Best Saltwater Spinning Reels

Top Offshore Spinning Reels

Essential for casting baits to tailing sailfish while fishing off the Florida Keys or pitching a live bait to a striped marlin off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the best offshore saltwater spinning reels are crucial tools for many big-game anglers chasing marlin, sails, mahi mahi and tuna. The ability to hold nearly 600 yards of 80-pound braid with a stopping power of over 60 pounds of drag, the best saltwater spinning reels are capable of handling big runs and they have the drag to put the heat on a charging billfish.

If you’re serious about landing big fish and want every advantage you can get, you need to know your best options when it comes down to buying your next offshore spinning reel. But don’t worry because we’ve already done the homework for you. Through personal experience and advice from top anglers, we’re certain we’ve created the ultimate list of the best fishing reels for saltwater on the market today. Check out these reels from Canyon, Daiwa, Okuma, Penn and Shimano to help you decide which one meets your fishing style.

Canyon Reels Salt 7500

The Canyon Reels Salt 7500 is a high-power spinning reel assembled in the United States. Featuring a solid aluminum body and rotor, the drive, pinion and gears are all constructed from stainless steel. The spool incorporates double ball bearings and the drag washers are constructed in both stainless steel and Carbontex that can provide more than 66 pounds of stopping pressure. The nine bearings in the Salt 7500 are double-shielded ZZ bearings and will keep thing smooth when fighting your next catch.

Specifications

• Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 325 yards
• Braid Line Capacity (60 lb): 500 yards
• Max Drag: 66 pounds
• Gear Ratio: 4.4:1
• Line Retrieve Per Crank: 42 inches
• Ball Bearings: 9
• Weight: 26 ounces
• Retrieve: Reversible
• MSRP: $249.99

Daiwa Saltiga Dogfight 8000

The features inside the Saltiga Dogfight from Daiwa are designed for maximum reliability. Daiwa brought their Mag Seal technology to the redesigned Dogfight that uses a thin film of magnetic oil to keep saltwater and debris from entering the reel’s rotor bearing. In doing so, it also offers substantially less winding friction. The reel features a total of 14 ball bearings, including three Mag Sealed ball bearings and two corrosion-resistant ball bearings. Other feature such as a manual bail trip to eliminate bail spring problems and a rotor brake to prevent the rotor from moving during a cast are huge improvements to the redesigned Saltiga Dogfight. Weighing only 30 ounces, it still has the ability to pack a powerful punch with a maximum drag of 66 pounds.

Specifications

• Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 510 yards
• Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 600 yards
• Line Retrieve Per Crank: 56.7 inches
• Max Drag: 66 pounds
• Gear Ratio: 5.7:1
• Ball Bearings: 13
• Weight: 30 ounces
• Retrieve: Reversible
• MSRP: $1,099.95

Daiwa Isla 7000 Bull

The Isla 7000 Bull from Daiwa is a rugged, high-performance saltwater spinning reel that benefits from the advanced design concepts and technology found in the Saltiga series of spinning reels. The design includes a waterproof body, Zaion carbon composite air rotors, a machined handle with soft touch grip and a forged aluminum spool. Weighing in at only 29.4 ounces, the reel packs a class-leading punch with 66 pounds of drag.

Specifications

• Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 470 yards
• Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 550 yards
• Line Retrieve Per Crank: 54.7 inches
• Max Drag: 66 pounds
• Gear Ratio: 4.3:1
• Ball Bearings: 10
• Weight: 29.4 ounces
• Retrieve: Reversible
• MSRP: $899.95

Okuma Makaira MK3000LS

The Makaira series reels from Okuma feature forged aluminum bodies, side plates and rotors, with 17-4 grade stainless steel main gears for strength. They are designed with Okuma’s 4D concept: design, drive, drag and durability, and the spinning reel should be a winner for everything from big mahimahi to small marlin thanks to its light weight (under 40 ounces) and high gear ratio (5.8 to 1).

Specifications

• Mono Line Capacity (40 lb): 490 yards
• Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 700 yards
• Line Retrieve Per Crank: 65.7 inches
• Max Drag: 66 pounds
• Gear Ratio: 5.8:1
• Ball Bearings: 10
• Weight: 36.7 ounces
• Retrieve: Left or right
• MSRP: $879.99

Okuma Cedros CJ-14000

The Makaira series reels from Okuma feature precision dual force drag system, multi-disc Japanese oiled felt drag system, 4HPB + 1RB corrosion-resistant stainless-steel ball bearings, quick-set anti-reverse roller bearing, precision machine cut brass pinion gear, corrosion-resistant coating process, corrosion-resistant, high density gearing and mag-alloy rigid frame construction. The spinning reel should be a winner for everything from big mahi-mahi to small marlin thanks to its light weight (22.9 ounces) and high gear ratio (5.4 to 1).

Specifications

• Mono Line Capacity (20 lb): 380 yards
• Line Retrieve Per Crank: 45.8 inches
• Max Drag: 44 pounds
• Gear Ratio: 5.4:1
• Ball Bearings: 4HPB + 1RB
• Weight: 23 ounces
• Retrieve: Reversible
• MSRP: $179.99

Penn Slammer III 10500

For decades, Penn Reels have been the gold standard for the bluewater enthusiast. Penn’s Slammer III reels feature the IPX6 Sealed System, which keeps water completely out of the gear box and drag system, making the reels incredibly durable. Another update for the Slammer III is the new proprietary Dura-Drag material, making them among the smoothest drag of any spinning reel on the market. An oversized handle makes regaining line a breeze, too.

Specifications

• Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 435 yards
• Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 540 yards
• Line Retrieve Per Crank: 43 inches
• Max Drag: 60 pounds
• Gear Ratio: 4.2:1
• Ball Bearings: 7
• Weight: 43.1 ounces
• Retrieve: Reversible
• MSRP: $349.95

Penn Spinfisher VI 10500

The PENN Spinfisher VI features IPX5 sealing to prevent saltwater getting into the gearbox or drag system. A Full Metal Body and sideplate keep the CNC Gear System in alignment under heavy loads. Other features include HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers and 5+1 sealed stainless steel ball bearing system.

Specifications

• Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 435 yards
• Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 540 yards
• Line Retrieve Per Crank: 43 inches
• Max Drag: 50 pounds
• Gear Ratio: 4.2:1
• Ball Bearings: 6
• Weight: 43.1 ounces
• Retrieve: Reversible
• MSRP: $249.95

Penn Torque II TRQ9500S

The Torque TRQ9500S from Penn is a rugged spinning reel for heavy-duty saltwater fishing and is constructed on a one-piece aluminum frame. The fully sealed gearbox and HT-100 Versa-Drag system allows you to focus on fighting the fish rather than the performance of the reel, while providing up to 60 pounds of stopping power. The Torque II also features an integral clutch sleeve for instant anti-reverse to eliminate any back play of the rotor during hook sets. A unique system on the underside of the rotor allows an angler to choose between automatic or manual trip of the bail to meet different needs while fishing.

Specifications

• Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 330 yards
• Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 490 yards
• Line Retrieve Per Crank: 50 inches
• Max Drag: 60 pounds
• Gear Ratio: 5.1:1
• Ball Bearings: 10
• Weight: 27.8 ounces
• Retrieve: Reversible
• MSRP: $799.95

Shimano Saragosa SW 25000

The Saragosa SW line of spinning reels from Shimano are made to be durable with their cam oscillation system as well as the X-Shield and X-Protect technology to fight saltwater intrusion. Designed for the blue-water angler and the species they target, the Saragosa SW 25000 reels offers up to 44 pounds of drag with a cross carbon, twin-drag design. The 4.4:1 gear ratio and 45 inches of retrieval allow anglers to get on the fish quickly with the power needed to subdue a large pelagic game fish.

Specifications

• Mono Line Capacity (30 lb): 360 yards
• Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 520 yards
• Line Retrieve Per Crank: 45 inches
• Max Drag: 44 pounds
• Gear Ratio: 4.4:1
• Ball Bearings: 6 shielded anti-rust
• Weight: 34.2 ounces
• Retrieve: Reversible
• MSRP: $409.99

Shimano Stella SW 30000

Shimano's Stella series has proved to be incredibly popular with anglers around the world. The largest of the model line, the SW 30000, has all the features that offshore enthusiasts demand, including the ability to put over 40 pounds of drag pressure on tough game fish. This reel raises the bar in many ways, including a class-leading 14 ball bearings, its light-weight construction (just 34.9 ounces) and much more.

Specifications

• Mono Line Capacity (40 lb): 340 yards
• Braid Line Capacity (80 lb): 700 yards
• Line Retrieve Per Crank: 52 inches
• Max Drag: 44 pounds
• Gear Ratio: 4.4:1
• Ball Bearings: 14
• Weight: 34.9 ounces
• Retrieve: Reversible
• MSRP: $1,419.99

Shimano Twin Power SW 14000

The Shimano Twin Power SW blends power, durability and reliability. Shimano's Hagane gear and body design allows anglers to handle powerful species such as sailfish. Features include X-Ship, X-Shield, X Aero Wrap II, X Rigid Motor, 11 bearings, and a host of other proprietary technologies. The 14000 model incorporates a 6.2 to 1 gear ratio and 55 pounds into a light weight reel weighing 22.9 ounces.

Specifications

• Mono Line Capacity (30 pound): 260 yards
• Braid Line Capacity (80 pound): 240 yards
• Line Retrieve Per Crank: 53 inches
• Max Drag: 55 pounds
• Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
• Ball Bearings: 10+1
• Weight: 22.9 ounces
• Retrieve: Reversible
• MSRP: $619.99