Here’s an observation I’ve picked up over five decades fishing the Virginia coast: spinning reels and saltwater do not mix. The spinning reel’s moving metal parts, combined with saltwater’s corrosive minerals, are a toxic cocktail that prematurely ends the reel’s life. I choose a spinning reel designed for saltwater fishing with durable materials and waterproof construction to fight the effects of salt and sand. To fight saltwater fish, I need a spinning reel with a strong drag and maximum line capacity.
This list of the best saltwater spinning reels makes the mark with new reels using state-of-the-art technology to combat the harshest conditions and the biggest fish in the sea.
Best Saltwater Spinning Reels: Top Picks
- Best overall: Shimano Stella 8000
- Best budget reel: Shimano Saragosa SW
- Best budget reel: PENN Battle IV
- Best for the surf: Okuma Rockaway SI Surf Inshore
- Best lightweight saltwater reel: Toadfish Carbon Elite II
- Best full-metal reel: Tsunami SaltX
- Best for inshore: Seviin GW Series
Best Saltwater Spinning Reel
Shimano Stella SW D
MSRP: $1,169.99
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Why I Love It
Shimano’s Stella spinning reel has been the pinnacle of saltwater spinning reels, and the new 8000-size SW D takes the reputation to new levels. Embodying every technological advancement in Shimano’s toolbox, the Stella SW D is focused on reliable performance in the worst conditions against the biggest fish. This makes the Stella line the choice for big game anglers targeting bluefin tuna, giant trevally and other sea monsters.
The Stella starts with a cold-forged all-metal body micro-engineered for the greatest strength and lowest weight. Then, it combats classic spinning reel weak points with bulletproof design. For example, the line roller is coated with a diamond-hard surface turning on a sealed bearing to smoothly retrieve line and reduce heat and friction when a 500-pound tuna takes a long run against the maximum 55 pounds of drag. Speaking of the drag, Shimano flipped the script by moving one drag washer to the top of the spool to further reduce heat under incredible pressure.
Maybe the Stella’s technology is overkill for smaller fish, but the design and materials equate to a longer life and less maintenance for anglers who fish hard and expect the most out of their tackle.
Reasons to Buy
- Sealed body and components
- 55 pounds of drag pressure
- More gear-to-gear surface contact
Consider Another Model If
- You are on a budget
- You target smaller fish
Who should buy the Stella SW 8000 D
I admit, the Stella SW 8000 D is not for everyone. The reel is large enough to pair with a heavy-action spinning rod to target big fish like tuna, grouper, trevally, billfish and other tackle busters. The Stella line includes the SW C models down to 4000 size for striped bass, cobia, amberjack and other inshore trophies. For an angler who fishes obsessively and wants nothing to keep him off the water, the Stella SW 8000 D is a logical investment. Kayak fishing is hard on tackle and the Stella design and materials make it the best choice for reliable performance.
Best Saltwater Reel for the Price
Shimano Saragosa SW
MSRP: $324.99
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Why I Love It
Coming in a close second, the Shimano Saragosa SW offers many of the same features as the Stella SW at less than half the price. The cold-forged sealed body and beefy gears make the Saragosa saltwater ready. The redesigned Saragosa includes a drive shaft designed to reduce cranking torque when fighting a big fish. The waterproof carbon-fiber drag is capable of producing 22 pounds of drag (up to 49 pounds with the larger sizes) while reducing heat for consistent pressure.
I’ve been using Saragosa spinning reels to target cobia, big red drum and trophy striped bass for years without fail. The new Saragosa SW improves on the design for even better performance at an affordable price.
Reasons to Buy
- Reasonable price
- IPX8 Waterproof Body
- Water repellent coating
Consider Another Model If
- You need a size smaller than 4000
Who should buy the Saragosa SW 5000XG
The Saragosa SW combines saltwater-ready features with a reasonable price tag for a spinning reel everyone should have. With sizes from 5000 to 25000, this is a big-game spinning reel capable of 49 pounds of drag with the steady torque to go toe to toe with a sea monster. Don’t worry about the reel banging around in the kayak, constantly exposed to salt and fish slime; the all-metal, waterproof body is coated with a water-repellent material for ultimate corrosion and damage protection. Anglers casting to hard-fighting striped bass, red drum, cobia or jigging for tuna and grouper or live baiting sailfish and king mackerel get a reliable reel with the power and smoothness to handle anything the bluewater produces.
PENN Battle IV
MSRP: $159.95
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Why I Love It
PENN is legendary in the saltwater fishing game for reliable tackle at a reasonable price. The Battle IV is their latest version of the entry-level reel. Starting with a full metal body, the Battle IV adds CNC-machined gears and carbon-fiber drag for a rock-solid platform. Stainless steel sealed bearings keep the works turning smoothly under the torture of salt, sand and grit. The latest generation of the legendary Battle line has a sealed body to protect the inner parts from moisture and dirt. My favorite touches are the rubber ring on the spool arbor to secure the fishing line, and the line-capacity rings on the spool body to show me when I’ve filled the spool to optimum capacity.
Reasons to Buy
- Sealed metal Body
- Stainless steel bearings
- Reasonable price
Consider Another Model If
- You need a lightweight reel
Who Should Buy the PENN Battle IV
The PENN Battle IV is certified tough for fishing in the worst conditions. If you’re looking for a reliable, no-nonsense reel that you won’t have to worry about banging around in the kayak cockpit or drenching with salt water and covering with sand and marsh mud, the Battle IV is for you.
Now available in sizes from 1000 to 10000, the Battle series covers little panfish to giant pelagics. PENN knows how to incorporate durable and precision components into a reasonably priced reel. Beefy gears, full-metal body, carbon fiber drag washers and sealed stainless steel ball bearings protect the major functions of the reel from damage and corrosion while producing the power and smoothness to fish for saltwater fish.
Best Lightweight Saltwater Spinning Reel
Toadfish Carbon Elite II
MSRP: $198.00
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Why I Love It
Casting and retrieving over and over causes fatigue, and every extra ounce of reel and rod weight adds up over a long day. As an answer, the Toadfish Carbon Elite II uses a space-age carbon fiber body and rotor that is light, stiff and corrosion-proof. To further increase durability, the Carbon Elite uses seven internal seals to block water and grit. The best feature is the soft-grippy rubber accents on the reel handle and foot where my fingers contact the reel.
Reasons to Buy
- Carbon body and rotor
- Aluminum gears
- Sealed carbon drag
Consider Another Model If
- You’re on a budget
- You need a larger size reel
Who Should Buy the Toadfish Carbon Elite
The Toadfish Carbon Elite II is designed by anglers who fish the salty shallows of the Southeast. They designed the reel for themselves with durable components and a comfortable grip. The reel is available in four sizes, from 1000 to 4000, to cover the most popular inshore species. When I’m blind casting points, marsh-lines, grass flats and oyster reefs, I appreciate a super light reel to reduce fatigue. The Elite Carbon is also compact and comfortable in the hand for making hundreds of casts a day.
Best Full-Metal Saltwater Spinning Reel
Tsunami SaltX II
MSRP: $430.00
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Why I Love It
There is a contingent of anglers fishing the biggest fish in the worst conditions who demand a full-metal spinning reel that is bulletproof and corrosion-resistant. Usually, these reels cost close to $1000, but the Tsunami SaltX II does all that and comes in under $400.
We can start at the SaltX II’s machined high-grade aluminum body and rotor. Inside, over 20 seals keep water out of the works. The stainless steel main and pinion gears are corrosion-resistant and capable of handling high torque. To protect against performance-sapping damage, the spool lip, bail wire and main gear are crafted out of lightweight and indestructible titanium.
Reasons to Buy
- Full aluminum body and rotor
- 50 pounds of drag
- Sizes from 3000 to 8000
Consider Another Model If
- You need a lightweight reel
- You need a smaller reel
Who Should Buy the Tsunami SaltX II
The Tsunami SaltX II is for people who fish hard for giant fish. Tuna, tarpon, sailfish and other sea monsters live in terrible places plagued by wind, waves, salt and sand. The SaltX II is designed to offer reliable big-fish performance at a great price. The aluminum body is corrosion-resistant and lightweight, with titanium accents in common failure points. The sealed body allows the reel to work completely submerged in water and still stop a trophy fish with a back-breaking 50 pounds of drag pressure. If your fishing has no limits, the SaltX II is the reel with limitless potential.
Best Small Spinning Reel for Surf Fishing
Okuma Rockaway SI Surf Inshore
MSRP: $99.99
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Why I Love It
Some people equate surf fishing with long rods and big reels, casting heavy lures and baits a country mile. But surf junkies know some of the best fishing is in the shorebreak. The Okuma Rockaway SI Surf Inshore is designed for light-tackle fishing in surf or shallow water.
The lightweight and minimalist reel is designed to punch above its weight class. Instead of using a heavy rod and reel to cast a heavy weight and stick the rod in a rod holder, the Rockaway Surf and matching rod series are built light and comfortable to cast and work soft plastic jigs and hardbody plugs. To detect a light bite in the chaotic surfzone, the reel focuses on smooth operation with stainless steel ball bearings and an efficient rotor. The carbon fiber body and aluminum spool reduce weight for all-day fishing. Beating a big fish with light tackle takes precision-machined gears and heat-reducing drag washers to produce smooth cranking power. Fishing the surf, with salty waves and flying sand is a brutal environment for a spinning reel; the Rockaway SI has a water-resistant body and deletes the anti-reverse switch to prevent moisture from entering the reel body.
By definition, a light reel is smaller and weaker than a large reel. The Rockaway SI focuses on beefing up the body and components while reducing weight and size. Surf fishing is a tough ask for light tackle; the Rockaway SI spinning reel is up to the task.
Reasons to Buy
- Reasonable price
- Four sizes from 2500 to 5000
- Water-resistant body
Consider Another Model If
- You need a sealed body
- You need a bailess reel
Who Should Buy the Rockaway SI Surf Inshore
A serious surf and inshore angler requires a serious reel for going one-on-one with the swell. Working light jigs and lures in the shorebreak is effective for a long list of fish species, but the tactic requires a comfortable, durable and performance reel. Okuma’s Rockaway SI is designed to survive the corrosive, wet and dirty conditions wade anglers face.
Matched to a responsive and sensitive rod, the Rockaway reels promote long casts, increase sensitivity and produce power for battling a fish through breaking waves and shallow water. The Rockaway pushes technology for a $100 fishing reel with stainless steel ball bearings, supported bronze pinion and precision gears inside a water-resistant body. This reel is for anglers who want to take light tackle fishing on foot. Light and comfortable, the Rockaway SI is ready to make 1000 casts in hopes of encountering a trophy fish.
Best Saltwater Spinning Reel for Inshore Fishing
Seviin GW Spinning
MSRP: $140.00
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Why I Love It
St. Croix has been making premium fishing rods for over 70 years, and a couple of years ago they added fishing reels to the lineup with the Seviin brand.
Seviin reels are designed to complement St. Croix’s rods with performance and durability to match. This year, they’ve turned their attention to saltwater reels with the Seviin GW spinning reels. The GW Series incorporates stainless-steel ball bearings, sealed carbon-fiber drag and a IPX5 water-resistant body to fight against corrosive saltwater.
What sets the Seviin GW Series apart from other reels in its class, however, is the design. The smaller models 2500 to 4000 use a lighter rotor and handle to finesse inshore fish, while the 5000 to 6000 models feature a die-cast aluminum rotor and a power handle for overpowering a powerful fish. I matched a 5000 GW with St. Croix’s medium-heavy, 7’3” Rogue V boat rod for casting live baits to trophy red drum and cobia. The rod’s strong backbone and the reel’s 35 pounds of maximum drag turned the head on the biggest inshore species. Between St. Croix’s wide range of fishing rods and Seviin’s matching reels, I can cover all the inshore and nearshore options.
Reasons to Buy
- Great value
- Sealed body
- Inshore and nearshore models
Consider Another Model If
- You need a lighter-weight reel
- You need a more durable reel
Who Should Buy the Seviin GW Series
Fans of St. Croix outfit their rods with matching Seviin reels, but the GW spinning reels are a great addition to any fishing rod. To target inshore species and nearshore giants, the GW series ranges from 2500 to 6000 sizes. The smaller sizes are designed for light tackle with lighter components and a more compact design. The bigger models have a heavier body and beefier parts to put the brakes on the biggest fish. The reels are a great value, so anglers building an arsenal can cover the bases without breaking the bank.
Saltwater Spinning Reel Buying Advice
To survive saltwater and big fish, a saltwater spinning reel needs to be tough. Heavy drag, corrosion-resistant materials and sturdy gears provide the foundation for inshore, nearshore and offshore fishing. When I am considering a saltwater spinning reel, I look for a carbon fiber drag system capable of producing smooth power. To prevent breakdown, a sealed reel body, drag and bearings keep out destructive saltwater and grime.
I choose a spinning reel that matches my fishing tactic. Powerful saltwater fish are capable of long, drag-screaming runs, so I need a spinning reel with maximum line capacity. For ⅛ ounce or lighter lures, I use a 1000-size reel. Heavy lures over five ounces and 50-pound braided fishing line call for an 8000 or larger spinning reel.
Best Saltwater Spinning Reel Brands
How We Tested
Saltwater is the great equalizer. The mineral-rich water is both corrosive and destructive, quickly finding the weaknesses in a fishing reel. The corrosion attacks all metal components, while the gritty salt gums up moving parts. I have taken many reels into the salt, and found out quickly how tough they are. The reels in this review have served their time and proven their worth in the arsenal.
Why trust us
Ric Burnley is the editor of Kayak Angler and calls the coastal waters of Virginia home, where he spends his time searching for saltwater game on the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, and each finger of tidal waterway in between.
Feature Image: Ric Burnley
