Penn Slammer VS KastKing Kapstan Elite! (You'd be surprised...)

#fishing #reelreview #saltwaterfishing
In today's video, we are comparing two very similar reels in terms as far as specs, but very different in price. The Penn Slammer 3 has been a trusted inshore reel for years now, while the KastKing Kapstan Elite is new on the block. If you enjoyed this review, let me know in the comments!
KastKing Kapstan Elite (USE CODE HF54AFF)
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Penn Slammer III 4500:
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[@techguyMD]

I picked up a couple kastking sharky III's.. a 4000 and 5000 baitrunner... Dunked them both every trip on my kayak fishing in ormond beach FL over the past three years. I was waiting for one to die bit they just keep on going!! Great reels. The only reason im here is because ive had such good luck with them i was looking for another reel. Think ill grab one of these elites

[@kennethevans138]

Glad your working with Kast King I think they are selling some good quality gear at affordable prices. Have you reviewed the Mega Jaws yet I would love to hear your thoughts on them. Penn reels have always been pricey they have a name that's been around forever.

[@joeyleblanc3185]

I use Penn Slammer IV DX 3500 I own 4 of them and their stainless steel gears and bearings which is a beast of a reel I would go with Penn Slammer IV DX models if you want something that will last forever.

[@Pansitooooo]

I have both I use the the pen for Charters and the Kast for Bank Fishing like both of them both have there pros and cons

[@CoreyL984]

They have a couple good reels for saltwater. I don’t dunk my gear but some good stuff. I had my eye on that reel for surf fishing. May have to pick it up. Good luck bro in everything you do.

[@TheHunterFisher]

They are really trying to step their game up in terms of saltwater to compete with the big guys and I think they’ve done an awesome job

[@CoreyL984]

@@TheHunterFisher I will be buying one to try out after Christmas will definitely use your code when I do

[@PCAngler]

My Penn fathom 25NLD has the same knock but it handled big fish smoothly and drag was smooth and not sticky.

[@l.i.archer5379]

Kastking avoids all the middlemen, who all mark up the reels each time they receive and send it off, because everybody needs to make a substantial profit. That's why the Penn is so much more expensive. Kastking sells direct to you, so no to very little markups.

[@anonymousltx48]

Hello. What rod you have with the kastking reel?

[@280Ackley]

Tons of huge fish in South Florida on that same Penn reel....No noise, no issues, built like a tank.

[@TheHunterFisher]

Different experiences🤷🏼‍♂️ this video was to primarily show that you can get the same exact specs and performance for half the price.

[@Jessica37323]

The difference is probably what the gears are made of. The Slammer has brass on brass gears. I don't know what the kastking gears are made of.

[@TheHunterFisher]

The Kapstan elite has brass gears. Here’s a quote from their official website. HRB 90 high strength aerospace alloy pinion gear with manganese brass gear The quote can be found at this link: kastking.com/products/kastking-kapstan-elite-saltwater-spinning-reel Here’s a quote from the Penn website for the updated Slammer: CNC Gear Technology with brass main gear Link for reference: www.pennfishing.com/slammer-iv-spinning-1310317 Which if you do read through the KastKing website you will see that it also has CNC Aluminum the same way that Slammer does. Unfortunately these seem to be the exact same reels, at two very different price points.

[@epicbagelswag]

I’ve been looking for a quality reel that’s in the sub $200 range for the snook fishing that I do here in SE FL. This reel look like it’s perfect, and much better than the FFP osprey reel I have now.

[@davidarwood6264]

I just bought a Kastking Royale Legend Glory version after 2 Lews , one new Smash and a American hero did about the same things the PENN did. The Kastking is awesome , smooth and great drag. Same size but larger than the Smash....but Kastking has it beat on everything.

[@user-bs6pn9su5x]

HI, i bought this Capstan Elite 5000 reel my problem after second deep sea fishing i encounter a problem a sudden reverse and its so prostrating is there a fix on this issue?

[@TheHunterFisher]

I’d reach out to KK

[@alexlsf5040]

Would like to ask after throw the line . The bail arm will auto close or not when crank the handle . 5000 series . Because mine one will not close auto when crank the handle . Need manual close the bail arm

[@TheHunterFisher]

Mine doesn’t either. It’s not a good thing to do that with your reels. It will tear up the gears if you do not manually close the bail. Im glad KastKing disabled that with the Kapstan Elite. When I worked at Bass Pro Shops I saw reels come back to us in as little as a month due to the bail mechanism not working anymkre

[@Barkley1835]

Close the bail arm yourself dude. Any reel will not last if you just crank to close it. You’re slamming the bail arm stop to the rotor when you do that.

[@davidarwood6264]

​@@Barkley1835exactly. I saw your comment after I commented. Who does that except for children ?

[@rkw221]

​@@Barkley1835sorry but your assessment wrt automatically closing bails 'tearing up the gears' is pure FUD. I've fished Mitchell-Garcia 300/308/302 reels for over 50 years each...those era reels work perfectly today. Built to actually built to last. modern reels are, in general, built to be disposable. I

[@Barkley1835]

@@rkw221 uhmmm I'm not the one who said it'll tear up the gears.

[@SaltDonky]

I have the kk elite 4000. Size wise, what would you compare the kk elite 5000 to?

[@TheHunterFisher]

Well just to give you an idea 5K holds 400 yards of 30 lb braid. That’s more than the Shimano Saragossa 6K.

[@GhettoFabulous670]

Hey bud! are you still using the reel? how is it holding up? ive got the 6k. and the reel is starting to feel and have the grinding noise. ive always rinse the reel and service every 2 months or so. i go fishing about 2-4 times a week.

[@TheHunterFisher]

Mines still going perfectly strong! After I think around a year? Maybe reach out to KastKing and see what they may or may not do for you

[@DaHomie_Chino]

what's your rod?

[@jlhafishingisnotjustfishing]

I am a penn lover but penn slammer start to have many did problems thats why i giving a try to kastking and it was a great reel good price

[@TheHunterFisher]

I really agree. Both are great reels, but one is half the price

[@Bearacooter]

I haven't bought Penns in a long time, they're good, just over priced. I love okuma and kastking, haven't tore either up yet

[@kikedavila2792]

I have Capstan Elite Spinning 4k. The problem to i see is wind knots. I used first with 30lbs 8x kastking fishing braid line and was a nightmare many wind knots. Sometimes my fishing kourney was a mess. I used this reel for shore jigging Change the braid line for 15lbs power pro now i used this reel for surfishing and still with the problem. Mmm. I will try this reel with my jigging setup and 30lbs and lets see.. but for casting is bad idea. I have another 3 kastking reels, 4k Valiant Eagle, 3k Zephir, and 6k Sharky Baitfeeder. And are awsome But not this.

[@TheHunterFisher]

I use this reel primarily for surf fishing and big game casting baits with 30 lb braid. I have never had an issue casting. That’s with a 5 size as well. You might have spooled the reel up poorly, maybe upside down or something by chance. Common thing to do from what I’ve seen before personally. Also pay attention and ensure that the way the line lays on your reel is flat as possible. If not, there would’ve been extra shims in your reel box, or possibly take one or two off. Those are some of the solutions I can think of. Besides maybe cast softer😂but I doubt that’s the issue.

[@patakalang671]

one of the reason in wind knot i think the line spooling you used was wrong, google search is one of the key to the right method of line spooling to avoid wind knot

[@juancalincho66]

I differ with you, I have a Penn 3500 Spinfisher iv and Kapstan Elite 3000. I have submerged both of them in saltwater with the Penn didn't enter saltwater and with the Kapstan Elite it was a lot. then I submerged them both in freshwater after 2 weeks I opened the two reels, the Penn had intact grease and with the Kapstan there was salt in its parts and the main gear already had cavities from the salt. It could never be compared to any of the two models of penn.

[@TheHunterFisher]

Then that’s a great thing for you. But don’t say it can’t be compared when both brands had to meet the same regulations for water resistance. That’s industry regulation that both passed and proved. If you paid attention to the video, I’ve had both reels the same amount of time and have seen same conditions, yet my slammer now makes clicking noises when reeling. So if i went by your logic, then can’t compare KastKing to Penn. End of the day, read the specs that are industry regulated. They’re the same. What you pick is your choice, most want a big brand name.

[@juancalincho66]

@@TheHunterFisher do you want to se some pictures of the pour quality of the main gear of Kasptan

[@TheHunterFisher]

I can show you pictures of them side by side… they are the SAME exact gears… your point is contradictory.

[@juancalincho66]

@@TheHunterFisher I can also send you pictures side by side and also how the kastking seals were misplaced. Kastking sent me another reel. I sent them the pictures of the seals and the main gear with the cavities. I'm just giving my point of view and experience with the Kapstan Elite. I bought a 3000 and 4000 had the same issues. 🎣

[@strikepaw1]

​@@juancalincho66Kastking always has defect issues. Stopped using them because of that.

[@RippinThemLipsTV]

Hey, what happened with you working with Salt Strong!?

[@TheHunterFisher]

They let me go! Not due to any sort of misconduct but simply issues with my personal social media. But all is good, I’ve gone my own way working in my degree and am much happier🤙🏼

[@troycote4503]

​@@TheHunterFisher Not a liberal?😅

[@TheHunterFisher]

@@troycote4503 lol😂 no they just didn’t like the fact that I showed any company that wasn’t theirs! They claimed I showed conflict of interest, yet multiple of their people have supported other companies on their social media and still work for them.

[@troycote4503]

@@TheHunterFisher I get it, they're insecure. They can't handle you being deversevied

[@boykl188]

Hi there. After about 1 year for this video, how is the performance of the kastking right now?

[@TheHunterFisher]

Still better! No grinding, no sandy sounds, still super smooth and super consistent. My dad uses the Penn Slammer now, still has the same issues and is a bit loud.

[@SWIIIIIG]

can you make an update video! tell jast kings pay you or whatever its good promo for their company, and i want to see the review too😭

[@MrSeminole77]

one major aspect missing! Take them apart and show the internal gearing materials, which has plastic parts...etc

[@TheHunterFisher]

Same parts

[@athensorchard9814]

That slammer needs a new main and pinion gear. You can get them at mystic reel parts. Will be like brand new after that. Does not have anything to do with seals or corrosion. I’m surprised to see it on the slammer, but I have had it on a spinfisher v and 2 battles. Those are the older cast zinc gears, but they are only like 6 bucks to replace, so not a huge deal.

[@TheHunterFisher]

No not a huge deal as an owner of one of the reels. It’s a pretty huge deal as a new buyer when you’re considering the slammer is matched by a reel half the price. Then you gotta get a $6 replacement part a year later😂

[@davidarwood6264]

I'd rather have CNC cut gears from the start.

[@LTZ_Z71]

Great video! FWIW, I absolutely refuse to buy PENN because I simply believe you can get better reels from Daiwa, Shimano, or even Kastking for the same prices if not lower.

[@lokee96]

Better reels from shimano is definitely better but they’re expensive af.

[@morganghetti]

Penn makes workhorse reels. They are a standard for a reason.

[@1FishinAddict]

I have the 3000sz and it’s comparable to a 5000sz shimano. I’ve been fishing with it and I can tell you it is the smoothest I’ve felt of all the daiwa, shimano and Penn. Except for one little minor thing: drag sound is way too quiet.

[@Jessica37323]

Kastking gears, 1 is a alloy,, which probably a zinc cast gear, the other is brass. Not as good gears. Plus the Slammers gears are cnc cut.

[@davidarwood6264]

Almost everything has CNC gears now. I have a cheaper Kastking that has stainless , brass and zinc gears. CNC cut . It even gave the brand of the machine. I know it's better than a Plufger President or Lews Smash. They've both crashed on me .

[@md5hash932]

Sometimes we ending up paying for name. I have a KastKing 4000 and its way better than my Penn wrath 5000

[@jasinc19]

Problem is engineers need to be paid... knockoffs then steal the design and charge less.

[@Danielwelds]

The handle on mine completely seized

[@madtownangler]

My kastking spinning reels creak a lot but they work just fine I have gotten a musky and a bunch of carp on one of them that I tried out for a year. I put it away for a backup and use my Shimano Reel though.

[@thevernonposse]

Damn that reel is like a boat winch lol

[@elziedoe1456]

I just don’t like the way it was working in the beginning

[@johnholmes6897]

I have reels that have damn near 0 technology. I've been using them for 50 years I'm not that old but i have handmedowns) they have 0 seals , 0 fancy drag etc etc. In fact i take them apart clean and regrease them if i even look at salt water. They still work but it's time . When you buy PENN you're also paying for the name. The knocking is nothing . It could have gotten something in there while fishing. No big deal. To me I'll go with the kastking just to save $100 bucks

[@speedygonzalez6454]

Comparing a penn slammer with issues with a plastic China crap..I fix the penn and go with it all day..

[@TheHunterFisher]

Penn slammer has the same plastic parts…

[@Crespofutbol]

Dope ass hair cut bro.

[@Jessica37323]

Not water proof! Only 3 reels are completely water proof. Van Staal, Zeebass and Visser! Penn is ipx6 for the Slammer 4 and ipx8 for the Penn Authority. These reels are water resistant, don't confuse the two!

[@TheHunterFisher]

Unfortunately you would be incorrect, ipx6 is specifically “waterproof”. A quick google search gives you over a dozen verified sources clarifying that the definition of waterproof means that it is impermeable to liquids. IPX6 specifically means that it was tested up to the 6th level, which is high pressure water sprays. So you can quite literally take a saltwater shower with this reel and be completely okay. Both of these are by official definition “IPX6 Water proof”. news.outdoortechnology.com/2013/07/02/water-proof-water-resistant-and-ipx-what-does-it-all-mean/ In this article, it is specifically said that once it hits IPX6 and everything higher is waterproof. The only thing with the Slammer and Kapstan elite, is that they can’t be submerged in *salt*water completely like IPX8 can.

[@Jigmaster55]

I had a kastking centron that cost $29. And also had a Penn fierce that cost $79. I took both reels apart side by side. Same gears, ball bearings, drag, bail springs. Someone also mentioned on one of the forums that Penn reels and kastking reels are made in the same factory. I'm done wasting my hard earned money on name brand stuff. Back in 2012, I bought a new daiwa spinning reel for $80. After 3 trips to the beach, it completely crapped out.

[@moseskongi4746]

How is it they're made in the same factory if they're different companies?

[@davidarwood6264]

Only Shimano and Diawa have their own factories.....supposedly.