Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a casual hobbyist of surf fishing, having the appropriate equipment is crucial. Surf fishing demands careful consideration when selecting the right reel. The market offers a diverse array of options, ranging from various compositional materials to differences in structural quality. Navigating through these choices to find the best surf fishing reel designed to your specific needs can be a challenging task.
So, if you want to elevate your surf fishing adventures to the next level, join us as we explore the best surf fishing reels of 2024. From entry-level options to high-performance reels, this guide will help you make an informed decision and equip you with the necessary tools for a successful and enjoyable surf fishing experience.
Within each product sheet, discover essential details such as key features, characteristics, pros and cons, all accompanied by our unbiased opinion. To wrap it up, a comprehensive buyer’s guide awaits you at the end.
Best Surf Fishing Reels in 2024
Whether you prefer spinning reels or conventional reels, here are excellent options available to meet your specific needs.
Comparison Table of the Top 5 Best Surf Fishing Reels in 2024…
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
| Best Overall |
| Check On Amazon | |
Editor’s Choice
| Editor’s Choice |
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Best on a Budget
| Best on a Budget |
| Check On Amazon | |
Ultralight
| Ultralight |
| Check On Amazon | |
Premium constructionn
| Premium constructionn |
| Check On Amazon |
1. PENN Fathom II Star Drag Conventional Fishing Reel
Tech Specs:
- Material: Aluminum
- Fishing Technique: Casting
- Item Weight: 0.6 Kilograms
- Bearing Material: Stainless Steel
- Item Dimensions: 4.72 x 7.09 x 3.54 inches
The Fathom II reel from Penn is a classic and feature-rich option for surf fishing enthusiasts. It ensures reliability, robust power, and a long service life with high performance. The reel boasts a smooth and precise movement, coupled with materials resistant to corrosion and tarnishing, ensuring durability and longevity.
Its powerful and precise mechanics guarantee a point in its favor to manage situations in which the fish shows a particular resistance. Both left and right hand versions are available now. This reel comes with rod clamp. It will take a little while to get it on correctly but it works great.
PENN Fathom II surf fishing reel is outfitted with a total of 7 shielded stainless steel bearings, featuring a computer-balanced rotor housing an efficient bail assembly. The inclusion of a torsion-free line guide ensures a smooth retrieve. With this setup, the reel guarantees effortless casts and offers simple maintenance, ensuring readiness for any angling battle.
PROS
- Excellent design
- Smooth operation
- Great casting ability
- Strong and smooth drag
- Built to last
CONS
- No instruction
2. Shimano Ultegra 1400-XSD Surf Fishing Reel
Tech Specs:
- Material: Aluminum
- Fishing Technique: Spinning
- Item Weight: 0.22 Pounds
- Bearing Material: Metal
- Item Dimensions: 10.24 x 6.89 x 4.92 inches
Looking for the pinnacle of surf fishing reels in 2024 with good value for the money? Shimano has crafted the perfect model to meet your expectations. With an impressive name and excellent quality, Shimano has built the ideal surf fishing reel for all your needs. The 14000 size is enough to cast lines over long distances. It is not only useful for saltwater fishing but can also be used for other styles, freshwater or carp.
The Ultegra model is made with a spare spool and 2 reduction systems and combined with the 2 bearings that compose it. You can use different models and types of cables for each type of fishing that must be tackled, making the most of the situations and avoiding changing the tool often.
Ultegra 1400-XSD surfcasting reel has a drag system called Instant Drag which serves to obtain an optimal fit with much less effort. Likewise, it is a high-end model that matches the quality of the world’s most outstanding thanks to its Super Slow Oscillation, X-Ship and Aero Wrap features. It offers amazing performance with excellent grip and high-quality brakes for your professional fishing.
PROS
- Enough for long distances
- Super slow oscillation, X-Ship and Aero Wrap
- 2 spools with reduction system and spare
- Instant drag clutch for precise adjustment
- Versatile design
CONS
- It is a bit heavy
3. Diwa Ultra Smooth and Powerful Surf Fishing Reel
Tech Specs:
- Material: Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Graphite
- Fishing Technique: Spinning
- Item Weight: 590 Grams
- Bearing Material: Stainless Steel
- Item Dimensions: 8.07 x 7.99 x 4.76 inches
The Diwa fishing reel showcases exceptional construction quality and hails from one of the world’s most renowned brands. Although this spinning reel has more features (including 12 + 1 high quality), the best feature we find is its low and affordable price. It is the best all-around surf fishing reel for sea anglers.
It has an attractive design and an ultra-smooth spool. It is specifically designed for those who usually recover prey of size, both in weight and performance. Almost one meter of rewinding for each turn of the handle. It is sealed with a KCN Intrusion Shield System with unique protection to keep water and dirt out.
Diwa surf fishing allows you to quickly obtain an accurate result for recovery. The excellent value for money, wide compatibility, and ease of assembly with a single 6mm pin make it ideal for all beginners and professionals. It is also suitable for competitions where the goal is fishing with greater weight and dimensions.
PROS
- Best-in-class up to 70 LBS
- Reliable and solid construction
- Affordable price
- Wide range of applications
- Lightweight
CONS
- Drag spoiled too quickly
- Large
4. Shimano Aerlex 10000 XSB Surf Fishing Reel
Tech Specs:
- Material: Aluminum
- Fishing Technique: Spinning, Casting
- Item Weight: 0.22 Pounds
- Bearing Material: Metal
- Item Dimensions: 8.6 x 7.1 x 4.8 inches
When contemplating an upgrade for your old surf fishing reel, securing a good deal is likely a top priority. That’s precisely why we introduce a model that offers incredible value for money for experienced anglers.
The Shimano Aerlex XSB size 10000 reel is one of the most outstanding reels for its excellent quality. For a great price, you get an unbeatable system. It has an AR-C spool and an Aero Wrap II system to optimize the return speed of your line. This results in a brilliant casting property and a great recovery ratio of 4.6:1.
The rest of its structure is made with 2 high-quality stainless steel armored bearings. There is also a roller bearing to make the reel system much smoother and the cast more powerful. It is perfect for surfcasting as it can reach a long distance and resist the sound of the ocean while catching good sea bass.
To quickly recover the line, the product has a crank that rotates up to 100 cm of resistance supporting a weight of 15 kg. It turns out to be more than enough for the type of fish you get from that type of fishing, so it won’t be a problem for you to perform your sport correctly.
PROS
- Exceptional value for the money
- Enough to cover long distances
- Excellent return speed
- 2 stainless steel armored bearings
- Roller bearing for smoother winding
- Supports up to 15 kg of weight and braking
CONS
- Doesn’t come with a cover for storage
- Only brings one coil
5. TICA Scepter GTB9000 Budget Surf Fishing Reel
Tech Specs:
- Material: Aluminium
- Fishing Technique: Spinning
- Item Weight: 620 Grams
- Bearing Material: Stainless Steel
- Item Dimensions: 8.4 x 7.5 x 5.1 inches
In the quest for a budget-friendly alternative to the Shimano Aerlex 10000 XSB surf fishing reel, look no further than the exceptional offering from TICA. With an unbelievably affordable price tag, this reel ensures you can engage in surfcasting with outstanding quality without breaking the bank.
It features an electronically balanced RTO to ensure smooth and super-fast response. All components are made of the highest quality anti-corrosion stainless steel, which won’t be damaged by exposure to salt water. It also has a cross-winding system with a worm that doesn’t snag and damage the cord but keeps the cord spinning.
Adding to its user-friendly design, the handle of this surf fishing reel can be effortlessly switched from the left to the right, catering to the preferences of left-handed anglers. TICA Scepter GTB9000 surf fishing reel is also made of thick and hard-to-break stainless steel. It also has a silicone coating that doesn’t hurt your hands and won’t let it slip when you hold it tight.
PROS
- Great low-cost surf fishing reel
- High quality and thick stainless steel
- Sufficient for optimal sea fishing distances
- Interchangeable handle from right to left
- Smooth operation
CONS
- The clutch adjustment is a bit coarse
6. Dilwe 12+1BB Metallic Casting Spinning Reel
Tech Specs:
- Material: Plastic, Metal
- Fishing Technique: Spinning
- Item Weight: 0.72 Kilograms
- Bearing Material: Metal
- Item Dimensions: 7.2 x 7.2 x 4.8 inches
Thanks to the long service life in performance, the Dilwe reel is certainly suitable for those who spend several hours surf fishing. It is made in China but the quality appears to be good. The composition elements, metal cup, metal body and gears, and anti-salt dustproof design increase the corrosion resistance.
Dilwe 12+1BB surf fishing reel is suitable for ambidextrous people. Thanks to the interchangeable handle, it is very easy to use for both right and left handed people. It is also suitable for all universal types of fishing rods such as river fishing rods, sea fishing rods, river fishing rods, and more.
It is constructed from a robust combination of metal and plastic. We also appreciate its easily adjustable clutch, allowing for quick and precise tuning with just a small gesture. The inclusion of instant drag adds to its user-friendly features. This model also has great fishing ability and keeps a good performance in line control.
PROS
- Great material
- Resistance and powerful
- Smooth and silent
- Long service life
- Suitable for left and right hand people
CONS
- Basic functions
7. Daiwa Sealine SL-X-SHA Series Surf Fishing Reel
Tech Specs:
- Material: Stainless Steel, Aluminum
- Fishing Technique: Spinning, Casting
- Item Weight: 1.07 Pounds
- Bearing Material: Stainless Steel
- Item Dimensions: 7.75 x 6.13 x 4.13 inches
Bringing our list to a close, we highlight the renowned brand Daiwa with the Sealine SL-X-SHA fishing reel. This reel is characterized by high quality and very resistant materials. It is suitable for those who are now approaching the world of fishing. It offers smooth performance, superior drag power, and comfortable operation.
With its upper drive system, this reel guarantees significant stopping power, providing anglers with a reliable tool for various fishing scenarios. The precision-machined brass gears and aluminum spool contribute to an extended lifespan and mitigate the risk of corrosion. It is suitable for ocean boat fishing, offshore fishing, ocean beach fishing, lake, river, man-made lake and stream.
This model is specifically designed to enhance the smooth release of the line during casting, facilitating the achievement of longer distances. This is for its larger spool able to satisfy all shooting and weight needs.
It can be used by both right and left hand people with the main rods. Its adaptability extends to freshwater fishing, making it suitable for pursuing big-sized fish across various environments. Overall, if you’re looking for a well-known brand without excessive costs, we highly recommend this model.
PROS
- Free-floating spool
- Super strong construction
- Good value for the money
- Easy to use
- Good resistance
CONS
- Nothing to say!
Buying Guide: Best Surf Fishing Reels
The main features to recognize the best surf fishing reels are certainly the strength, fluidity, rapid recovery, and a large spool capable of containing at least 300 meters of nylon.
Surf fishing reels are divided into 3 popular categories:
- Fixed spool reels: they’re designed with a base body, a spool, a handle, and a bow that rotates on itself to wind the line and must be opened during the casting phase. Fixed spool reels are very simple to use, which is why they are the most popular. They are sold with spare spools to allow for spooling of different types of wires. Among the drawbacks, you risk finding yourself when choosing this type of reel is the strong torsion that occurs in the presence of large-diameter nylon during the winding phase.
- Rotating spool reels: These reels are characterized by a spool that rotates around its own axis, guaranteeing long and precise casts and few twists. However, during the first attempts to cast with this type of fishing reel, there is a risk of the formation of wigs (an unexpected situation that very often leads to opting for the fixed reel). A positive and advantageous element of this equipment is certainly the possibility of relying on long and precise casts. However, be careful to correctly adjust the magnetic clutch otherwise you risk getting the opposite effect. The handle is located on the right of the structure and the rod to match this type of reel is mounted differently from the classic rods. We recommend this reel in case of more incisive use, that is when there is a need to force the hand and perhaps you are faced with fish that make a lot of resistance.
- Trolling reels: this reel is not able to cast: the line is dropped into the water manually or leaves the clutch free. These reels are suitable for those who practice sea fishing directly and need to accommodate large quantities of line. Unlike other fishing reels, they are characterized by the force that can exert friction.
To choose the best surf fishing reel remember to evaluate the following features…
- Large capacity and sturdiness: the reel should possess durability, standing the test of time as your constant companion. Opt for a ‘long cast’ surf fishing reel, featuring a large capacity for extended and precise casts.
- Resistance and lightness: consider that your equipment should be carried with you. Consequently, it could happen that it suffers bumps and abrasions. As well as the resistance of its components, such as the bow (in fixed spool reels) must be guaranteed.
- Line recovery speed: a good surf fishing reel must be able to guarantee the highest number of casts possible.
- Transportability: the possibility of folding the crank towards the body of the same during the transport phase.
- Spare coils: don’t forget spare coils for unforeseen situations or in case of equipment failure. Be prepared for any unexpected challenges during your fishing adventures.
- Resistance to salt: the reels used for sea fishing are treated to avoid rust that could compromise the use and duration of the reel. The best models have gaskets that do not allow seawater to enter the gears and damage them.
Finally, don’t forget to buy a rod holder. It is an essential accessory that allows you to fix the rod straight facing the sea to keep the line taut over the waves.
You can choose a tripod, suitable on pebble beaches or in the Mediterranean because the absence of tide does not require you to move the equipment while fishing. Carry a stake that can easily attach for quick rod setup. It is the ideal support for quickly changing fishing spots.
Conclusion
In light of the models described above, which surf fishing reel do you find most suitable for your needs? If you don’t know which one to choose, we’ll help you in the final stage.
- In the first place, we point out the model PENN Fathom II Star. Among the peculiarities that make it earn this primacy is excellent quality. The high-quality materials guarantee reliability and resistance. Furthermore, the absence of twisting will guarantee greater speed in recovering the yarn.
- In the second place, we recommend the Shimano Ultegra 1400-XSD model. This surf fishing reel has been judged suitable for surf casting professionals. Thanks to the characteristics of the reel and the possibility of fishing with different types of lines.
- Finally, we indicate the Diwa Ultra Smooth model for its strength, excellent casting qualities, and good recovery ratio.
Having explored the best surf fishing reels in the market, you can now skip the search for expert opinions. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop them below, and we’ll be delighted to provide the answers you need.
FAQs
How important is the material of the surf fishing reel?
Material plays a significant role in a surf fishing reel’s durability. Ensure your chosen reel is constructed with corrosion-resistant materials, such as aluminum or graphite, to guarantee longevity in saltwater environments.
What size reel is suitable for surf fishing?
Choosing the right size depends on the species you’re targeting and your casting preferences. Generally, a medium to large-sized reel with a high line capacity is recommended for surf fishing. This ensures you can handle the long casts often required in this type of fishing.
What is the ideal line capacity for a surf fishing reel?
The recommended line capacity for a surf fishing reel depends on the target species you’re pursuing and the fishing conditions you’ll encounter. Generally, a reel with a line capacity of at least 200 yards of monofilament or braided line is suitable for most surf fishing situations. However, if you’re targeting larger species or fishing in areas with strong currents, you can choose a reel with a higher line capacity.
Are sealed drag systems necessary for surf fishing reels?
Yes, a sealed drag system is beneficial in preventing saltwater and sand from entering the reel, which can compromise its performance. This feature enhances the reel’s longevity and ensures smooth drag operation.
How to maintain a surf fishing spinning reel?
After use, remember to rinse the reel after each outing in salt water and to carry out proper and detailed maintenance:
- Disassemble the lower part of the reel with a small Phillips screwdriver.
- If there is residual grease, remove it with petrol.
- Grease all components with the correct lubricants specifically designed for the reels.
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