I bought the Diawa Saltist 6500 last year. Loaded it with 50lb braid (550mtrs). Use it for LBF at Quobba (spinning)and also use it for beach fishing waiting for that big Mulla to come along, Great reel with excellent retrieval speed 135cm per crank. Got it on special at BCF for $279. Think normal price is around $300.

Hard to go past the Penn Slammer right now and for that application. They are selling them out with 300 yards of braid for around 100 bucks. You can even get two if you like and have change left over over the Saltist, plus you have the braid. The 760 would be the size by the sounds of it although I reckon the 560 would be big enough as it would take 300 yards of 50lb braid.

They're a pretty tough reel.

 If you aren't too bothered about having the absolute best reels of the time, then the Penns are hard to push off top of anyone's list.

Some huge adjantages they have over other reels for this work are their carbon fibre drags and no anti reverse release. The drags handle lots of pressure and stay smooth. Not having an anti reverse means lees holes for the fine sand to blow into and for salt spray and wash water to go into.

I do wish they had a long cast spool. But then the leverage on the main shaft gets much higher. A bigger line roller would be tops, as would the spiffy braid bail arms.

$100 per reel with 300m of braid is very hard to go past. I abuse my two and they do great boat, beach and rock wall work.

$75 at motackle ithink $89 with braid.    560 holds 300m of 50lb power pro perfectly.  still want a new v series!