I am new to saltwater fishing. I will be fishing around Corpus and Galveston. I had a friend suggest the Ambassadeur C3 5500 to start with. Are there any other suggestions for reels? I would like to keep the price below $100 (considering used if you got any).

Reel and rod selection will entirely depend on the type of fishing your doing.

I use cheap reels for fishing from the jetties, and piers. The Okuma CV45 is what I use. I have three of them, and all three are 4 years old now, and have been to the coast 6-10 trips per year with each trip being 5-7 days of fishing. The only thing I do to care for them is rinse them off in fresh water when I get back to Allen.

I don't fish the beaches so cannot help you with that.

For boat fishing inside the jetties I typically use the above reels to start the day off and depending on the size and type of fish I am catching I might step up to my bigger rods which are Penn 114H and 115H.

I have three sets of rods that I always take to the coast for fishing.

The light are Okuma 30s these have line counters built into them, and I use them for trolling, and when I need extra rods on the piers and jetties. They are strung w/ 30# mono line

Then the next ones up (medium) are the Okuma CV45s, these are strung w/ 40# mono.

And finalaly my largest are 2 Penn 114Hs and one Penn 115H. These are strung with 60# mono and I use them exclusively offshore for shark and bigger fish.

The Okuma reels are excellent reels in my opinion, and have served me VERY well in the time I have owned them, but either winter of 2008 or spring 2009 I will be replacing the Okuma CV45's with Penn 330 reels. The reason for the change is that my son and I are targeting progressively bigger fish, and I want to step up the size of our medium group of reels to handle bigger fish. I'll still stick to 40# mono line but the 330's hold more line than the Okuma's.

Now on the same note, I expect to go with heavier rods than the Penn 114's in the next couple of years and I am looking at the larger Okuma Offshore reels for that set of rods. But I don't see that happening before 2010 or 2011 when I plan to move to the coast and buy a larger boat for marlin and tuna

Thank you very much for the info.

Can't go wrong with Penn equipment. Check out eangler.com for some really good deals on rods and reels. I have the Penn 550 ssg, 750ssm, the 113H and the 114H. A 35 pound King on the 550ssg with the 7 foot slammer rod is a blast. Caught 3 on a jig last July on this setup. It does not get any better than that!!!!!!!!!
______________
Notch

Penn is the best cheap introduction reel for larger fish no doubt. That 5500 would be great for mid to large size reds, and of course specs or flounder, just depends on the rod.


What kind of fishing precisely? If your just tossing dead bait in the surf, the old 109/209/309 series is so cheap it's not funny....and I have one that's older than I am that's my favorite Penn .

Well yesterday evening I ended up spending more than I planned and bought a Calcutta. I will be fishing for mostly reds and specs in the bay, but I will also use it in the lakes for bass. Thank you to all that replied.

you will love that reel, and if you're fishing for reds and specs, thats all you'll ever need. in my opinion, well worth the extra money. if its bay fishing that you're doing, no need for the larger reels, and if you were looking for one under 100 i believe the Citica still has a rebate or something. that's a nice reel too.

Not sure I have ever heard Penn described as a cheap introduction reel before? Penn's have always been described as the Go To reel or THE Best offshore reel on the market. Never heard the word cheap as a description at all

[/quote]

Not sure I have ever heard Penn described as a cheap introduction reel before? Penn's have always been described as the Go To reel or THE Best offshore reel on the market. Never heard the word cheap as a description at all [/quote]

After looking at reels, I have to say Penn is pretty cheap, especially for their quality.

I have to say I am taking the Calcutta back to the store. Not because it is a bad reel. I found a deal at Academy for an Ambassadeur C3 5500 for $64.99 with a free Abu rod. Just realized this is more in my budget than the Calcutta.

For under $100 Garcia which you have one of my favorite ones the 6500 c is a good deal . You can catch almost any fish with that . In 45 yrs of fishing I have had my Garcia stripped 3 times . Their easy to cast, easy to adjust so no backlash , easy to clean . Most improtant they are not that dam expensive

The calcutta is good, but I've had two throw out the bearings. I use the curado, and in my opinion, it's the best out there. I've had the one I use now for over 7 years.

The ambassadors are good reels, they hold up real well. The only downside to them is they tend to get a little heavy after a whole day of fishing. Also, if you have small hands, they become cumbersome to hold all day.