Real Fishers
Saltwater Spinning Reels

Best Saltwater Spinning Reels of 2023

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A spinning reel is the most common and used reel in the whole world. And there are many reasons. It’s a very reliable reel and also easy to use. Spinning reels give you many benefits in fishing. But all spinning reels are not suitable for saltwater fishing. Don’t worry, you don’t need to spend countless time searching for which reels are suitable for saltwater. Because here we are with the top ten best saltwater spinning reels.

Saltwater is done in the ocean from a beach, off rocks from a pier, or a boat. And usually, bluefish, tarpon, and bonefish are caught in Saltwater fishing. Beginner or experienced anglers every time you fish in saltwater you will get a different feeling in every cast. 

This list is not made by ranking. Because all the reels are the best spinning reel with different quality. So no further talk let’s get on it.


Daiwa BG Saltwater Spinning Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 15 ounces

  • Drag System: up to 39.5lbs

  • Gear Ratio: 5.2;1

  • Bearings: 10+1 ball bearings

Pros

  • Reliable drag system
  • Durable aluminum body frame
  • Strong anti-reverse system 
  • Smooth casting
  • Durable and waterproof design

Cons

  • Heavier than other spinning reels

Daiwa BG is one of the best saltwater reels on our list.  It will give you many beneficial sides for your saltwater fishing. Daiwa BG has been redesigned and updated. It’s an extremely powerful spinning reel. 

If you are looking for an aggressive reel that goes deeper in water, it will be your best saltwater spinning reels. Is a waterproof reel with a 33lb drag system.The line capacity of this reel around 300 yards which helps to tackle a deep and strong swimmer.

This reel has an infinite dual anti-reverse system.  There are several sizes of this reel you will get on the market. With every size, you can be fishing in different weather, inshore, offshore, or shark fishing. This reel gives you a black anodized machined aluminum house which is very strong. 

The negative side of these reels is it’s quite heavy. If you don’t like heavy reels then this reel can disappoint you. But you have no problem with heavy reels then it will be your best saltwater spinning reels.


Penn Battle II Saltwater Spinning Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 15 ounces

  • Drag System: up to 39.5lbs

  • Gear Ratio: 5.2;1

  • Bearings: 10+1 ball bearings

Pros

  • Instant anti-reverse technology
  • Extreme durability
  • Super line spool
  • Good drag power
  • Strongly built structure

Cons

  • Not fully sealed
  • Heavy reel

For saltwater fishing, Penn Battle ll is another best spinning reel.  Penn is known for durable and well-built gear. And Penn battle ll is the definition of durability. You can abuse it in many ways like handling bumps, scratches, or chasing big fish but this reel will tolerate them. Which gives you many benefits in your saltwater fishing. 

The built quality of this reel is made of premium materials. Full body cover by aluminum. So there is no worry about rusting. The weight of this reel is not so light and not so much a standard weight, it’s a heavy reel. The reel gives you a great gear ratio. With a 6.2:1 gear ratio, the reel is more smooth to use.

The reel has a full metal body, side plate, rotor, and heavy-duty aluminum bail wire, making extreme durability. It also has 5 stainless steel ball-bearing and 1 anti-reverse bearing. This reel features an HT-100 carbon fiber drag washer with fabric laminated on fiberglass. This HT-100 carbon fiber drags up to 30 lbs.

Battle ll reel’s top end of the range is much heavier and could flip on bad weather. So this is the negative side of this reel. But it will give you additional backing which will help with long fish catch. And for all of it this reel takes place on our best saltwater spinning reels list. 


Daiwa SSaltist Spinning Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 15 ounces

  • Drag System: up to 39.5lbs

  • Gear Ratio: 5.2;1

  • Bearings: 10+1 ball bearings

Pros

  • Waterproof design
  • Lightweight air rotor design
  • ‘HardBodyz’ body and side cover
  • Smooth to use

Cons

  • Low max drag

Daiwa SSaltist Spinning Reel is known for saltwater fishing. The name of this reel is kept for saltwater fishing, S Saltist. It is made to withstand the elements. It has a rugged and durable reputation. This reel features much modern technology. 

Daiwa SSaltist has 8 corrosion-resistant ball bearings and 1 reduced bearing for long-lasting smoothness and performance. The design of this reel is lightweight so you can be fishing all day long. And the gear ratio of this reel is not bad, it is 5.6:1 which is standard for a spinning reel.

The best part of this reel is the body built. It has a Megsealed line roller and the main shaft with a ‘HardBodyz’ body and side cover. The bearings are also corrosion-resistant. For lightweight strength, it has an air bail-tubular. 

Overall it’s one of the best saltwater spinning reels rather than the drag system because it can only drag up to 22 pounds.


KastKing Sharky III Saltwater Spinning Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 15 ounces

  • Drag System: up to 39.5lbs

  • Gear Ratio: 5.2;1

  • Bearings: 10+1 ball bearings

Pros

  • Powerful reel
  • Sealed with KastKing Intrusion Shield System
  • Affordable price
  • Durable aluminum frame
  • Handle larger fish
  • Waterproof

Cons

  • The line retriever is not so smooth

KastKing Sharky III Fishing Reel is one of the very powerful reels at a low price. The reel gives you a carbon fiber of 39.5 lbs /18kg max drag which will help you to catch bigger fish. The strong body built and the powerful drag system make saltwater fishing easier.

Kastking is popular for both saltwater and freshwater. And this reel worked very smoothly with both water. KastKing Sharky III are superb lightweight fishing reels built with a high percentage fiber-reinforced graphite body. The reel has unique protection of water-resistant design for its spool, rotor, and body. 

The gear ratio of this reel is 5.2:1, that’s not bad. The reel gives you a low gear ratio but high torque. The body build quality of this reel is also very good. The body frame of this reel is made of an aluminum frame. 

The reel has 10 stainless steel bearings and 1 clutch anti-reverse bearings which makes the reel more durable. It is a sack full of good quality. KastKing Sharky III is the best saltwater spinning reels at a low price.


Shimano Baitrunner D Spinning Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 30 oz

  • Drag System: 25 lbs

  • Gear Ratio: 4.4:1

  • Bearings: 3+1 bearings system

Pros

  • Minimal line backlash issue
  • Better casting
  • Extremely durable
  • Handles are tough
  • Smooth action

Cons

  • Line capacity is low
  • Not braid ready
  • Heavy reel

This is a classic design reel with modern technology. With all of these reel features, this reel will serve you very well on saltwater fishing. If you plan to fight within 30lbs, you may find that this reel does an excellent job. 

This reel has 3 S ARB ball bearings and 1 roller bearing which works very smoothly. It has an exceptional quality handle which gives you comfort and control on your cast. It has not much but enough drag and line capacity to handle most of the fish species you can find on the shoreline.

Baitrunner D spinning reel features a secondary drag system that allows free spooling to bail closed and allow the bait to move naturally. This reel also has PowerPro line capability, but not suitable for braided lines. 

Although the line capacity of this reel is low and the braid is not ready. The weight of this reel is 30oz. Which is heavy for a spinning reel. Overall, it does an excellent job on the saltwater that is why we put it on our best saltwater spinning reels list.


Penn Slammer III Spinning Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 22 oz

  • Drag System:40 lbs 

  • Gear Ratio: 5.6:1

  • Bearings: 6+1 ball bearings

Pros

  • Full metal body, side plate, and rotor
  • CNC gear technology
  • Excellent line capacity 
  • Strong grip handle

Cons

  • Expensive reel
  • Heavy reel

Penn Slammer III is built for heavy-duty fishing. Penn Slammer III reel features an IPX6 sealed system that keeps water out and drags the system. It makes the reel durable in saltwater.  

This reel has an amazing drag system. If the reel is paired up with a strong rod it can potentially slay fish species in the the120lb range. The 40 pounds drag system and 80 lbs braid capacity with 600 yards then it will be a deadly combination.

The body frame of this reel is made of premium materials. The black gold color makes the reel more attractive. The reel has a 5.6:1 gear ratio with high torque. It has 6 stainless steel ball bearings and 1 anti-reverse bearing. 

.The reel has an excellent line capacity and CNC gear technology though it’s an expensive reel and heavy reel also. For saltwater fishing, it’s a very good reel and also helps you with many benefits.


Shimano Twin Power SW-B – Saltwater fishing reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 22.5 oz

  • Drag System:up to 62 lbs

  • Gear Ratio: 6.2:1

  • Bearings: 10+1 bearings

Pros

  • IPX8 Waterproof body
  • Hagane body build
  • Smooth performance
  • Aluminum body frame 
  • Great drag system

Cons

  • Heavy reel

The Shimano Twin Power offers you a high max drag in a small-size fishing reel. This is the best part of this spinning reel that’s why we select this reel on our best saltwater spinning reels. 

Shimano twin power features an IPX8 submersible waterproof body. Which does not rust or scratch on saltwater. It also has 11 stainless steel ball-bearing and 1 instant anti-reverse roller bearings. And the full body is built of aluminum metal. 

This reel has waterproof drag sealed which uses X-tough cross carbon drag technology for smooth drag to run at the high speed of large pelagic fish. This reel will give you an advantage in vertical jigging. It can be the best saltwater spinning reels for anglers who like using high-drag on fish.

You will get many good offshore saltwater spinning reels for pelagic fish but they will not be as heavy-duty as the twin power. With Hagane gear and an X-Rigid rotor, this can be the best saltwater spinning reels are your choice.


Shimano Stradic Spinning Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 11.2 oz

  • Drag System: up to 24 lbs

  • Gear Ratio: 6.2:1

  • Bearings: 6+1 bearings system

Pros

  • Weight: 11.2 oz
  • Drag System: up to 24 lbs
  • Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
  • Bearings: 6+1 bearings system

Cons

  • Small anti-reverse switch
  • Higher price than the other reels
  • Low line capacity

The Shimano Stradic spinning reel is one of the best spinning reels you can buy for your saltwater fishing. And the anglers also liked this reel. You will get many benefits and a great performance from this reel.

The Shimano Stradic is expensive compared to other reels. But it indeed gives you refined performance with every aspect. There is no metal part on Stradic, it is made of nylon so it’s a good choice for saltwater fishing. The frame and the handle are carbon fiber infused for excellent strength and reduced weight.

This reel is a lightweight design. The weight of this reel is only 11.2  ounces which helps you all day long fishing. The grip design of this reel is peddled style. It reduces the time for the fumble. The drag power of this reel is also great, it can drag up to 24 pounds.

If you like fishing in saltwater and freshwater, this reel may be just what you are looking for. This is a low max drag reel so you shouldn’t expect to hold on to a running fish over 100 lbs.


Penn Spinfisher VI Spinning Fishing Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 10.7 ounces

  • Drag System: up to 15 pounds

  • Gear Ratio: 6.2:1

  • Bearings: 5+1 stainless steel ball bearings

Pros

  • CNC gear Technology 
  • HT-100 carbon fiber drag system
  • Instant anti-reverse technology
  • Corrosion-resistant to saltwater
  • The spool is braided and ready

Cons

  • The bail arm may loosen over time
  • It gets noisy under heavy load

The New Penn Spinfisher VI Spinning Reel is one of the best reels for saltwater fishing. Penn has been designed to fight the saltwater fishing battle. And the super line of this reel means you can cast up to 100 miles. Which is very beneficial in saltwater fishing. 

Penn Spinfisher VI comes in 13 different sizes. So you can buy whatever you need and desire. The body frame of Spinfisher VI is made of full metal aluminum. Which do not rust in saltwater.

This reel gives you a lightweight design and an HT-100 slammer drag system which provides you very smooth drag. it will secure your reel from bail harassment when casting. It also has a seal water-tight design which keeps your reel from saltwater corrosion. 

This reel features 5 stainless steel ball-bearing and 1 instant anti-reverse bearing which provide more smoothness. The reel has CNC gear technology and handles material made of carbon fiber. This reel is doing great work on saltwater fishing. It will give you a great experience while fishing.


Okuma Trio High-Speed Spinning Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 10.8 oz

  • Drag System: up to 20 lbs

  • Gear Ratio: 6.0:1

  • Bearings: 9+1 stainless steel

Pros

  • Hydro black watertight drag 
  • Corrosion-resistant reel  
  • Quick anti-reverse system
  • Lightweight design 

Cons

  • It gets noisy under heavy load
  • Not ready for braided line

Okuma trio is last but not least the best saltwater spinning reels from our list. This reel comes with four models. They are orange high speed, red black standard, pink ladies edition, and red black Baitfeeder. 

Okuma reel is the popular lightweight fishing reel for inshore saltwater fishing reels. This reel uses a monofilament line. But the spool is not ready for a braided line. The advantage is you can use a braided line if you use a monofilament line as a backing. 

This reel features 9+1 stainless steel bearings and a crossover aluminum graphite body. Which makes the real durable and gives a smooth performance. This reel also features a multi-disk dual force drag system which uses hydro block water tight drag.

You can’t use this reel for big fish catching, this reel is good for small fish like tarpon, redfish, drum, and sea trout. Because it has a low max drag rate. Overall this is another of the best saltwater spinning reels for your fishing.


Best Saltwater Spinning Reels

Importance of Spinning Reels on Saltwater Fishing

Spinning reels are easy to use with a lightweight design. The spinning reel setup is also very simple which doesn’t waste your time. And it gives you a great drag system with smooth performance. The spinning reel position at the bottom of the rod creates better balance. The spinning reel gives you more control over drag, casting distance, and speed in saltwater fishing. The price of the spinning reel is lower than a baitcasting reel.

Question: Can I use a freshwater spinning reel in saltwater?

Answer: The answer depends on your reel’s features. If your reel has similar features as saltwater reels such as sealed bearings and corrosion-resistant materials, you can use freshwater spinning reels in the saltwater. Other Hand without similar features, it won’t be a good idea.

Answer: The answer depends on your reel’s features. If your reel has similar features as saltwater reels such as sealed bearings and corrosion-resistant materials, you can use freshwater spinning reels in the saltwater. Other Hand without similar features, it won’t be a good idea.

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