The best sea fishing reels & finding the right size

Reel sizes are an absolute pain in the backside I’m afraid – so let’s get that out the way first. There is more info on the best sea fishing reels for each purpose further down the page, along with tips for how to get the most out of your next reel.

Also, different brands can have their own numbering systems for sizing reels (e.g. ‘850’ instead of 8000 – or worse still). You can generally find out what their system is equivalent to in thousand-sizes used below.

First, a sea fishing reel size guide – then we’ll look at options

Select the reel size below to view what exact rod specs we recommend the reel size for. The only time this is likely to be wrong is with rods that are mislabelled in terms of casting weight – e.g. if you buy a spinning rod for under £50 it’s highly likely to have a higher max casting weight than stated, and to have a thicker blank than more expensive rods. This throws things off.

1000 Size (Spinning) – LRF / Ultra Light

Ultra light rods casting under 15g, under 7.5ft long.

Perfect for mini species, mackerel fishing with tiny casting jigs and perch fishing in the freshwater. Limited ability to steer even moderately sized wrasse and bass away from snags over rough ground.

2500 Size (Spinning) – LRF / Ultra Light

Ultra light rods casting under 15g, under 8ft long.

Watch out for Penn reels, especially the higher end models in the 2500 size. They’re fantastically robust – but heavy. The 2500 size can replace a 3000 or on a very thin blank (e.g. some Japanese lure rods) a 4000 size reel.

3000 Size (Spinning) – Light Lure Reel

Light lure fishing outfit, rods between 7-10ft. Highly versatile for a range of UK species.

Daiwa & Shimano reels in this size are much lighter than Penn reels (excl. Daiwa BG). If you have a more traditional spinning rod, Penn is likely a better fit. If you have a lightweight or Japanese bass rod, Daiwa or Shimano in 3000 is good, but you might want a 4000 if the rod is closer to 9ft+.

If you’re feeling confused and just want a complete lure set up that works go here. The article gives several options for spinning reels that work on specific light lure rods.

4000 Size (Spinning) – Standard Bass Reel Size

8.5 -10ft lure rods, max casting weights above 28g

As a rule of thumb you’ll be fine in 85% of cases with the above, but watch out for unusually heavy reels like Daiwa BG, Spinfisher 3500 – they’ll need a rod towards the longer end of the range or with a higher casting weight. Unusually light reels like the Daiwa Legalis 4000 feel more like 3000’s.

More details and specific recommendations read our complete lure fishing set up guide.

5000 Size (Spinning) – Float fishing, light feathering rigs, light ledgering, generalist light

10-12ft heavy lure rods (meaning 2-3oz, 60-100g generally in UK).

Overseas, these are used for throwing lures that way much more than ours for fish that weigh much more than ours. However, they’re perfect for ‘all-round sea fishing’ / harbour wall fishing in summer rather than specialist lure fishing.

Also, 10-12ft light ledgering rods casting up to 3oz. Avoid Daiwa & Shimano for this purpose unless the rod has a thin light blank to match their lightness. A large handled Penn pairs better if the rod blank is relatively thick (e.g. Anyfishanywhere blanks as opposed to a Japanese lure rod blank).

We look at ‘all rounder’ set ups with 5000 size reels in our sea fishing starter / all rounder article.

6000 Size (Spinning) – Mackerel feathering, generalist heavy

11-13ft very heavy lure rods – or light ledgering rigs for things like sharks (I don’t mean UK shark species!).

These can also be used on ‘all rounder’ sea fishing set ups, perfect for mackerel feathering, using traditional float fishing rigs with 1oz weights and light ledgering rigs. They are easier to fish with for a long time than a surf reel of a similar size (a 5000 lightweight surf reel).

5000 Size (Surf / Beach) – Bass/Flatty Ledgering (Light Beachcasting)

It’s easy to get confused here, because a 5000 size surf reel is a different size to a 5000 spinning reel.

Surf reels have much larger spools and larger handles, so they are designed for long casting and reeling heavier weights. People use them for mackerel feathering also. A 5000 surf reel pairs with a bass or flatty rod casting about 3-4oz.

An ‘all rounder’ sea fishing rod, such as a rod casting up to 3oz at the max end, with a length of approx. 11’. This is a traditional float fishing, mackerel feathering & summertime ledgering from a harbour wall kind of set up. It’s advantage is that you can cast a long way with it and easily lift fish up harbour walls. Utilitarian is the word. Handy for the apocalypse, for the generalist or perhaps the ambitious mackerel basher.

6000 Size (Surf / Beach) – Light Beachcasting

Pairs with a 12ft beachcaster rated to 6oz. Commonly used on a lighter beachcasting set up, fishing cleaner ground. Could also be used on a lower casting weight bass or estuary rod – e.g. 12-13ft rod rated to 3-4oz max. With Shimano reels the equivalent is closer towards their 8000 (so size up if going for Shimano & want 6000 size).

We have a guide to the best beachcasting reels.

7000 Size (Surf / Beach) – Standard Beachcasting

Along with 8000’s, the most popular size for all-round beachcasting in the UK. Pairs with 12ft+ beach casting rods. Perfect size for ledgering form the rocks, due to being lighter weight than larger models to aid mobility. Same as above regarding Shimano – size up to find the equivalent size.

List of recommended beachcasting reels here.

8000 Size (Surf & Beach) – Standard Beachcasting

Along with the 7000’s the most popular size for all-round beachcasting in the UK. Pairs with 12ft+ beach casting rods. Perfect size for ledgering from the rocks, due to being lighter weight than larger models to aid mobility. However, the reels weight is a better indicator of size, along with line capacity when you reach this size.

NOTE: Shimano size 10000 – 14000 are roughly equivalent to an 8000 size from Penn and most other brands.

List of recommended beachcasting reels here.

9000 – 14,000 – Click for more info.

The reels weight is a better indicator of size when you reach this size. These reels are often the same size as 8000’s but with deeper spools for increased line capacity, useful only if you fish very deep waters. E.g. Norway or some Scottish lochs. Otherwise it just means you’ll need more backing. You’re better off with an 8000 for most use cases unless you’re buying from, you guessed it….

Shimano – use size 10000 – 14000. These are roughly equivalent to an 8000 size from Penn and most other brands.

List of recommended beachcasting reels here.

If you believe there are exceptions to the above rules please email [email protected] so I can add more context to the above and expand the content beyond our knowledge base.

To help you visualise the different reel sizes…

1000 Size Shimano

2500 Size Reel from Shimano

3000 Size Daiwa

3500 Size Penn

4000 Size Shimano

5000 Size Penn (on heavy lure rod – it’s bigger than it looks in this pic)

2x 5000 Size Reels

6000 Size Daiwa on 12ft Beachcaster

7000 Size Penn on 12ft Surf Rod

Another 7000 Size

14000 Size Reel from Shimano

Surf Reels vs Spinning Reels

surf reel size 14000 — Surf reel – notice the large, long-bodied spool of line & the huge handle. These throw heavy weights with baits.

spinning reel vs surf reel — Spinning reel – notice the smaller handle and spool and shorter reel of line. These throw lures & spinners in smaller sizes, but in larger sizes (5000 & 6000) can also be used for bait fishing & general sea fishing.

Fix Spool Reels vs. Multipliers

A multiplier – the Daiwa Sl3OSH has a cult-like following. Essential when boat fishing in deep water and using heavy mainlines. Also used from shore over rough ground or for the UK’s largest species.

Fixed spool reels work best when using monofilament lines with a breaking strain below 25lb and are needed when fishing with braided fishing line. They are used for lure fishing, beachcasting with braid and are very easy to use.

The limitation of fixed spool reels is that they do not tolerate higher breaking strain lines. The line begins to coil and casting distance becomes limited when you push above 25lb. The thicker the line, the faster the spool empties and the more ‘lip’ there is on the reel creating friction and reducing casting distance. This is where multipliers come in. You can use much heavier lines on them. They are also better for pulling out of snags and have higher retrieval rates (good for species like conger). However, they are trickier to use and more prone to ‘birds nest’ tangles which are a huge faff when they happen.

The Best Sea Fishing Reels

Sea fishing reels size 3000-4000 under £80 – Daiwa Ninja, Shimano Catana & more

Price Ascending.

Shimano FX 4000 or 3000– super budget, but it works.

Daiwa Crossfire 4000 or 3000 – decent lure reel, won’t limit your fishing, but no frills.

Shimano Catana 4000 – same as above, basic but decent

Shimano Nexave 4000 – haven’t tested, but we trust shimano & looks good.

Daiwa Ninja 3000 – fantastic reel for the price. (top budget pick)

Note that no Penn reels are included at this price point, and no reels from Abu Garcia, Savage Gear or a number of other brands. This is an intentional decision after testing. Not because they are all bad, but the quality seems more variable to us and our goal here is to make it simple to buy a top-knotch kit.

Sea fishing reels size 3000-4000 under £70-150 – Spinfisher, Legalis & more

Shimano Sedona 4000 – we liked it, good price point for getting something quite good but still fairly utilitarian

Daiwa Legalis 4000 – very light reel so avoid the 3000 size for the rods we’re looking at in this article

Shimano Miravel 4000 – avoid the 3000 size for the rods on this article, another very light reel, so the 4000 is more suitable

Penn Battle 3000 – very well regarded worldwide, as mentioned in the rods section, penn reels are much heavier than other brands which is why we recommend the smaller sizes for the rods listed here.

Daiwa BG 3000 – very nice reel, unlike other Daiwa reels, go for the 3000 not the 4000 with the rods in this article as it’s unusually heavy for a Daiwa reel

Penn Spinfisher 3500 – one of the best selling reels and we like it, but an awkward weight and size – it’s a bit too heavy for most of the recommended rods here. If you choose a 9ft rod casting 40g (as opposed to a sub-9ft casting 35g) then it will balance well but your set up will lean towards being reel-heavy. It’s personal preference if you mind that – some like it others don’t. If you want to keep it simple, don’t buy it.

Shimano Ultegra 3000 – haven’t tested but we trust shimano & it looks stunning.

High-end sea fishing reels 3000-4000 size – Stradic, Clash & more

Shimano Stradic 4000 or 3000– absolute beauty, loved testing this on the Dorset coast. For reference the Slammer above is significantly heavier than this even in the 4000 size – this is a lightweight reel.

Penn Clash 3000 – worth it if you get it for less than £150, be sure to underspool it slightly (as with other Penn spinning reels) to minimise birds nests. Note the retrieval is higher than average, so good for marks where you need to get fish away from snags fast.

Shimano Twinpower 4000 – stunning reel, go for 4000 not 3000 for the rods on this page, it’s very light.

Penn Authority 2500 – the flagship premium reel from Penn, saltwater resistence, essentially the flashier version of the slammer. Useful if you travel and target absolutely mahoosive fish and need a drag of this quality. The 2500 is small but a similar weight to a 4000 from Shimano.

Daiwa Certate 4000 – perfect if you want a little bit more line capacity & size but still with the lightness to balance with the rods recommended in this page. These reels are built to handle charging fish going on mega-runs while you’re being sprayed with saltwater on a boat off the coast of a warm country we unfortunately don’t live in. If you are a travelling lure angler looking for the best, you’re in the right place.

Best 5000 Size Generalist Reels

Daiwa Crosscast Surf 5000C – (lowest priced option)

The Daiwa Crosscast Surf is a mid-range surf casting reel that bridges the gap between entry-level and premium models. It features Daiwa’s Slow Cross Wrap (SCW) system for improved line lay and also has a nice drag. This size is perfect for an all-rounder set up or bass / flatty rod in the 11-13ft range casting up to 3oz

Daiwa 20 Tournament Basia Surf 45 SCW QD (5000 size)

This one is an exceptionally premium surf casting reel from Daiwa’s high-end Tournament series. The “SCW” refers to Slow Cross Wrap oscillation system which gives perfect line lay. Having amazing line lay means there is less friction during the cast, so you cast further. This reel comes with a super smooth drag that can be adjusted to be exactly as you want it. But, it’s unusual in that it’s much smaller than most reels used for beachcasting. It’s the dream bass / flatty reel to match with a 11-13ft casting up to around 3oz.

Shimano Ultegra 5500 XSD OR Shimano Ultegra CI4 5500 XSC

Popular among serious beach anglers, it offers excellent line capacity, smooth drag performance – everything you’d expect at this price. Again, the size here is suited to a very light beachcasting outfit, casting up to 3-4oz at the upper end. If you’re using a rod that casts 6oz, reach for a larger size.

Penn Spinfisher VII 5500LCEU Long Cast

The Penn Spinfisher VII 5500LCEU Long Cast features a shallower, wider spool design to maximise casting distance from shore. With IPX5 water-resistant sealing and full metal construction, it’s built to withstand harsh coastal environments. These are highly respected and trusted reels, and the 5500 size is versatile for a generalist sea fishing outfit casting 3-4oz leads as a maximum.

Best 8000 Size Beach Reels

Price High to Low

Shimano Bullseye 9100 – designed primarily for the Japanese domestic market but gaining popularity worldwide. This is a stand out pick for being an absolute beast.

Shimano Ultegra 14000 XSE

Shimano Speedmaster 14000 XSD

Penn Tidal XT Long Cast 8000

Colmic Kromer 8000 or Colmic Actarus 8000

Penn Battle III Longcast BTLIII8000LCEU again – we have a full review to the Penn Battle Longcast here.

Shimano Aerlex 10000 XSB

Shakespeare Salt Surf 80 – best budget sea fishing reel

Tips for choosing a sea fishing reel for ledgering (bottom fishing)

If the reel doesn’t come with a spare spool, try to acquire one. This way you can have line with shockleader pre-tied ready to go in the event of snap off. This will increase the time you have bait in the water. It also gives you the option to have a mono spool and a braid spool etc.
Look for reels that have longer bodies if a long cast is required, as the line will leave the spool with less friction resulting in a further cast. Most modern beachcasting reels are like this anyway.
Consider using tapered shockleader. This way your leader knot will be less likely to snag on eyelets because it’ll be smaller. This makes for smoother casting.
Fill the spool to the top of the lip (leaving a few mm visible so the line doesn’t coil off). This increases casting distance dramatically. Depending on the reels line capacity, you may need backing line to do this. This is one reason it pays to go for a lower capacity if you don’t need a lot of line.

Recap of the best reel sizes for each use case

Reel size	Rod Specs & Use Case
1000 (spinning)	Ultra light rods casting under 15g, under 7.5ft long
2500 (spinning)	Ultra light rods casting under 15g, under 8ft long. Watch out for Penn reels, especially the higher end models in the 2500 size. They’re fantastically robust – but heavy. The 2500 size can replace a 3000 or on a very thin blank (e.g. some Japanese lure rods) a 4000 size reel.
3000 (spinning)	Light lure fishing outfit, rods between 7-10ft. Highly versatile for a range of UK species. Daiwa & Shimano reels in this size are much lighter than Penn reels (excl. Daiwa BG). If you have a more traditional spinning rod, Penn is likely a better fit. If you have a lightweight or Japanese bass rod, Daiwa or Shimano in 3000 is good, but you might want a 4000 if the rod is closer to 9ft+. If you’re feeling confused and just want a complete lure set up that works go here. The article gives several options for spinning reels that work on specific light lure rods.
4000 (spinning)	8.5 -10ft lure rods, max casting weights above 28g As a rule of thumb you’ll be fine in 85% of cases with the above, but watch out for unusually heavy reels like Daiwa BG, Spinfisher 3500 – they’ll need a rod towards the longer end of the range or with a higher casting weight. Unusually light reels like the Daiwa Legalis 4000 feel more like 3000’s. More details and specific recommendations read our complete lure fishing set up guide.
5000 (spinning)	10-12ft heavy lure rods (meaning 2-3oz, 60-100g generally in UK). Overseas, these are used for throwing lures that way much more than ours for fish that weigh much more than ours. However, they’re perfect for ‘all-round sea fishing’ / harbour wall fishing in summer rather than specialist lure fishing. Also, 10-12ft light ledgering rods casting up to 3oz. Avoid Daiwa & Shimano for this purpose unless the rod has a thin light blank to match their lightness. A large handled Penn pairs better if the rod blank is relatively thick (e.g. Anyfishanywhere blanks as opposed to a Japanese lure rod blank). We look at ‘all rounder’ set ups with 5000 size reels in our sea fishing starter / all rounder article.
6000 (spinning)	11-13ft very heavy lure rods – or light ledgering rigs for things like sharks (I don’t mean UK shark species!). These can also be used on ‘all rounder’ sea fishing set ups, perfect for mackerel feathering, using traditional float fishing rigs with 1oz weights and light ledgering rigs. They are easier to fish with for a long time than a surf reel of a similar size (a 5000 lightweight surf reel).
5000 (surf)	It’s easy to get confused here, because a 5000 size surf reel is a different size to a 5000 spinning reel. Surf reels have much larger spools and larger handles, so they are designed for long casting and reeling heavier weights. People use them for mackerel feathering also. A 5000 surf reel pairs with a bass or flatty rod casting about 3-4oz. An ‘all rounder’ sea fishing rod, such as a rod casting up to 3oz at the max end, with a length of approx. 11’. This is a traditional float fishing, mackerel feathering & summertime ledgering from a harbour wall kind of set up. It’s advantage is that you can cast a long way with it and easily lift fish up harbour walls. Utilitarian is the word. Handy for the apocalypse, for the generalist or perhaps the ambitious mackerel basher.
6000 (surf)	Pairs with a 12ft beachcaster rated to 6oz. Commonly used on a lighter beachcasting set up, fishing cleaner ground. Could also be used on a lower casting weight bass or estuary rod – e.g. 12-13ft rod rated to 3-4oz max. We have a guide to the best beachcasting reels.
7000 (surf)	Along with 8000’s, the most popular size for all-round beachcasting in the UK. Pairs with 12ft+ beach casting rods. Perfect size for ledgering form the rocks, due to being lighter weight than larger models to aid mobility. List of recommended beachcasting reels here.
8000 (surf)	Along with the 7000’s the most popular size for all-round beachcasting in the UK. Pairs with 12ft+ beach casting rods. Perfect size for ledgering from the rocks, due to being lighter weight than larger models to aid mobility. However, the reels weight is a better indicator of size, along with line capacity when you reach this size. NOTE: Shimano size 10000 – 14000 are roughly equivalent to an 8000 size from Penn and most other brands. List of recommended beachcasting reels here.
9000 (surf)	The reels weight is a better indicator of size when you reach this size. These reels are often the same size as 8000’s but with deeper spools for increased line capacity, useful only if you fish very deep waters. NOTE: Shimano size 10000 – 14000 are roughly equivalent to an 8000 size from Penn and most other brands. List of recommended beachcasting reels here.
10000 & Upward (surf)	The reels weight is a better indicator of size when you reach this size. These reels are often the same size as 8000’s but with deeper spools for increased line capacity, useful only if you fish very deep waters. NOTE: Shimano size 10000 – 14000 are roughly equivalent to an 8000 size from Penn and most other brands. List of recommended beachcasting reels here.