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heavy duty spinning reel

7.6K views 21 replies 14 participants last post by  JFiedler  
#1 ·
I need a good heavy duty spinning reel for some offshore fishing.I know most guys use baitcasting reels but i never liked them.I plan on using it for tuna ,amberjacks .
 
#6 ·
Justn got an sfg 8000 for butterfly jigging Amberjacks, big grouper etc.
 
#11 ·
Just had a good trip out of VB and used Shimano Spheros 8000FB on a Shimano Trevala medium and medium heavy rod for handling AJs up to 51.5 inches. The Shimano FB and Trevala rods were designed specifically for this kind of jiggin for AJ and tuna. And they are reasonably priced. The reel goes for about $139 and the rod $119. One reel had 30 lb braid and the other 65 lb braid. That reel can generate up to 44 lbs of drag.

My friend in MHC NC also swears by the Diawa Cabo series reels for this type of fishing. The same model size in a Cabo is actually a little bigger reel and spool, and sports 44 lb drag max system. It sells for about $160.

Good luck with whatever you end up buying!!!!

LO:thumbup::thumbup:
 
#13 ·
Just had a good trip out of VB and used Shimano Spheros 8000FB on a Shimano Trevala medium and medium heavy rod for handling AJs up to 51.5 inches. The Shimano FB and Trevala rods were designed specifically for this kind of jiggin for AJ and tuna. And they are reasonably priced. The reel goes for about $139 and the rod $119. One reel had 30 lb braid and the other 65 lb braid. That reel can generate up to 44 lbs of drag.

My friend in MHC NC also swears by the Diawa Cabo series reels for this type of fishing. The same model size in a Cabo is actually a little bigger reel and spool, and sports 44 lb drag max system. It sells for about $160.

Good luck with whatever you end up buying!!!!

LO:thumbup::thumbup:
Looking at Shimano's specs, both the Spheros and Saragosa 8000 has a max drag of 27#. You have to go up a 14000 to get 44#. Even 27# is more then then I have on my Torium 20 which maxes out at 29# though.
 
#17 ·
What do folks think of Fin-Nor reels? Look pretty robust to me and not too spendy.
The old Ahabs , while very heavy , were beasts of a reel . They went out of business a few years back and have been resurrected . Haven't tried any of their new stuff but I'm sure it's not the same as the old made in USA gear . They are owned by W.C. Bradley Corp. now . Think Zebco . I still have old 8# and 12# Ahabs . In their day , Fin-Nor was the top of the line when it came to offshore conventional reels .
 
#18 ·
the new fin-nor are heavy. i have two new stradic fi 8000 and they have 29# advertized and you can get them online for $169, they hald about 325-350 of 50# pp depending how tight you pack it. more than enough. very similar to the saragosa. i couldn't tell teh differences between my buddies and my stradics.
 
#22 ·
If you want a true spining jig set up to handle tuna, i would recomend going with the Shimano Saragosa 18000. I have seen alot of guys have problems with the gear system in spheros model. The spheros does not have shimano's paladin gear system which the saragosa does. The paladin gear system is made out of a harder metal alloy designed to handle the torque, braided line puts on the gear system. I feel the 8000 has to small of a capacity to handle large tuna, and you will run the risk of getting spooled. I feel the Saragosa is also the best value for your money based on components of the reel, and competitive brands. If you look at other true jigging reels such as accurates twin spin, penn's new torque spinning reels, daiwa new saltiga, and finnor spinning reels, it is hard pressed to find a better value.

For your rod i would recommend the shimano trevala 5'8 x-heavy spinning rod 65-200. It will handle the biggest fish, and still allow enough flex in the rod to provide fun action on small fish. Plus they come with an over the counter lifetime warentty.

Tight lines
Josh