AllOutdoor Review – PENN Warfare II Star Drag Reel

By Eugene L. • Published September 24, 2026

So if you’ve ever fished saltwater, there is a very small chance that you aren’t familiar with PENN Reels. One of the oldest brands in fishing, PENN has been around since the 1930s. I grew up on them, fishing for snapper on old 4/0 PENN Senators 113s. These were and are tanks, simple star drag reels with low gear ratios that almost make them more akin to winches than modern reels. Earlier this year, PENN released something a little more modern with the new Warfare II line of reels and combos. The second generation of the Warfare line of reels. I got a Warfare II star drag 30 and a combo to review earlier this spring. I took them with me down to Jax to fish the beach for king mackerel, so let’s see how they held up.

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Specifications and Features – PENN Warfare II Star Drag Reel

Graphite Frame and Sideplate
Forged and Machined Aluminum Spool
Machined brass main and pinion gear
HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers
Instant Anti-Reverse Bearing
Line Capacity Rings on Spool
Sizes – 20N, 30
Bearings – 3
Gear Ratio – 5.1:1
Weight – 17.5 oz (20N), 18.5 oz (30)
Monofilament Line Capacity (yd/lb) – 415/15, 280/20, 255/25 (20N), 440/25, 360/30, 275/40 (30)
Braid Line Capacity (yd/lb) – 760/20, 570/30, 400/50 (20N), 985/30, 690/50, 575/65 (30)
Max Drag – 15 lbs
Retrieve – Right-handed
MSRP – $149.99 (20N), $159.99 (30)

Construction & Materials – PENN Warfare II Star Drag Reel

The new Warfare II reels have a frame and side plates made from lightweight and durable graphite composite, with a machined aluminum spool. There is metal shielding around the rim of the frame, which does protect the frame while looking good. While the reel does feel light and comfortable in the hand, the frame does have a bit of flex as a composite. Inside the reel, the gearing is made from machined brass, with other parts made from steel. There are a few areas where I feel the reel could be nicer with its construction, though.

First being a void in the frame of the reel’s casting on one of the reels I was testing. There is enough meat around the void for it not to be an issue, but quality control should have caught this sort of thing before sending it out. Another is the anti-reverse dog arms that hold the anti-reverse ratchet. These were a weak spot in the first generation of Warfare reels and could eventually fail. The arms still appear to be thinner than I would like in the new Warfare II reels, so time will only tell how they hold up.

Drag System & Performance

The Warfare II reels use PENN’s tried-and-true HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers. Making for a consistently performing drag system even under pressure while fighting fish. Both sizes of the reel have 15 lbs of max drag pressure, which stays buttery smooth even while a king mackerel is ripping drag out of the reel. Drag adjustment is pretty straightforward, using the star to either give more or less drag pressure as needed.

Retrieval & Gear Ratio – PENN Warfare II Star Drag Reel

The line retrieve on the Warfare II is pretty solid with the 5.1:1 gear ratio of the reel. It’s not blazing fast, but it’s not slow either. This puts you at a good middle ground for an all-around balanced conventional reel. Not so slow that bringing a bait up off the bottom is a chore, but not too fast that you don’t have enough torque to fight bigger fish.

Ergonomics & Usability – PENN Warfare II Star Drag Reel

While not as rigid as an aluminum frame, the graphite composite does make the reel light and comfortable to hold all day while bottom fishing. The reel handle is relatively simple, made of stamped metal, but does have two positions it can be set at. The longer position gives anglers more torque when reeling. The handle knob is also relatively simple, egg-shaped and made of plastic.

Value & Competition – PENN Warfare II Star Drag Reel

MSRP for the star drag models of the PENN Warfare II reels is set at $149.99 to $159.99, depending on the reel size. Putting them as one of the cheapest options for a modern star drag conventional reel capable of landing larger saltwater species. Is it the cheapest reel option out there? No, some other reels by PENN are cheaper that either have fewer features or are much older in design. So is the reel worth the $160 price tag? I’m on the fence; compared to the rest of the market, the price is solid. But compared to just getting the Warfare combo, I would rather just spend the $30 more and get it with the 7ft rod that I know is capable of handling king mackerel and wahoo.

Final Thoughts – PENN Warfare II Star Drag Reel

Overall, I think the Warfare II star drags are solid. They aren’t the fanciest reels available on the market, but they are close to the cheapest, especially in the star drag world. So I think for an angler who maybe got their first boat to either fish the beach or closer bottom spots, the Warfare II is a solid option. With plenty of line capacity and a solid drag system, it can handle most fish you’ll run into. Just don’t expect to have a fun time trying to fight big tuna or big grouper with the reel; it’s still only a 30. Also, I need to talk about value again; there are other conventional reels that are being sold for less out there, but for some reason most of them are level-wind reels. Which while are more convenient to use, they are more prone to breaking down. With more parts in a saltwater environment, you have more failure points. So having an affordable and simple star drag with a faster gear ratio is nice, especially with how expensive most things are nowadays.

I do need to talk about an issue that I found after my trips, though. These reels are more prone to corrosion than I would like. Where the screws and aluminum bezel met on the frame, white oxide crust was forming after even one king trip and a quick rinse down with the hose.

Tearing the reel down completely showed no other signs of corrosion inside the reel, though, so that was good news. But anglers who want their purchase to last for a long time should know they will probably need to be more thorough with rinsing and drying the Warfare II reels down after a trip in the salt.

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