Looking to purchase a surf reel for my son and need some advise from you all. I was at Dicks earlier and priced an Okuma Stratus SV65 (white colored) and seemed to be well made at a decent price. We don’t surf fish alot and didn’t want to invest that much into it …any thoughts or other options would be appreciated.
I can’t personally vouch for Okuma reels, know a couple folks that have the Avenger and Makiara, seem to be okay. Honestly ANY spinning reel that will handle decent Cattfish and Striper will work fine in the surf. If you only fish the beach occasionally being super sealed is not mandatory.
I don’t know the Stratus but I am a fan of Okuma reels. I have a couple of Trios and several Avengers. The Avengers are inexpensive but, I have caught as many fish on them as I have my Shimanos or Penns. My favorite is the Trio. Rapchizzle had some reels he was selling. My son just bought a Shimano Spheros from him. See what he has remaining if used doesn’t bother you.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
Check out the Diawa BG4500. You get a lot of reel for around $100. Large enough for your bigger reds but not overwhelming. Manual bail with large capacity braid ready spool. Suggest looking at reels alanhawk.com has reviewed. His reviews are very very detailed and independent of any ties to manufacturers.
I have an okuma cedros. It has done pretty well I must say. Haven’t had an issue with it pulling in big fish/rays. Also seems to be holding up well to surf conditions. Still as smooth casting/reeling as when I took it out (well maybe not 100% but above expected after having for about a year).
Good buddy of mine run those same reels. One got dunked and with a cleaning still works fine. He has brought in many large reds and rays with them. He runs 65lb braid and doesn’t have any issues. He also runs the tsunami tuff tip rods for a cheap and rugged combo.
These are also another good choice for a reel not getting used on a daily basis.
http://www.tackledirect.com/penn-purii4000-pursuit-ii-spinning-reel.html
And I match them up with the tsunami rods for an economical, tough combo.
Or the 5000 series of the above for $25!!
http://www.ffo-tackle.com/ffo-reels-spinning/penn-pursuit-ii-spinning/FFOM1315415N.html#start=11
Joseph
$25 is an awesome deal. Even if they only last a year or 2 with heavy use.
I’ve got an 90 Okuma Azores and love it. It has 44# of drag and smooth as silk. Fished it two seasons so far and all is well. I don’t remember the model but it was on sale a Haddrells for just less than $100. I have a couple 2000 - 3000 ones too and they are good. I have Shimano and Penn as well but, just as good IMHO.
J Ford
Thanks Gents for all the good information, sounds like there are many descent options out there .
quote:
Originally posted by CapeislandredsCheck out the Diawa BG4500. You get a lot of reel for around $100. Large enough for your bigger reds but not overwhelming. Manual bail with large capacity braid ready spool. Suggest looking at reels alanhawk.com has reviewed. His reviews are very very detailed and independent of any ties to manufacturers.
I got the BG 4500 the other day. Going to put one in my spread and give it a trial run. As Cape said they have very good reviews from Allan Hawk/ and the load of people that went out and bought them because of his review. Also know a few CF members that have them and say they like them. I figure if they didn’t burn up with Folly Fisher targeting Blacktips with hard runs, they “may” be a great option for a budget reel in the 100 dollar range. Supposably smooth reels, good price, nice drag, excellent line capacity, all metal body with good internals. Partially sealed. Not something to lay in sand or drop in the water. In time if they hold up, not a bad deal. The 4500 and above are a little better made inside. The 6500 and 8000 are huge, better for sharks. They tend to run a little bigger. The 4500 to me looks about the size of a 6000 Shimano Spheros. The quantum Cabo 80 is my favorite. It is in the 200.00 range. Absolute beast of a reel. Holds plenty of line, a smooth extremely powerful drag, solid metal body, very reliable.Not to big, not to small. Only problem I have seen with them is a drag clicker wears out in time. A very easy fix with a tiny spring just under the spool. Takes about 1 minute and costs nothing. They will send people a couple at no charge. I have 5 of the cabos and ran them a couple of seasons hard. The only issue of all 5 is the drag clicker that I explained earlier which occured in two of them.
I agree with Jcarpenter. (In your budget allowance) Pick up a Penn Pursuit II 5000, and keep it rinsed with fresh water after every trip. Grease it with Quantum Hot Sauce reel grease after every 5-10 trips (removing some old grease). Pair that reel to a 9 foot Shakespeare SurfStick or some other Medium Heavy rod, and you’ll be on anything from smaller panfish to big bull reds in the surf.
No matter how many variables I have control over, I never expect a bite. I only hope.
I recently bought a penn pursuit 6500 taken it out almost everyday for the past 2 weeks. My rod holder got washed down and my reel got dunked in saltwater. Works just as good as new and i didnt even rinse it.