conventional surf reel recommendations

[BrianBM]

Try and find a reel in the Fathom's price bracket that's made in the USA .... you can't.

[NewestGuyOnStripersOnline]

43 mins ago, BrianBM said:

Try and find a reel in the Fathom's price bracket that's made in the USA .... you can't.

Really I’d just settle for anywhere but China.
 

I’m new to all this and thought Penn was made where the name implied. Should have known better. Good reel though, minus the knob.

 

...and the fact that I get birds nests on every cast.

[BrianBM]

AFAIK the only surf conventional made in the USA is made by Seigler. It's around $400. It gets great reviews from 8/bait anglers, for whose use it was intended. There are star drags made here by Accurate and Avet, but I've never seen a report or comment from any surf angler about them. They may, or may not, have an antibacklash mechanism, as the Fathom and Seigler reels do. We do have reports here from anglers using the Accurate and Avet lever drag reels in the surf (especially the Avets, as they're cheaper).  They are made to fine tolerances that don't digest sand as well as star drags might do, and they too are really best suited for bait.

 

Plug casting? Light sinkers and bait? Stick to Pacific Rim product, Penn or otherwise.

[DerrickT]

Another problem. is most if not all new reels are here today and gone tomorrow.  So are the parts.

 

 

I can still get parts for my penns made in the 70's.

[oysterbreath]

I am surprised nobody mentioned the Diawa Sealine slosh 20 and 30. Rock solid cheap and very dependable. We have such a short striper season (if they show up) i can't bring my self to spending a few hundred to catch skates and doggies. 

[Go Fish]

I'll second the SLOSH recommendation. I have two and love them. Very easy to use, great clicker and reasonably priced.

[rwilliamsjr26]

Saw the comment from oysterbreath about the Daiwa Sealine slosh 30 and 40 and decided to grab a Sealine-X SHA SL-X30SHA to try out this spring.  Very reasonable price compared to the Penn Casting Special I've had my eye on

[JAL]

Another fan of the SL30SH for the 12' Heavers...  run with 17 lb Tritanium and a 50lb shocker and you'll be set.

[Rougesun]

I love a Saltist 20H on my heavens. I just tried an Akios 656 and sent it right back. Picked up another 20H. Use mono in Hatteras, especially if fishing the Point. I load my 20Hs with 20lb. Suffix Tri. 

[Sudsy]

A lot of good answers here but they may or may not answer all the questions

 

Where are you fishing and what are you fishing for? 

How far do you need to cast and how much reserve line do you need (big fish can run off a lot of line) ?

 

If you're using thick heavy line for large fish you'll be casting down near the backing on a 6500 size reel with a 12' rod

 

 

[BrianBM]

If the OP is fishing the Point at Hatteras, by Buxton, then yes - mono is needed. I think some piers require it too. However, it's not hard to find uncrowded beach to fish, and if you want to fish braid, that's where you do it.

 

I have a Newell 229 reserved for those places where mono is a social necessity.

[rwilliamsjr26]

On 1/25/2021 at 11:39 AM, rwilliamsjr26 said:

Saw the comment from oysterbreath about the Daiwa Sealine slosh 30 and 40 and decided to grab a Sealine-X SHA SL-X30SHA to try out this spring.  Very reasonable price compared to the Penn Casting Special I've had my eye on

Just arrived, it's going into the spring lineup.  Can't wait to cast it.

[delaware surfman]

This preformed flawlessly this year, casts a mile, more coming this spring. Akios, shuttle, 656

Edited February 3, 2021 by delaware surfman

[delaware surfman]

Another view, 

[rwilliamsjr26]

On 1/30/2021 at 4:11 PM, rwilliamsjr26 said:

Just arrived, it's going into the spring lineup.  Can't wait to cast it.

I as able to get out to Sandy Point for some practice casting this weekend.  The Daiwa performed well with 50# braid with casts @ 275 ft.  No significant backlashes after breaking it in.  I'm pleased with the purchase and looking forward to using it on AI in March.