Best Spinning Reel setup for Off Shore?

[WalkaboutNC]

Need to get a couple of good ones - for pitch baits, etc. Would like to get good set-ups for less than $200 each - don't want too big, but big enough to handle serious sized dolphin or sail. (30 lb test ?) Recommendations?

[wino]

Need to get a couple of good ones - for pitch baits, etc. Would like to get good set-ups for less than $200 each - don't want too big, but big enough to handle serious sized dolphin or sail. (30 lb test ?) Recommendations?

Shimano baitrunner 4500 or 6500 work for me.

[WalkaboutNC]

Thanks Wino. Those are high on my list - also considering the Penn Spinfishers - but I like the secondary drag of the Baitrunners, so they're probably going to be my choice. Seems like a great all around combination, and lots of people have great things to say about them. I've used the smaller versions on others boats and it worked well.

Does anyone know - is it advisable to run braid on the 4500B's - to get more line on the reel with some extra poundage. I know many of us do it on Conventionals - can these reels handle it? And how does the braid work for live bait drifting?

Thanks,

[north coast]

look at the fin-nor ofs 650 or 750 these things are sweet . And they're around 100 bucks or a little more. I've got 2 of them. surprised they are not more popular.

[welder]

Penn 850 SSM or the Shimano 6500's will do ya .

[BrokenWrench]

Penn 850 SSM or the Shimano 6500's will do ya .

I just can't kill my Shimano 6500 !

It has gone ZZZZzzzzzzzz a thousand times and it just keeps on singing that song.

Get one and go have some fun with it.

[triumphrick]

Shimano and Fin nor for me as well. Have been hearing of some problems with the bail post breaking on the newer Penn ssg reels. Also, the shimano baitrunner has been one of the better reels I have ever owned!!

[welder]

If you go PENN , get the SSM not the SSG , M is for METAL[alloy] and G is for GRAPHITE .

[Team Ruby]

I have 4500, 6500 Baitrunners and the big Thunnus. I do like braid on them particularlly on the two baitrunners. I always have one rigged up with something I can cast into anything on the surface while offshore. The extra distance I can get out of the braid makes it a little easier approaching boat shy fish.

[WalkaboutNC]

Thanks for all the good feedback. Guess I've got a number of choices. I like the Baitrunners and have good success with both Penn and Shimano conventionals - run a spread of TLD25's (with Allan Tanni handles that I like much better.)

But now for spinning you've got me interested in the Fin-Nor OFS. Looks like they are bringing the quality back to Hemingway's brand of choice - and at a resonable price for the OFS. Notice they are quick to point out that you can run 100lb braid. (guess you wouldn't want to crank the drag down on it, but the extra lb's for the amount of line would be nice.) Looked at a lot of images and info - trying to scale the size of them - as there are a number of comments about how large they are. I know the drags are especially large - which is part of it - and would be a good thing. I'll have to find one locally that I can touch. On the other hand, I did see some images on "the other site" of busted gears. (can't help but wonder if that comes from cranking the drag down on the 100 lb braid)

Anyway - thanks for all the good info. I'll let you know what I settle on.

Reel Tight Lines!