How To Catch Any Fish
  How To Catch Any Fish
  • Home
  • Species Guides
    • Saltwater Fish >
      • Barracuda >
        • Great Barracuda
        • Pacific Barracuda
      • Barramundi
      • Bass >
        • Calico Bass
        • Sand Bass
        • Spotted Bay Bass
        • White Sea Bass
      • Billfish >
        • Black Marlin
        • Blue Marlin
        • Pacific Sailfish
        • Striped Marlin
      • Black Drum
      • Bonefish
      • Groupers >
        • Broomtail Grouper
        • Goliath Grouper
        • Leopard Grouper
        • Tropical Cods
      • California Sheepshead
      • Dorado
      • Emperor Fishes
      • Giant Needlefish
      • Halibut (California)
      • Halibut (Pacific)
      • Lingcod
      • Mackerels >
        • Cero Mackerel
        • King Mackerel
        • Pacific Sierra
      • Napoleon Wrasse
      • Pink Salmon
      • Redfish
      • Rockfish
      • Snappers >
        • Barred Pargo
        • Golden Snapper (Fingermark)
        • Green Jobfish
        • Mullet Snapper
        • Mutton Snapper
        • Pacific Cubera Snapper
        • Red Bass
        • Yellow Snapper
        • Yellowtail Snapper
      • Sheepshead
      • Silver Salmon
      • Snook
      • Speckled Trout
      • Tarpon
      • Trevallies and Jacks >
        • African Pompano
        • Amberjack
        • Blacktip Trevally
        • Bluefin Trevally
        • Brassy Trevally
        • California Yellowtail
        • Giant Trevally
        • Jack Crevalle
        • Longnose Trevally
        • Queenfish
        • Rainbow Runner
        • Roosterfish
      • Tuna >
        • Albacore
        • Bonito
        • Dogtooth Tuna
        • Skipjack Tuna
        • Yellowfin Tuna
      • Wahoo
      • Yelloweye Rockfish
    • Freshwater Fish >
      • African Tigerfish
      • Arctic Grayling
      • Arowana (South American)
      • Bass >
        • Hybrid Striped Bass
        • Largemouth Bass
        • Peacock Bass
        • Rainbow Bass
        • Smallmouth Bass
        • Striped Bass
        • White Bass
      • Catfish >
        • Blue Catfish
        • Channel Catfish
        • Redtail Catfish
        • Suribim Catfish
        • Vundu Catfish
      • Clown Knifefish (Featherback)
      • Dolly Varden
      • Jacunda
      • Jaguar Cichlid
      • Machaca
      • Muskellunge
      • Panfish >
        • Bluegill
        • Crappie
        • Central American Cichlids
      • Payara
      • Pike
      • Piranha
      • Sardinata
      • Sheefish
      • Trout >
        • Brown Trout
        • Lake Trout
        • Rainbow Trout
      • Walleye
      • White Sturgeon
      • Wolf Fish
  • Tackle Guide
    • Lure Reviews >
      • Bomber Fat Free Shad
      • Heddon Super Spook
      • Heru Bobara Lure Review
      • Heru Cubera Popper
      • Sebile Stick Shadd
      • Surface Iron Review
      • Yo Zuri Crystal Minnow Review
    • Recommended Baitcasting Reels
    • Recommended Spinning Reels
    • Recommended Saltwater Conventional Reels
    • Recommended Freshwater Rods
    • Recommended Saltwater Rods
    • Recommended Line and Leaders
    • Recommended Terminal Tackle
    • Recommended Lodges and Guides
    • Fishing Apparel
  • Fishing Advice
    • Gear Selection
    • Fishing Knots
    • How to Release Fish
    • Lure Fishing
    • Bait Fishing
    • Tackle Tips
    • Pound for Pound Fight Ratings
    • Miscellaneous Tips
    • Seasickness
    • Getting Kids Into Fishing
    • California Party Boat Fishing
    • Float Tube Fishing
    • Fishing Travel Tips
    • Preventing Insect Bites
    • Spear Fishing Link
  • Trip Reports
    • US and Canada >
      • God's Lake Canada - Pike, Trout, and more
      • Colorado Trouting
      • Admiralty Island, Alaska Lings and Things
      • Lake Tawakoni - Catfish and Stripers
      • Shallow Water Bull Redfish - Louisiana
      • Lake O the Pines Texas Crappie
      • Cocodrie Louisiana Marshes
      • Alaska Sportsman's Lodge - Rainbows, Salmon, and Bears
      • South Florida Freshwater Exotics
      • Aniak River, Alaska - Trout, Salmon, Sheefish
      • Calcasieu and Venice Louisiana - Redfish and Trout
      • Southern California - A Summer of Party Boat Fishing
      • White River Arkansas - Brown Trout
      • Dry Tortugas, Florida - Massive Reef Variety
      • Boca Grande - Goliaths and Much More
      • Hawk Lake Ontario - Bass, Pike Walleye
    • Central America >
      • Quepos Marlin and Roosterfish
      • Drake Bay, Costa Rica - Inshore Quick Trip
      • Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica and Punta Burica, Panama - Offshore and Inshore
      • Osa Peninsula Costa Rica - Inshore Pargo and Roosters
      • San Quintin, Mexico - Yellowtail and Calico Bass
      • Cebaco Bay, Panama - Inshore Popping and Jigging
      • Rio Indio Nicaragua - Tarpon, Rainbow Bass, and More
      • Lake Agua Milpa Mexico - Family Bass Trip
      • Puerto Vallarta - Marlin, Mahi, Tuna, Pargo
      • Puerto Vallarta - Big Offshore Giants and Pargo
      • San Quintin, Mexico - White Seabass and Barracuda
      • Puerto Vallarta - Roosterfish Mania and Freshwater Bass
      • Puerto Vallarta - Inshore/Offshore Slam
      • Puerto Vallarta - Summer Inshore Monsters
      • San Evaristo Mexico - Baja Inshore Variety
      • Rio Parismina, Costa Rica - Tarpon
      • Mariato Panama Fall Giants
      • Mariato, Panama Inshore Bonanza
      • Mariato, Panama - Wind and Tuna
    • South America >
      • Colombia - Amazon Peacocks and Payara
      • Trinidad Tarpon Madness
      • Colombia Pacific Coast
      • Amazon Bolivia - Big Payara and Variety
      • Amazon, Brazil - Peacock Bass, Wolffish, and Catfish
      • Amazon Brazil - Peacock Bass and Exotics
    • Australia and the Pacific >
      • Burdekin, Australia - Big Barramundi and Reef Variety
      • Great Barrier Reef Australia - Insane Reef Variety
      • Aitutaki, Cook Islands - Giant Trevally Popping and Napoleon Wrasse
      • New Caledonia - Popping Giant Trevally
      • Marshall Islands- Remote Reef Exotics
    • Africa and the Middle East >
      • Tanzania Offshore
      • Tanzanian Tigerfish
      • Oman GTs and Inshore Variety
  • About/Contact
  • Videos
    • How To Videos
  • Best Places to Fish
    • Aitutaki
    • Amazon
    • Belize
    • Bolivia
    • California
    • Costa Rica
    • Florida
    • Great Barrier Reef
    • Mexico Fishing - Baja
    • Panama
    • Puerto Rico
    • Puerto Vallarta
  • Trophy Gallery

Recommended Saltwater Conventional Reels - Budget, Mid Range, High End

There is a lot of hoopla and hype in the marketing of fishing tackle, just like in most things.  It can be hard to separate the substance from the sizzle.  I have tried to do that to the best of my ability on this site by highlighting some things that have worked well for me.  Below are recommendations for the best high end, midrange, and budget range convenstional reels that I know of.  These are my unbiased opinions as I am not compensated by any of these tackle companies.  I don't care what brand you buy.  I have personally used every item listed below, and most of the fish shown on this website (at least in my photos) were caught on tackle described on this site.

Heavy Tackle

This tackle is for tackling the biggest and toughest fish in the ocean, from Marlin to Tuna to giant Grouper.  I usually don't fish tackle bigger than 50 size as I only fish standup and anything bigger is kind of cumbersome unless you have a chair and I don't fish with chairs.  I have landed 600lb Marlin with 50 size tackle and I have personally never felt the need to fish anything bigger although obviously it exists.
Picture
Budget - Shimano TLD II

If you want to target big fish on a budget, this is a good way to go.  The frame will not hold up like the aluminum Accurates, and you may get some flex on big fish, but you should be able to land some Bubbas with this.  It is a two speed reel which comes in handy when you have to winch big fish like
Grouper off of the bottom.  It is a good basic reel.  Here is a link to the specs: TLD II Specs 



Click Below to purchase this reel, which is the most reasonable decent heavy tackle reel I know of:
Picture
Mid Range - Accurate Extreme BX-2

Big game reels that are worth using are not cheap, but if you don't want to spring for the Platinum this is a good less expensive alternative.  It also boasts the excellent twin drag system, has good cranking power and line capacity, and has an easy to use 2-speed gear system.  It will catch big fish but the gears are not as strong as the Platinum and neither is the anti-reverse.  Still, it should handle whatever you throw at it.  There are several sizes with the 30 and 50 being suitable for big game.  Below are some of the features:
Patented TwinDrag™ System
Seven Class 5 ABEC stainless steel bearings
Greased AccuDrag system
Titanium friction washers
Stainless steel gears
Boss reel bag
One year warranty
AccuCare Reel Service
Proudly designed, manufactured
and assembled in the USA
Left-handed models available upon request

Click the link below to purchase:
Picture
High End - Accurate ATD Platinum

If you want to pursue the biggest fish in the ocean like big
Marlin, Tuna, Goliath Grouper, etc this is your reel.  It holds a lot of line and has immense cranking power and drag, but is very light for a reel of this magnitude.  It is not cheap, but if you are going after fish this size you need a bigger budget anyway.  The twin drag system is a significant upgrade over any other drag system.  If you can't catch it with this reel, then it can't be caught.  There are other good reels in this class from Shimano, Daiwa, and Penn but they are heavier and don't have the twin drag.  Here are some of the features:

Patented TwinDrag™ System
Seven Class 5 ABEC stainless steel bearings
Titanium friction washers
Stainless steel gears
Greased AccuDrag system
ATD reel bag
Two year warranty
AccuCare Reel Service
Proudly designed, manufactured and assembled in the USA
Left-handed models available upon request

If you use it you will not regret it.  If you were going to buy one anyway and found anything useful on this site, I would appreciate if you would purchase it through the link below:

Medium Tackle

Medium size saltwater conventional tackle could mean a lot of things, but for this purpose it's basically anything you would use to fish 50-80lb braid or so.  As an example, this would be tackle you would use to catch tuna from 30-100lbs approximately.  For anything smaller I either use baitcasting or spinning tackle.
Picture
Budget - Penn Jigmaster

If you are new to saltwater fishing and don't want to commit much money to it you can start off with this reel.  It does not compare to the reels above, but many good fish have been caught over the years on this old standby.  Can be used for anything from Calico Bass to Pacific Barracuda to other smaller saltwater fish.  Not recommended for braided line. 



Click below to purchase:
Picture
Mid Range - Shimano Torium
The Torium is very similar to the Trinidad in terms of gearing, but the frame is cheaper and some of the parts are lower quality.  You get what you pay for.  It does have a tremendous amount of cranking power for this class of reel and it casts well.  The newest version has a solid drag.  Good for all mid size Yellowtail, Tuna, Amberjack, Snapper, Grouper, etc. 



Click below to purchase:
Picture
High End - Shimano Trinidad

This is a very good offshore conventional reel.  It casts well and is great for casting jigs to
yellowtail, bombs to wahoo, or bait to tuna or dorado.  It has strong gears, a strong drag, and a fast retrieve ratio.  I like the narrow versions as these allow you to focus less on making sure the line comes in evenly.  Star drag reels tend to cast better than lever drag ones, so for casting lures these get the nod over the Accurates.  The Daiwa Saltigas are also an option here but I haven't used the new ones so for now I recommend the Trinidads.
Click below to purchase  :
Picture

High End - Accurate Extreme BX

This is the single speed version of the BX2.  Just like you would expect from Accurate, the reel is very light but very strong.  It doesn't cast as well as the Trinidad, but in my opinion is better for bottom fishing or trolling or any other application where casting is not as important.  The twin lever drag system is unparalleled for smoothness and strength.  Good for all mid size
Yellowtail, Snapper, Grouper, Tuna, etc.  Here are some of the features:

Patented TwinDrag™ System
Seven Class 5 ABEC stainless steel bearings
Greased AccuDrag system
Titanium friction washers
Stainless steel gears
Boss reel bag
One year warranty
AccuCare Reel Service
Proudly designed, manufactured
and assembled in the USA
Left-handed models available upon request

Click the link below to purchase: