Since Penn Reels discontinued the 704Z and the 706Z, our surf fishing customers, especially, have been searching for a reliable and affordable replacement and in our opinion… here it is… The Shimano Saragosa! These reels have many of the same features as the VERY high end Stella’s without the high end price!

With exception to the super high end Van Staal or the Daiwa Saltiga Surf Reels, there really aren’t many reels on the market that can endure the sand and salt of the ocean beaches. But the drilled spool skirt will allow water to flow through the reel and wash the sand out! Remember how many people drilled out the spools of their 704 and 706 reels? We did that for a reason and Shimano took note of it! Another advantage with the Saragosa’s is the SEALED DRAG… to keep the junk out of the drag washers, maintaining a nice smooth drag… even when you’re waist deep in the surf!

The  body, spool (on the 14000 and 18000 sizes) and the handle shanks are constructed from machined aluminum which explains why these reels are so light in weight too. We all know that if you’re going to walk along the beaches, carrying a light weight rod and reel can make for a MUCH more pleasant day… LOL!

In addition, Shimano has a manual bail conversion kit that fits the Saragosa 5000, 6000, 8000, 14000 and 18000 sizes. These are the ONLY reels on the market today that offer a manual bail conversion… this is a HUGE plus for surfcasters everywhere!

One other benefit is that you can interchange the handles on the 14000 and 18000 with the handle from a Shimano Stella!! The Stella handle has a BIG OLE’ Septon (a.k.a. comfy rubber) knob on it, turning it from a handle in to a WINCH! These reels have also become quite popular among offshore fisherman jigging for Tuna. The oversized handle makes a world of a difference when you’re cranking on a big one!

The general opinion here at Causeway is a big THUMBS UP on these reels. Whether you’re neck deep in the surf or throwing a jig to a school of hungry Yellowfin’s, these reels are built to take it!!