Best Baitcasters In Left Handed For Inshore Salt And Freshwater?

[John G]

Inshore fishing for me has always been Specs, Silver Trout, Spanish Mackeral, Ladyfish, Pompano, Bonnethead and Blacktip Sharks, Baby Grouper, Pinfish etc etc. When I had a boat, I only had one time when a fish was stripping line off of my reel and my line broke because of floating grass. I always used Penn Spinning Reels. I still have the Penns but when I get a boat, and hopefully it's this summer, I will be using a MBR843/Scorpion XT1500-7 for jigs, MBR783/XT1000 for smaller swimbaits and a MBR782/XT1000 for unweighted Flukes and top water. I have recently been casting 10# Power Pro on one of my XT1000's so I don't see where line capacity will be an issue.

[kikstand454]

*shrug*

To each their own I suppose.

Fishing here in N.Florida is very different then fishing the Atlantic coast. The wind isn't too bad, and I use a b/c 95% of the time. I don't throw live bait- and when I do.... I use a popping cork- which is the only reason I even CARRY a spinning rig with me. Most of the time it just sits back there, rattling around while I throw a spook on a b/c.

I forgot about cobia. A cobia would certainly test the limits of my b/c- I've caught some short ones, but a keeper would be a challenge- and also a real possibility. But like I said, almost all of my inshore fishing is focused on reds, trout and flounder. The b/c is perfect for it.

[Buddha]

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.

 

WIth those heavy winds that you fish why didn't you throw a spinner for your inshore casting over those 40 years?

[Buddha]

^^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.

The west coasters here are totally against using spinners for inshore fishing. I just don't get it. In the wind they cast further. I have a shimano baitrunner and it is great for live bait applications. For a kayak the spinners are more saltwater resistant. The only advantage of a conventional in saltwater is getting bit on the drop as well as the power of the reel but many spinners now have a lot of drag. I like using b/c for bass fishing though in salt and fresh. 

[0119]

WIth those heavy winds that you fish why didn't you throw a spinner for your inshore casting over those 40 years?

Im quirky. I prefer old, very old, Ambassadeurs.  I prefer to use them on 5.6ft. pistol grip rods.  With Fl. becoming the 3rd most populated state, our inshore waters are a traffic jam of rude northerners who operate their boat like they solely own the waters.  I avoid those places and trapse into the mangrove jungle and creeks where they fear to tread.  99% of the time I throw a spook and the spots I fish are sheltered from wind.  Better yet, I hit the freshwater where the snowbirds never go.

[Buddha]

Im quirky. I prefer old, very old, Ambassadeurs.  I prefer to use them on 5.6ft. pistol grip rods.  With Fl. becoming the 3rd most populated state, our inshore waters are a traffic jam of rude northerners who operate their boat like they solely own the waters.  I avoid those places and trapse into the mangrove jungle and creeks where they fear to tread.  99% of the time I throw a spook and the spots I fish are sheltered from wind.  Better yet, I hit the freshwater where the snowbirds never go.

I may try an old ambassadeur if they have any in left handed. Btw I may fish in an area of baja this fall called Punta Abreojos there is a camp there called Campo Rene and it is a mangrove area with snook, grouper, cabrilla, corvina, etc. I will fish it in my kayak.  http://www.camporene.com/punta-abreojos-kayaks.htm

[Buddha]

Well I got the Daiwa Tatula since at 93 bucks it is a no brainer. I like the reel so far and got lucky yesterday and bagged 37 saltwater bass. So far the reel is holding up. It casts well. Not unbelievable distances but good. The t wing seems a little wobbly so hopefully it will hold up.

[Angry John]

You may want to check out the Luna 103 in left hand. They can be modified and tricked out with a different spool as well. A little heavy but rock solid.

[Buddha]

You may want to check out the Luna 103 in left hand. They can be modified and tricked out with a different spool as well. A little heavy but rock solid.

They look a lot like the shimano calcuttas. Have you compared them? Actually I think the  253L and 300L would be perfect for the saltwater calico bass here.

[Angry John]

They look a lot like the shimano calcuttas. Have you compared them? Actually I think the 253L and 300L would be perfect for the saltwater calico bass here.

I have both but the spool options are not available like the 103. Seen pixy gears in one to.

[fishangdood]

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

I'm glad here some good reviews on here about the Komodo.  I believe tackletour did one on the bigger model and that it has stainless steel main and pinion gears (plus some of the clutch components).  But does it feel grindier than brass gearing?  I got my eyes on this reel as my designated striper low pro.

[yakingfisherman]

I still use my first gen revo inshore that was reviewed by tackle tour. This thing is banged up on the exterior but man is it a work horse. Still going strong for 5+ years now. Caught everything from, bat rays, leopards, bass, stripers, salmon, shad, etc. Great reel but they don't make them anymore. The newer gen revo nacl should be just as good you should look into one.

[0119]

I want to like Revo's. Ive tried 6 of them but never kept them. Just cant dial the brakes in, too inconsistant. Even the S with just centrifugal brakes was not consistant.  This weekend a shop has a factory tent sale with the head of Penn and some Pure Fishing top dogs to talk to.  I am hoping to get some insight on proper set up of the Revo's and maybe try the new Inshore.

[WIGuide]

I've got the Gen3 Inshore. If you're looking at something that can go back and forth for both fresh and salt, it would definitely get my vote. I haven't used it in salt water due to the fact that there isn't any around me, but I've been very impressed with it. The inshore can make an absolute bomb of a cast all while taking very minimal user input (thumb) even in fairly windy conditions. I got a steal of a deal on mine, but even if I didn't I'd consider buying another one. 

[Nebasska]

I have left handed curado and chronarch both 200 series...love them

[fishangdood]

I regret not jumping on the Penn LPs when they clearanced.  It's almost a sure bet that some of the internals are shared with its Pure Fishing cousins.  Anyways, with Revos, the Inshore has the same pitch centrifugal system as the Revo S.  For about $20-30 more, it can be upgraded to the STX's infini brake (dual brake system).  Checkout PBSboatstore.com or inventorycheap.com; great prices and no worries if you're the type to do your own reel work. 

 

Now let's talk revo brakes; I find all the braking systems to be the same to dial into when roll casting or overhead casting, but when it comes to pitching, the magnet only system, magtrax, gets more distance.  When I dail in, I zero out the brakes, including centrifugal off, crank down on the mechanical tension knob until the lure/bait drops about 1 foot/sec to 3 foot/sec (the latter when you get use to it), then set the dial to about 5.  I adjust the dial accordingly afterwards for more or less.

 

Pitch centrifugal in particular, I just adjust the mechanical knob and follow the rate of lure drop rule from above.  Setting the brake blocks for it, I pretty much don't use it until I get to the 1/4 oz range when doing any type of casting. 

 

The magtrax, seen the sx, braking is wild unless you get an aftermarket shallow spool.  It does get the most distance 1/2 oz and above, but I usually have that bad boy dialed in at 5 or above.  Anything aerodynamic and greater than 1/2 oz, I'll have it dialed at 3 to zero brake force.  Of course the mechanical brake rule setting, aforementioned, is followed. 

 

The biggest difference though are the hpcr bearings seen in the Inshore, Premier, maybe the stx, and above models.  When I cleaned mine out, they get more spin time the comparable stock spol bearings in the SX. 

 

I loves me my ABUs.