Find the best multipliers
If you’re looking for a multiplier the chances are you already know what you’re doing and probably have a good idea what you want already. For those looking to buy their first multiplier, I’ll quickly go over why they are useful before we look at specific models…
Why people use multipliers in the UK when fixed spools are now so good
Multiplier reels have higher gear ratios. This means for every turn of the handle, significantly more line is retrieved than with a fixed spool reel. The benefits of this when trying to pull larger fish away from snags, or when fishing deep water are immediately obvious. There are several other benefits too.
1. Firstly, you can use much heavier lines on a multiplier than you can on a fixed spool reel. Fixed spool reels start to loose performance significantly with monofilament lines above 25lb breaking strain. A multiplier can handle far, far heavier monofilament lines and function perfectly.
2. Secondly, they are stronger, so if you are pulling hard into a snag, a multiplier can take a lot of pressure without breaking. You can pull snagged rigs straight out of weed, instead of losing tackle.
3. Thirdly, they can store a lot more line, which is useful at very deep water marks or when boat fishing in deeper waters.
4. In the right hands, multipliers can allow for much further casting. This is because you can get the friction far lower than you can with a fixed spool reel. This is a big deal in some locations.
5. And the last key benefit – they tolerate heavier leads with ease. Fixed spool reels can start to struggle with heavier leads and with time will pack it in if they are made to work too hard.
There are also many anglers who simply find it more satisfying to fish with a multiplier and have more control over their fishing. Most prefer a standard fixed spool beachcasting reel, because it takes time to get to grips with a multiplier and they are more prone to birds nests / major line tangles.
Best multipliers for beach fishing UK
We’ve ordered the multipliers from price high to low.
Penn 525 Mag4 – best dedicated beach fishing multiplier
Penn’s latest long beach casting classic is the Mag 525 4. The reel pictured about is the popular mag3. This is an excellent all-round multiplier for beach fishing. It allows experienced casters to reduce the braking mid-cast to get a few extra meters in the cast. This is useful at certain marks, for instance, reaching channels in huge estuaries like the Bristol Channel. It has an adjustable magnetic brake system, a solid stainless steel main and pinion gears and an aluminium spool. The Versa drag system is smooth, and can handle a maximum drag of 9kg, though some find the clicking noise annoying. The reel weighs in at 439 grams, which is pretty light for a beach casting reel. Despite this, the reel is strong enough that you can pull hard into snags and know that the reel will hold up to any pressure you put on it.
The retrieve is 6:1:1 and one turn of the handle brings in 29” of line… That’s a lot. Not ideal for the whiting or dab that make up the bulk of British winter catches! But – very useful for bigger fish like huss that can crash dive into the kelp at rough ground marks.
The older version of this reel was my first multiplier. I used it from beaches and estuaries around Cornwall with no trouble. Recommended. It’s got a good legacy for a lot of anglers.
Penn Fathom II (Penn Casting Special) – the best for rough ground tolerance & all-round BEEF
The Penn Fathom II Casting Special gives you unprecidented casting distance and power – it tops out our list as the versatile ‘rugged’ option. Its full metal body and side plates ensure durability, while the 6.1:1 gear ratio, achieved through precision-cut marine-grade bronze main gear and hardened stainless steel pinion gear, provides efficient line retrieval. It’s become a mega-hit amoungst die-hard rough ground anglers but is a reel you could just as easily use from beachmarks, with its ability to fling lead to the horizon.
A standout feature of the Fathom II Casting Special is its ‘knobby’ magnetic braking system, offering anglers precise control over casting to adapt to various conditions and baits. The live spindle with a free-floating spool enhances casting distance and accuracy, while the fast gear access side plate simplifies maintenance. The line capacity is exceptionally high.
We only hope that the legacy of these latest versions of the reel will be as impressive as the early PENN reels. A Scottish guide we interviewed told us that he has multipliers on his boat that are several decades old and still working fine. It will be interesting to see if the latest reels from PENN will have that kind of lifespan.
The other Penn Fathom II’s are also highly recommended.
Daiwa Millionaire 7HT – best budget option if you don’t need magnetic breaking
There are three different versions of the Daiwa Millionaire and they come at very different price points. Our understanding is that the cheapest version – the Millionaire 7HT – is just as capable as the more expensive models, but does not come with magnetic breaking. This means that unless you’re an advanced angler, it’s much more likely to get birds nests but otherwise will perform just as well.
7HT MAG Review – best for distance casting with lighter lines
Then you have the second version, the Millionaire 7HT MAG. This version is a bit more powerful and has a higher gear ratio. The build quality is probably better, too. However the main difference is the magnetic breaking. This feature makes the reel much less prone to birds nests, so you get the benefits of a multiplier without some of the problems they’re notorious for creating (tangles!). The slight downside of the magnetic breaking is it might not allow for such long casting, because the spool spins more slowly the more you apply it.
The Daiwa 7HT models are perfect for lighter line fishing over clean ground, for super-long distance casting with lighter lines.
How does it’s magnetic breaking work?
The Magnofuge braking system is an intelligent system that detects the centrifugal force of the spool, allowing it to achieve maximum speed early in the cast and preserve as much of that speed as possible. As the centrifugal force reduces, the Magnofuge makes minute and gradual adjustments to the magnetic resistance, perfectly synchronized with the speed of the spool, resulting in effortless distance casting.
The Millionaire 7HT Mag is also incredibly smooth, thanks to its six ball bearings, including one corrosion-resistant ball bearing. This feature is particularly important for sea fishing reels, as they are often exposed to the corrosive nature of saltwater. If properly maintained the reel should go the decades.
With a gear ratio of 5.8:1, this reel offers a swift retrieve, even in rough conditions with ten buckets of kelp on your line. It’s got some pretty intense cranking power, as you’d expect.
The reel also has a weight of 12.2oz, a line capacity of 300m 15LB, and a gear ratio of 5.8:1. The Daiwa Millionaire 7HT Mag reel is a must-have for any serious angler.
7HT MAG ST Review
The third version, and most expensive option, is the Millionaire 7HT MAG ST. This reel has the magnetic breaking, but improvements have been made to it by the Daiwa engineers to allow for further casting while still getting the benefits of the magnetic breaking. We do not know how this new system works and have not yet tested each model to see for ourselves. This reel has the highest build quality of them all and is firmly in the ‘supreme’ end of multiplier reels for shore fishing.
The MAG ST provides the ultra high end of casting performance while managing the trade off between distance and control that cheaper models have to make. If you’re looking to elevate your fishing and casting experience and don’t want the faff of tangles then this might be the multiplier for you. Certainly a luxury option and most anglers will not find it necessary at all for their angling.
Daiwa SL30SH Review – a bigger reel , suitable for taking on the boat & fishing from the shore. The reel has a cult-following.
The Daiwa Sealine Slosh multiplier comes in a couple of sizes – the SL20SH and the SL30SH. The second of these is bigger and has a higher line capacity, so is better if you’re going to be use heavier monofilament lines. Anglers fishing rough ground appreciate the tough build of the thing and the 6:1:1 retrieve for pulling conger out of snags.
You can also use the Daiwa Sealine for boat work, like up tiding for powerful rays or tope. The SL20SH has such a cult following amongst sea anglers that they have nicknamed it The SLOSH. With a capacity of 310 yards of 15lb mono, it is perfect for general beach work or for rocky marks with its fast retrieves and great casting.
Tronix Pro Guerilla Review – 6500 – best sub-£100 multiplier, don’t buy a multiplier for less than this unless it’s through a mate!
The Tronixpro Guerrilla Mono Mag reel has both right and left-handed options in a 6500 size. It’s good for a variety of situations, as it has a lower retrieve ratio than some more expensive multipliers, meaning it’s actually more sporting with smaller fish. Realistically, you don’t actually need a very high gear ratio for the majority of British sea fishing.
It has an 8kg star drag and can hold 250m of 0.35mm line. Many multipliers come with deeper spools that hold much more line than that, but when has a fish ever taken out more than a quarter of a kilometre of line for you? You also won’t need to use backing on this reel.
The single magnetic brake design is favoured by much of the tournament casting scene as helps avoid the very worst bird nests but still maximises casting distance. We suspect that the single magnet system might be more of a challenge for a beginner due to there being fewer magnets controlling spool speed. The single magnet system can allow you to cast further because you can fine-tune the speed of your spool without as much of a risk of tangles.
This is an excellent option for the sensible angler that wants to use a multiplier but doesn’t want to sell a kidney. It’s also a useful generalist beach casting reel.
What to look for in a multiplier
Which is better, Star Drag or Lever Drag?
Star drag reels are cheaper, simpler, and great for casting, but they lack precise drag adjustments. Lever drag reels offer smoother performance, preset drag settings, and better pressure control, but they’re more expensive and can limit free spool. The truth is for most people it’s not going to make a huge amount of difference, particularly as the quality of the drag is more significant that which type it is. However, there is a fantastic deep-dive on the topic here if you’d like to explore this more. People do sometimes have quite strong preferences.
A quick note on magnetic breaking
Magnetic breaking helps prevent birds nests and line tangles. This is a big deal because multipliers are notorious for being prone to line tangles. Some anglers are even going so far as to get mag conversions for better line control after purchasing a reel to improve this aspect of it, which is something you’d want done by a reel technician you trust.
What is magnetic breaking?
Magnetic breaking: when you cast with a multiplier, your thumb is on the spool and you apply pressure to set the speed you want the spool to spin at. When you apply more pressure, the spool turns more slowly and your rig won’t fly as far. The moment your rig hits the water, it stops taking out line. However, your spool will still be spinning. This can result in birds nests (line tangles) because the line continues to come out of the spool and there’s nowhere for it to go.
Magnetic breaking works by allowing you to manually adjust the speed the spool will spin. This means for instance you can set it to stop spinning so fast before the rig hits the water, thereby reducing the chance of a serious line tangle.
Multiplier reel sizes
Different reels suit different styles of sea fishing. A smaller reel like the Daiwa 7HT is perfect for clean beaches, pairing well with 15lb mainline and a shock leader for smooth, controlled casting. On the other hand, if you’re tackling rough ground, a beefier reel like the Daiwa SL20SH, loaded with 30lb straight-through line, is the better choice. If you’re looking for something much lighter, check out some of the Abu reels, as some of these weigh close to half a lot of their competitors, but they’re less versatile.
For those after a do-it-all option, reels like the Abu Garcia 6500 series or the Penn 525 hit the sweet spot—long-distance casting over clean ground with enough cranking power to handle mixed terrain. Seasoned anglers often collect a range of reels, fine-tuning their setup for different conditions. But for most UK fishing, a well-chosen all-rounder will handle just about everything, only falling short in extreme rough ground or when serious distance is needed.
How multipliers for ‘mostly shorefishing’ are different from those for ‘mostly boat fishing’
Multiplier reels for shore fishing have shallower, wider spools to maximise casting distance. They also have more advanced braking systems. They typically feature higher gear ratios, lighter weight construction, and thumb bar releases for efficient long-distance fishing. In contrast, boat fishing multipliers have more aggressive retrievals with deeper, narrower spools that hold more line. They also tend to have tougher drag systems.
Having said all that, all these shorefishing multipliers can be used on a boat rod, it just that the same doesn’t tend to go the other way. We will make a seperate guide to the best multipliers for boat fishing.
The general consensus amongst long-time multiplier users is that the build quality has gone down over the years. For this reason, some will even insist on buying used multipliers made in decades past to try to get back to that quality. This is a risky strategy, because it’s very hard to tell how the reel has been treated and how much life is left in the reel. However, if you have an old reel from Penn etc and it’s working fine, you might want to think twice before buying a new one!
With all this in mind, we’re going to focus on highly recommended reels that have a lot of trust in the angling community, because it’s very difficult to say how good a reel is until it’s been around for many years and been bullied consistentl