Any time you’re out fishing, you will be improving your skills and efficiency. There’s nothing worse than throwing line after line to find you catch nothing, yet the more you go on, you find your reel harder to use.
Knots are an issue, yet if you feel and hear a sickly, grinding sound from inside your reel, it can cause a degree of frustration. Hence the reason for best saltwater spinning reels.
Reels that can’t withstand saltwater won’t have a very long life. Here, we have some of the best spinning reels in our reviews, and by the end, you’ll see which is the best spinning reel for under 100. (Read our Lifetime Sport 10′ Fisher Review)
Why You Need a Good Saltwater Spinning Reel Under 100
When searching for saltwater spinning reels, you need to understand what makes a saltwater reel special.
For one, the best saltwater spinning reels will be made to face getting wet repeatedly from ocean spray and wet lines. Saltwater is corrosive, and any reel not designed as corrosion-resistant will die very quickly.
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Higher numbers of roller bearings make for a smoother action as well as adding more durability.
Besides this, you have a different gear ratio on these reels, and like the fish you can catch, often put up more struggle.
Lastly, line capacity can be crucial as you tend to use far more line, which is often thicker than you would on a lake.
Even though a saltwater reel is built tougher, it doesn’t mean you can’t find the best spinning reel under 100. (Find the Best Ice Fishing Tent)
Top Saltwater Spinning Reel Under 100 Reviews
1. Penn Battle II & III Spinning Fishing Reel
The Penn Battle II spinning reel starts reasonably priced, yet it offers features way above the value.
The reel comes with a full metal body with copious amounts of corrosion-resistant features and can stand up to lots of saltwater for saltwater fishing. It has five fixed stainless steel ball bearings and one instant anti-reverse ball bearing.
The reels have soft-touch knobs, so you have comfort as you handle and retrieve. It comes with anti-reverse and smooth drag from the carbon fiber washers. The Superline spool can hold various yards and pounds such as 210/8; 180/10; 165/15 for braid.
The spool now has recently added Line Capacity Rings, which all the PENN saltwater fishing reels offer, starting at this model of the Penn Battle II 2000.
Pros
- Line Capacity Rings
- The spool is braid ready
- Six stainless steel ball bearings
- 6.2:1 Gear ratio
Cons
- Bail can catch spool if in top position and won’t open
- Can feel heavy on light rods
With a guide price starting at just over $90, you get a great saltwater performer in the Penn Battle II spinning reel. It offers an HT 100 carbon fiber drag system yet doesn’t lack any smoothness.
The full metal side plate is rugged, and the heavy-duty aluminum bail wire is durable. It can quite easily be one of the best spinning reels under 100.
2. 13 Fishing Concept Z Freshwater/Saltwater Baitcasting Fishing Reel
While roller ball bearings keep reels delivering a smooth action, the Fishing Concept Z turns this on its head as it uses the CZB technology and replaces the stainless-steel bearings with a proprietary new space-age polymer material.
Contrary to what you think, you can cast further than a reel that uses roller bearings. The build is challenging, and the company uses its Ocean Armor 2 Saltwater Protection Process to offer lots of corrosion resistance.
The reel comes with a 6-way centrifugal brake system that allows anglers to adjust six pins for the braking system by accessing under the beetle wing side plate. The reel has an aluminum frame and gear side plate, thus offering lightweight and durability and handling large fish.
Pros
- Great water resistance
- Efficient braking system
- Lightweight yet strong
Cons
- Slow in operation with 6.6:1 gear ratio
- Only comes in RH configuration
It is a bit more with a guide price of just under the $140 price range, yet you get a great reel that can last for years and won’t seize. The reel is strong enough to cope with fish of any size, depending on line strength.
3. Penn Slammer III Spinning Fishing Reel
The Penn Slammer III has a full metal body, side plates, and rotor to withstand saltwater. The body and spool are fully sealed for IP6 water resistance. You can find it offers four different gear ratios and a highly efficient strong drag system and uses Dura-Drag.
The reel comes with two knobs that you can change. EVA for soft grip or machined aluminum for cranking big fish.
Pros
- Interchangeable handles
- CNC gear technology and 6+1 stainless steel ball bearings
- Braid ready spools with line capacity rings
- Max drag of 60 lbs
Cons
- Drag may be too strong for smaller fish
- The reel can be heavy in a larger configuration
With a guide price of just over the base model’s $200 price range, you get a good quality reel for your money. The saltwater reels were built to cope with the largest fish and withstand anything they see can throw at them.
4. Redington BEHEMOTH Fly Reel
The Redington Behemoth is a reel that’s built to deal with big fish. It comes in a unique die-cast construction. The reel has an adjustable carbon fiber drag system, so you can easily adjust for the type of fish you’re after.
Because you have a large spool, there is less chance of line memory, and you have faster retrieve speeds when you need it. You can also convert from left hand to right, and there is an oversized knob for easy adjustment if you have wet hands. (Find the Best All-Around Baitcasting Rod)
Pros
- A large spool reduces line memory
- Powerful carbon fiber drag for larger fish
- Comes with carry case
- Holds lots of line
Cons
- May wobble on some reel seats
- Very large compared to some alternatives
With a guide price of just under $90, the Behemoth delivers lots of function and performance in a budget-friendly reel. It is heavy duty and made as such to fight the biggest fish you may come across.
The lightweight reel is large, yet the carbon frame keeps the weight under control. Once you see it in action, you will find it is one of the best budget saltwater spinning reel options there is.
5. Daiwa BG2500 BG Saltwater Spinning Reel, 2500, 5.6: 1 Gear Ratio, 6+1 Bearings, 33.20” Retrieve Rate, 13.20 lb Max Drag
The Daiwa BG-BG8000 spinning reel is designed as a large game reel.
Daiwa BG is made of aluminum body and body lid, providing consistency and durability to the inside. Daiwa has an anodized body and body cover. This helps to improve corrosion strength and scratch resistance.
The Daiwa BG spinning series has a vast drive gear, which can expand gear to tooth contact. Also, it gives a smooth and broadened gear life.
Casting is made much more comfortable with the reverse-tapered ABS aluminum spool and the air rotor.
Pros
- Solid screw-in handle
- Dynamic Cut Aluminum ABS Spool
- Infinite anti-reverse system
- ABS reversed taper for 100% line use
Cons
- It can be hard to set left hand retrieve from right-handed
- Expensive
With a guide price of just above $160, you will find a lot of reels. However, you are getting what you pay for. It is as suitable for saltwater fishing as it is for freshwater. It copes with lots of line weight and has a great capacity.
The drag system may not be the largest, yet everything about the real is high quality, and it is perfect for fishing in saltwater.
Best Saltwater Spinning Reel Under 100 Buying Guide
Saltwater spinning reels are a great choice as they offer lots of flexibility, ease of use, and affordability. You will find a few saltwater features you need to consider when looking for spinning reels under 100.
Here you can find the everyday things to bear in mind when you want a reel for saltwater fishing.
Corrosion Resistance
The reel should be capable of resisting corrosion, which is very critical. Saltwater is very rough on metals; pair that in your rotation with sand and grit, and you have a challenging setting.
Saltwater reels should be designed to avoid corrosion with stainless steel, aluminum, a graphite body, etc. Care and constant cleaning are also recommended.
Braided Line
Not all reels are suitable for use with braided lines. But if you want to use this line form, be sure to buy a reel and rod suitable to use with a braided line.
Drag
Saltwater contains plenty of large fish. If you plan on catching them, you need to make sure your gear is up to the job. Reel drag one area.
Big gamefish stress your fishing gear, and your reel’s drag is supposed to absorb the strain before your line or rod breaks. Saltwater reels often use multi-disc drag systems, which will place put a halt to fast-running fish.
Drag weights in 40-50lb ranges are standard. You need to search for a carbon-fiber drag system you can adjust if possible. Maximum drag on saltwater reels additionally needs lots of heat dispersing characteristics, such as cutouts on the spool to aid cooling.
Drag washers can come in many materials, and some users felt drag washers. These are not reliable over time, especially if they get wet.
Line capacity
Along with drag, you need lots of lines to let the fish run. Line capability in seawater is much more than in freshwater. You need to keep three things in mind with your line: the reel capacity, what your rod can cope with, and whether you are doing heavy or light fishing.
Gear ratio
Depending on the kind of fishing, you have to account for the gear magnitude relation. A higher gear magnitude relation helps with quick retrieves. A lower gear magnitude relation provides additional power to reel in.
Final Verdict
When comparing these saltwater spinning reels, it was quick to decide the Penn Battle II & III Spinning Fishing Reel would be the victor. It has a great price and lots of features you may not find in the competition.
It offers a drag system comparable to reels costing three times as much and offers excellent water resistance. The action is very smooth with the five stainless steel ball bearings, and there isn’t much chance they will get grit inside.
It is a joy to use and merely high-quality, and one of the best saltwater spinning reels you can find. No matter what your budget is.
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