Fishing is fun when you have the right equipment and skills with you. Of course, yes. The fishing rod, reel, and everything needs to be perfect. Hence, we present before you this list of the top 5 best saltwater spinning reels under $100 in 2023.
With its up-to-the-mark features and amazing quality, these spinning reels are good to go.
Fantastic!
The spinning reels, especially the saltwater ones, should have the right features. The most important, corrosion-resistant coating and the freshwater reels won’t work here.
At a Glance:
Best Saltwater Spinning Reels Under $100
Design | Reviews | Retailer |
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Best Pick ![]() | Check Price | |
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Staff Pick ![]() | Check Price | |
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Budget Pick ![]() | Check Price |
1. KastKing Summer and Centron Spinning Reel
Best Pick
Brand | KastKing |
Material | Graphite |
Color | Black with Blue |
Handle material | Aluminum |
Product weight (in kilograms) | not specified |
Hand orientation | Ambidextrous |
Why We Love It
- As assured by the brand itself, it comes with a super-smooth performance
- A perfect choice for ice fishing and small saltwater fishes because of its 500-reel size
- The anodized aluminum built and finish gives an amazingly long-lasting life and is corrosion-resistant
- Coming from a well-known KastKing brand, this seawater spinning reel is the best you can get at such a cheap price.
You look excited.
It comes with a powerful drag of 18 lbs for fighting strong seawater fishes. So, get ready to change the hand orientation of this reel.
Just, detach the handle from one side and attaching it to the other.
All done!
The strong anti-reverse system also stops the reel from spinning backward and prevents tangling.
According to many best saltwater spinning reel reviews, it is one of the best lightweight saltwater spinning reels.
Why it’s special?
This reel has a size of only 500. Therefore, it will be an ideal choice for small seawater fish. Especially ice water fishing.
Pros
- Cheap
- Smooth drag
- Stays stable
- 9 ball bearings
Cons
- Not ideal for huge fishes
- Plastic handle
Opinion
If you love ice fishing and want an extremely lightweight spinning reel, you should go for this one. Unlike many other cheap spinning reels, this reel includes nine ball bearings for an extra smooth reeling experience.
Moreover, it can handle small fish easily and is ideal for light seawater fishing. Also, you can use it during offshore fishing as the material is corrosion-resistant. Therefore, you can get this one if you want.
2. KastKing Sharky III Fishing Reel

Brand | KastKing |
Material | Aluminum |
Color | Black, Red |
Handle material | Aluminum |
Product weight (in Pounds) | 1.06 Pounds |
Hand orientation | Ambidextrous |
Why We Love It
- Features a smoothly working and heavy duty drag with a max drag of 39.5 lbs
- The reel size of 4000 is perfect for medium-sized fishes like bonefish and cod in seawater
- Moreover, the 11 stainless steel ball bearings give a smooth performance and make your fishing adventure easy
Do you love harbor fishing and want to target medium-sized fishes?
Yes, we also do.
Introduce yourself with this strong spinning reel of size 4000 by KastKing. It features one of the best drag systems, offering maximum drag of 40 lbs to be precise.
Moreover, it works smoothly and efficiently because of its 10 stainless steel ball bearings and 1 roller bearing.
What about usage?
You can use this spinning reel heavily in freshwater. However, in seawater the capacity is limited with only 8-20 lbs with a braided line.
Moreover, your hands won’t hurt even after a day long fishing tour. The key reason is its lightweight carbon and aluminum construction.
Last but not least,
The coating of corrosion resistant will keep this reel intact and working for years.
Pros
- Cheap
- Max drag of 39.5 lbs
- Great and long-lasting finish
- Includes anti-reverse features
Cons
- Reels foot is made of plastic
- Fragile construction
Opinion
Medium-sized reels are the best when you love freshwater fishing and seawater fishing. This one is the best budget spinning reel as it is not overpriced. Moreover, the anti-reverse system, lightweight design and good line capacity are what you will get at this price.
Therefore, it is an excellent choice for people who love seawater and freshwater fishing. However, we found out that the construction is not that sturdy and it won’t handle big fishes.
3. KastKing Megatron Spinning Reel
Staff Pick
Brand | KastKing |
Material | Metal |
Color | Black |
Handle material | Aluminum |
Product weight (in kilograms) | – |
Why We Love It
- Comes with a nice and unique geometrical design for an amazing grip and finish
- Moreover, the 6000 reel size can offer a maximum drag of 30 lbs
- Features an instant anti-reverse system to avoid line tangles and breakage.
Once again, here is the third-best saltwater spinning reel by KastKing. It’s a different model and stands out for its unique geometrical design.
What’s about performance?
Yes, the performance is great. That comes with a smooth and powerful drag system it has a maximum drag of 30 lbs.
Moreover, you can handle up to 30 lbs of braided line with it.
Are you happy to hear it?
Additionally, the looks are what it is mostly known for. However, other than profile, there are too many features to look for.
This may include an instant anti-reverse system and the 8-ball bearings, making the reel work smoother and faster.
Plus, the reel size of 6000 is more than enough for medium-sized fish.
Pros
- Max drag over 30 lbs
- Bail works perfectly
- Works best for medium-sized fishes
- Instant anti-reverse system
Cons
- Delicate interior
- Not for small fishes
Opinion
Get a good line capacity and an excellent-looking reel at the lowest price. We recommend this lightweight yet powerful saltwater spinning reel to anyone with a tight budget. It comes with a powerful drag and a good anti-reverse system.
However, you can’t target extremely small or large fishes because of its capacity barrier. Otherwise, it’s the best saltwater spinning reel under $100 with impressive features.
4. Okuma Ceymar Spinning Reel

Brand | OKUMA |
Material | Synthetic |
Color | Multicolor |
Handle material | Aluminum |
Product weight (in ounces) | 8.7 ounces |
Hand orientation | Ambidextrous |
Why We Love It
- Weighs only 8.7 ounces so it will make your fishing experience painless
- The size C-30 is perfect for medium-sized fishes and can handle a line of 6-8 pounds
- Moreover, the corrosion-resistant 8-ball bearings work smoothly in any condition..
An extremely lightweight spinning reel weighing only 8 ounces will be perfect for onshore or harbor fishing.
Right?
If yes, then get this spinning reel by OKUMA. It comes with 8 stainless steel ball bearings, ensuring no friction during your fishing time.
Plus, the powerful multi disc drag system is worth the price you will be paying.
O wow!
Additionally, the whole construction is made of aluminum. So, it is a lot more durable than it looks.
The line capacity is only 3000, but it’s enough for small fish weighing 6-10 lbs. Therefore, it’s a perfect choice for harbour or onshore fishing.
Last but not least,
Many spinning reel reviews suggest that it is perfect for saltwater use because of its anti-corrosion build.
Pros
- Anti-reverse system
- Smooth working
- Multi-disc drag system
- Corrosion resistant body
Cons
- Cannot handle big fishes
- Small
Opinion
We recommend using this small but durable spinning reel in lakes and ponds, as its line capacity is only 3000. However, you can use it in saltwater, as the corrosion-resistant coating will keep the reel intact.
Moreover, this reel has also been featured in our top 20 best-spinning reels of 2023.
Therefore, you can get this one blindly. However, choose the reel size properly, and the price increases with the size.
5. SeaKnight Rapid Saltwater Spinning Reel
Budget Pick
Brand | SeaKnight |
Material | Aluminium |
Color | Gold |
Handle material | Aluminum |
Product weight (in Pounds) | 0.9 pounds |
Hand orientation | Ambidextrous |
Why We Love It
- One of the best cheap saltwater spinning reel with an anti-corrosive coating
- You can enjoy heavy freshwater fishing and medium saltwater fishing with this 6000-size spinning reel
- The smooth and powerful carbon fibre drag system works amazingly with a max drag of 33 lbsÂ
Seaknight is also one of the best brands for manufacturing saltwater spinning reels.
Okay?
One such model is this rapid saltwater spinning reel with all the amazing features. During testing, we found out that it weighs only 0.9 pounds, which is much less than other spinning reels.
Another attractive fact is the lesser price range. This feature makes it a good option for people who don’t need an expensive reel.
What about construction?
In fact, we also got to know that this reel is very smooth to work with due to its 11aa stainless steel ball bearings.
Similarly, what makes it more special is its anti-corrosive coating layers so that we can use it in saltwater and still work for a longer time.
Pros
- Max drag of 33 lbs
- 11 ball bearings
- Sealed body
- Nice golden finish
Cons
- Only for light saltwater use
- Not durable
Opinion
If you want a saltwater spinning reel at a lower price but high quality, this one is the best choice. When paired with a good fishing rod, you can target medium-sized fish weighing up to 30 lbs.
Moreover, it is lightweight and perfect for a day out fishing.
However, the construction is not as durable as promised by the brand itself; it may break if not handled nicely. Therefore, it is good to go for such a low price range.
Buying Guide: How to Choose
How to Choose a Best Saltwater Spinning Reel
While going for a fishing trip offshore or onshore, you should carry the right equipment. However, if you don’t know which spinning reel to buy, we will help you choose the best saltwater spinning reel with our buying guide.
Here, we have given some factors you should consider while choosing a saltwater spinning reel.
Spinning reel size
There are many reel sizes ranging from 500-14,000 you should choose the one which can handle the weight of your targeted species.
As the size increases, the capacity goes on increasing. However, a seawater spinning reel should have a reel size of more than 5000. You know, there are more big fishes.
You can check out our article on spinning reel sizes for detailed information.
Line capacity
The reel size and line capacity go hand in hand. So, you will require a good line capacity if you want to target large fishes. However, do not go for a large-sized reel with a big line capacity for a small target.
Build quality
We need a good build quality while saltwater fishing. This is because, unlike freshwater, there are no small fishes with minimal weight and power.
Therefore, a sturdy and durable design is a must during an offshore fishing trip.
Anti-corrosion coating
While choosing a spinning reel for saltwater fishing, always go for the one with corrosion-resistant coating as it nullifies the chance of your spinning reel getting corroded due to the saltwater.
Apart from it, these reels last longer than reels with no coating.
Drag power
A good and powerful drag is important while fishing. Moreover, a drag of around 20 lbs is more than enough for a spinning reel to be good. However, if you get more than that, it’s a great deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Best Spinning Reel for Saltwater?
We have already featured the top 5 best saltwater spinning reels. However, we recommend the KastKing Megatron Spinning Reel as it has a reel size 6000 even at such a low price and has a nice quality.
What feature is the most important to look for while buying a seawater spinning reel?
You should look if it’s durable, corrosion resistant, and having a good line capacity as there are mostly big sized fish in sea. Moreover, seawater can corrode the spinning reel easily.
Should I clean my seawater spinning reel frequently?
The answer is absolutely yes, you should clean your seawater reel after every fishing trip as the seawater is enough to decrease the life of your spinning reel by corroding it. You can check out our article on how to clean a spinning reel for more information.
Which is the best fishing line for saltwater fishing?
Depending on the type of water body, the answer may vary. However, a braided line is always known to be superior as it is stronger and has a small diameter but it is visible in clear water.
Conclusion
So, that’s our list of top 5 best seawater spinning reels under $100 of 2023. However, the list was limited to small reel sizes because of the price range. But all the reels featured in this article are top-rated and personally tested by us.
Therefore, trust us and definitely give them a try.
Plus, if you want to get a big sized reel, check out our article on top 10 best spinning reels of 2023. Also, you can check spinning reel sizes if you are confused about which reel size to get.
Moreover, if you are still a beginner check out how to use a spinning reel to see how they work.