Need help on deciding which Surf Casting reel to get

[Breadfan]

Hey guys and gals, it's been awhile. I hope that all of you are doing well and the freezer is staying stocked! I haven't upgraded my surfcasting outfit in a couple years, I keep telling myself I don't need more fishing gear. Right. So for Christmas I was given a lamiglas Insane Surf 11' MH conventional rod. It is the lowest offering from Lami, but hey, I will take it, and now it needs a reel! My main goal has always been to have a nice setup of four rods out at one time. When the fish are on, it will keep you very busy. My outfit now consist of two 12ft MH Fiberglass rods that I made myself with 2 Older Millionaire 6H's from the early 80's. The third rod is a 11ft MH fiberglass with a Abu 7000 from the mid 70's. Of course all of my reels (thanks to this site) are clean, tuned, well oiled machines and I can get around 100 yards on a cast sometimes more or less, depending on the wind, which is needed a lot for the pompano I mostly target on the beach here in Jacksonville Fla. All the level winds have been removed to get the distance I need.I'd like to add a few yards with my new reel I haven't bought yet, so... The reels I am thinking of are the Daiwa Millionaire HT Mag. I feel I can't go wrong with this, but it's stretching my budget. Next up is the Omoto Chief Xtreme 630 CXS, the Avet SX MC and last, the Abu 6500 CT Mag. What I really want is the Avet XS MC, and I have read about it casting far. I wonder if it will do what I need it to do and I also wonder how the Lever drag will work with me, I've never had one. One thing I do when I fish for pompano is, I set my drag very light and put it in the rod holder and let the circle hook do its thing. I then adjust but keep the drag as light as possible all the way to the shore. Pomps (like jacks) can have a sudden burst of speed, especially when they see the shore break and they freak. A light drag is needed to let them run just a little, so the hook does not pull out. It's a tactic a very good fisherman taught me and I hardly ever lose a fish because of this. So, it looks like the lever drag would actually be easier to work than the star drag? Any help, suggestions, I'm open to it. I don't buy many new reels anymore and I'd like to get this one right.

Lets add the Penn Squall II to the list also.

[SteveL]

Hey guys and gals, it's been awhile. I hope that all of you are doing well and the freezer is staying stocked! I haven't upgraded my surfcasting outfit in a couple years, I keep telling myself I don't need more fishing gear. Right. So for Christmas I was given a lamiglas Insane Surf 11' MH conventional rod. It is the lowest offering from Lami, but hey, I will take it, and now it needs a reel! My main goal has always been to have a nice setup of four rods out at one time. When the fish are on, it will keep you very busy. My outfit now consist of two 12ft MH Fiberglass rods that I made myself with 2 Older Millionaire 6H's from the early 80's. The third rod is a 11ft MH fiberglass with a Abu 7000 from the mid 70's. Of course all of my reels (thanks to this site) are clean, tuned, well oiled machines and I can get around 100 yards on a cast sometimes more or less, depending on the wind, which is needed a lot for the pompano I mostly target on the beach here in Jacksonville Fla. All the level winds have been removed to get the distance I need.I'd like to add a few yards with my new reel I haven't bought yet, so... The reels I am thinking of are the Daiwa Millionaire HT Mag. I feel I can't go wrong with this, but it's stretching my budget. Next up is the Omoto Chief Xtreme 630 CXS, the Avet SX MC and last, the Abu 6500 CT Mag. What I really want is the Avet XS MC, and I have read about it casting far. I wonder if it will do what I need it to do and I also wonder how the Lever drag will work with me, I've never had one. One thing I do when I fish for pompano is, I set my drag very light and put it in the rod holder and let the circle hook do its thing. I then adjust but keep the drag as light as possible all the way to the shore. Pomps (like jacks) can have a sudden burst of speed, especially when they see the shore break and they freak. A light drag is needed to let them run just a little, so the hook does not pull out. It's a tactic a very good fisherman taught me and I hardly ever lose a fish because of this. So, it looks like the lever drag would actually be easier to work than the star drag? Any help, suggestions, I'm open to it. I don't buy many new reels anymore and I'd like to get this one right.

Lets add the Penn Squall II to the list also.

Since you are in Jacksonville, I assume you may have heard of or met Larry 'Fishman' Finch.  Kind a surf fishing legend in the area.   He uses Penn Torques on custom 13'6' rods.   www.fishmanfinch.com   He runs Atlantic Seafood and sells fresh bait there too.

If you are looking at the Omoto, you might want to upgrade to the comparable Akios model.   Basically the same reel upgraded a bit.  I like Abu's but a lot of people swear by the Akios/Omoto models claiming they cast better and are stronger reels.

Here is one of Larry's videos at the where he is talking about the rod and reel he uses.  The rest of the video is related to Pompano fishing.

[Swami805]

I would stick with a star drag for casting distance, the avet's are nice reels and cast ok but not as well as the others you mentioned
The akios are nice

[Breadfan]

I was thinking the same too about the Avets. Distance is key here, when you need it, you need it. I personally don't know Larry but I have been in his shop and read a lot about him. I really like the Omoto, I didn't say anything about the Akios because they are pretty much the same reel with a few differences and the Omoto Xtreme was a lot less in price of the top Akios reel by about 130.00 bucks. That may be the one for me.

[SteveL]

I was thinking the same too about the Avets. Distance is key here, when you need it, you need it. I personally don't know Larry but I have been in his shop and read a lot about him. I really like the Omoto, I didn't say anything about the Akios because they are pretty much the same reel with a few differences and the Omoto Xtreme was a lot less in price of the top Akios reel by about 130.00 bucks. That may be the one for me.

Looks good.  These are the features listed on the omoto website:

• Shielded 2 stainless steel ball bearings + 1 roller bearing provides smooth operation
• Machined 6061-T6 aluminum frame & spool
• Carbon Fiber drag system gives smooth drag performance
• 6 pin centrifugal brake gives consistent brake pressure throughout the cast
• Patent magnetic brake system

[thorhammer]

The Squall II is similar to 525Mag. If you cant find a 525, try it. Much less than Akios, Avet, etc. and see if your distance is the tool or operator. I can sling the 525 but there are others that can achieve low level orbit. If you want to go first class, Siegler- but only if your technique limits the others. my 0.02.

[steelfish]

I was into surf fishing few years back but then my friend bought a panga boat around 7 years ago and put my surf fishing session on hold 

My goto rod was a custom rainshadow 12'6" SUR1505 casting rod 2-6 lure, fast taper, I paired this rod with some different reels to see what I could do with them, I used an abu 7000c, aby 6500c3, saltist 20h, calcutta 400TE and penn squidder 146, from those reels, my best distances where with the abu 6500c3 and saltist 20h, squidder was too wild to control but its a great caster, abu 6500c3 felt great but IMO the rod felt better with the daiwa saltist 20h, its pretty small, great caster and have a great drag and its topless which is nice because its easier to palm and control on the cast.
I remember when few years back the surf fishing forums always compared daiwa saltist 20h and 30h Vs Avet sx MC, so if you are interested on the avet maybe you should check the daiwa 20h too, the current version is the saltist 20h BG

I havent tried those reels akios, omoto, penn 525mag but I have heard a lot of good comments on it, another good caster on the cheap is the Daiwa SL20SH

here is my saltist 20h along an abu 5500 for comparing sizes

take a good read on this articule, they put it above the penn 525   https://www.planetseafishing.com/daiwa-saltist-20h-shore-reel/

[Benni3]

The Squall II is similar to 525Mag. If you cant find a 525, try it. Much less than Akios, Avet, etc. and see if your distance is the tool or operator. I can sling the 525 but there are others that can achieve low level orbit. If you want to go first class, Siegler- but only if your technique limits the others. my 0.02.

Yes sir,,,,,,I have seen them do that in nagshead nc with a 13.6ft rod and a 525mag___,,,,----'''''''""""""

[1badf350]

Right now the hot ticket on the Outer Banks is the Penn Fathom II
You wont see any Akios reels on the beach. Casting field yes, but not the beach.
I absolutely love my Daiwa Saltist BG20H and Penn Fathoms

[Benni3]

Right now the hot ticket on the Outer Banks is the Penn Fathom II
You wont see any Akios reels on the beach. Casting field yes, but not the beach.
I absolutely love my Daiwa Saltist BG20H and Penn Fathoms

Both great reels,,,,,, but the mag525 is there,,,,,,,,,,

[Breadfan]

Well, I bought the Avet Sx MC. I had the Fathom 2 and the Squall 2 along with the Avet on the counter. Sometimes I get mad at myself but I just couldn't see forking out that cash for a Chinese made reel. Not that they were poorly built, quite the opposite, they were beautiful reels, just couldn't do it. I have a really hard time buying Chinese stuff. But, I must say with a little tweaking, the Avet will be sweet and I really want to try out a lever drag. I think it will be fine. The reels Already own can go farther than I can cast so I suspect this will be no different. It's a really nice reel and I can't wait to get it ready. Thank you everyone for all your replies.

[steelfish]

good luck with the pinion bearing.

if you wanted an american made surf casting reel the Siegler SM might be a better option for the surf.

[Breadfan]

I looked at those too, they were a little out of my price range. Very nice reels. Pinion bearing? I mainly fish just for pompano so I don’t see myself pushing the limits of this reel with the drag full on. I will catch the occasional 20-30 ray but other than that, small stuff.

[GonePostal]

More gear!! haha I hear ya...

These thteads always get a ton of opinions so Ill throw mine in.  For pomp fishing here in Texas Ive been thinking of getting a 7000 size Blue Yonder. I hear the Sealinex are good for that too, and cheap to boot.

Im a gear horse too lately I say get what ya want and if it doesnt work for what you wanted it for Im sure you can find SOME use for it haha

[Breadfan]

More gear!! haha I hear ya...

These thteads always get a ton of opinions so Ill throw mine in.  For pomp fishing here in Texas Ive been thinking of getting a 7000 size Blue Yonder. I hear the Sealinex are good for that too, and cheap to boot.

Im a gear horse too lately I say get what ya want and if it doesnt work for what you wanted it for Im sure you can find SOME use for it haha

I thought of the Blue Yonder, but I have had so many Abus, I just wanted something else. I’d like to know how the 7000 Yonder is though. I have an early 7000 that I magged, removed the levelwind,and polished the bushings on, it will really throw it out there. I’m really old school and my old Daiwa 6h’s I use for the surf are just great reels. I had tuned them so fast that I had to mag them and put heavier oil in the bearings because I don’t practice enough or fish enough to handle them. Plus, I think I buy the older reels because I just don’t want to succumb to the Chinese reels, even though most of them are good reels now. If you looked at my collection, you’d think you were stuck in the 70’s. The Avet will be a new challenge, I have a couple months to get ready.