Most versatile reel sizes?

[Mr Fourex]

For new anglers, when reels come in sizes from 3500-10,500 what sizes would you buy to cover the largest amount of fishing situations?

As mentioned in a previous thread (thanks for the replies) I was gifted a rod an purchased a cheap reel for myself once I started to get into fishing only a few months ago. I now have a friend who wants to tag along so I will give him the setup I have now (since someone gave it to me it seems appropriate) and buy myself something newer and decent quality since I'm hooked on the hobby now.

I like the look and price of the Penn slammer 3 as a reel since you can get it online fairly cheaply as it has great reviews.

I'm just not sure what sizes to look at to cover the largest amour of situations since I'm still new, I now understand the difference between the smaller and larger reels but not sure whether to pick a 3500 or 4000 for example.

Hope that makes sense, thanks.

[purple5ive]

all depends on where you will fish (landbased or on a boat) and what type of fishing you will be doing (bait fishing or lure fishing etc)
as a general rule for PPB landbased off the piers a 3000 sized reel and a 4-7kg outfit will catch anything that you can catch at most piers. with the bonus of being able to dead lift reasonable sized fish onto the piers.
a longer rod will help with casting distance as well.

[Knotsure]

I'm a penn fanboy myself , I own 2 of the new pursuits and a slammer . I can't fault them however if you want versatility in that sort of size look at the new shimano stradix. FL I believe it was .

[Kimtown]

4000 for me in WP. Can catch the small fiddly crap like whiting and still haul in some monster reds and gummies.

[Kimtown]

I'm a penn fanboy myself , I own 2 of the new pursuits and a slammer . I can't fault them however if you want versatility in that sort of size look at the new shimano stradix. FL I believe it was .

Fk I think?

Also slammers are beastly.

[Mattblack]

A good quality Shimano 3000 (same weight as a 2500)....should be able to catch most Victorian fish with that

[Sebb]

There is no fits all. The most I would choose be a 2500 AND a 4000.
2500 to be matched with 2-4 kg rod, to cover bread and butter fish up to a kilo.
4000 to target bigger fish (1kg+) or in a snaggy area (coz bigger reel means hold more line and thicker line).

I use the 2500 more since I target those smaller fish more, from bream trout flathead to squid (easier to fish local creeks/lakes/estuaries than head out on a boat during snapper season).

I guess 3000 or 3500 will do.

[Lightningx]

Most of my reels are between 2500-5000 and that covers just about most of the fishing I do in PPB. However if you want to target kings in the rip for example then I would be looking at larger reels and heavier line.
Even big snappers in season I just use a 4000 size reel.
Are you talking just land based mate or boat as well?

[smile0784]

Static 4000 all round for me

[Lightningx]

Static 4000 all round for me

Are you talking about Stradic mate?