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If you’re going to be spending any significant amount of time saltwater fishing, I can’t recommend strongly enough to have a high quality saltwater rod and reel combo.
But acquiring all this fishing gear can be expensive. That’s why I want to share with you what I’ve found to be the best saltwater rod and reel combo for the money.
Sure, there are other rods and reels available that are “better”, but what I did is combine quality and affordability to come up with these 3 saltwater combos.
I’m confident that any one of them will meet your needs. But as you can see below, my top pick is the Penn Battle II. So be sure to read about that one.
Saltwater Rod and Reel Combos Mentioned In This Article
The Best Saltwater Rod And Reel Combo (Reviews)
1. PENN Battle II Combo (Top Pick)
Penn is one of the most recognized brands when it comes to saltwater fishing gear. They’ve been designing and manufacturing fishing rods and reels for over 75 years.
The Penn Battle II is PENN’s most popular saltwater rod and reel combo. And that’s for good reason.
This combo has a reel with a full metal body, side plate and rotor for the durability we need as saltwater fishermen. The Superline Spool is constructed from machined and anodized aluminum and allows you to tie superlines directly onto the spool without having to use backing.
The Reel
The reel is braid ready and has line capacity rings marked at 1/3, 2/3, and full capacity to make sure you’re aware of exactly how much line is off the spool.
The PENN Battle II drag system provides a silky smooth drag when you need it, especially under heavy loads, which is what we all are hoping for!
The fishing reel also features a fluid cranking with 5 sealed stainless steel ball bearings and an instant anti-reverse bearing.
The Rod
The second half of this combo is a graphite composite Battle rod that features aluminum oxide guides which all types of fishing line will simply glide through. Available fishing rod lengths are from 6.5 ft to 10 ft.
If you want the best saltwater rod and reel combo for the money, then invest in the PENN Battle II fishing combo. For the money spent, you won’t find a better saltwater fishing combo that will last as long.
2. Penn Pursuit III Fishing Rod and Spinning Reel
The reason Penn takes the first two spots on this list goes to show what a trusted player they are in the world of saltwater fishing. Penn is without a doubt the best saltwater fishing reel brand out there. And their Pursuit III Rod and Spinning reel combo is a great example of their superior quality.
The Penn Pursuit III spinning combo is a great choice for those who like to fish inshore, off a boat or even in the surf. This saltwater rod and reel fishing combo combines the Pursuit II spinning reel with a graphite composite rod for an affordable setup that makes this one of the best rod and reel combo for the money.
The Reel
The Penn Pursuit III spinning reel boasts an ultra lightweight graphite body that is very resistant to saltwater corrosion, which for us fishermen means a much longer lifespan compared to other reels. The body of the reel also features an aluminum side plate which is also resistant to corrosion. The spool is made from machined and anodized aluminum.
Inside the reel is a fluid cranking with 4 shielded stainless steel ball bearings and an instant anti-reverse bearing.
The drag system on this reel is a dependable oiled-felt drag that according to the PENN website makes, “…the Pursuit II the best value for the money for saltwater anglers.”
The Rod
The fishing rod that’s paired with the Pursuit III rod and reel combo is a graphite composite rod which features aluminum oxide guides. These guides are not only resistant to corrosion, but will also allow all types of fishing line to easily glide through. The rod also features comfortable and durable EVA grips.
The fishing rod is available in lengths ranging from 7 ft up to 10 ft.
According to the PENN website, “…the Pursuit III is the best value for the money for saltwater anglers.”
3. PENN Squall Level Wind Combo
The Penn Squall Level Wind Combo is a little different than the other saltwater rod and reel combos I listed on this post because it’s the first that’s not a spinning reel.
The Squall combo comes with a level wind reel that’s specifically designed for trolling big game fish in a variety of saltwater conditions, and in my opinion is the best saltwater level wind rod and reel combo available.
The Penn Squall Lever Wind fishing combo is the perfect choice for those that enjoy the thrill of trolling or jigging for big game fish, like dorado, marlin and Kings. This saltwater setup is not only lightweight and ergonomic, but is strong enough to handle the biggest ocean going fish. This combo is designed in a way that ensures that you are provided with a rod and reel that’ll last a very, very long time.
The Reel
The reel that comes with this saltwater fishing combo is a lightweight level wind reel featuring a graphite frame and side plates. The stainless steel gears have a higher speed gear ratio compared to the other brands.
The Dura-Drag washers in this reel almost completely eliminates all hesitation, even under very heavy and extreme drag settings.
The main and pinion gear are constructed out of stainless steel, which equals less corrosion and longer life.
The Rod
The fishing rod included with the PENN Squall Lever Drag combo is a durable and ultrasensitive 6 ft one piece tubular fiberglass rod with a solid tip.
This is the rod and reel combo you want to have if you’re looking for a strong multi-purpose saltwater rod and reel combo. Its works perfect for inshore and offshore trolling as well as bottom fishing and jigging.
Conclusion
Like I mentioned in the beginning of this post, I agree that there are many other rod and reel combos out there that you can use for saltwater.
But when you combine quality, dependability and affordability, these three saltwater rods and reels easily beat out the competition. And I have complete confidence in all three.
But with that said, there’s one rod and reel combo that I recommend over all the rest. And that’s the Penn Battle II. You can take a closer look at it and read more user reviews of it over on Amazon. Just click the image below.
