Best Shark Fishing Reels of 2025

"After fishing with this reel for a year and a half, I can confidently say it's a great reel for the price. It's much smaller than I expected for a 5000 reel, yet it feels solid and performs beautifully. I rinse it after each use, and there’s no sign of rust. I highly recommend the KastKing Sharky!"

"I haven't used my reel extensively yet, but dealing with KastKing customer service was a positive experience. They were responsive and helped resolve my initial issue. The Sharky 3000 is the right size for my needs, and its smooth retrieval has impressed me so far. I hope it holds up well in the long run!"

"As an avid surf fisherman, I appreciate the durability of the KastKing Sharky. After a year of using it in harsh conditions, I found minimal water intrusion and no corrosion. The casting distance is incredible, and it rivals high-end reels in terms of smoothness and performance. I’m really happy with my choice!"

"I purchased the KastKing Sharkie BaitFeeder III in the 4,000 series and paired it with a Shakespeare Big Water. This is, in my opinion, the best combination for pier fishing. I love the dual drag system; it saves time and allows for an effortless fishing experience. After testing it since December 2023, I've been impressed with its performance, even managing to reel in two stingrays without any issues. Plus, I appreciate the included manual and labels for my fishing line. I highly recommend these reels!"

"On my recent trip to the Canary Islands, I took the KastKing Sharky 3 baitcaster paired with the KastKing Valiant Eagle Passage travel rod. This combo was perfect for traveling since the rod breaks down into multiple pieces, avoiding extra baggage fees. The rod's strength and sensitivity allowed me to feel every bite, and the reel offered consistent, smooth action. Now, this setup is my go-to travel rod and reel. It's definitely made my fishing trips hassle-free!"

"I was pleasantly surprised by this reel. For the price, it performs exceptionally well, casting smoothly and reeling in fish with ease. My son had a blast catching large mouth bass with it!"

"I bought two of these reels for my kids. One works perfectly, but the second one only free spools and doesn’t hold the drag. Overall, they seem well-built and are perfect for our lake outings!"

"As someone who runs fishing programs for kids, I appreciate the cost efficiency and durability of this reel. It's easy to maintain and great for beginners. After years of use, I keep coming back to it because it meets our needs without breaking the bank!"

"I decided to purchase this fishing reel based on reviews, and I’ve been absolutely amazed! It still works as well as it did on the first day, even after a year being lost in the lake. I highly recommend it!"

"I bought this reel for my grandson, and it has completely transformed his fishing experience. The quality is evident just by the weight, and it casts further without the hassle of tangling. Definitely worth the investment!"

"After trying this spincast reel, I’m really satisfied. It performs better than my previous expensive ones, casting well and retrieving smoothly. Just remember, it’s best for lighter lines."

"I recently purchased this reel and I'm truly impressed with its performance. I pulled in a 7 lb 23 inch smallmouth bass without any trouble. It handles lures and live bait effortlessly, and I highly recommend it. KastKing really is the KING! The durability is evident, and it fits perfectly on my medium-heavy rod."

"Honestly, this reel is fantastic for the price! I've used it several times now and it feels very smooth and well-built. A+++. The drag is great, and casting is super smooth with my 30lb braided KastKing line."

"I got the 3000 size reel about 4 months ago, and it's been a solid performer. It looks awesome out of the box and the metal body feels really strong while reeling in fish. However, I noticed it hesitates after about an hour of saltwater fishing. It's still a great reel but may not be fully saltwater ready."

The Zebco 404 Spincast Fishing Reel is a simple and affordable reel that is perfect for occasional fishing trips. With its durable all-metal gears and stainless steel pick-up pin, this reel is built to last. It also features a built-in bite alert, making it easy for anyone to detect when a fish has bitten the hook. Whether you're fishing in rivers, lakes, or ponds, this reel is a reliable choice. It comes pre-spooled with 15-pound Zebco fishing line, although some users recommend replacing it with a better quality line. Overall, the Zebco 404 Spincast Fishing Reel is a dependable and budget-friendly option for casual anglers.

"I own three of these reels, and they work great for ultralight fishing. The price is so low for a quality reel. The 500 model is light, has a smooth action, and the drag is secure and smooth. Great product!"

"I bought one of these reels on a flash sale for under $20. I was very impressed with the quality and smoothness at this price. I ended up buying four more for my family. However, two out of five had some issues with backlash."

"This reel is fantastic! It made my old retractable rod feel like a whole new setup. It works great and exceeded my expectations."

"I’m really impressed with this reel for the price. It replaced a rarely used plastic reel on my Ugly Stik Dockrunner. I mainly use it for bait with a small sabiki rig, so I’m curious how it will hold up in saltwater. I rinse and dry all my gear right after use, and if the materials are as good as they seem, I’m hopeful it won’t be an issue. But even if it does, the investment isn’t significant. Overall, I see great value in this reel, and I’m pleased with Kastking so far."

"I bought this 3000 size reel to replace my broken Shakespeare reel. It has a very smooth action, and I feel it casts just as well, if not better, than the Shakespeare. I also have a 5000 size one on my catfish rig. I highly recommend these for their quality and price!"

"This reel works perfectly on my ultralight setup. I love how smooth and well-engineered it is. I initially bought it for ice fishing lake trout, but I also use it on my spinner pole. For the price, it can’t be beat, and I’m planning to get a second one soon!"

"I used this reel most of the season throwing different lighter spinners and crankbaits. It's still just as smooth and solid as the first day I used it. I often fish rivers and streams from my kayak, and this reel performed better than my other models. I would recommend checking this one out if you want a solid baitcaster without breaking the bank."

"My reel arrived on time and was packaged well. I was surprised at how well it performed right out of the box. Smooth casting and easy adjustments made it a breeze to switch lure sizes. The spool is easy to remove and lock back in place, which is a great feature for quick changes."

"After I got used to it and got the settings right, it works like a charm. Caught 50+ fish in the first few months. It’s well constructed and operates easily. Great price, and I would definitely buy this brand again."

"I found this small reel to cast well and it's quite smooth. The bite alarm has a loud clicking drag that works well. It's easy to use and feels very durable. A great reel for the price!"

"I bought this to replace a plastic reel on my son's combo. It's perfect for his rod and casts respectably. I can see this setup being used for crappie and bluegill. The drag is smooth, and the louder bite alarm is actually fine. I appreciate the quick twist opening feature."

"This reel works perfectly with my son's 4' pole! We've caught plenty of bluegill, some bass, and even a catfish. I had a replacement issue initially, but the second one works great! However, it did get massively tangled, which affected our fishing night, so I updated my rating to 4 stars."