I plan to fish saltwater more - at first maybe 3 to 4 multi-day trips a year - and wondering if my existing gear is fine or if I really should pick up a saltwater rated casting reel. I’m pretty good about spraying off my rods/reels. My current casting reels are Daiwa Fuego CT and  Tatula CT. 

I know people on the east coast, along with the Japanese, like heavier tackle for inshore, 

"Inshore" "Coastal" reels tend to be dual-brake/ Mag-Z made for casting 2 oz, and 150-size spools for 20-lb mono capacity.  

 

but on the Gulf coast, we use lighter tackle for inshore than most use for bass.  

The main reason is we're generaly throwing lighter lures.  CT reels and 12-lb fluoro or light braid are the norm.  Alphas Air got major youtube press for Gulf-coast inshore.  That said, I personally fish 100-size across the board, and all my reels are BFS-mod.  

 

There's also nothing about "inshore/coastal" packages that makes them more salt resistant than your CTs.  Keep them rinsed is pretty much all you need.  In addition, inspect the brake magnets and spool bearings regularly.  Anything that looks like rust, get it out of the reel and replace.  Salt rust is more corrosive than the saltwater itself to all metals inside the reel. . 

 

 

 

finesse redfish

 

and here's why we're throwing 1/8-oz lures - there's 15,000 sq-mi just like it on the TX coast.  

Do you think a Fuego or Tatula CT is enough reel to fight sheepshead? 

They're enough to fight musky and large pike - sheepshead shouldn't be a problem.

I'm bout 15 mins from the Texas coast. I'm much more into bass fishing these days, but the biggest thing on saltwater reels is to have an aluminum frame/side plate. DO NOT use magnesium reels as a trout/redfish setup. 

 

Rinse them off after every trip and a drop of oil on the bearings doesn't hurt either. Should be good to go. Some of my bass fishing reels used to be my hardcore trout/redfish reels and they still operate perfectly fine. Maintenance is key 

Here's my daughter fighting sheepshead on a Penn 4200SS - that's small frame - she caught 3 sheepshead this day

 

 

sheepshead on the flats become a whole nother animal - they want to get back to deep water

I’ve never heard of them being anywhere, but around pilings and concrete. When do they go onto flats?

We were on a tide pass that drained a "lake" into Aranasas navigation channel - Marker 60 pass.  

Easy paddle with my daughter from the causeway park (just across the channel), and a hot place to fish on a falling tide.  

I've also caught them wading with a fly rod on skinny water next to the ICW - they Really want back into the navigation channel.  This time, skinnier water and a rising tide..  

The channels that tee on the left are ICW and Arroyo barge channel.  Far to the right is Padre Is.  I was wading the skinny grass between the two small islands (Green Is and spoil island).  We had the boat staked, and my dad was bait-fishing the Green Is. flounder hole.  Sheepshead will go anywhere to find shrimp.  

 

Where this map opens is where I'm fishing all next week, staying at the RV park.  

We may get blown out on Thursday, but Tues and Wed are perfect weather, and the best tides of the spring.  

Lew's LFS 😉

 

 

@wasabi_VA if you want to target sheepshead, be aware our Virginia sheepshead are nothing like the ones guys in Lower Atlantic and Gulf States are catching (and talking about). The sheepshead in Virginia are BIG compared to other places and the bulk are caught around pilings of the bridges that are covered in mussels and oysters- a recipe for losing a lot of fish if you don't have the right gear. I'd say a MH to H rod and 150+ size bait caster with a 30 lb braid is the minimum starting point if you want to use bass gear. From there, add a 30-50 lb fluorocarbon leader with a dropper rig or bottom sweeper style jig. Tip either with a live fiddler crab and drop it as close to pilings as you can. 

 

Shoot me a DM if you want any specific info on targeting them in SE Virginia. 

Suggest upgrading the drag disk to carbonatec and Carls drag grease for salt water fish the run fast and hard.

Smoooth Drag.

Tom

On 4/14/2025 at 4:56 AM, Catt said:

Lew's LFS 😉

 

 

this is a sheephead?  or redfish?  either way, that looks cool as all get out!!!

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

this is a sheephead?  or redfish?  either way, that looks cool as all get out!!!

That's a black drum. @bulldog1935 posted a picture of a red drum/redfish/puppy drum. 

It all depends on the conditions and areas you fish.  If you want to wade or fish on the beach you can use casting gear, but due to the nature of casting reels, it's impossible to seal them completely.  All you can do is be very mindful and careful as to how you handle the reel.  All that foam and spray is full of sand, so even a splash can be problematic.  Mind your hands as well after handling a fish.  You want to make sure there is no sand on your hands when you pickup the reel again.  Some bass reels are actually quite resistant to SW.  The older Tat SV was fairly well suited with several CRBBs.  A purpose-built SW reel will have sealed bearings and or use bushings wherever possible to reduce failure points. 

If you're worried about corrosion, I would grease the drag, main gear and pinion.  Avoid over oiling and grease on the level wind, all that will do is attract debris.

The gear you use depends on where your fishing more than what you are fishing for.  Bridges and jetties are subject to heavy current.  Your fighting that current and the fish, so keep that in mind.  Just like bass fishing, you want heavier gear around pilings, bridges or rocks, because they are going to run for cover right away.  In open water you can get away with lighter tackle.  So long as you have a general line up for FW bass fishing you should have everything you need.

When you go to wash your gear, its very important you gently rinse the gear with cool water.  Blasting it with a hard stream of water just pushes sand and salt deposits deeper into the reel.  If the hose has been sitting in the sun, the water in the hose can get hot.  That warmer water can dissolve the crystalized salt deposits, where cooler water just flushes it out.  

  

 

 

7 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

this is a sheephead?  or redfish?  either way, that looks cool as all get out!!!

 

Black Drum

 

Red (fish) Drum

 

 

I would use the inshore model reels for sure, a little extra corrosion protection is a good thing.  I use BPS Inshore Extremes , worked great on redfish and juvi tarpon.

What makes an Inshore casting reel is a dual casting brake - they're assuming you're throwing big weight.  That ain't always true.  

 

I recently rebuilt a Ryoga I bought used that had clearly been used for the salt - all the magseal bearings were oxidized black.  It was noteworthy they all still spun well, but I replaced them all.  I also upgraded the gears to hyperdrive - the old pinion shows the gear-teeth difference.  

 

it was a tough 2 days for slot redfish - pretty fish, though

I got a spec bag limit