I have a few reels laying around and just want to know which is stronger.
Hoping to land a giant shark from the beach: Shakespeare Alpha Bigwater, or Abu Garcia 6500 C3? Huge price difference, the bigwater is a huge reel and it looks like it would be stronger than the C3, but maybe not? thanks
I actually have an Alpha and it has held up well haven’t caught a lot of fish on it though, found out since moving down here you get what you pay for with saltwater reels
Bragging may not bring happiness,
but no man having caught a large fish,
goes home through the alley.
-Anonymous
Abu all the way… I have a 5501 C3 (-01 is the lefty version) that is going on 10 years old - fresh and saltwater use, plug casting for striped bass up to 55#'s. The reel looks and feels brand new.
My luck with the Walmart reels - a few big fish and they are toast.
The Abu is a reel that will last a lifetime.
In the saltwater environment, you typically get what you pay for. Some reels are overkill, but the el-cheapo’s simply don’t hold up.
X2 on the Abu. Got a couple of them and they really are good reels. Hold up well to the salt - if you clean them throughly.
How big of a shark?
I’d go with the Abu over the Shakespeare any day! The Shakespeare may be able to get one in, but probably not two. The gears and drag would most likely break. Not to mention the corrosion would be horrible.
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I bought a 10 foot Shakespeare surf rod a few years ago and it came with on of those Alpha reels. I never used it because I don’t trust it. They have a single ball bearing and are cheaply made. I had some experience with an alpha reel in the past. I was on vacation in Florida and saw a pier near the resport that looked like a good fishing spot. I went to walmart, bought a cheap $20 Shakespeare tiger rod with an alpha reel. Hooked a snook and the (**() thing felt like It was going to break in two. I lost the fish and dumped the whole rig in the garbage. Definitely go with the Abu over the alpha. Reels are definitely worth spending a few extra dollars on. Some of the less expensive rods are really good. But this is rarely the case with reels. If you are looking to land a big fish a good quality reel will increase your chances of landing one much greater. And, a good quality reel with proper maintenance can last a long time and save you money in the long run.
If two wrongs don’t make a right, try three.
i have a 6500c3 that is from 1990. easy to fix and a darn good reel. i would put some heavy braid on it and use that one.
Save your bucks up buy a Van Staal and never buy another reel. I have one that is 16 yrs old never missed a lick. I have used the 150 in Panama for tuna and turned around and thrown poppers in the surf for roosters. Great do all reel just have to get used to no bail, now when someone hands ne a reel with a bail I don’t know how to act.
Hard to beat a 6500! have landed sail fish in Costa rica on them and striper in Murry with the same reel and line The drag is the guts of any reel and ABU has one of the best. Had 12 of them stolen last year out of my striper boat am replaceing the as i can as it took me years to a acumalate. $1500 dedutable insurance sucks at times like this!
Go with the 6500, it’s going to be hard to find a more versatile and durable reel for the money. I have to disagree with boatpoor on the drag on these reels though. I find the 10# max. drag is one of the few weaknesses on these reels. I’ve caught several 6’ and larger Sharks(in the surf), but loose big Stripers on Hartwell due to the weak drag allowing them to get back down into the trees.
I’ve thought about cutting my own drag discs out of 220 grit sandpaper and seeing how that works on stopping big Stripers. Has anyone here ever tried modifying the drag on a 6500?
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I have two 5500c3’s. One is a 1983 and the other is from the 90s. the drag on the older one makes a slight click when it is pulled. The newer ones do not. The older ones are better made i think.