Can someone explain to me if there is a difference in how you operate a saltwater BC reel as opposed to a freshwater BC reel?  Nothing useful on search engines on operating instructions.  

I was watching some guys tuna fish and on the reels, on the side that has the handle, there is a switch/clip of some sort that slides up and down.  What is that? I think I saw a drag star so it couldn't be the drag unless saltwater reels have some sort of special drag.

What causes these saltwater reels to be so darn noisy?  Every turn of the handle makes a clicking noise.

Also, do you cast with it?  I've only seen the guys hook up with bait and then drop it in the water and then take off on the boat?

Thanks guys.

I may be wrong but from what you described the lever on the side of the reel was the drag, some saltwater conventional as they are called in the saltwater world have two speed drags, especially on bigger game like Tuna, or other pelagics. If it had a star drag then that lever was the spool release, kind of like a cast button on say a curado. The reason they are so loud is that they have a bait clicker and alot of the time guys forget to turn it off during the fight.

Oh Yea on those bigger saltwater reel like the on used for Tuna, you do not have to cast the rod, you just toss the line off the back or side and free spool it, most of the time you are using a 5 1/2 ft to 6 ft rod for Tuna, King Mackeral rod are longer say 6/12 to 7 ft.

Hope this helps,

Tony