Going to try and keep this simple. I'm fishing in the gulf and prefer spinning reels, so I use them as much as possible. Could I get away with using a penn spinfisher V 6500 with 30lb drag max for 4-5ft shark or am I too likely to hook into something big and loose it for sure. If you think I can get away with it what pound test should I use a 30 or 40lb braid. Or do you recommend I upgrade to a 7500. only thing keeping me at the 6500 is the fact I could use it for large snook, bull red, tarpon, and what not
50-65lb braid and a short top shot. But sooner or later you will hook a big one and get spooled
Go with the bigger reel, maybe even the ssv 8500, get some 65LB braid on there and call it a day. You do not want to fight something for a while and lose it due to the smaller reel.
The 6000 size reels can handle the tippers and sandbars but it can get risky.
i use a 6500 with 30lb test, short leader in the day. If the black tips are biting... small bait, can be a lot of fun. If there are black tips around other sharks probably wont get to that bait. I have been spooled by a medium sized shark. I don't think that it is good for your reel and the braid can get expensive.
At night I wouldn't do that, though I will put a bit of lady fish on and drop it 10 yards out with a weight - sooner or later you will hook up on a Snook. Set the bigger reels out a ways.
My lucky reel is a 9/0 Penn. I fish with 14/0 and 12/0, but some of the best fights have been on the 9/0 and you won't wreck it.
I use a Spinfisher SSV 7500 with 65 lb. JerryBrown braid with a topshot of 80 lb. JerryBrown. Haven't lost a big jack yet and landed a big tipper a few weeks back. I'm very pleased.
Get the 6500, and get the 10500