Best Baitcasters In Left Handed For Inshore Salt And Freshwater?

[Buddha]

I am looking for a hybrid that will fish well in salt and freshwater. I fish out of a kayak and have used freshwater reels and as long as I wash them off every time and service them 2-3 times a year I am ok but wonder if the saltwater reels will hold up better.

 

I do inshore fishing here on the west coast for calico bass and yellowtail.

 

Actually a shimano reel repairman suggested that I use spinning gear for my ocean fishing in that the saltwater does  not enter the gears as easily.

 

So for the heavier fishing I have been doing that.

 

What I want is bass reels that I can fish in fresh and salt.

 

Any recommendations?

[Mattfrom_NJ]

I use a Daiwa lexa, and Shimano citica e in the salt. No problems thus far each is rinsed after use. There are inshore reels out there but they usually come with a pretty high price tag. A lot of guys use curado 300e but I've never had one. Pretty sure that unless your consistently dunking your gear most reels will handle salt water as long as you take care of them routinely.

[F14A-B]

Have your Bass reels, deep cleaned then have your bearings/ gears greased with a marine grease giving much better internal protection.

See: DVT...

[kikstand454]

I kayak fish in the salt alot and I can fully and happily recommend the old shimano Bantum cu200 reels and the quantum accurist pt. I rarely ever use a spinning reel anymore for anything. ....

Although truthfully, your friend is probably right about spinning reels in saltwater. If spinning tackle is something you enjoy, you may find that a better- and cheaper - solution)

[Poolshark]

Calcutta b or d series in the 200 size. I have a designated curado bsf that I use as well and love. They make curados and calcuttas in the three hundred size but for me is too heavy duty for all purpose bass fishing.

[KritterGitter]

Ton of options out there bud, Abu, Daiwa, Okuma, Quantum, Ardent, Shimano etc. all make inshore casting reels left handed and in 200,300 and 400 sizes. Personally a Daiwa lexa 300 might be the ticket, Can be had for a decent price and my buddy has put his through the ringer this year with striped bass and big blues and its held up great.

[fisherrw]

Diawa lexa or abu toro

[Buddha]

Ok good. I actually own an old green curado 201b reel that has been pretty good. I also bought a lexa 300 last august and it has been ok but disappointing in the casting department. I bought a daiwa tatula recently not sure if it will hold up in saltwater. Some have recommended a Lews so that may be the next I will try.

[KritterGitter]

Check out the Komodo 350 too, It'll be added to my arsenal come spring.

[ytail]

Saltwater fishing in SoCal for many years and the following were/are what I used/use with no issues... I clean them once a year and rinse with fresh water after every use.

 

Curado 200E series

Chronarch 200E series

Revo Toro series

Komodo 350 and its smaller brothers

Okuma Cedros bait casters

Okuma Serrano bait casters

Okuma Helios bait casters

Daiwa Advantage series

 

 

I am looking for a hybrid that will fish well in salt and freshwater. I fish out of a kayak and have used freshwater reels and as long as I wash them off every time and service them 2-3 times a year I am ok but wonder if the saltwater reels will hold up better.

 

I do inshore fishing here on the west coast for calico bass and yellowtail.

 

Actually a shimano reel repairman suggested that I use spinning gear for my ocean fishing in that the saltwater does  not enter the gears as easily.

 

So for the heavier fishing I have been doing that.

 

What I want is bass reels that I can fish in fresh and salt.

 

Any recommendations?

[ytail]

I own a Komodo 364P with a power handle and used it for school tuna last year... great high quality little reel surpasses revo toro 50 in my opinion.

 

Check out the Komodo 350 too, It'll be added to my arsenal come spring.

[KritterGitter]

I own a Komodo 364P with a power handle and used it for school tuna last year... great high quality little reel surpasses revo toro 50 in my opinion.

Yea Im counting down the days till I order it. Such a nice reel, thanks for the added review.

[Buddha]

Saltwater fishing in SoCal for many years and the following were/are what I used/use with no issues... I clean them once a year and rinse with fresh water after every use.

 

Curado 200E series

Chronarch 200E series

Revo Toro series

Komodo 350 and its smaller brothers

Okuma Cedros bait casters

Okuma Serrano bait casters

Okuma Helios bait casters

Daiwa Advantage series

 

Those are nice but do they come in left handed?

[KritterGitter]

Those are nice but do they come in left handed?

I know the Shimanos do, Okuma are hit or miss when it comes to L/H, I dont think the Cedros does, the rest I believe do come L/H.....

 

On a side not I was just lookin at Daiwas website and they have a new Aird Saltwater version, with 2 L/H models

http://www.daiwa.com/reel/detail.aspx?id=739

[plumworm]

Look at the trading post, someone has a used 201b with all new gears for $90. Great price for a great reel.

[FishTank]

Spinning: shimano sustain

 

Baitcaster: Daiwa Zillion Coastal

[ytail]

Curado E, Chronarch E and Revo Toro come in left handed.

 

Those are nice but do they come in left handed?

[SirSnookalot]

I am looking for a hybrid that will fish well in salt and freshwater. I fish out of a kayak and have used freshwater reels and as long as I wash them off every time and service them 2-3 times a year I am ok but wonder if the saltwater reels will hold up better.

 

I do inshore fishing here on the west coast for calico bass and yellowtail.

 

Actually a shimano reel repairman suggested that I use spinning gear for my ocean fishing in that the saltwater does  not enter the gears as easily.

 

So for the heavier fishing I have been doing that.

 

What I want is bass reels that I can fish in fresh and salt.

 

Any recommendations?

^^IMO the right advice.^^

I fish saltwater inshore nearly everyday, I would say I see over 100 spinning being used before I see one b/c.  The b/c I see are conventional reels used primarily for bait fishing or used offshore.  What I feel is a disadvantage to many inshore b/c is a level wind (just another part that can malfunction with a big fish on) and a short handle throw.  If one is intent on using a b/c check out an Avet, they come left handed and have power handles.  I know out in California they have a cult following that swear by them, they cast a ton, I have one myself.

I don't know much about Yellowtail and Calico bass but I know quite a bit about Tarpon, I use a 13 oz spinning reel with close to 300 yards of line with a max drag of 30#, I know I crank it down past 15-20#, they still pull out line.

 

I am of the opinion of using a freshwater reel in freshwater and saltwater reel in the brine.

[kikstand454]

^ this makes me rethink my answer.

I only use baitcasters in salt- but I'm not chasing tarpon either. Or 50lb snook. The biggest fish I'm likely to tie on is a bull red or black drum. Both these fish fight really really hard, but aren't trying to run to Mexico when hooked. I spend 90% of my salt time chasing reds and speckled trout in <2' of water in my kayak. Ill catch some flounder, trash fish and Spanish Mack's and jack crevele every now and then. The jack family really tests the B/C because of their fast long runs- Mack's, cravelle, blues ....etc. Any shark over 4ft is probably going to spool me.

So really I say b/c are great for the salt.... depending on what your fishing for.

[Jaheff]

Ok good. I actually own an old green curado 201b reel that has been pretty good. I also bought a lexa 300 last august and it has been ok but disappointing in the casting department. I bought a daiwa tatula recently not sure if it will hold up in saltwater. Some have recommended a Lews so that may be the next I will try.

Buddha, I inshore fish here in SoCal also. I think your actually good as far as the calico bass is concerned. Use the 201 and 10# test for the bass.

If your using live bait, remember to stop the spool, and set the hook with your thumb. LP baitcasters are not made to be slammed in gear when fish are pulling line in free spool. The Lexa is a good Medium between the two. I've never used one but I'm sure its like my 300e. I would fill it with 40# braid and 17# or 20# short leaders for local yellows. Since you fish from a Yac, a spinning reel makes sense, but if you also go out on cattle boats it wont make sense as a double duty. I'd recommend an Avet SXJ so you can use it on both species and both Yac and cattle boat. I actually caught yellow fin and blue fin locally on the SXJ with no problems. Good Luck!

[ytail]

Now a days a larger low profile bait caster is very capable with advanced technology and the availability of braided line. A Revo Toro 60 can stop and haul in a 60 pound tuna no problem. Advantage of using a larger bait caster is it casts much better than a lever drag reel (which has a heavy spool) and even much better than a regular star drag reel. Most people think that a synchronized level wind system slows the casting but actually not much. Personally I choose Revo Toro over the Curado 300E and Lexa 300 / 400 series which disengage level wind while casting. JMHO.    

Buddha, I inshore fish here in SoCal also. I think your actually good as far as the calico bass is concerned. Use the 201 and 10# test for the bass.

If your using live bait, remember to stop the spool, and set the hook with your thumb. LP baitcasters are not made to be slammed in gear when fish are pulling line in free spool. The Lexa is a good Medium between the two. I've never used one but I'm sure its like my 300e. I would fill it with 40# braid and 17# or 20# short leaders for local yellows. Since you fish from a Yac, a spinning reel makes sense, but if you also go out on cattle boats it wont make sense as a double duty. I'd recommend an Avet SXJ so you can use it on both species and both Yac and cattle boat. I actually caught yellow fin and blue fin locally on the SXJ with no problems. Good Luck!

[Jaheff]

I agree, but I will not use a LP Baitcaster as a live bait rig and I have a 300e and a Komodo 350. When a yellowtail hits with live bait and your in free spool, good luck putting the reel in gear.

[ytail]

So far I haven't risked to use a bait caster for yellowtail yet knowing that they are really mean but did have no problem landing dozens of tuna using my Toro 60. 

I agree, but I will not use a LP Baitcaster as a live bait rig and I have a 300e and a Komodo 350. When a yellowtail hits with live bait and your in free spool, good luck putting the reel in gear.

[SirSnookalot]

^ this makes me rethink my answer.

I only use baitcasters in salt- but I'm not chasing tarpon either. Or 50lb snook. The biggest fish I'm likely to tie on is a bull red or black drum. Both these fish fight really really hard, but aren't trying to run to Mexico when hooked. I spend 90% of my salt time chasing reds and speckled trout in <2' of water in my kayak. Ill catch some flounder, trash fish and Spanish Mack's and jack crevele every now and then. The jack family really tests the B/C because of their fast long runs- Mack's, cravelle, blues ....etc. Any shark over 4ft is probably going to spool me.

So really I say b/c are great for the salt.... depending on what your fishing for.

I'd like to see that 50# snook, have caught some big ones but no where near 50.  Any 50# fish is going to give you a tussle just based on the sheer size, don't think for a second that big a snook is anything like a jack or tarpon of the same size, great fight but just not in the same league.

I suppose everyone has a different idea of what inshore fishing is and what the target fish is.  My Avet mxj is nice reel but I hardly use it anymore, it's more awkward to cast than a spinner, have to feed the line on with my thumb as there is no level wind.  It's a good reel for drift fishing because of the line capacity but with a max drag of 14# it won't slow down a good kingfish or wahoo, but that isn't inshore fishing anyway.

 

In South Florida you rarely see people a using b/c for inshore fishing.  Most people I run across don't even fish freshwater, b/c are foreign to them except for offshore or bait use and those are conventional reels and not L/P.  I do go out with guides and may not always use my equipment, I've yet to see a guide furnish anything but spinning gear.

[0119]

B/C in florida inshore is nearly extinct.  Here it looses all its positives except in limited uses.  Ca. and Texas have different weather conditions.  Here prevailing winds using the Gulf of Mexico to increase speed will drive your educated thumb into exhaustion.  I know, Ive been using casting gear inshore for 40 years.  It also doesnt have any place while flats fishing which is 98% of Floridas inshore game.  1/8oz and weightless lures are the norm along with livelining unweighted shrimp.  Try doing that with the continuous wind.  Just not worth the "Glory" or the "Im the expert" factor.