Enticing, mimicking, and catching fish in the early days required traditional techniques and no modern equipment. However, the world has evolved so much that human invention and technology have enabled anglers and fishermen to use manoeuvrable tackles capable of landing even the most powerful predatory fish in the ocean with less effort.
Reels are one of the most important devices for landing fish. I first used a fishing reel in the mid-2000s. It was an unbranded one from the 5000 series with a drag weight of about 8 kg. I caught GTs, groupers, and other fish with that reel.
I learnt about the modern fishing tackles, devices, and equipment available in the Maldives and on the international market. In late 2014, I discovered the PENN Battle II, 8000 reel, which proved to be extremely reliable.
Mohamed Niyaz, a family member and fisherman who catches big GTs, red snappers, and yellowfin tuna with PENN reels, told me to use this reel. I purchased it from Male’s most famous fishing tackle shop, High Fishing.
I started using it on my island to land GTs. What I discovered about the PENN Battle II was that the reel was strong and very durable.
I think it cost around MVR 2400. The PENN reels are great because they are both affordable and efficient. These reels are of excellent quality. The reel is nice and smooth. The gearing and ball bearings are excellent. It is comfortable to hold. It is an excellent saltwater reel
Some may believe or prefer that high-end reels are designed to catch the toughest fish in the sea, but this is not the case. It also depends on the rod’s quality and how it is handled or used.
With the PENN Battle II 8000, I used to go to the reef in front of the Neregando beach on my island, Fuvahmulah. The area is well-known for its trevallies and GTs. This well-known fishing spot put the reel to the ultimate test. It is an area where our forefathers and even more recent anglers used to catch large GTs.
My friend Niyaz has landed large GTs, red snappers, and yellowfin tuna with a PENN Battle 2 reel. He used to land some of the largest GTs and red snappers at the jetty near Male’s fish market. At this location, he used monofilament line weighing around 60 pounds and heavy lead sinkers.
He baited with tuna belly, round scad, and bigeye scad. He also used a strong leader to prevent it from breaking due to friction with the reef. He also used it for jigging, particularly in the Fuvahmulah Sea, where he targeted large yellowfin tunas.
The PENN Battle II reel features HT-100 carbon fibre drag washers. It has five sealed stainless steel ball bearings. The reel has an instant anti-reverse bearing. It also has a rubber gasket for use under pressure. It has a 44-inch line retreat per crank. The gear ratio is 5:3:1. The reel has a drag force of 30 pounds. The PENN fishing battle series is well-known for its tough construction and ability to withstand even the most intense battle.
