In the Shimano Socorro SW review, we will take a look at Shimano’s offering for what I would classify as a no-frills saltwater fishing reel that falls in the “average” price range for a good reel.
Equipped with long-lasting hagane gearing, the Socorro reels give anglers the strength for both inshore and offshore action, and with x-ship technology, they offer the ultimate in smoothness and power.
- Hagane Gear: Allows for the reel to hold up in the saltwater with the cold forged drive gear.
- X-Ship Construction: Keeps the gears in perfect alignment, increasing power and enhancing smoothness.
- One-piece, highly rigid handle shank provides more cranking power.
- Cross Carbon Drag: Provides long lasting smoothness to withstand fast, powerful runs from pelagic and large inshore species.
While at first glance the Shimano Socorro SW spinning reel looks to be similar to the Shimano Spheros SW spinning reel, upon closer examination, we can see that there is actually a big difference between these two reels.
The Shimano Socorro SW spinning reel is about as basic a saltwater reel as you can get that is built with quality components.
The basics of the reel are the strong and reliable Hagane gearing combined with Shimano’s X-Ship technology for a smooth retrieve and cross carbon drag washers with between 22 and 27 lbs of drag.
If you are looking to purchase a rugged but basic spinning reel that will get the job done and you do not need a model larger than a 10,000, then the Shimano Socorro SW might be a good option for you.
Personally, I feel that classifying this reel with the SW for saltwater is a bit of a stretch since one of the main things that I look for in a saltwater reel, (sealed ball bearings) are missing.
The Bottom Line
- My good quality mid-tier spinning reel for larger species
- Very smooth reel with a great drag
- High level of manufacturing quality, parts are easy to find and reel is easy to maintain
- Quality Hagane gearing
The Shimano Socorro SW is an all-around winner and is available HERE.
Features
Rugged saltwater reel for inshore or offshore – As I said above, this is a basic and well-built reel that has no frills. The construction is solid and if you take meticulous care of it, it should last.
Hagane cold-forged gearing – As with the majority of Shimano reels these days, the Socorro SW is built with Hagane cold-forged gearing which produces a very smooth gearing system. Instead of cutting the gears, the cold-forging process used allows for a more precise gear to be manufactured consistently.
Not only does this process create a smooth gear but it also creates a very strong gear as the gears can mesh tightly together.
X-Ship Technology for perfect gear alignment – Shimano’s use of two bearings — one on each end of the pinion gear to support it means that the gears stay in alignment. A typical challenge for many reels is that under a heavy load as you get on big saltwater reels is that the torque will have a tendency to twist the gears out of alignment.
When this happens you can feel the reel bogging down when you crank it and the gears are going to wear much more quickly.
4+1 bearing system – In my opinion, Shimano cut a corner that they should not have cut on a saltwater reel. If a reel is going to be designed for use in saltwater primarily, then you need to provide at least the minimal protection.
To me, minimal protection is the use of anti-corrosion ball bearings if not shielded ball bearings.
Cross-Carbon Drag system – Shimano uses a Cross Carbon Drag washer in the Scorrow SW which provides a smooth drag from the time you get pressure on it all the way through the fight. The Cross-Carbon Drag is a registered trademark of Shimano.
Basically, the cross-carbon drag has a hatch pattern on it that provides for a strong and smooth drag that is needed when fighting larger pelagic species that love to run fast and hard.
Features at a Glance
- Rugged saltwater reel for inshore or offshore
- Superior durability, power, and smoothness
- Hagane cold-forged gearing
- X-Ship Technology for perfect gear alignment
- Efficient 4+1 ball bearing system
- Powerful, wide-ranging Cross-Carbon Drag system
The Shimano Socorrow SW is available in 4 sizes.
The Socorro 5000SW will retrieve line at a rate of 31″ per crank and handles up to 245-yards of 20-pound braid or 240-yards of 10-pound mono line. The 6000SW retrieves at a rate of 33 ” of line per crank, handles up to 290-yards of 30-pound braid or 265-yards of 12-pound mono line.
Both of these reels feature 4:6:1 gear ratios and have a maximum drag of 22 lbs.
For those of you that need larger line capacity, the Socorro 8000SW will retrieve line at a rate of 37″ per crank and handles up to 340-yards of 40-pound braid or 345-yards of 12-pound mono line.
Personally, I would most likely use 265 yards of 50 lbs braid on this model. The 10000SW retrieves at a rate of 40″ ” of line per crank to get those bigger fish back to the boat quicker. You can load the spool with up to 360-yards of 50-pound braid or 500-yards of 12-pound mono.
Why you would want to put 12 lb mono on a reel this big I have no idea. For the 10000SW my choice would be the 50 or 60 lbs braid. Both the 8000SW and the 10000SW have a 4:9:1 gear ratio and have a maximum drag of 27 lbs.
In this size reel from Shimano, there is not going to be much of a weight difference between models with the Hagane body.
For those of you who want all the details I have provided the chart below.
| Model | Line Retrieve (in) | Mono Cap(lbs/yd) | Braid Cap(lbs/yd) | Max Drag (lb) | Ball Bearings | Gear Ratio | Weight (oz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOC5000SW | 31 | 10/240 12/195 14/165 | 20/245 30/225 40/175 | 22 | 4+1 | 4.6:1 | 15.5 |
| SOC6000SW | 33 | 12/265 16/170 20/120 | 30/290 50/195 65/140 | 22 | 4+1 | 4.6:1 | 15.7 |
| SOC8000SW | 37 | 12/345 16/250 20/185 | 40/340 50/265 65/215 | 27 | 4+1 | 4.9:1 | 22.6 |
| SOC10000SW | 40 | 12/500 16/320 20/220 | 50/360 65/290 80/215 | 27 | 4+1 | 4.9:1 | 23.5 |
For our field test, we took the Socorro 8000SW offshore to one of our favorite grouper holes. Overall the reel performed well, it was smooth to retrieve and when a smaller fish was snapped up by a 5″ shark the drag performed well under the load.
I wish we had been able to get into some pelagics so that I could have tested the drag more.
Pros
- Price
- Strength of design
Cons
- Would like to see more saltwater protection
- Stainless steel ball bearings are not sealed
Alternatives
If you want a Shimano reel then this is going to be the least expensive you are going to find that can handle the larger species. The next step up in the Shimano line of reels would be the Shimano Spheros SW which is one of the best reels from Shimano when you compare the features you get for the price.
Speaking of price this reel will run you about 50% more. Read the full Shimano Spheros SW review HERE.
Built to be a jack of all trades in the saltwater realm, the Shimano 2021 Spheros SW A Spinning Reels have been redesigned to conquer both inshore and offshore waters. Now featuring Shimano's flagship Infinity Drive technology to improve pinion gear support and enhance the overall drive gear design.
Another excellent reel to consider would be the Quantum Cabo PTSE which is going to have a similar price point at the Shimano Spheros SW but like the Shimano Spheros SW, it is going to be a truly sealed reel that will most likely stand the test of time much better than the Shimano Socorro SW. Read the full Quantum Cabo PTSE review HERE.
The Quantum Cabo PT saltwater spinning reel is engineered to shed the corrosive effects of saltwater and stand up to the most vicious fights inshore or offshore game fish can dish out. Loaded with Quantum's legendary PT technology, including 8 PT bearings and super-hard PT gears.
Daiwa has what is going to be a better bang for the buck in my opinion with their Daiwa BG SW Spinning Reel. To date, this is my favorite reels for the price that is capable of standing up top both harsh saltwater conditions as well as larger species of inshore and offshore fish. Read the full Daiwa BG SW Spinning Reel Review HERE
The super-hard body and excellent strength in dragging with additional casting accuracy make this device one of the best items in the store.
In Conclusion
If you are a Shimano diehard and you know who you are — and you are looking for a no-frills saltwater reel that can be used for everything from surfcasting to jigging and going after the larger pelagic species then this might be a good solution for you.
For my money, I am going to save a bit more and go for the Shimano Spheros SW at about 60% the price of the Socorrow SW. Why? Because if I am going to be fishing for larger saltwater fish I want a reel that is designed for the saltwater and by that, I mean a reel that has corrosion resistant or sealed features.
Equipped with long-lasting hagane gearing, the Socorro reels give anglers the strength for both inshore and offshore action, and with x-ship technology, they offer the ultimate in smoothness and power.
- Hagane Gear: Allows for the reel to hold up in the saltwater with the cold forged drive gear.
- X-Ship Construction: Keeps the gears in perfect alignment, increasing power and enhancing smoothness.
- One-piece, highly rigid handle shank provides more cranking power.
- Cross Carbon Drag: Provides long lasting smoothness to withstand fast, powerful runs from pelagic and large inshore species.
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