If you're looking for the best saltwater fishing reel you need to know who the top manufacturers are and here's a quick outline:

Shimano - A leader in the outdoor recreation business for many years this Japanese company has been in the forefront of manufacturing quality fishing equipment. And, with fish being the staple of the Japanese diet means that this is more than just a business to them.

Penn - Otto Henze started the company in 1932 and this American company has been one of the leading manufacturers of fishing equipment ever since. Serious anglers have been using their high quality tackle and reels for many decades, when they go out to sea to battle against large saltwater sport fish.

Daiwa - Another Japanese company, Daiwa has grown into one of the largest and most influential tackle companies in the world, since their first spinning reel rolled off the assembly line in 1955.

Abu Garcia - A Swedish company that was founded in the early 1920s. It originally made clocks and watches. It later switched manufacturing precision watches, to precision fishing reels. After eight decades, their endurance in this competitive industry is a testament to their dedication to fine craftsmanship and sturdy practicality.

Okuma - Yet another Japanese company in this highly competitive industry has one of the prestige brands for fishing reels and other fishing related equipment. A top priority for this company is to offer high quality gear at a very low price. This attracts many fishermen from around the world to see them as their outfitter of choice.

In the U.S., we're lucky to live in one of the largest and most geographically varied countries in the world. Taken as a whole, it's a fisher's paradise. We have huge rivers, mountain streams, huge lakes, small lakes, saltwater lakes, and, of course, thousands of miles of diverse coastline. Practically every coastal region in the country has its own unique fishing opportunities, but there are some that really stand out. Here are just a few examples.

The Florida Keys: The great thing about these islands off the southern coast of Florida is that they allow travelers to leap at intervals into the Gulf of Mexico, getting gradually further and further from the mainland. Essentially, what this does is take you through several different Gulf ecosystems, all great for saltwater fishing. By the time you get out to Key West, you're surrounded by hundreds of miles of untrammeled open waters.

Sure, there are shallows around the islands, but if you take a boat out a couple dozen miles, you get into real deep territory. Here, you can catch everything from Tuna, to Snappers, to Mackerels to Marlins-so bring your sturdiest fishing equipment.

Washington state: Washington state is full of freshwater lakes and rivers that offer plenty of great fishing. But if you're into saltwater fishing, the western part of the state is as good as it gets. In the gorgeous Puget Sound, you can catch halibut, cod, salmon, and flounder, all within a day's trip from Seattle.

Louisiana: The coastal area around where the mighty Mississippi River drains into the Gulf of Mexico is one of the top fishing regions in the world. Trawl the shallow bays and the Breton Sound for hearty fish like speckled trout, sheepshead, black drums, and huge bull redfish. And don't forget Lank Pontchartrain, just north of New Orleans. This saltwater lake is connected to the Gulf by an 8-mile-long strip of water called the Rigolets, allowing all types of saltwater creatures to make their way in. You never know what'll catch there.

North Carolina: The Outer Banks of North Carolina are a long strip of narrow islands that run down the coast, up to a 100 miles off shore in some places. The fishing on the ocean side of the islands is phenomenal, but it still doesn't come close to the Pamlico Sound on the other side.

The Pamlico's calm, warm waters make it a perfect breeding ground for all different types of fish. Sail a few miles out, and you'll have seemingly unlimited access to red and black drums, trout, flounder, kingfish, mackerel, sea bass, cobia, and lots of others. And when you're done, head over to the eastern side of the Outer Banks for a whole different experience.

Southern California: The entire California coast is fertile ground for fishing, but the area around San Diego is particularly fishing-friendly, with albacore, white sea bass, marlins, and some of the biggest bass you've ever seen. The fishing scene in the San Diego area thrives year round, with countless contractors ready and willing to take you out for fishing adventures in the bright Pacific sun.