KastKing Kapstan Elite Saltwater Spinning Reel - IPX6 100% Waterproof Up to 55LBs Max Drag Big Game Fishing Reel - CNC Aluminum Body - Power Handle, 6+1+1 Corrosion-Resistance Bearing System

Holy smokes we put this one through the ringer this past weekend and it got the job done! I got one of these for my in-law almost 3 years ago now, for in-shore fishing for reds and similar, 4000 size. We did a 24hr off shore fishing trip and this was his secondary setup, for casting misc, and i put on 30lb braid for him ( i should have gone put on stronger braid looking back). Fast forward to the trip, he has 2 of the best fights on the entire boat for the whole trip, the first with a 5ft+ shark that took 20+ minutes to wrangle in. Several times in the fight the deck hands were yelling "He's under-gunned! He's under-gunned!" They really thought he was gonna lose it, he fought that shark almost all the way around the boat (a big boat i might add), minding the 30lb braid, so he couldn't hammer the drag like he wanted, so he had to let the shark just strip line over and over and over, really putting some strain on that drag system. It worked great! Second fight was with the King, 52" & 30lbs, very similar fight, but he got that one in a little faster. He says the reel held up well! It was still smooth after 2 absolutely punishing fights that it really wasn't sized for. On the kingfish pic you can see the little 4000 reel he was using in the right side of the pic. Bad ass little reel, I kinda want one for me now and I'm back here looking for me 3 years later writing a review. Very good value for what you're getting, the drag held up to some serious abuse even 3 years later. Just a sweet little reel. Highlight of our trip.

Great reel, a little heavier than expected but not bad. Very smooth, great drag and cool looking too! 😉 lol

Very smooth and very strong the drag is phenomenal

Very smooth and robust. Heavier than I expected when compared to a saltist, slammer, etc. Good build quality and is sealed, have had no issues from stripers to flathead catfish.

WOW! That was my response upon receiving my two new Kastking Kapstan 3000 Spinning Reels… This reel is a TANK… I plan to pair them with my two Kastking Inshore Estuary Rods, and I suspect this will be a wonderful marriage… 10/12/2022 Update... Finally able to use the reel on an inshore Redfish excursion... Passed with flying colors... See photo and video.... The Kapstan Series of spinning reels are exclusively for Saltwater fishing hence the IPX6 waterproof rating. The reel boasts a 5.7.1 gear ratio and in the 3000 – 4000 series a max drag rating of 30 pounds! 30 pounds is more than enough drag power for the inshore species such as Redfish, Black Drum, Speckled Sea Trout, Flounder, and the occasional Snook thrown in for good measure. I mentioned this reel is a Tank… It is; however, in the 3000 to 4000 series it’s not too heavy in my opinion. Paired with my 7’ Inshore Estuary Series Rods the whole set-up weighs in just under 19 ounces. Even casting artificials, it’s not going to wear you out. I set my reels up with Kastking’s Destron Braid (15lb test) and did a drag check. The drag was super smooth and did not have any glitches. After testing the drag, while using a digital scale, I set the drag for 3.5 lbs. (roughly 22% of the line’s poundage rating). I found that precisely setting your drag for 20% to 30% of your lines poundage rating is the key to not snapping off when fighting a good size fish. The reel, although heavy duty, is aesthetically pleasing to look at. It’s made very well with both carbon and aluminum materials. This looks to be another homerun by Kastking, and time will tell. At face value, the Kapstan Spinning Reel series is a winner… Paired with a Kastking Inshore Estuary series rod, and Kastking Braided line, it’s sure to strike fear into all inshore species!