Some of the high praise was coming from former world-class distance casters who were devoted Abu Garcia fans, so I realized it was time to try out this highly touted reel. HT100 drag Magnetic cast control located where it isn t likely to be bumped. The reel has a graphite frame, so it s light, but certainly not as attractive as those nice anodized aluminum frames found on other reels. On a scale of 1 to 10 for aesthetics, I d give it a 5 or a 6. But when fishing from the surf, aesthetics isn t one of the most important features.
Performance is everything from the surf fisherman s limited platform.
The ability to reach as far as you can and manhandle big fish in rough conditions is of paramount importance. For this, the Penn 525 Mag goes right off the scale. Casting If you ve got the casting skills, I m confident this reel will outcast any stock reel you ve ever used. The spool is light, spinning quickly and easily, and the magnetic cast control really helps in a stiff wind. I found that the reel is controllable enough that feathering the spool with the thumb is usually all the cast control required.