SHIMANOSPEEDMASTER II

I used this the first time rock cod fishing in Morro Bay at approximately 390' deep water. My first hook-up was two large reds at the same time. When I started huffing and puffing bringing them up, I remembered that I had the second speed and pushed the button - I could hardly tell I was hauling two big fish up from very deep! This is such a well-made, smooth reel, that I don't know how I have survived all these years without it!

Great snapper and grouper reel. Very smooth. It has plenty of cranking power. Handle cranked a 17 pound red grouper, a 8 pound mango, and a 12 pound gag and never got stuck on the crank. With 40 pounds of drag, it's a hell of a bargain at that price. Only time will tell how it holds up.

Great reel at a great price point. Can't really justify getting a $500+ reel at this point in my fishing career, so this was a great new option from Shimano to compete at the Penn Fathom price point. Reel is smooth. Cheat mode (low gear) works great. This will be a mainstay in my arsenal for years.

Top shelf product. Smooth operation and solidly built. Can’t wait for my next off shore trip

Smooth

Definitely. My most favorite real when it comes to ensure an offshore fishing. Big enough to get the grouper off the bottom. Not so big that it becomes cumbersome the whole all day..

This reel is a beast, I got the SM16. Reel up a snapper like nothing especially on the low gear.

I like lever drags, it has a bit of weight but this is a solid reel. Loaded it up with 50yd 40#mono for backing 500yds of 50# power pro spectra and have room for more. Smooth and I use it for bottom fishing and some jigging. Its bigger than a Tekota 700 for reference.