The Most Popular Saltwater Baitcasting Reels Review Guide For 2022-2023

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The Most Popular Saltwater Baitcasting Reels Review Guide For 2022-2023 – Locations, fish species, and fishing techniques seem nearly limitless when it comes to saltwater.

One thing that’s predictable, however, is that you’ll need a workhorse of a saltwater baitcasting reel if you want to land those hogs.

Today we’ll look at some of the best saltwater baitcasting reels on the market. I’ll help you learn (or brush up on) everything you need to know before you go shopping.

Whether it’s your first baitcaster or you’re just adding to your arsenal, there’s always more to learn and new reels hit the market all the time.

Let’s check out some of today’s top saltwater baitcasters inside The Most Popular Saltwater Baitcasting Reels Review Guide For 2022-2023.

Shimano Torium Star Drag Reel

Shimano Torium Star Drag Reel at a Glance:

• Bearings: 3+1
• Drag: 24lbs
• Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
• Weight:18.9 oz

Shimano is one of the most-trusted names in fishing. If you want a refined, classic-style reel that will be a reliable workhorse for years this is a great place to start.

Right out of the gate you’ll notice the huge positive grip and large cranking arm. This is designed specifically to give you tons of power to reef on those big fish and bring them to the boat.

Alongside that, the spool is huge too. It’s sized to handle 530 yards of 50 pound braid which is just a ton of line.

While the bearing count may not be impressive at 3+1 I think Shimano’s rep and this reel’s well-loved legacy speak for themselves. It also brings in anti-corrosion coatings on the gears and internals for a long life.

Best for a simple and proven workhorse when it’s time to troll or jig for big ones.

Product Details:

• A lightweight, solidly-built, star-drag saltwater reel that is perfect for live bait or bottom fishing applications and is packed with awesome features
• Equipped with a High Efficiency Gearing system that delivers exceptional strength and rigidity and greatly increases the leverage and power for years of reliable fishing
• Offers specially treated Anti-Rust Bearings that are at least 10 times more corrosion-resistant than standard stainless steel bearings and promote smooth, even line flow
• Features Cross Carbon Drag which provides long lasting smoothness to withstand fast, powerful runs from pelagic and large inshore species
• Max Drag: 24 lbs. / Gear Ratio: 6.2:1. / Weight: 19.8 oz. / Line Retrieve: 46″ / Bearings: 3BB + 1RB – PowerPro Line Cap: 50/1015, 65/515, 80/415 – Mono Line Cap: 25/420, 30/350, 40/260 – Retrieve: Right

Abu Garcia C4-6601 Ambassadeur Baitcast Reel

Abu Garcia C4-6601 Ambassadeur Baitcast Reel at a Glance:

• Bearings: 4+1
• Drag: 15 lbs
• Gear Ratio: 6.3:1
• Weight: 9.3 oz

Abu is a well-loved brand that has no lack of experience designing winning reels. This full-size saltwater baitcasting reel is ready to tackle anything from trout to sea bass.

With a 6-pin centrifugal brake system this reel is simple and reliable. In fact if I had to pick just one brake system for a reel it would be a quality centrifugal brake, so that’s perfect.

This reel is available in 3 different major sizes. Of these, the largest is capable of holding 310 yards of 50lbs braid which should be enough for practically any situation.

At 15 pounds of max drag I think the brakes leave something to be desired for larger species, but 15 pounds is nothing to sneeze at either.

Overall, it’s a good-looking reel with all the features you’d expect from a full-size saltwater rig at a reasonable price.

Best for those trolling for moderate fish on a budget.

Product Details:

• Baitcast fishing reel delivers exceptional durability, forceful drag, and smooth operation
• Engineered for smoothness with 4 stainless ball bearings and 1 roller bearing
• Carbon Matrix drag system provides smooth and consistent drag
• 6-pin centrifugal brake applies consistent pressure for an exceptionally precise cast
• Compact bent handle and star wheel for comfortable reeling

Piscifun Alijos Size 300 Baitcasting Reels

Piscifun Alijos Size 300 Baitcasting Reels at a Glance:

• Bearings: 8+1
• Drag: 33 lbs
• Gear Ratio: 5.9 or 8.1:1
• Weight: 11.3 oz

Piscifun was a brand I had assumed to be “cheap” until I used their reels. While they’re not bleeding edge, I still feel this brand provides amazing value for the money and deserves a look.

With more bearings and more drag than substantially more expensive reels from competitive name brands, it’s easy to see why Piscifun delivers value.

33 pounds of drag is up there with the beefiest saltwater baitcasting reels. On top of that the oversized brass gears are designed to take a beating and stand up to it.

Outside the reel is a huge crank arm and an oversized handle that provides tons of grip to fight those fish that bust out on a long run.

Best for those on a budget looking for the absolute maximum value for the money.

Product Details:

• Durable – The Piscifun Alijos size 300 baitcasting reel designed with premium aluminum frame and gear side plate which provide incredible durability to handle the biggest freshwater fish
• Incredibly Powerful & Strong – Boasts with an incredible 33Lbs of drag and HUGE Hamai cut hardened brass gearing to handle fish way out of its league, the Alijos is built for big fish and big swimbaits which make it a great inshore saltwater baitcasting fishing reel
• Top in Class Components – Loaded with high end components, Alijos 300 baitcasting reels are a next level baitcaster reels for pro fishing tournaments. Alijos features 8 double shielded stainless steel bearings and one instant anti reverse paired with Hamai cut hardened brass main gear and pinion gear to ensure the durability, low noise as well as smoothness
• Multiple Choices – Alijos 300 baitcast reels come with 5.9:1 and 8.1:1 gear ratios options with different color coated features make it a multi adaptation fishing reel. You can also select ordinary double handle or strong power handle according to personal preferences
• Ergonomic and Innovative – Piscifun Alijos 300 baitcasting reel comes with a super easy to access thumb bar engage button on the gear side plate which helps you bump back the thumb bar without cranking the handle. The super sturdy line wrap spool eliminates using mono as backing. Double shafts support line guide system greatly increases the stability and durability. 8 effective magnetic braking system prevents overruns and backlash. Inner wrapped thumb bar pad give you better comfort

Daiwa Coastal TW Casting Reel

Daiwa Coastal TW Casting Reel at a Glance:

• Bearings: 7+1
• Drag: 25 lbs
• Gear Ratio: 7.1:1
• Weight: 9 oz

Daiwa’s top end reels are nothing short of precision and expertise. We’ve included the Coastal on our list because it’s got the quality and brawn to put the stop on big fish.

One standout feature of the Coastal model is the huge Winn grips. These grips stand out because of their color, size, and tacky texture. This means more positive grip and control when fighting fish even if the handle is wet.

On top of that, the handle is set on a 120mm cranking arm which provides tons of leverage to reel fish in. On a 7.1:1 ratio reel this means a balance of retrieve speed and torque.

This is a low-profile style casting reel that’s perfect for precision casting to targets in shallow to moderate water.

Best for casting with a low-profile moderately priced baitcaster.

Product Details:

• A7075 Aircraft Grade Aluminum deep spool
• 8 Bearing System 7 CRBB + 1RB
• Ultimate Tournament Drag UTD with up to 15.4 lbs. max
• High strength gearing material
• Line Capacity (Lb. Test / Yards)-MONO: 16/185, 20/150 J-BRAID: 30/190, 40/145

Piscifun Salis X Inshore Saltwater Baitcasting Reel

Piscifun Salis X Inshore Saltwater Baitcasting Reel at a Glance:

• Bearings: 6+1
• Drag: 37 lbs
• Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
• Weight: 35.6 oz

Piscifun comes in with another beefy, affordable, workhorse of a trolling reel here. This one is for brutes – big fish, big rods, and big lures.

While it may weigh as much as a brick, that’s because it’s designed to take a beating. If you order the 5000 series you’ll be able to load 520 yards of 80lbs braided line.

That’s an absolute crazy amount of heavy line and you’ll need all that and more to handle the 37 pound drag system.

It’s preloaded with ears to clip on a strap if you plan to battle the biggest and baddest saltwater monsters. Plus, the oversized crank and handle are both beefed up to give you loads of leverage for the fight.

Best for targeting big fish on a trolling rig.

Product Details:

• Built to Hunt Monsters – The Salis X trolling reels are constructed with extremely durable light weight graphite frame and side plates paired with powerful stainless steel handle for big game fish in a variety of saltwater conditions
• Incredible Power – Piscifun Salis X saltwater fishing reel is a real power machine! The top class carbon fiber washers deliver up to 37Lbs drag power, which helps fight against the biggest fish with ease. The precise Japanese Hamai Cut Gearing System greatly ensures the consistence to give you best in class performance
• Braid Ready Spool – The Salis X conventional reel comes with a forged and machined aluminum spool which is braid ready to eliminate mono backing when spooling braided fishing line
• Faster Retrieve – Piscifun Salis X saltwater level wind reel features a 6.2:1 gear ratio which is faster than most trolling reels offered today. With this capability, you are able to control the battles with big fish
• More than Expected – The Salis X saltwater fishing reel is loaded with many un-matched features which cannot be found on other reels in its class which include an incredible strong stainless steel crank handle, super comfortable power knob, extremely durable and stable three bushing supported line winding, and an instant engage bait clicker

Lews Fishing SSN1SH Speed Spool Baitcasting Reel

Lews Fishing SSN1SH Baitcasting Reel at a Glance:

• Bearings: 6+1
• Drag: 20 lbs
• Gear Ratio: 7.5:1
• Weight: 7.3 oz

Lew’s is a great fishing brand well-loved by recreational anglers and pros both. Their reputation for great gear extends to this low-profile baitcaster.

At a fraction of the size and weight of the larger baitcasters on our list, this low-profile inshore reel is a casting machine. It’s got a 7.5:1 gear ratio for fast retrieves which means more casts, and faster casts.

It has an external controlled magnetic brake system which is used to control spool overrun. Paired with the spool tension knob this provides all the braking adjustment for your casts.

Holding 140 yards of 12lbs test line it’s not going to take huge runs from massive fish. This is an in-shore reel for casting around cover and hunting for those moderate sportfish. That said, the 20 pounds of drag will put the brakes on any but the absolute biggest fish.

Best for inshore casting on moderate to smaller species.

Product Details:

• Premium 7-bearing stainless steel system with 6-ball bearings and Zero Reverse one-way clutch bearing
• Externally adjustable Magnetic Control System (MCS)
• Blue anodized aluminum spool tension knob with audible click adjustment
• Rugged carbon fiber drag system provides up to 20lbs. of drag power
• New oversized bowed audible click drag star

Abu Garcia Revo X Inshore Casting Reel

Abu Garcia Revo X Inshore Low Profile Casting Reel at a Glance:

• Bearings: 6+1
• Drag: 30 lbs
• Gear Ratio: 6.6:1
• Weight: 12.2 oz

Abu’s Revo series has long been the standard of affordable performance among recreational anglers. Can it hold up against competitors like the Speed Spool and the Lexa? I think so.

A note upfront: when I went to Abu’s website it failed to list the weight of the reel and the max drag. Seemingly large oversights on such a reputable manufacturer.

Abu knows how to build reels that work, though, and their inshore reel is sure to handle anything you throw at it. I like that it has a built-in lubrication port, too. This is an often overlooked feature on many high-end reels.

I also like the lower 6.6 gear ratio which means slower retrieve but greater leverage for bigger fish. If you’re planning to target large fish and push the limits of your reel, the lower gear ratio will help.

Best for a low gear ratio inshore casting reel for winning tough fights.

Product Details:

• 7 stainless steel ball bearings + 1 roller bearing provides smooth Operation
• X2-Craftic alloy frame for increased corrosion resistance
• Carbon matrix Hybrid drag System for Super smooth reliable drag performance
• Dragger brass gear for extended gear life
• D2 gear design provides a more efficient gear System while improving gear durability

How to Choose the Best Saltwater Baitcasting Reel for You:

Types of Baitcasting Reels:

Baitcasters come in two primary varieties. You can go with the popular in-shore and bass-style reels called “low profile”. Alternatively, you can also opt for the traditional huge-spooling saltwater baitcasters.

These two varieties differ primarily in their castability, line capacity, and braking power.

Traditional large-spool baitcasting reels are much bulkier and less agile than their low-profile counterparts. They make up for those drawbacks, however, with substantial drag power and spool size. Because they’re larger they have room for bigger gears, larger drag discs, and longer spools of heavy braided line.

Try to spend a day on the water casting a large-spool baitcaster into tight cover or doing accurate roll casts, though, and you’ll soon find out why low-profile baitcasters win in this arena. Low-profile baitcasting reels lack the huge spools and heavy drag but are lightweight, accurate, and easy to cast with precision.

Drag Maximum:

Drag power refers to the maximum amount of stopping power a reel can produce. Drag is created by discs inside the reel which rub together to form a specific amount of adjustable friction.

Saltwater fish tend to be large and capable of pulling drag on lightweight reels. Most freshwater reels max out around 12 pounds of drag or so. Many saltwater anglers, on the other hand, prefer multiple times that amount of drag.

If you’re fishing in-shore you can probably get away with a reel built for 20 pounds of drag. For larger species, you may need even more! Some anglers like drag settings approaching 30 pounds.

Remember that most lines are rated for half or less of your drag. If you’re fishing 10-pound line, most manufacturers recommend a 2-4 pound drag setting. For 30 pounds of drag, you’ll need to be fishing a 60-80 pound braided line on your reel.

Gear Ratio:

Fishing reels always have a specified gear ratio. What this defines is the relationship between turning the handle and turning the spool.

For instance, if you have a reel with a gear ratio of 5:1 then every 1 turn of the handle causes the spool to complete 5 full revolutions.

Gear ratio has two direct tradeoffs:

• High gear ratios reel in your lure more quickly.
• Low gear ratios produce more torque.

A high gear ratio reel is great for easily covering distance and pulling line in quickly. It helps you catch up to the fish quicker and reel in faster after every cast. Unfortunately, high gear ratios are also much harder to put the pull on big, hard-fighting fish.

Low gear ratio reels are workhorses. Like putting your truck in low gear to pull a stump, a low gear-ratio reel has more power for pulling in big fish.

Line Retrieve:

Gear ratio is only one part of the story. While a 5:1 gear ratio will always cause 5 revolutions of the spool for every one turn of the handle, the story goes on.

Because each reel has a different size spool, the amount of line that is taken up per turn of the spool can change dramatically from one to the next.

One reel might take up 23” of line per revolution while another could take up 31”.

Finding a line speed and gear ratio that matches what you want to do is critical. If you are using swimbaits for in-shore trout you might want a fast retrieve and high gear ratio. If you’re bottom dragging on the flats you might want something slower and more powerful.

Don’t expect one reel to do every job perfectly. A reel with fast line take-up isn’t the solution to every problem. Sometimes you need less line, a slower retrieve, and more power.

Line Capacity:

Each saltwater baitcasting reel will have a different maximum line capacity. These ratings define how much of any type of line you can fit onto your spool. If you want to cast further or fight fish that take really long runs, you’ll want greater line capacity.

Check the product spec for the reel you’re looking at to find line the capacity listing. Usually, it will be listed as “30lbs braid 300 yards” and is simple to understand.

While line capacity is straightforward there are a few things to keep in mind.

If you’re planning to use a line size that’s not listed you’ll have to guess. For instance, if a reel is rated for 200 yards of 20lbs braid and 400 yards of 10lbs braid, you can guess that it will hold about 300 yards of 15lbs braid.

Because different types of lines are inherently different sizes, be sure to check for the type of line you plan to use. Braid, monofilament, and fluorocarbon all have different ratings.

Construction and Materials:

Baitcasting reels can be made from, essentially, three different materials: graphite/carbon, aluminum, and plastics.

Extremely cheap baitcasters may use plastics in their frame or components. Skip them. Even if those plastic components don’t break (and they will) they’ll definitely flex which causes poor performance.

Many modern reels use some types of carbon or graphite. These materials are often used in carbon drag systems. They can also be used in frames, cranking armatures, and other areas of the reel. Graphite reel components are very lightweight but not quite as sturdy as aluminum.

Aluminum, while still light compared to many metals, is still the heaviest of these materials. That said, it makes up for it by being extremely strong and rigid. This means little to no flexing when setting hooks, fighting, or cranking on even the biggest brutes. Overall aluminum is probably the best performing choice for saltwater reel bodies.

Other materials may include brass and stainless steel. These materials are both popular for internal gears, frame components, and other items. They’re both highly corrosion resistant and, when used right, make good additions to a well-rounded saltwater baitcasting reel.

Keep in mind when buying a saltwater baitcasting reel that you need it to be corrosion resistant. Many freshwater baitcasters aren’t designed to hold up against the corrosive force of salt.

Bearings:

Bearings are used to support, stabilize, and reduce friction on the moving parts of a reel. Usually the spool and crank arms have bearings in them.

Bearings come in several different types but stainless steel ball bearings are common on most reels.

While it stands to reason that more bearings equals better performance, that’s not always the case. I have found that performance in baitcasting reels is more about the overall quality and build of the reel than the number of bearings.

In an apples-to-apples comparison I would probably choose the reel with the better or greater number of bearings to settle a stalemate.

FAQs About Saltwater Casting Reels

Q: Are baitcasters good for saltwater fishing?
A: Yes, baitcasters are great for saltwater fishing.

That said, you need to make sure that you get one rated for saltwater. Saltwater is very corrosive and can quickly destroy freshwater baitcasters if they’re not made to hold up against it.

Saltwater baitcasters are typically also designed with larger spools than their freshwater cousins. Saltwater fish tend to be larger, fight harder, and take longer runs and therefore a saltwater baitcaster needs to be able to hold more/larger line.

Q: Why are baitcasters better than spinning reels?
A: Baitcasters have some advantages over spinning reels.

Because of the design of a baitcaster, the spool, line, and handle are placed in such a way that power transfers efficiently when setting the hook and cranking.

Another advantage is that baitcasters leave the spool open and accessible to the thumb. That means you can “thumb the spool” to very accurately control how far and where your cast will go. It’s much easier to place an accurate cast with a baitcasting reel.

Keep in mind, however, that spinning reels have a few advantages of their own.

Compared to large saltwater baitcast reels, spinning reels sit more comfortably in the grip. They’re less tiring to cast and hold.

Also, spinning reels are largely free from the hellish phenomenon called “backlash”. While baitcasters, when used wrong, can create a birds nest of line and ruin your day, spinning reels will not. They’re much easier for beginners to learn and master.

Q: Is braided line good for baitcasters?
A: Braided line is great for baitcasters! It casts smooth and far and it won’t kink up on you like monofilament or fluorocarbon line can.

Braid also has much less line memory. It’s less prone to coming off the spool in coils after being stored for a while. Mono and flouro, on the other hand, can have nasty line memory problems.

Braided line has very little or no stretch. That means you can feel a strike or a bump off structure with braid instantly. Additionally, it’s substantially more abrasion and cut resistant than mono or flouro. That makes it a great choice around structure and for use with big, toothy fish.

At the end of the day, braid is a total pleasure to cast on a good baitcaster.

Q: What do magnetic brakes do on a baitcaster?
A: Baitcasting reels may have magnetic or centrifugal brakes. Often both.

Magnetic brakes are used to control low-speed spool performance. Magnetic brakes use electromagnetic forces generated by the spinning spool to control how fast the line leaves the spool.

Magnetic brakes are great because they can be adjusted without taking the cover off of a baitcasting reel.

While they’re awesome, magnetic brakes sometimes can’t keep up with the initial force of a cast. Centrifugal brakes provide a lot more stopping power at high spool-speeds than magnetic brakes can.

I’ve used baitcasters with magnetic brakes, centrifugal brakes, and both brakes. To find out which type you like best you’ll have to do a little trial and error.

Q: Can I use a low-profile baitcaster for saltwater?
A: Yes.

Low-profile saltwater reels do exist but they’re mainly for in-shore fishing.

These reels are lighter than full-size saltwater baitcast reels. You can find some, such as the Shimano TranX with drags in the mid 20-pound range. They lack the line capacity of large baitcasting reels, however.

Basically if you’re going shallow for moderate fish, a low-profile reel will work fine. If you’re looking for the big kahunas, or trolling for fish that fight a full-size saltwater reel will work great.

Conclusion:

Whether you’re rigging up for trolling or casting along the pilings at the pier, we’ve got something on our list for you. These reels are made to handle the corrosive saltwater environment inshore and saltwater anglers throw at them.

There’s not one right reel for everyone. We each have to decide which reel is right for our needs. Once you’ve been fishing a while you’ll find that multiple reels are great for varying situations so you can never have too many! Thanks for taking the time to read The Most Popular Saltwater Baitcasting Reels Review Guide For 2022-2023.