Help in selecting a low profile salt water surf reel

[Shim_Dai_Ano_Wa]

Hey guys,

Need some of your expert advice in a low profile reel for the salt water surf.

I basically have 3 in mind.

Shimano curado
TD zillion
Revo STX

Would like it to have a wiffle spool so I can cast it further and also a magnetic braking system is preferred.

any other suggestion would be helpful to. Since I'm open to other options.

[zenbassr]

how often would you fish w/ this reel, and how often would you be cleaning/servicing this reel?

because salt & sand are inevitable and unavoidable. high-end reels generally suffer the most, and repairing the damage can get expensive...

[Shim_Dai_Ano_Wa]

I'll mostly be using it for salt and not fresh water. mainly targeting halibut from the surf.

[LOBINAKING]

Hi,

I agree with Zen.

Have you looked at the the Avet SX, i know it's a round reel and it has no levelwind but for light saltwater use it's the best. I use mine for both bait and small jigs.

Good Luck!

[RAT]

Shimano chronarch BSV is rated for saltwater use. I use it fir inshore.

[zenbassr]

what line test and bait/lure weights will you be using?

do you maintain your gear reasonably well? some models will hold up longer than others due to use of corrosion resistant parts & materials; some reels are a PIA to take apart, while others are quick & EZ to service.

[RojoKayako]

The Curado, Cronarch and Citica have by far proven to be the best low-profile reels for surf fishig - nothing else has proven close to Shimano's performance, and the round reels (palming sized) haven't proven close either (except for the Calcutta). Now...that doesn't mean that there aren't other low-profile reels that are good - or even better - just none has yet proven itself as good as the Shimanos. Strange that it's been this way for so long. (Personally, I think Quantum's Accurist PT Saltwater is a good candidate for it's worked well so far. Also...the Daiwa Coastal Inshores seem o.k., too)

Also, in the surf you really don't want a wiffle spool - does nothing but leave a pathway for salt to get into the reel, and the wiffle spool won't increase distance either.

Hope this helps.

Rojo

[Shim_Dai_Ano_Wa]

Avet SX would be to big for the surf.

I'll be using between 8-12 lb. but most likely 10lb for the surf

[LOBINAKING]

For 10lb and surf fishing i would go with a new or old "green" Curado.

[Shim_Dai_Ano_Wa]

what about the revo STX, every ones been raving about it. and theres a post on the guy catching a sailfish on it.

Daiwa Luna 253 is a round bait caster with a wiffle spool and thats made for salt water.

[zenbassr]

I'll be using between 8-12 lb. but most likely 10lb for the surf

for 8-10# i'd go w/ the (green) curado 100B or the citica 100D. both are real easy to maintain and prove durable, plus wiffle spools are available for either.

you could also go w/ the older curado 200B and BSF but i think they're both better suited for 12lb. the daiwa coastal would be in the same class plus it has some corrosion resistant internals & wiffle spool.

if you need mag braking, i'd consider the daiwa advantage 153HST. or you could pick up a TD-G103Hi for really cheap

[Shim_Dai_Ano_Wa]

I'll be using between 8-12 lb. but most likely 10lb for the surf

for 8-10# i'd go w/ the (green) curado 100B or the citica 100D. both are real easy to maintain and prove durable, plus wiffle spools are available for either.

you could also go w/ the older curado 200B and BSF but i think they're both better suited for 12lb. the daiwa coastal would be in the same class plus it has some corrosion resistant internals & wiffle spool.

if you need mag braking, i'd consider the daiwa advantage 153HST. or you could pick up a TD-G103Hi for really cheap

thanks zen

would you even recomend me blow $200+ on a surf reel for the salt water. I'm thinking for the long run, since I'll be using it on the beach the saltwater elements are harsh. meaning the amount of sand that may intrude into the reel. If it was on a boat then the sand would not be as big of an issue as it would be on the beach.

[zenbassr]

what about the revo STX, every ones been raving about it. and theres a post on the guy catching a sailfish on it.

like someone mentioned in another post, not a big deal really. do you really think an STX is the only reel capable of pulling that off? according to tackletour, my little cv-x103 has ~20lbs of drag. with the stock drag thats only 4lbs less than the STX

[Shim_Dai_Ano_Wa]

yeah but the cv-x103 is a round bait caster where as the stx is a low profile.

[Oolie]

i don't think you should fish a baitcaster in the surf, i greatly suggest against it, you can use a spinning reel.