John, I've used the spirex 4000 and the stradic 4000 this year. I haven't got any huge fish on them, but I've used them quite a bit.
The spirex is ok. It handles the fish well, it's smooth, but I had to send it in to get the anti-reverse fixed already. The drag (front drag system) sounds and feels much less smooth after just one season. I like the reel, but I have my doubts about whether it will last. The sahara model is actually the same price and is advertised in BPS Saltwater while the spirex is not. I don't know, but there may be a reason for that. The anti-reverse went the first time out, so I'd say that was just a defect. But even though I rinse my equipment off religously with freshwater, I'm seeing some corrosion on the bail already.
The stradic is sweet. It is alot more $$, but I bet it will last a long time. Alot of the florida guides use those in the salt, so they must last. I honestly would go with that between the shimano's... unless you want the stella
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