9 Best Penn Spinning Reels for Saltwater [Ranked]

Penn is one of the world’s top fishing reel manufacturers, and its range of spinning reels is no exception. The hardest part is deciding which Penn spinning reel to choose.

For anyone who has never tried a Penn reel, I would highly recommend it – they have a unique feeling that showcases why they are famous for durability.

I have put together a quick review of the best spinning reels that Penn has to offer and their critical specifications to understand the difference. If you click on the link in each summary, you can see full-length reviews of the individual reel.

Penn is also one of the few popular reel manufacturers who make their reels in the USA.

1. Penn Spinfisher Saltwater Spinning Reel

Penn Spinfisher VI reel is a spinning reel with a highly well-built full metal body. It is ready to give you the durability that you need to use a spinning reel in saltwater – Be it the harshest saltwater or if you mistakenly drop the rod in the sand, nothing will happen to the Penn Spinfisher VI spinning reel due to its enclosed body.

It has IPX5 sealing for waterproofing so you don’t have to worry about saltwater getting into the drag system or gearbox. It also has Penn’s HT-100 drag washers in a fully sealed spool – making it ideal for saltwater angling.

The extremely lightweight frame of the reel seals the gearbox and the drag system within it. It also comes in Standard, Live Liner, Log Cast, and Bail-less models.

I recommend the Spinfisher as the best of Penn’s spinning reels due to its high performance, affordable price tag, durable design, and versatile functionality.

Pros

• Available in multiple speeds and gear ratios.
• Versatile with several different designs.
• Wide range of sizes from 2500 to 10500.

Cons

• There are some more lightweight options available, especially in the smaller sizes.
• Lower max drag, especially in the 2500 and 3500 sizes.

Specifications

REEL SIZE	2500	3500	4500	5500	6500	7500	8500	9500	10500
BEARING COUNT	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
BRAID CAPACITY YD/LB	240/10 220/15 160/20	310/10 270/15 220/20	390/15 320/20 250/30	500/20 380/30 335/40	485/30 410/40 335/50	530/40 440/50 400/65	730/40 600/50 555/65	730/50 670/65 435/80	845/50 780/65 540/80
GEAR RATIO	6.2:1	6.2:1	6.2:1	5.6:1	5.6:1	4.7:1	4.7:1	4.2:1	4.2:1
MAX DRAG LB	15lb	15lb	20lb	25lb	30lb	35lb	40lb	45lb	50lb
MONO CAPACITY YD/LB	255/6 175/8 140/10	360/6 285/8 220/10	425/8 320/10 235/12	430/10 330/12 230/15	390/12 345/15 205/20	490/15 330/20 220/30	455/20 310/30 260/40	350/30 300/40 240/50	435/30 360/40 255/50
RECOVERY RATE	33″	37″	40″	39″	42″	38″	42″	40″	43″
WEIGHT	10.7 oz	12.1 oz	12.5 oz	18.5 oz	22.3 oz	26.5 oz	28.3 oz	37.1 oz	38.6 oz

2. Penn Passion Spinning Reel

The Penn Passion spinning reel features a full metal body which gives it a lot of strength and durability. Combining this with Penn’s RR30 rotor for low weight, it has the best of both worlds.

Like most modern Penn spinning reels, it has a HT-100 drag system for smooth casting and retrieval even when fighting large fish.

This reel is Penn’s visible support of the American Breast Cancer Foundation and provides financial support.

Pros

• The full metal body makes it extremely durable.
• Full of Penn’s latest technologies – HT-100 carbon fiber drag system and dura guides.

Cons

• The gear ratio is on the lower side as is the retrieve rate.

Specifications

REEL SIZE	2500	3000	4000	5000
BEARING COUNT	6	6	6	6
BRAID CAPACITY YD/LB	240/10 220/15 160/20	250/15 180/20 130/30	360/15 260/20 185/30	420/20 300/30 240/40
GEAR RATIO	5.2:1	5.2:1	5.2:1	4.6:1
MAX DRAG LB	12lb	15lb	15lb	25lb
MONO CAPACITY YD/LB	255/6 175/8 140/10	200/8 165/10 120/12	270/8 220/10 165/12	225/12 200/15 135/20
RECOVERY RATE	27″	29″	31″	29″
WEIGHT	10.1 oz	11.7 oz	12 oz	19.5 oz

3. Penn Slammer Charter Reel

The Penn Slammer III is a workhorse reel – its metal construction makes it almost bulletproof. It is a favorite of charter fishermen as it will keep working, no matter what you through at it. This also prevents it from warping or getting damaged by a big fish or getting dropped.

It also has an IP67 sealed gearing system to ensure your reel internals stay dry and last for a lifetime. Just give it a quick rinse in fresh water at the end of the day, and it will be clean and ready for tomorrow.

Depending on which model is selected, it has a very heavy-duty drag from 30 pounds to 60 pounds.

Update – Penn recently released the Slammer IV, which has an improved drag system.

Pros

• The extremely durable design means it will last a lifetime.
• Very high max drag, even in the smallest sized model.
• Very high retrieve rates across the board.

Cons

• This is a heavier reel than some alternatives – none of the models are under 10 oz.

Specifications

REEL SIZE	3500	4500	5500	6500	7500	8500	9500	10500
BEARING COUNT	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8
BRAID CAPACITY YD/LB	310/10  270/15  220/20	390/15  320/20  250/30	500/20  380/30  335/40	485/30  410/40  355/50	530/40  440/50  400/65	730/40  600/50  555/65	730/50  670/65  435/80	845/50  780/65  540/80
GEAR RATIO	6.2:1	6.2:1	5.6:1	5.6:1	4.7:1	4.7:1	4.2:1	4.2:1
MAX DRAG LB	30lb	30lb	40lb	40lb	50lb	50lb	60lb	60lb
MONO CAPACITY YD/LB	480/4  360/6  285/8	425/8  320/10  235/12	430/10  330/12  230/15	390/12  345/15  205/20	490/15  330/20  220/30	455/20  310/30  260/40	350/30  300/40  240/50	435/30  360/40  255/50
RECOVERY RATE	37″	40″	39″	42″	38″	42″	40″	43″
WEIGHT	13.9 oz	14.7 oz	22.4 oz	24.3 oz	29.2 oz	30.8 oz	40.9 oz	43.1 oz

4. Penn Torque Game Fishing Reel

Penn Torque spinning reel is a premium heavy-duty boat fishing rod for big gamefish. With a maximum drag of up to 60 lbs, this power reel can handle powerful fish.

If we look at the largest reel size of 9500, this can handle over 400 yards of 100 lb braid fishing line. This reel is built for tuna and other saltwater fish that are both fast and powerful.

It has a IPX6 sealed bearing system (as opposed to shielded bearings), making it waterproof and corrosion-resistant – this is exactly what you want from a saltwater reel.

Pros

• A sealed bearing system is a big advantage and is highly recommended for saltwater reels.
• High max drag of at least 40 lb.

Cons

• This is a heavy-duty, offshore trolling reel. You will not want to use this reel for casting due to its weight.

Specifications

REEL SIZE	5500	7500	9500
BEARING COUNT	10	10	10
BRAID CAPACITY YD/LB	540/20 400/30 280/50	470/50 390/65 340/80	575/65 490/80 425/100
GEAR RATIO	5.5:1	6.0:1	5.1:1
MAX DRAG LB	40lb	50lb	60lb
MONO CAPACITY YD/LB	330/12  290/15  200/20	490/15 340/20 300/25	490/20 440/25 330/30
RECOVERY RATE	38″	50″	50″
WEIGHT	19.5 oz	26.7 oz	27.8 oz

5. Penn Pursuit Beginner Spinning Reel

The Penn Pursuit is one of Penn’s most affordable spinning reels and is ideally suited for inshore fishing, lakes, streams, and rivers for both freshwater and saltwater.

Its lightweight makes it easy to carry and easy to use in water. It has a corrosion-free material, making it the best to use in all types of fishing waters. Also, it is a shielded stainless ball bearing to make the user have a very smooth operation.

Penn has also released the Pursuit III, which has some advantages over the Pursuit II – The Pursuit III comes with upgraded HT-100 drag washers, making it more durable and reliable. It also has a 6.2:0 gear ratio compared to a 5.2:0 gear ratio.

Pros

• One of the lightest Penn spinning reels available.
• Upgraded HT-100 drag washers eliminate one of the few weaknesses of the previous model.

Cons

• The max drag of 10 lb is on the low side in the 2500-sized model.
• While it is suited for saltwater, I recommend it best for inshore or freshwater species.

Specifications

REEL SIZE	2500	3000	4000	5000	6000	8000
BEARING COUNT	5	5	5	5	5	5
BRAID CAPACITY YD/LB	240/10 220/15 160/20	250/15 180/20 130/30	360/15 260/20 185/30	420/20 300/30 240/40	490/30 390/40 335/50	475/50 390/65 345/80
GEAR RATIO	6.2:1	6.2:1	6.2:1	5.6:1	5.6:1	5.3:1
MAX DRAG LB	10lb	12lb	15lb	20lb	20lb	25lb
MONO CAPACITY YD/LB	255/6 175/8 140/10	200/8 165/10 120/12	270/8 220/10 165/12	225/12 200/15 135/20	335/15 230/20 210/25	340/20 310/25 230/30
RECOVERY RATE	33″	35″	37″	36″	41″	43″
WEIGHT	9.8 oz	11.8 oz	12.4 oz	19.7 oz	21.4 oz	29.1 oz

6. Penn Clash Spinning Reel

The Clash’s gear system is its real talking point. Featuring Dura-Gear Computer Numerical Control machined gears, it performs at a level you would expect from a more expensive reel.

The smaller models, 2000 through 5000, use brass pinion gears and an aluminum drive gear, compared while the larger 6000 and 8000 models use a brass pinion and brass drive gear. These gears and stainless steel ball bearings provide excellent slip prevention.

I recommend the Penn Clash as their best value for money option. The amount of technology and specifications they can fit within such an affordable price tag is staggering. If you are budget conscious but still want high performance, pick a Penn Clash.

Pros

• Full of Penn’s latest technology – clutch armor system, leveling slow oscillation system, hydrophobic line roller bearing, CNC Gear technology, and HT-100 drag washers.
• Penn’s ultralight spinning reel – you will notice the reduction in muscle fatigue.

Cons

• It’s not available in larger than a 5000-sized model means that it isn’t suited for larger saltwater angling.
• The models under 3000 sizes have a lower than recommended max drag.

Specifications

REEL SIZE	1000	2000	2500	3000	3000HS	4000	4000HS	5000
BEARING COUNT	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9
BRAID CAPACITY YD/LB	160/6 130/8 110/10	210/8 180/10 165/15	240/10 220/15 160/20	250/15 180/20 130/30	270/15 195/20 140/30	360/15 260/20 185/30	410/15 295/20 210/30	420/20 300/30 240/40
GEAR RATIO	5.2:1	6.2:1	6.2:1	6.2:1	7.0:1	6.2:1	7.0:1	5.6:1
MAX DRAG LB	9lb	10lb	12lb	15lb	15lb	15lb	15lb	20lb
MONO CAPACITY YD/LB	275/2 135/4 105/6	240/4 180/6 125/8	255/6 175/8 140/10	200/8 165/10 120/12	215/8 175/10 130/12	270/8 220/10 165/12	305/8 250/10 185/12	225/12 200/15 135/20
RECOVERY RATE	22″	31″	33″	35″	41″	35″	44″	38″
WEIGHT	7 oz	8.3 oz	8.8 oz	10.1 oz	10.8 oz	10.6 oz	11.4 oz	16 oz

7. Penn Battle Spinning Reel

The Battle 2 is the definition of durability. It is made from high-quality materials and designed to handle bumps, scratches, and big fish. This reel is built for severe abuse.

People who have never used a Penn reel before will notice the resistance when turning the handle is higher than that of a Shimano or Daiwa reel. This is due to the thick reel grease and fully metal rotor.

The Penn Battle is one of my most highly recommended spinning reels.

Pros

• Extremely wide range of sizes available from 1000 to 10000.
• Extremely durable design with a full metal body and corrosion-resistant features including HT-100 drag washers and stainless steel ball bearings.
• Available in high-speed options.

Cons

• The max drag is low with only 9 lb in the 1000-sized model.
• Lower retrieve rate in the smaller-sized reels.

Specifications

REEL SIZE	1000	2000	2500	3000	4000	4000HS	5000	6000	6000HS	8000	8000HS	10000
BEARING COUNT	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
BRAID CAPACITY YD/LB	160/6 130/8 110/10	210/8 180/10 165/15	240/10 220/15 160/20	250/15 180/20 130/30	360/15 260/20 185/30	410/15 295/20 210/30	420/20 300/30 240/40	490/30 390/40 335/50	535/30 425/40 365/50	475/50 390/65 345/80	515/50 420/65 375/80	770/50 710/65 490/80
GEAR RATIO	5.2:1	6.2:1	6.2:1	6.2:1	6.2:1	7.0:1	5.6:1	5.6:1	6.2:1	4.7:1	5.3:1	4.2:1
MAX DRAG LB	9lb	10lb	12lb	15lb	15lb	15lb	25lb	25lb	25lb	30lb	30lb	40lb
MONO CAPACITY YD/LB	275/2 135/4 105/6	240/4 180/6 125/8	255/6 175/8 140/10	200/8 165/10 120/12	270/8 220/10 165/12	305/8 250/10 185/12	225/12 200/15 135/20	335/15 230/20 210/25	365/15 250/20 230/25	340/20 310/25 230/30	370/20 335/25 250/30	395/30 330/40 230/50
RECOVERY RATE	22″	30″	33″	35″	37″	43″	36″	41″	47″	38″	44″	43″
WEIGHT	7.8 oz	9.4 oz	9.7 oz	11.6 oz	12.2 oz	12.8 oz	18.8 oz	20.8 oz	20.8 oz	27.7 oz	27.7 oz	38.8 oz

8. Penn Wrath Budget Reel

The Penn Wrath reel is one of Penn’s entry-level options at exceptional prices. It is lightweight and corrosion-resistant with a graphite body and aluminum spool. The bearings are stainless steel and shielded (as opposed to sealed) and are available in various sizes.

Considering its price, you will be surprised at how good this reel is.

If you are looking for an affordable, budget spinning reel manufactured by one of the premier brands, it is hard to walk past the Penn Wrath.

Pros

• This entry-level option is ideally suited for beginner anglers or kids.
• Stainless steel ball bearings give it good durability.

Cons

• Doesn’t have Penn’s new and improved HT-100 drag washers.
• Only 3 ball bearings.
• Bearings are shielded, not sealed.

Specifications

REEL SIZE	2500	3000	4000	5000	6000	8000
BEARING COUNT	3	3	3	3	3	3
BRAID CAPACITY YD/LB	240/10 220/15 160/20	250/15 180/20 130/30	360/15 260/20 185/30	420/20 300/30 240/40	490/30 390/40 335/50	475/50 390/65 345/80
GEAR RATIO	6.2:1	6.2:1	6.2:1	5.6:1	5.6:1	5.3:1
MAX DRAG LB	10lb	12lb	15lb	20lb	20lb	25lb
MONO CAPACITY YD/LB	255/6 175/8 140/10	200/8 165/10 120/12	270/8 220/10 165/12	225/12 200/15 135/20	335/15 230/20 210/25	340/20 310/25 230/30
RECOVERY RATE	33″	35″	37″	36″	41″	44″
WEIGHT	10.5 oz	12.2 oz	12.7 oz	21 oz	22.8 oz	30.5 oz

9. Penn Fierce Spinning Reel

Durability is what will bring you back to the Penn Fierce II over and over. The reel is ideal for dragging and casting with a balanced rotor and excellent side plating.

The Fierce II can suit different anglers with very different needs, coming in various sizes and with a wide range of supporting features. Penn has also released the Fierce III with upgraded technology and features.

The reel is well-balanced and ruggedly built. The Fierce II is designed to minimize, or even eliminate, slippage when the lines are under heavy drag. The reel features a carbon dragging regulator attached to its head to increase durability further.

If you have a low budget, and want to pick a spinning reel from the Penn range, I recommend the Fierce II.

Pros

• Available in 1000 to 8000 sized options.
• The Fierce III comes with Penn’s updated HT-100 drag washers.
• Shielded stainless steel ball bearings are corrosion resistant.
• Techno-balanced rotor.

Cons

• The 1000-sized model has a low max drag and low retrieve rate.

Specifications

REEL SIZE	1000	2000	2500	3000	4000	5000	6000	8000
BEARING COUNT	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
BRAID CAPACITY YD/LB	160/6 130/8 110/10	210/8 180/10 165/15	240/10 220/15 160/20	250/15 180/20 130/30	360/15 260/20 185/30	420/20 300/30 240/40	490/30 390/40 335/50	475/50 390/65 345/80
GEAR RATIO	5.2:1	6.2:1	6.2:1	6.2:1	6.2:1	5.6:1	5.6:1	5.3:1
MAX DRAG LB	9lb	10lb	12lb	15lb	15lb	25lb	25lb	30lb
MONO CAPACITY YD/LB	275/2 135/4 105/6	240/4 180/6 125/8	255/6 175/8 140/10	200/8 165/10 120/12	270/8 220/10 165/12	225/12 200/15 135/20	335/15 230/20 210/25	340/20 310/25 230/30
RECOVERY RATE	22″	30″	33″	35″	37″	36″	41″	44″
WEIGHT	7.8 oz	9.5 oz	9.9 oz	11.8 oz	12.5 oz	19.6 oz	21.4 oz	28.7 oz

Performance

The performance score is how well this product fulfills its primary purpose. Does it have all the features and optional extras you need to catch the target species? I also interview expert anglers on their experience to build a more comprehensive view of the performance under multiple conditions.

I take all reels down to my local freshwater lake for bass, or inshore fishing off the beach for redfish.

• Test 1: I confirm that the max drag meets the manufacturer’s specifications using a calibrated scale.
• Test 2: I test the maximum casting distance using a 1.0-ounce lure.
• Test 3: I test the accuracy by casting 10 times into a 3 ft diameter circle at 30 yards.
• Test 4: I check the versatility and the ability to handle multiple uses by field testing with 3 different lures and baits, by actually going fishing.

Durability

Durability refers to how long the product will continue functioning. I twist, bend, and break all the products to check their longevity. This score is for the construction materials, the workmanship quality, and the servicing requirements. There are also bonus points for manufacturers’ warranty.

For products I can’t test for long enough, I also consult experts who have been using them for decades to judge their longevity.

• Test 5: I pull it apart to check the grease and oil levels, how difficult it is to maintain, and whether sand or salt has deposited after use in saltwater.

Value for Money

The final aspect of the scoring system is the price or, more specifically, the value for money. Value for money is a comparison against the closest alternative products, both by the same manufacturer and other brands.

Overall Score

Finally, I average the three scores of performance, durability, and value for money to give the overall score of each product reviewed.

To see more details, please read the complete guide on how I test and evaluate fishing products.

Penn Technology Comparison

I find it difficult to understand the difference between performance and marketing hype, especially when certain basic features are given fancy nicknames. I have put together this table to help explain the difference between the reels above in terms of the technology Penn have installed in each model:

Penn Technology	Spinfisher	Passion	Slammer	Torque	Pursuit	Clash	Battle	Wrath	Fierce
IPX8 Sealed	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
IPX6 Sealed	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
IPX5 Sealed	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
CNC Gear Technology	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Full Metal Body	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Dura Drag	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
HT-100 Drag Washers	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Metal Power Knob	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Sealed Stainless Steel Ball Bearings	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Hydrophobic Line Roller Bearing	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
Braid Ready	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Instant Anti-Reverse	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Techno Balanced	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Line Capacity Rings	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Leveline	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
Superline Spool	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

Conclusion

Penn is one of my favorite reel manufacturers. If you have never tried one before, you will be shocked the first time you do – they have a famously unique retrieve feeling. You can feel the durability through the mechanical action while cranking the handle.

Their range of spinning reels suits almost every situation, and you will find one that suits your requirements. If you know the type of fish species you are targeting, the depth, the size, and your budget, you can quickly narrow down your options within Penn’s range.