PENN has long been a staple in the saltwater world, from the old “Greenie” 704 to the Senators of yesteryear, PENN has been a legacy leader and standard-setter when it comes to reliable fishing reels that hold up for many years of use. Despite being relatively new to the low-profile baitcaster scene, you would never know it. The PENN Fathom 500 Low Profile Reel is packed with quintessential PENN traits, it balances impressive strength with the ease of use and comfort that is essential to low-profile designs—delivering a powerful tool that’s tailor made for cranking on hard-fighting fish at nearly any depth or distance from the dock.
Purpose-built for demanding casting applications, the Fathom 500 expands the legacy of the Fathom series into a larger and grittier package that takes its smaller predecessors to task when the target is big and powerful fish. This reel loves a heavyweight fight and Northeast anglers will find a new favorite weapon when it comes to slinging jigs and topwaters for 100-pound class bluefin and other big game species.
PENN went exceptionally conservative with their ratings and specs when they released this beast of a baitcaster. For starters, the spool holds significantly more braid than quoted—easily packing around 300-yards of 60-pound braid, even with standard line diameters. Furthermore, the 25-pound drag rating is legit and the HT-100 carbon fiber drag system provides real, sustained stopping power, unlike some competitors that quote inflated figures they cannot maintain under stress.
Internally, PENN opted for a solid stainless steel main gear and a bearing-supported pinion gear—a massive durability upgrade rarely seen in low-profile baitcasters, putting it in an elite class alongside saltwater titans like the Lexa HD and Komodo. Encased in a full-metal body and crank side plate, the whole setup remains rigid under heavy loads. Additional features include a TiN-coated (ceramic) level wind system for smooth line management and a synchronized drag-and-level-wind design that prevents the line from digging in under heavy drag pressure. A look inside reveals that the Fathom 500 is generously greased, keeping it smooth and durable under stress, but also shedding any saltwater that might find its way inside.
PENN offers the Fathom 500 in two gear ratios to match your target technique:
| Spec | Standard (FTH500LP) | High Speed (FTH500LPHS) |
| Gear Ratio | 4.5:1 | 6.7:1 |
| Line Retrieve | 29.0″ per crank | 43.0″ per crank |
| Weight | 18.9 oz | 19.2 oz |
| Bearings | 6+1 Stainless Steel | 6+1 Stainless Steel |
| Max Drag | 25 lbs | 25 lbs |
| Braid Capacity | 65 lb / 270 yd (quoted) | 65 lb / 270 yd (quoted) |
The standard 4.5:1 model delivers the perfect retrieve speed and torque for working topwater stickbaits, poppers, and winching up big fish. Meanwhile, the 6.7:1 High Speed model shines when burning lipped diving plugs, swimbaits, sinking stickbaits and speed jigging, or any other application where rapid line pickup is needed.
Currently available in right-hand retrieve, there seems to be a strong belief (anticipation) that PENN will introduce left-hand models down the road. If you need an aggressive, ultra-durable low-profile baitcaster that punches well above its weight class, the Fathom 500 is built to conquer the toughest fish in the ocean. To learn more, visit www.pennfishing.com.
