How to choose the right sea fishing reel

Sea fishing includes shore and pier fishing and boat fishing. There are two kinds of reel, the fixed spool reel and the multiplier, each of which has its advantages, but which come at varying prices. It is important to use the right kind of reel for the fish that you are catching and the kind of fishing that you are doing.

Shore and pier fishing

Casting Anyone fishing from the shore needs to cast, so you need a reel that is suitable for casting. For casting, the easier of the two kinds of reel is a fixed spool or spinning reel. However, the light kind of reel that you have for a fly rod is not good enough, as sea fish tend to be heavier than river fish. You don't fly fish in the sea. You can cast with a multiplier, but it is harder to do that casting with a spinning reel. If you are fishing from a pier, you will generally need to cast, though some anglers go for fish under the pier, when casting is unnecessary. Boat fishing When fishing from a boat, there is no need to cast as the aim is to find a shoal of fish and angle from directly above it. For this kind of fishing, use a boat rod with a multiplier reel. The larger fish tend to be out at sea, and so the stronger multiplier reel is the right kind of gear for this purpose. It has to be attached to a strong rod and a line of sufficient strength for the fish that you are catching.

Differences

Fishing shops will sell a range of reels of varying price. You need to consider the special problems of sea fishing. One is the demands placed on the reel. You have to be reeling often over a hundred feet of line up and down, and if you are casting the pressure on the gears is enormous. Cheap reels therefore wear out. There is also the problem of salt that can corrode the mechanism, so purchase a good reel. Cheap fishing is often a false economy. A spinning reel Select a spinning reel if you want to cast from a beach and are not confident in your casting skill. However, if you are confident of your skill, use a multiplier. The multiplier has the stronger mechanism of the two and is the only reel for boat fishing. As it is the stronger reel, use only a multiplier for heavy fish. However, if you want a spinning reel, choose a strong one, as a lightweight reel is unsuitable for sea fishing. However, multipliers are harder to repair than spinning reels are.