The size of your reel plays a crucial role in surf fishing. It dictates your casting distance, rod size, type of line, how many yards of line to use, how strong the line should be, and more.
It goes even further and affects also your ability to detect bites and the level of control you have during fights.
As a result, it’s important to select your reel size carefully, ensuring it suits perfectly your surf fishing conditions and objectives.
So what is the best size reel for surf fishing?
4000-6000 (or 40-60) is the best size reel for surf fishing. This range provides enough room to fit a sufficient amount (250 yards) of most lines we use off the beach.
In this article, we will discuss this topic in more detail and explain why the range 4000-6000 is the optimal reel size for beach fishing. Also, we will give valuable insights into the pros and cons of both large and small surf reels.
So without further ado, let’s go.
What does the size of a reel mean?
I won’t take much of your time to explain this because I know it’s simple and easy to understand.
I just want that, before we dive into the debate of which size reel is best for surf fishing, you fully understand what the numbers on surf reels mean.
So I will keep it simple and move on.
In simple words, the size of a reel refers to its line capacity.
Put differently, for the same reel type and brand, a higher number on the reel indicates a larger spool with a greater line capacity.
Most reel manufacturers use either 2 or 4 digits to describe their reel’s sizes. But generally speaking, the first 2 digits refer to the same reel size.
For example, if reel X from brand A is labeled 2500 and reel Y from brand B is marked as 25, then both reels are the same size.
Now, when it comes to surf fishing, the most common reel sizes are:
- 1000 or 10
- 2000 or 20
- 2500 or 25
- 3000 or 30
- 4000 or 40
- 5000 or 50
- 6000 or 60
- 7000 or 70
- 8000 or 80
This list provides a general idea of the sizes we refer to in beach fishing. However, be aware that you may encounter additional sizes not listed above during your next visit to a tackle store.
What is the best size reel for surf fishing?
Your line is the primary factor that dictates your surf reel size.
As we said, the size of a reel defines how much line it can hold. Consequently, the more yards of line you need, the larger your reel should be.
Also, the need for a thick, high-diameter line implies the need for more room on the spool and, therefore, a larger reel.
So, as you can see, the type of line you choose has a significant impact on your reel selection.
Therefore, the question to ask here is: What type of line do we use for surf fishing?
We studied this question before and found that the best line for surf fishing is either 15-20 lbs monofilament or 30-40 lbs braid. These ranges offer the best overall productivity and efficiency when fishing on the beach.
Also, in another article, we found that you need around 250 yards of line when surf fishing. This is the necessary amount to have a good casting distance while still keeping a safe amount of line on the spool to play and fight fish.
Deciding on a reel size for surf fishing is therefore a simple, straightforward process.
All you need to check is the reel’s line capacity for a 15-20 lbs monofilament line or 30-40 lbs braided line.
If it can hold around 250 yards of either of these lines, then it’s a suitable reel for surf fishing. Otherwise, consider the next option.
Most manufacturers provide this information, either on their reels packaging or websites. For example, the PENN reel below offers a line capacity of 230 yards for 20 lb test monofilament. It’s therefore a good reel for surf fishing.
Now, here is the kicker.
I’ve done this exercise for spinning reels multiple times, and I can confidently say that reels in the 4000-6000 size range consistently meet the criteria.
In other words, spinning reels within the 4000-6000 range often provide a line capacity of 200-250 yards for 15-20 lb test monofilament or 30-40 lb test braid, which makes them a suitable choice for surf fishing.
This opinion is endorsed by the answers we received in our survey where we asked 437 anglers about their favorite surf fishing reel size.
The results revealed that the top choices were the 5000-6000 range (23.57% of votes) and the 4000-5000 range (22.88% of votes).
Other popular choices included the 6000-7000 range (13.27%) and the 3000-4000 range (12.36%).
Reel sizes smaller than 3000 were chosen by around 10% of respondents, while about 15.50% of respondents opted for reel sizes larger than 7000.
So in summary, the best reel size for surf fishing is the one that can hold 250 yards of either 15-20 lb test monofilament or 30-40 lb test braid. Generally, reels within the 4000-6000 size range fit this role perfectly, making them the ideal choice for surf fishing.
Can I use larger reels for surf fishing?
I mean, if the only objective is to accommodate a specific amount of line on the spool, then why not opt for extremely large reels? Isn’t it a guaranteed way to ensure sufficient room for the line?
Yes, it is. But you should also question your ability to use and maneuver a heavy reel all day long.
Never underestimate fatigue and its impact on your catch count. Less fatigue means more time on the beach, more casts, more bites, and consequently more catches.
That’s why I recommend avoiding extremely large reels. They are heavy and therefore can lead to discomfort and fatigue after prolonged use, forcing you to leave the beach too early.
Another reason why you should avoid extremely large reels is that they can hurt your balance.
The rod/reel balance is extremely important when surf fishing. A well-balanced combo gives you more sensitivity and enhances your ability to detect bites, perform good hooksets, and turn fish effectively.
Therefore, using a reel that’s too heavy can disrupt your balance, hence affecting your productivity.
Another reason why too-large reels are not advisable for surf fishing is that they require more line to fill the spool.
Yes, in case you don’t know, surf fishing with a half-filled spool is not good.
When you cast with a half-filled reel, the line hits the walls of the spool more often before leaving the reel, which creates more friction and, as a result, reduces your casting distance.
Therefore, when opting for a too-large reel, you will have to add as many yards of line as the reel can hold, and that’s not always practical and pocket-friendly 😉
Personally, I consider any reel larger than size 8000 as overkill for surf fishing. The fishermen we surveyed above share this opinion too, as only 9% of respondents consider reels of size 8000 or higher as their best choice.
In another question, we surveyed 74 surf anglers about what they don’t like in large surf reels. The most commonly cited answer was that large reels cause more fatigue, receiving 28% of the votes (21 votes).
Following closely, 22% (17 votes) of participants noted that large surf reels are harder to control and maneuver, which can affect productivity. A significant portion of respondents, 18% (13 votes), mentioned that the main disadvantage of large surf reels is their higher cost and the requirement for a long rod to maintain better balance.
Additionally, a smaller proportion of participants indicated that large surf reels offer lower gear ratios (7% or 5 votes) and require a substantial amount of fishing line (7% or 5 votes) as their primary drawbacks.
Can I use smaller reels for surf fishing?
The main problem with small surf reels is that they don’t allow enough line capacity, especially when using monofilament.
Therefore small reels can be limiting when you need to reach a good casting distance or when a strong, thick line is needed.
This is why I consider size 4000 as the minimum for surf reels.
Don’t get me wrong here, many surf anglers use 2500-3000 reels in the surf and get excellent results. However, I believe that larger reels offer more flexibility in terms of line material, pound test, and length.
Take the PENN 3500 reel below as an example. If you want to fill it with 220 yards of monofilament, then the maximum pound test you can use is 10 lbs.
10 lbs can be sufficient for surf fishing, but it’s generally not the safest and best outfit.
In order to use this reel, you will need to stick to braid (allowing 220 yards for 20 lb test), which is not always the best choice for surf fishing.
Learn more about the best use cases for braid in surf fishing.
Another reason why you should stay away from small surf reels is that they don’t fit well with long rods.
As a rule of thumb, surf rods are 10ft or taller and perform the best when paired with large reels. As a result, when you pair a small reel with a typical surf fishing rod, things may not feel right in your hands and your sensitivity and balance can suffer.
On top of that, it’s known in the fishing world that the larger the reel, the better your casting distance.
This is because the larger the reel, the longer the coils that come off the spool during casts. This results in more line leaving the reel during the same amount of time, and as a result, more distance traveled above the surf zone.
Avoiding small reels is therefore another way to maximize your casting reach when surf fishing.
When we asked our readers what they don’t like about small surf reels, the answers varied.
Among 80 respondents, the most common answer, noted by 45% of the respondents (36 votes), was that small surf reels do not allow enough line for effective surf fishing.
Additionally, 16% (13 votes) of participants said that small surf reels are less powerful when dealing with heavy fish, which could limit their ability to handle larger catches.
Another notable disadvantage of small reels, according to 15% of respondents (12 votes), was that small surf reels collect the line slower, which can affect the retrieval process.
Moreover, 14% of participants (11 votes) expressed that small surf reels do not help the casting distance, which could impact their overall catch count.
And finally, a smaller portion of respondents, 10% (8 votes), mentioned that small surf reels require the use of a shorter rod for better balance.
Last Word
The best reel size for surf fishing is the one that allows you to have a sufficient amount of the line you need. In general, 4000-6000 surf reels fit this role perfectly, which makes them the most suitable for beach fishing.
With this in mind, remember that size is not the only thing to consider when buying a new surf reel.
There are a lot of other things that can impact the overall performance of your reel and includes :
- Waterproofness and water tightness
- Anti-corrosion capability
- Maximum drag (at least 20 pounds)
- Resistance to saltwater
- Enough gear ratio (at least 5.7:1)
- Resistance to line twists, backlashing, and wind knots
All of these factors are as important as the size of the reel. Personally, I am willing to make small compromises on the reel size in order to get a good anti-corrosion, water-resistant surf reel.
Read our buying guide for surf reels.
Note (*): If you make a purchase through links from this website, we may get a small share of the sale from Amazon or other similar affiliate programs.
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