Sea Fishing Reels

How to choose a reel for sea fishing

Choosing a sea reel starts with how you fish. A saltwater spinning reel is a versatile choice for casting from the shore or a boat: light inshore reels suit lures and small jigs, while heavy duty GT and tuna spinning reels are built for the brutal demands of popping and stickbait fishing.

When fishing vertically from a boat, a conventional reel comes into its own. It gives you a firm grip on heavy pirks and bottom rigs, and its drag and gearing suit jigging and lifting fish from deep water. Lighter saltwater baitcasting reels are a good fit for casting and lighter jigging.

Surfcasting reels have a long spool that lets line flow out evenly on long casts from the beach, and some offer a freespool for bottom fishing. Trolling and big game reels often feature a lever drag that lets you set the drag precisely before the strike and adjust it during the fight. Electric reels take care of the retrieve from very deep water, where a heavy rig and a fish have to be wound up time after time.

Salt water is a reel's worst enemy. Rinse the reel in fresh water after every session and let it dry, and the bearings and drag will stay in good shape. In reel accessories you will find spare spools, power knobs and spare parts for servicing a reel and adapting it to the way you fish.

Always match the reel to the rod and line. Check the line capacity for the braid you use, the drag power for the size of your target fish and the weight of the reel against the rod, because a balanced combination tires your arm less over a long day on the water.