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If you like baitrunning spinning gear, the small Shimano Thunnus is a durable reel and has held up well. The new Shimano baitrunner spinning reels are pretty nice and not expensive. Non-baitrunner I like Stella.
i have used the 6500 baitrunners for a while. for the price they are very nice reel. i like a 7' spinning rod with medium action. 20 lb mono - i like clear on the spinners. for tournaments its a 15' leader of 40 or 50lb to an in line circle hook.
some guys like to use the penn 9500ss just for the line capacity in case you have 2 stretched out in different directions.
__________________ REMEMBER SOME PEOPLE ARE ALIVE SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS ILLEGAL TO SHOOT THEM.
I personally have always liked the Penn SS series reels- simple to operate and service. Almost any tackle shops can handle them. Less moving parts to break than others (such as the Liveliner series or baitrunners) Not super expensive, so if you totally trash one, you are not hit in the pocket book.
I tend to look at this from a parts availablity standpoint when purchasing reels. Which reel can I get parts/service for at a moments notice.
7ft 15lb class rods are the biggest I'd go. Remember it's light tackle.
I used to have about 6 sets of Penn spinner set ups in the 20lb class (6500's, 7500's and 8500's). I found myself horsing in fish with that stuff. Downsized to Penn 4500-5500ss and 10-12lb rods. Man fish are fun with that lighter stuff.
Line capacity is a major issue. You want to get at least 250 yds of line.
Penn 6500ss with 15-20lb ugly stick rod. Spooled with 15lb suffix. Everyone on here seems to complain about penn, but I have never had a problem with mine. I do favor my shimano tld's though.
6500s is light spinning tackle? Greenwater/Shimano Saragosa 3000 to 4000.
If you scroll up and actually read all the post you will see they were talking about 15-20lb setups. The second post the guys uses a tld 15 for his light tackle. It all depends on the person and what they are used to fishing FOR. The larger end on my setups are tld 20's and 25s. Light tackle offshore to me is 6500ss.... Light tackle in shore for me is shimano sedona 4000's.
If you scroll up and actually read all the post you will see they were talking about 15-20lb setups. The second post the guys uses a tld 15 for his light tackle. It all depends on the person and what they are used to fishing FOR. The larger end on my setups are tld 20's and 25s. Light tackle offshore to me is 6500ss.... Light tackle in shore for me is shimano sedona 4000's.
Yeah, I missed the part about "Sailfish". OK still, for Florida Sailfish, a 6500 is the heaviest spinning reel I would use.
I fish regularly and occasionally tournament fish with a friend who lives and guides in Islamorada. His sailfish outfits are Penn 7500 SS loaded with 12# Triplefish camo. (12# is the standard line test for Keys sailfish tournaments,) on 7' Offshore Angler rods, 5' of double line and 10' of 30# Triplefish camo leader snelled to a 7/0 Eagle Claw L2004 ELF Circle for tournaments and a 5/0 Owner Aki for fun fishing. Baits are all live ballyhoo, power drifted. Bails are open and line held with bent rigging wire
The reason for such large reels is line capacity when catching multiples. Back the drag off and let one or more fish swim away while fighting another.
we fish with spinners almost exclusively. if a conventional is used it is an Avet MXL or SX, spooled with 30lb braid backing for capacity and about 100 yards or so of 20lb mono for a topshot. On our boat, we use a mix of brands for spinners and don't really have a clear favorite. We use a mix of Quantum Cabo 70 and 80's, Daiwa BG60's, Baitrunner 6500's, Penn 7500SS and Sargus 70's. The Cabo reels would have to be at thebottom of my list. I love the smooth operation and nice drag, but I've had more than a few with bad corrosion and paint issues (yes, we take good care of our stuff). A few have had the bail literally fall off while fighting a fish. All of the other reels are rock solid.
Everything is spooled with 20lb mono. Mostly Ande Pink. We rarely go above 40lb leader, maybe 50. and we use 5/0 and 6/0 hooks, depending on bait size. This is our go to spread for sailfish season and i must say, we've done very well with it.
My favorite lighter setup is Shimano Biomaster 8000PG upgraded with carbontex drags (Japanese model and fits between the US Stradic and Sustain) on a custom Phenix 700H. The setup can easily fish up to 40lb line mono over a spectra backing.
Several, Jon! Last year, I was in the Keys 6 trips, so I decided it would make more sense to bring the boat down (mid-Nov) and buy a place (already done). Yer on the "list". Will be in touch...
Favorite light tackle sailfish spinning set-ups... 
