
What we like:
- An unmatched level of sealing thanks to magnetic oil and nanotechnology
- Durable and rugged design despite being lighter in weight
- Features a fully Waterproof Carbon ATD Drag System
What we don’t like:
- Premium price tag
KastKing Sharky III Saltwater Spinning Reel
Finally, KastKing is one of the most popular fishing reel manufacturers on the planet. They’re known for making feature-packed options for relatively affordable price tags.
The Sharky Series is a great one to consider because it’s able to function in both saltwater and freshwater, making it a decently priced option and a great bang for your buck!
One of the great things about the Sharky III is that it offers one of the highest drag powers that you’ll find in that price range.
The triple-disc carbon fiber drag along with the brass pinion gears and stainless steel main shaft allow it to drag up to 39.5 lbs!
The reel features 10 stainless steel ball bearings as well as one anti-reverse bearing, which makes the retrieval process incredibly smooth. The frame of the Sharky III is made of highly durable but lightweight graphite.
This means that you’ll still enjoy easy controls and relative lightweight controls, which is essential for beginners.
The KastKing Sharky series comes in a wide variety of size options that ranges from 1000 to 5000. This means they are excellent for all kinds of fishing rods and purposes. There is the right size whether you’re trying to catch a tiny or huge fish game.
What we like:
- Inner parts are made of quality materials that resist corrosion
- The lightweight design makes it a great pick for beginners
- The KastKing Intrusion Shield System seals the insides from water and dirt
What we don’t like:
- The non-metal handles can be a bit flimsy, but you can replace them with a metal one
Things to Look for While Shopping for a Saltwater Spinning Reel
Firstly, lets help you pick the ideal saltwater spinning reel for you by giving you all the information you need to know about before making up your mind on one:
Materials and Construction
Since most surf fishing reels will be used mostly in salty water, you need to make sure that they’re properly sealed. This will make sure they are well protected against salt corrosion to prevent rust.
It’s essential that the spinning reel is made of materials that naturally resist corrosion by salty water, such as stainless steel, aluminum, or graphite.
This should also include the materials of essential internal parts, such as the ball bearings responsible for smooth casting and retrieving the fishing line.
Gear Ratio
The gear ratio stands for the amount of spool turns that the reel makes for every turn you make with the handle.
As a rule of thumb, a high gear ratio means a faster reel at retracting. This is great for smaller fish. However, if you want to catch larger fish games, look for a lower gear ratio, which translates to more power per single turn.
Drag Power
While dealing with large game fish that are usually more powerful and resist the pull strongly, the drag power should be one of your main priorities.
Allowing some drag on the line means that if a large fish is hooked and takes a strong “run” it won’t simply snap your line and keep going.
When looking at a saltwater spinning reel, think about the size of species you are targeting and then choose a reel that has a suitable amount of drag. There is no use in having a reel that allows drag for a Kingfish if you are spinning for small species.
Line Capacity
The line capacity is the maximum line length that you may install to the spool of a fishing reel.
You typically need to keep the size of the fish in check and compare it to the line capacity of the fishing reel you’re going to buy.
Ambidexterity
Whether you’re a leftie or use your left hand as the dominant hand while fishing, it’s essential for the reel design to be interchangeable.
This should also be quite handy if you’re planning to share the fishing reel with your fishing buddies.
Wrap Up
There you have it, a complete guide with everything you need to know spinning reels so that you can land the ideal saltwater spinning reel.
If you are using a spinning reel in saltwater, it’s essential that it’s made of premium quality materials like stainless steel and aluminum. It should also be sealed properly to keep the salty water and dirt that can cause corrosion out.
While all of the products on our top list check these criteria off the list, we pick Penn Battle II Spinning Fishing Reel as our favourite. It goes the extra mile of offering an outstanding level of smoothness while casting and retracting the fishing line. Also, the product is quite a bang for its price when you keep its features in mind.
If you don’t mind splurging a little extra, Daiwa Saltist Spinning Reel and its nanotechnology sealing fluid is your reel!