There are scores of surf reels on the market, and those that hold up to the test of time serve to fill a niche in the surf game. For the wet-suitor whose reel is submerged more times than not, a completely sealed gear and drag system is called for. For those who remain on terra firma, out of the wash, and for those who find themselves somewhere in between, there are many more less expensive options. Along with quality comes a price and there are some hefty price tags out there today, and each, in my opinion, can easily be justified. However, not all anglers can afford these high priced beauties of the surf crowd.
EPoseidon has managed to combine high quality with affordable pricing. What would you say to a spinning reel with a sealed body and rotor shaft for under $200 bucks? How about a conventional with a smooth drag, powerful gearing and a price tag under $75?
The Ecooda Hornet Series, which comes in sizes from 6000 to 20000 (15000 spool is virtually the same size as a Penn 704Z) offers an O-ring sealed, waterproof body and rotor. The gears are high quality machined from stainless, complete with an oversize aluminum handle. On the bearing side, the Hornet offers seven high quality shielded stainless bearings, a double back-up/anti-reverse bearing and carbon fiber drag washers, and offer up to 66 pounds of drag pressure. Lastly, there is a lubrication port on the side plate.
I had the pleasure of banging the 15000 around for a while in the surf line. There were no issues on the casting end, and no issues with the bail flipping over – something that is a concern where bails come into play. The drag is good, and although I did not dunk the reel, it was hit with several waves, which would have been enough to see water penetration. The reel performed well, and could easily handle any gamefish you are targeting in the Northeast surf. The spool offers a neat twist with an angled nose, which allows line to flow off freely, and minimizes wind loops.
On the negative side, the handle is a little cumbersome and takes some time to adjust to the feel. As for the lubrication port, I think this could make it too easy for an angler to overfill the body cavity, rather than lubricating with just a drop or two over time.
Moving to the conventional side, the KastKing RXA 70 is very similar in size to the Abu Garcia 7000C, which is one of my all-time favorite reels. The RXA 70 has four premium shielded stainless steel bearings and one instant anti-reverse bearing. The side plates are anodized aluminum in red, and made from high-grade aluminum. The reel offers a machined brass worm shaft and stainless components. The gear ratio on the RXA 70 is 4.2:1, while its big sisters, the 80 and 90 series, offer a winch type ratio of 3.2:1. The t-handle is comfortable and allows for a smooth fight, even on chopper blues to 20 pounds – and we all know how they fight.
Like any new company, the test of time is always going to be the determining factor as to its longevity. However, after using these two reels, I can’t help but believe that EPoseidon may be onto something. For the cost of a couple beach permits, you could be pleasantly surprised at the results. One last highlight on all their products is free shipping.
For more information, pricing and a look at their complete line-up, go to the website.
