How To Choose The BEST Inshore Spinning Reel For You

It’s reel selection time!

Do you need big spinning reels to fight inshore fish like big redfish, snook, trout, and tarpon?

NO.

And you're probably wasting a ton of money and missing fish because you're going in too overpowered for the situation.

Turns out that even a 1000 series spinning reel can get the job done in most cases.

But there are downsides to going too big AND too small on your reel size.

So in this episode, you'll learn everything you need to know so that you can make the best decision for your style of fishing and what you are targeting!

You'll get the answers to these questions:

- What do different reel sizes mean?
- What's the most important thing to consider when choosing a spinning reel?
- Do you need a big reel for tarpon?
- And more!

So many factors go into what spinning reel is right for you!

Do you have any questions about spinning reel sizes or what's best for your style of fishing?

[pano]

This is a college classroom and Im gonna have to watch this multiple times to let the lesson sink in.

[AndyOutdoorsChannel]

Penn squadron III inshore 7ft medium light, 10lb braid 10-25lb leader, 3000 bg is my go to for 75% of my fishing here in the north east. Then ill go up to a 9ft penn prevail to a 3500 bg 20lb braid and 20-30lb leader for my semi larger lures. Then 10ft penn prevail, 6000 penn battle 50lb braid to 50lb leader for my larger lures. These are my go to setups since im a bank or surf fishing type guy here in north east. And so i also by the way love for light tackle fishing and always have. And always will be. So this years personal goal is to catch a 15lb bluefish here in the north east on my medium light setup and yet to do it. But i know it will before end of season. This all is because of yall. Learned so much from yall how to fish with lighter style setups. So thank you.

[andre]

3000 is my sweet spot. Perfect size, in my opinion.

[alanjohnson]

Interesting and insightful. Believe it or not watching this video made me rethink my reel choice for a 9’ surf spinning rod and drop down one size. It was if I knew this instinctively but wasn’t willing to accept it based on old biases. Thanks

[johngrosariu]

For some reels 2500 have a I shape knob handle and 3000 a T shape. That’s why they make this 2 very similar in size. The handle style is the difference.

[saltysnooker]

I still use two Mitchell Reels for saltwater, dock fishing and wade fishing..G4000 and the AVSIV 4000…they have held up for years, a little spray with freshwater and most of these reels can last! However I do also have a BG 6500 and you really can’t beat that for tarpon and pulling giant snook from under piers! 👍 thanks for the videos guy, this helps a lot of fisherman even those who aren’t in our insider club! Thanks guys..tight lines

[JohnNugentJr]

Hey there! Just stumbled across your YouTube channel (and IG profile) this weekend. I'm a now-30-year-old Palm Bay, FL, native (living currently in Saint Cloud, FL, due to work) who did a ton of saltwater inshore fishing with my dad as a kid and teenager (off causeways, jettys, surf fishing, and Indian River wading/island/boating fishing)...primarily for redfish, Jack Crevalle, & Snook. For my old man's 65th birthday, I'm looking to buy him a great new rod and reel setup to get him back into the saltwater fishing spirit. Ten years ago and beyond, he was a huge Shimano + Ugly Stik fan (and, with a 17' Edgewater boat, caught many 30"+ and even 40"+ reds and Jacks...I can share pics if you want haha, just lmk)...but checking online nowadays, it seems Daiwa BG (or BG MQ) has all but dominated the mid-class inshore saltwater reel market. Based on everything I've shared so far, I'm curious what your guys' recommendation(s) would be for my dad's 65th (6/17) & Fathers' Day. Thanks a ton!!!

[christiansethi]

As an Aussie that's been through the same thing with reel sizes, I can tell you right now that for MAJORITY of the inshore fishing that I do, 2500 reels are pretty well perfect, I've caught some big fish on 2500 reels, yeah I have a couple of other sizes of reels for my inshore but the bigger size reels are either for a bigger drag to try and skull drag the stronger fish out of structure (a 4000 size) and then I also have a 12000 size but that's exclusively for when I'm trying to catch decent size bullsharks in summer. Have to know what your predominantly targeting and what you need out of the reels 👌 good video fellas 🤙

[boldcityfishing]

You guys put me on Daiwa and now I am never turning back. The fuego can handle big fish and the bg is a great live bait reel for pulling fish out. I have not experienced flex with the fuego. With 10 pound braid and drag set light you can’t flex it. Thanks guys!

[michaelt]

I have caught 35 inch snook w 1000 fuego 1st day using it no problem. I love fishing small reels.

[michealmedhat]

I caught a 25lb giant trevally on a fuego 3000 and a daiwa legalis sea bass rod 7 foot on a 40 gram jig it was a hard fight and the rod nearly broke but got the fish to the boat at the end

[carsonbaird]

The best reel is the Diawa BG 2500 I just got from you guys! Can't wait to strap it to my Fenwick HMG, Medium 7' stick

[turboboy]

i only have 1 DAIWA reel and i use it for catfishing. it is a DF100A (10000 size) spooled with 100lb braid and a 8/0 circle hook. it is comically oversized but it works for me as i have nerve damage and limited range of motion in my left hand/wrist. i have yet to lose a fish using this reel.

[scarrir]

Hi Joe and Luke - You both mentioned you used to buy a lot of 4K size reels. Nowadays the technology has gotten so good that the 4K reels are sometimes 8 oz or less. I use a MedHeavy Rods - like Pro Green and Green Water from GLoomis - really good rods and pricey. The 4K reels like the KAGE MQ seem to balance it out perfectly… Is this wrong? I still line it up w/ 10lb power pro and seem to be able to cast a mile.

[osvaldo]

I’ve caught big 20-30 lbs black drum on a 3000 Daiwa emcast Baitrunner and 30 lb braid.
But it really depends on the style of fishing you’re doing.
Really close to shore you can probably get the job done with 1000-3000 series reel 10-15 lb braid or mono.
If you wanna really get your bait out there, you’re gonna have to get a heavy power surf rod, and something with a lot of line like a shimano Baitrunner, or a okuma coronado, and generally 50lbs of braid atleast to withstand the weight of the bait and the weight of the lead.
I generally run with a 6’ 6 to 7’2 rod medium light with a 2000 series reel 7-12 lbs of drag strength and 10-15 lb. Just to catch sheepshead, small baitfish, small drum, even trout. The emcast is good because it doesn’t take much line to fill the spool, and it comes with two spools, I have mono on one and braid in the other.
And I generally use my surf rods for anything bigger

[tushaardaiboo]

Would be great to have a video that explains all the range of spinning reels and their application.. For e.g I have a long cast meridian 7000, should I use it for surf casting only or can I use it offshore?

[skyblazerrc]

Shark fishing w cheap reels would be fun to watch and a good stress test

[mannjt]

i have a 20+ year old shimano sienna that i think i paid $30 for. it has been through salt and sand and every other type of hell. i have never even so much as rinsed it. works like the day it was new

[wbf]

I gotta ask cause I'm torn
Ive been using several Okuma reels for years now and was curious if you guys have used any?
The cheaper Okumas Im using are the Avenger series both the original and B series in 6500 and 8000 on surf rods
One 10ft med hvy and one 11ft med hvy both rated at 1-6oz of weight ( probably overkill but too late now)
Then on an inshore rod im using a little okuma inspira 3000
Its small like the fuego and is probably one of my favorite reels.
Any experience with any of their products?
Im strongly considering going to daiwa BGs for most things

[trevinmerrill]

I’m wondering what y’all’s option is on the penn battles. And which one you would use for trout and slot reds. Im on the Mississippi coast