Best Shimano Spinning Reels

Shimano Saragosa 20000F Saltwater Offshore Spinning Reel

The Saragosa spinning reel is made for offshore fishing and targeting some of the biggest fish out there. It’s a serious piece of kit and can handle everything the ocean might throw at it.

The drag is fully sealed and made from a multi-disc carbon fiber disc system. It’s smooth and hugely powerful with a max of 44lbs. The sealed drag ensures the reel will last a long time and stand up well to corrosion but you will still need to maintain it. The bearings do go after a few years due to the size of fish you’re catching but they are easily replaced.

The reel comes with a braid-ready spool and has a big line capacity to match the size of fish that it’s capable of handling. The frame is aluminum and the rotor is made from graphite, this makes the reel very strong and durable.

The retrieve is quick and smooth thanks to the excellent gears, gear ratio, and a good number of ball bearings. It also includes X-ship technology that will keep every wind efficient under pressure. It is quite a heavy reel but it needs to be to handle those big fish and it’s a tad expensive but it’ll last a lifetime with proper care.

Shimano Nexave 4000 HG FE Spinning Fishing Reel

This Shimano spinning reel was designed for freshwater and light inshore saltwater fishing, it hasn’t quite got the guts to go offshore though. The reel is made from graphite with an aluminum braid-ready spool, very handy when you go to fill your reel for the first time and the graphite will stand up well against corrosion.

The drag is smooth and strong, exactly what you need when the time comes to put pressure on a fish during a fight and you can be confident the reel isn’t going to fail when you hook that fish of a lifetime.

Overall the reel is light and includes Shimano’s Propulsion Line Management System that helps you cast further. If you fish hard and cast all day, you’ll feel the benefits of this quite quickly.

The combination of the high gear ratio and bearings gives a smooth retrieve even under pressure. It’s perfect for getting lures or buzz baits in quickly and for getting the most efficiency out of every wind while you’re fighting a fish.

The spinning reel is priced very well but it does feel a little delicate when you get your hands on it. Price and quality go hand in hand in fishing but if you treat the reel right it should still last a long time. The reel isn’t sealed so when saltwater fishing is sure to clean it properly and give it some extra maintenance.

Shimano Sedona F1

The Shimano Sedona F1 spinning reel is a well-known reel and comes in numerous models that fit light freshwater fishing through to heavy offshore.

The body is made from aluminum which is very durable and corrosion-resistant. The gears feature Shimano’s HAGANE system which is some of the most durable and reliable gears out there. Your retrieve will not fail.

The drag is made from a multi-disc carbon system and will handle any fish out there when using the right model. It’s smooth, strong and reliable. The spool comes braid-ready and the line capacity is big enough to target giants, again with the correct model.

The reel also includes the Propulsion Line Management System to help you cast further and reduce those annoying backlashes or wind knots.

Unfortunately, the reel isn’t sealed and will need consistent maintenance. It can get a bit stiff when submerged and not maintained properly so beware of this. Overall, it’s great value but it doesn’t come with anti-reverse.

SHIMANO ULTEGRA Spinning Reel

The Ultegra Shimano spinning reel also comes in various models to suit saltwater and freshwater fishing, it’s not quite big enough to use offshore but will be fine for surf fishing.

This reel also has the HAGANE gear system and also includes X-Ship technology which makes each wind or spool turn count a little more when under pressure, perfect for lifting stubborn fish from the depths or to reduce friction for longer casts.

The drag is excellent and made from a carbon multi-disc system. The max drag is high enough for most fish and you have a great line capacity to back you. The reel is sealed with core protection to stop water or dirt from getting inside and affecting the inner workings. This will reduce the amount of maintenance it needs but it’s not fully sealed so you’ll still need to check up on it.

The retrieve is quick but it’s not that smooth due to the reel body having a bit of giving in it. This is not the end of the world but could become a little frustrating.

Shimano Stradic Ci4+

This is one of Shimano’s top spinning reels and if you’re a serious fisherman with a big budget it’s worth looking at. The body is made from carbon fiber which makes the reel durable and super light for easy all-day casting. The drag is also made from carbon fiber to give a smooth and powerful system that’ll last a long time against corrosion.

The Stradic Ci4+ comes with all the tech Shimano makes including X-ship, HAGANE gears, and core protection. It’s sealed, will help with your casting and each wind of the reel will be as efficient as it can be.

The retrieve is super smooth and quick but the bail arm needs to be flipped manually and can’t be done on the wind. Some fishermen find this annoying but if you just adjust your style a bit you’ll get used to it. The reel doesn’t have anti-reverse which is a shame plus the line roller bearing can fail but Shimano will send you a new one free of charge.

The reel comes in a range of models suitable for salt and freshwater fishing, the biggest of which is not that big and won’t manage big sharks of offshore species.

Shimano Nasci 4000 FB

Shimano Nasci 4000 FB is one of the Shimano spinning reels that looks the best in my opinion and is made purely for freshwater fishing. It’s great value for money but still has some of Shimano’s best tech inside such as Core-Protect, X-ship, and the HAGANE gear system.

The reel is made from aluminum and comes with a braid-ready spool, perfect for all your braid enthusiasts out there. It’s well made and will stand up well to bumps, scrapes, and corrosion.

The retrieve is super smooth as is the drag and it casts beautifully. It comes in quite a few different sizes and even though it’s labeled as a freshwater reel I think it could handle some saltwater action with the proper care.

The larger models would handle some solid inshore fish but you might be at a disadvantage with a small capacity. The reel isn’t sealed so if you do go into salt water make sure you clean and service it after.

SHIMANO Stradic GTM RC Spinning Reel

The Stradic GTM RC Spinning Reel is made for competition fishing, specifically light line, and has had a lot of thought out into it. If you are a pro light line angler then this is a reel for you.

To start off with the reel is extraordinarily light for quick and easy all-day casting. It’s full of match features and the Super Stopper II tech ensures there’s no play in the anti-reverse so you can tiny increments for bite indicators which should take your hook-up rate through the roof.

The drag is a multi-disc carbon system for smooth reliability. It comes with both a rear and front drag for easy access and instant drag sets.

The reel comes with a power roller to ensure a good line lay which is key when light line fishing. It reduces twists on the retrieve and the Aero Wrap II system ensures the line goes on to the reel correctly so when you hook a fish it won’t break off due to line management.

It’s an awesome reel to cast and there’s a lot more that makes it perfect for the light line but that is all it’s good for. It can’t do anything else.

SHIMANO Socorro SW, Offshore Saltwater Spinning Fishing Reel

The Socorro is a step down from the Saragosa in terms of what it can handle but it’s still a good saltwater reel and it’s a little less expensive. This is a great reel for surf fishing, it’s made to be durable, corrosion-resistant, and can handle anything the surf throws at it.

The drag is smooth, durable, and is made from a multi-disc carbon fiber system. The body is made from aluminum, perfect for saltwater. The reel includes Shimano’s cold forged HAGANE gear system and X-ship technology giving you an efficient, quick, and smooth retrieve.

It comes with a braid-ready aluminum spool and high line capacity, again perfect for surf fishing, you can hook a big shark and relax knowing your reel can handle it. It is a little expensive but it’s worth it.

Shimano Baitrunner D Spinning Reel

Shimano Baitrunner D is a great reel to use offshore that is specifically made for live baiting and free spooling. It comes with anti-reverse and baits running mode to help you hook up easily when you need to free spool to a fish. This is a very useful feature that most offshore reels don’t have.

It’s made for great materials that ensure the reel can handle life at sea and comes with a high enough drag and line capacity to handle big offshore species. The drag is made from a carbon fiber multi-disc system, it’s powerful and smooth but is not sealed so it’ll need regular maintenance.

The reel comes with Shimano’s line propulsion management to enhance your casting and reduce backlashes or wind knots to keep you fishing instead of untangling.

The gears and bearing give it a smooth reliable retrieve but the gear ratio is a little low. You’ll have to wind pretty fats to get your bait in quickly. The spool is braid-ready, made from aluminum, and is easy to fill. The reel is a tad heavy for casting overall and expensive but it is worth it for the quality.