Daiwa "TD Zillion Coastal 7.3" Hot

This is one of 2 reels that I use strictly for inshore fishing. It has been used and used hard and it is still going strong after 3 years usage. The finish is surprisingly durable, mine could still pass for new. I am also a fanatic when it comes to cleaning my gear after usage.

If you are not a fan of a high speed gear ratio (7.3:1) then you need to look elsewhere as this is the only ratio for this reel. That being said, all the Zillion family gears can be swapped out for a different set, so you could put in a slower gear set if you wanted to.

I typically use this reel fishing paddle tail grubs (Saltwater Assassin, Z-Man, DOA) and 1/8 to 3/4 lead head jigs (depending on the tidal movement). The high speed ratio makes covering a ton of water a breeze. Cast out, cover the good water and burn the lure back in to move to the next good water.

I typically have this reel mounted to a Dobyns Champion 704. The color combo of the rod and reel just looks good to me. Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

This reel has literally caught thousands of fish from small inshore fish to bull reds, and even had a tarpon hooked and fought it for a while. This reel has never failed to handle its business. The drag could be better for a reel that is specifically designed for saltwater use. 8.8 lbs of drag is plenty of drag for a bass reel, but they could have beefed up the drag a bit since it is designed for saltwater fishing. The drag is very smooth and operates as it should. I have never thought to myself "man I wish this reel had more drag."

The reel is on the pricy side when compared to its closest competition (Revo Inshore, Quantum Inshore) but for me the price was tolerable.

This reel is no longer made, but they can still be found in the usual places, so if you want one they are still around. If you are looking for an inshore low profile baitcaster, do yourself a favor and take a look at the Coastal Zillion.