Sportfishing With Spinfisher VII

One Setup. Every Fight.

SPORT-FISHING WITH SPINFISHER

Tough enough for offshore combat yet refined enough for inshore finesse, Bean Sportfishing relies on one trusted weapon to get the results running a saltwater charter requires – the PENN Spinfisher VII.

Down where salt, sun, and screaming drags meet in the warm waters of Islamorada, Florida, Brandon and Astrid Storin have built a reputation based on grit, knowledge, and gear that never quits.

These waterborne warriors run their charter nearly 300 days a year and host over 750 anglers – many of whom are taking on the challenge of fishing for the first time in their lives. Let’s not mistake “novice” for “easy” though. When a fish is on and reels start slamming into gunnels, drags are tested, and wide-eyed tourists lock into fish built like torpedoes, only the toughest gear survives.

INSHORE COMBAT

Setup: Spinfisher VII Combo 3500 | 15 LB Braid

Target Species: Snook, Red Drum, Sea Trout, Permit, Juvenile Tarpon, Bonefish, Triple Tail, Snapper

Scouting: Scouting inshore around Islamorada is all about reading the water, understanding the tides, and matching the hatch. The Bean team is constantly on the lookout for moving water and structures like mangroves, flats, and potholes.

Choice Soft Bait: Berkley® Gulp!® Saltwater

The inshore battle is where finesse often meets fury. The Bean crew must be quick on the draw and dialed in on the drag they’re letting out with every species. Snapper and snook demand a tighter fight, while tarpon and bonefish require more specific techniques with looser lines. With the Spinfisher VII 3500, the crew strikes a perfect balance between power and control, able to quickly transition from a stealthy flat hunt to a brutal brawl in seconds.

The Bean Sportfishing team recalls one specific morning when their setup saved them from disappointment. Their boat was full of shrimp, they were ready to pull in some red and black drum, when a charter guest no more than 100 lbs dripping wet found herself tied to a 120 lb tarpon. Wrong setup? Maybe. Wrong reel? Not a chance.

With her Spinfisher in hand and an admittedly lucky tail walk by the silver king, they didn’t just hang on – they fully hunted. More than thirty minutes later and almost a mile from where they started, the boat met the beast. No switch-outs, no shortcuts, just one hell of a victory.

OFFSHORE COMBAT

Offshore Setup: Spinfisher VII 5500 | 40 LB Braid

Target Species: Cobia, Black Fin Tuna, Mahi, Mutton Snapper, Sailfish, African Pompano, AmberJack, Jackfish, Almaco Jack

Scouting: Offshore scouting is a bit more species oriented than inshore. If it's a migratory species like mahi or tuna, the Bean team is on the lookout for birds, weed lines, and any surface activity. For bottom fish like snapper or grouper, they paying attention to the chart to locate structure, ledges, and hard bottom for signs of life.

Choice Soft Bait: Berkley® Gulp!® Saltwater

Out in the dark blue depths of the ocean, it’s trench warfare. You’re fishing hundreds of feet down, battling currents, depth, and apex predators that would rather eat your prize than let you catch a glimpse of it near the boat. Enter the Spinfisher VII 5500 – a reel that spits in the face of salt, sand, and scars.

Astrid and Brandon recount a story of intended yellowtail and vermillion, where a client bit off more than they could chew – or at least that’s what they thought. This fight started with a simple but powerful thump that echoed up the braid with a bang. Astrid and Brandon knew immdetiately this was no snapper.

Three-hundred-and-thirty feet of hostile water, sharks circling, and one client tangling with a fish built like a dinner platter that’s creating insane resistance with every thrash against the current – a 30 lb African Pompano on the end of the line swimming sideways in an act of defiance. But there was no lucky escape for this fish.

“We never felt out of control,” recalls Captains Brandon and Astrid. “The Spinfisher held strong. Smooth drag. Solid connection. We kept it off the reef, past the sharks, and into the boat.” It was completely controlled combat that makes for an incredible story.

ONE REEL. MULTIPLE FRONTS.

The same reels that battle tarpon in skinny water are the ones pulling in pompano and grouper off the ocean floor. This is true versatility and exactly why Bean Sportfishing doesn’t just run Spinfisher VII’s - they rely on them. Whether chasing cobia in the backcountry, wrestling snook in the mangroves, or targeting tuna offshore, adaptability is a must.

When customers ask “What’s a really good combo to get?” - there’s only one answer for the Bean Sportfishing team.

VII VS. VI: THE EVOLUTION OF A LEGENDARY REEL

The Spinfisher VI was a beast in its time. Year after year, it got the job done. But the Spinfisher VII? It’s a gnarly upgrade.

Improved corrosion resistance for brutal salt exposure
Drag smoothness that stays dialed longer and harder
Less re-greasing, more line screaming
Built for abuse from anglers and fish alike

When the versatility of the reel needs to match the versatility of the boat, captains, and fishery, the VII is the way to go.

Though the environmental conditions and fishing strategies change daily, from stalking snook through the mangroves or chasing mahi beyond the breakers, their arsenal is a part of their trip that always remains constant. For the crew at Bean, durability and versatility aren’t optional—they’re essential. And the Spinfisher VII delivers, trip after trip, location to location, and tide after tide.

Lock into your dream sportfish and book a trip to Islamorada, Florida with Bean Sportishing today. All captain contact information can be found below ↓↓↓.

BEAN KNOWS BEST

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