Fishing Reels

Reel Sizing by Target Species

For whiting and small bream in creeks and shallow estuaries, a 1000 to 2000 size keeps things light enough to feel every bite while still holding enough thin line for a decent cast. Step up to 2500 to 3000 for bream, flathead and tailor around jetties, flats and river mouths, where you need a bit more drag in reserve without losing casting distance. Barramundi, mulloway and smaller pelagics like tailor and salmon in open water call for 4000 to 4500, where the larger spool holds enough line and the drag can handle a longer first run. Fishing Superstore's own Ultra Smooth and Lh/Rh Interchangeable spinning reels both run the full 1000 to 7000 spread, so you can move up in size within the one series as your target species changes.

Entry-Level Spinning Reels

The Ultra Smooth range is the broadest in the collection, sized 1000 through 5000 on a 5.2:1 gear ratio and stepping up to a 4.7:1 ratio at 6000 and 7000 for more cranking power under load. The Lh/Rh Interchangeable series covers the same size run at a lower price point and lets you swap the handle to either side, useful if more than one person in the house uses the same reel. The HE Series (5000 to 7000) rounds out the budget end for anglers who only need the larger sizes.

Baitcasters for Structure Fishing

The Angler's Choice High Speed 18+ Baitcasting Reel comes in left and right hand versions, giving casting accuracy for lure work around timber, jetty pylons and other structure where a backlash costs you the fish. It suits mangrove jack, bass and cod fishing where accurate, repeated casts to the same snag matter more than long-range distance.

Stepping Up: Mid-Range Spinning Reels

Deukio's SA3000 All-Purpose Spinning Reel is rated to 15kg max drag and pairs a CNC metal handle with a zero-gap waterproof body, built for landing bigger fish without the reel flexing under pressure. The Deukio GSW adds an anti-slip metal spool and 3+1 bearings in the same waterproof, rustproof build for long casts at the beach or rocks. The Fishing Superstore BILLINGS EK series, available in 3000 and 7000, sits in the same mid-range bracket for anglers wanting a step up from the entry-level spinning reels above.

Dedicated Saltwater Reels: The Ryobi Range

Ryobi's lineup runs from an entry-level High Speed Saltwater Metal Spinning Reel through four tiers built specifically for saltwater use. Virtus (4+1 bearings, 1000 and 4000 sizes) and Tresor (5+1 bearings, 2000 and 3000 sizes) sit in the mid-tier, both geared around 5.0:1 to 5.1:1. Ecusima (4+1 bearings, 1000 to 3000 sizes) is built for faster retrieve saltwater work, and Excia (8+1 bearings, 1000 and 3000 sizes) tops the range for anglers wanting the smoothest drag and the most bearings on hand. Moving up through the Ryobi tiers gets you more bearings and smoother drag pressure under a long run, which matters most once you are chasing anything with real speed, like tailor, salmon or kingfish from the rocks or a boat.

Offshore and Jigging: GENESIS Osprey 8000 2-Speed

The GENESIS Osprey 8000 2-Speed Spinning Reel switches between a high retrieve gear for working a jig back quickly and a low, high-torque gear for cranking a hooked fish up from depth, the same style of two-speed system used on dedicated jigging and offshore setups. It is a natural pairing with the GENESIS Offshore rod range for anglers deep dropping or jigging structure at spots like Eden, Bermagui or Portland.

Rod and Reel Combos

For anglers wanting one box that covers rod and reel together, the VEVOR IM6 Fiberglass & Carbon Fibre Spinning Rod and Reel Combo is a straightforward all-in-one option, useful as a spare setup or for getting a new angler onto the water without piecing a kit together from scratch.

Why Reel Size Numbers Don't Match Across Brands

Deukio states the SA3000's max drag as 15kg, a genuine spec you can check on that specific listing. That figure is specific to that reel. It does not mean every 3000-size reel in this collection carries the same drag rating. A Fishing Superstore Ultra Smooth 3000, a Ryobi Tresor 3000 and the Deukio SA3000 all share the same size number but are not identical under the hood. Treat the size number as a rough starting point for matching a reel to your target species, then check the specific drag, bearing count and gear ratio on the product listing itself before you buy, rather than assuming two reels with the same size number will perform the same way.

The Most Common Mistake

The most common mistake is buying reel size to match rod length alone, without checking whether the drag and line capacity actually suit the fish being targeted. A long rod paired with an undersized reel leaves you under-gunned the moment something solid takes off on the first run. Match the reel to the species and the water you are fishing first, then make sure the rod you are pairing it with can handle the same class of fish.