Good saltwater casting reel for around $200.00

I know products change like weather conditions and I have been out of the loop for a while.  What is a good saltwater casting reel for around $200.00?  I currently have a Penn I'd like to bench as a back-up.

You going to actually be casting, or jigging?  What pole is it going on and what kinda weight are you planing on casting/jigging with it?

You going to actually be casting, or jigging?  What pole is it going on and what kinda weight are you planing on casting/jigging with it?

good point, jigging. 3-8 ounces. I'm open to a rod and reel match.  I want to get into Halibut and Lingcod.  I have rod/reels for other fisheries.  My mind is mush, just spent 2 months in NY working hurricane Sandy 7 days a week and looking forward to some fun. 

Interested in rod reel match up to $400.00.

Penn fathom levelwind is what I went with, and I've loved it so far.  Shimano Tekota has similar capabilities and I've seen those work really well.  The Shimano weighs a few ounces more and has slightly lower drag #.

As for a matching rod, anything from a $70 tiger lite jigging rod (ugly stick), on up into the fancy rods in the $300 range will work.

Shimano Trevala TVC-66M or TVC-66MH ($119.00) paired with a Shimano Cardiff ($109.00) or Abu Garcia C3 (~$100).  Both reels are medium reels, nothing fancy but the rod I heard is fantastic. Waiting for mine to ship.
Pretty good setup for around $200.

If you can swing the extra cash you should go with a Tekota for ~$179.


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Penn fathom levelwind is what I went with, and I've loved it so far.  Shimano Tekota has similar capabilities and I've seen those work really well.  The Shimano weighs a few ounces more and has slightly lower drag #.

As for a matching rod, anything from a $70 tiger lite jigging rod (ugly stick), on up into the fancy rods in the $300 range will work.

TY for the reply, I do like the UglyStick rods, been using the 12' for bank sturgeon fishing for many years.  I had a gent at a local sporting goods store tell me that PENN has gone down hill in quality.  Was he just blowing smoke up my 6 for a sale?

Brand loyalty is brand loyalty.  I've never seen a post about a penn reel failing for no reason on these forums, but I have for a Shimano reel - but I'd still buy both, as my personal experience with both brands has been good.

I found no reputable negative online reviews before buying my Penn, and it has certainly not failed me.  In fact, the only reel I've had "fail" was a Cabela's brand saltstriker, and that was because of poor care on my part (well it was my wife's reel, but it's my job to keep stuff in working order :-) ) 

Unfortunately, a lot of people mistreat the hell out of their gear, then blame the company.  They'll also base their decision on "well so and so knows a guy who's uncle has a friend in canada that knows a dude in florida that says penn sucks"

summary:  If that salesman makes a bigger profit margin on Shimano, he's going to pitch it to you as the better reel.

Brand loyalty is brand loyalty.  I've never seen a post about a penn reel failing for no reason on these forums, but I have for a Shimano reel - but I'd still buy both, as my personal experience with both brands has been good.

I found no reputable negative online reviews before buying my Penn, and it has certainly not failed me.  In fact, the only reel I've had "fail" was a Cabela's brand saltstriker, and that was because of poor care on my part (well it was my wife's reel, but it's my job to keep stuff in working order :-) ) 

Unfortunately, a lot of people mistreat the hell out of their gear, then blame the company.  They'll also base their decision on "well so and so knows a guy who's uncle has a friend in canada that knows a dude in florida that says penn sucks"

summary:  If that salesman makes a bigger profit margin on Shimano, he's going to pitch it to you as the better reel.

I've always been partial to PENN myself.  I have used them for years.  My sturgeon bank rod has a PENN 500 Jigmaster that works well for launching 8oz bank sinkers and bait.  Been looking at the Penn Squal Lever Drag Reel, whats your opinion for its use?  I'm not found of auto level winds, I don't like how they bunch the spool.

I've never used one, so I don't have any input for that model.  You'll have more input from others over the next few hours.

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I've never used one, so I don't have any input for that model.  You'll have more input from others over the next few hours.

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Thanks.

For that price I'd go with the Takota 500lc. They are awesome reels that can everything from salmon to halibut.
Don't get caught up in drag rating as they really don't mean much since you won't ever use max drag out of a kayak.

Level wind reels are your friend for the most part and shouldn't ever bunch your line.

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Brand loyalty is brand loyalty.  I've never seen a post about a penn reel failing for no reason on these forums, but I have for a Shimano reel - but I'd still buy both, as my personal experience with both brands has been good.

I found no reputable negative online reviews before buying my Penn, and it has certainly not failed me.  In fact, the only reel I've had "fail" was a Cabela's brand saltstriker, and that was because of poor care on my part (well it was my wife's reel, but it's my job to keep stuff in working order :-) ) 

Unfortunately, a lot of people mistreat the hell out of their gear, then blame the company.  They'll also base their decision on "well so and so knows a guy who's uncle has a friend in canada that knows a dude in florida that says penn sucks"

summary:  If that salesman makes a bigger profit margin on Shimano, he's going to pitch it to you as the better reel.

I've always been partial to PENN myself.  I have used them for years.  My sturgeon bank rod has a PENN 500 Jigmaster that works well for launching 8oz bank sinkers and bait.  Been looking at the Penn Squal Lever Drag Reel, whats your opinion for its use?  I'm not found of auto level winds, I don't like how they bunch the spool.

If you like your Penn 500, just use it.  Tried and true rock solid reel.  Easy to maintain.  Bushings instead of bearings so sand wont crunch them.   And on and on and on ...

-Allen

Brand loyalty is brand loyalty.  I've never seen a post about a penn reel failing for no reason on these forums, but I have for a Shimano reel - but I'd still buy both, as my personal experience with both brands has been good.

I found no reputable negative online reviews before buying my Penn, and it has certainly not failed me.  In fact, the only reel I've had "fail" was a Cabela's brand saltstriker, and that was because of poor care on my part (well it was my wife's reel, but it's my job to keep stuff in working order :-) ) 

Unfortunately, a lot of people mistreat the hell out of their gear, then blame the company.  They'll also base their decision on "well so and so knows a guy who's uncle has a friend in canada that knows a dude in florida that says penn sucks"

summary:  If that salesman makes a bigger profit margin on Shimano, he's going to pitch it to you as the better reel.

I've always been partial to PENN myself.  I have used them for years.  My sturgeon bank rod has a PENN 500 Jigmaster that works well for launching 8oz bank sinkers and bait.  Been looking at the Penn Squal Lever Drag Reel, whats your opinion for its use?  I'm not found of auto level winds, I don't like how they bunch the spool.

If you like your Penn 500, just use it.  Tried and true rock solid reel.  Easy to maintain.  Bushings instead of bearings so sand wont crunch them.   And on and on and on ...

-Allen

Thanks.

Will you be doing a good deal of casting with it and if so,  are you partial to those with "cast control" systems that can be dialed in ?     I am a avid user of casting reels and often will use one when most others are using spinning reels.   With into wind or light weight casting situations, I find I benefit from the feature to avoid birds nests.   Big fan of those that use magnets vs the centrifuge type.

 

Will you be doing a good deal of casting with it and if so,  are you partial to those with "cast control" systems that can be dialed in ?     I am a avid user of casting reels and often will use one when most others are using spinning reels.   With into wind or light weight casting situations, I find I benefit from the feature to avoid birds nests.   Big fan of those that use magnets vs the centrifuge type.

 

I cast a PENN 500 Jigmaster over 100 yards bank fishing with 30lb mono for sturgeon (I prefer Andes). Lots of practice timing when the weight hits the water or you get the mother of all birds nests. To be honest, I'm uninformed/ignorant about magnets/centrifuge...