If you’ve ever walked past a serious shark fisherman on a pier or a Gulf Coast beach, you’ve probably seen it. A massive, black-and-chrome cylinder bolted to a rod thick enough to be a flag pole. That’s the Penn Senator 14/0, also known as the 117L.
It’s huge. It’s heavy. Honestly, it’s kinda ugly compared to those sleek, gold-anodized lever drag reels that cost three times as much. But there is a reason this "dinosaur" hasn't gone extinct. While the rest of the world moved on to high-speed gears and carbon fiber everything, the 14/0 stayed exactly what it was designed to be: a winch.
The Beast with the 1.6:1 Gear Ratio
Most modern reels brag about how fast they can pick up line. The Penn Senator 14/0 doesn't care about that. It has a 1.6:1 gear ratio.
To put that in perspective, for every one full turn of the handle, the spool only turns about one and a half times. It’s slow. Like, painful slow if you’re trying to reel in a bait from 400 yards away just to check it. But when you have a 500-pound tiger shark on the other end, that low gear ratio is your best friend. It gives you incredible mechanical advantage.
You aren't "finesse fishing" with this thing. You are basically winching a car bumper off the bottom of the ocean.
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Why the Capacity Matters
You’ve probably heard people say you don't need a mile of line. They’re usually wrong, at least when it comes to Land Based Shark Fishing (LBSF). The 14/0 is a capacity king.
- Monofilament: It’ll swallow about 1,025 yards of 130-lb mono if you're using the newer aluminum spool.
- Braid: If you decide to back it with braid, you’re looking at several thousand yards.
The reason guys love the 14/0 over its bigger brother, the 16/0, often comes down to the "standard" size. The 16/0 is essentially just a wider version of the same reel. Many old-timers argue the 14/0 is better balanced for a harness. Plus, finding a 16/0 these days that isn't priced like a museum piece is getting harder and harder.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Drag
There’s this weird myth that the Penn Senator 14/0 has "weak" drag. You’ll see guys on forums complaining that it "only" does 35 pounds of max drag.
Let's be real for a second.
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Have you ever tried to hold 35 pounds of dead weight on a fishing rod for two hours? It’s brutal. Most people can't even handle 25 pounds of sustained pressure without a fighting chair. The stock HT-100 drag washers are incredibly smooth. They don't "jerk" or "stick," which is what actually breaks lines.
If you're really a glutton for punishment, you can "supercharge" these reels. Guys like Alan Tani and the crew at various reel-mod shops have been swapping in stainless steel gear sleeves and 7-stack drag kits for years. You can push a 14/0 to 50+ pounds of drag, but honestly? Unless you’re trying to pull a sunken freighter, the stock setup is more than enough for 99% of the fish on this planet.
Maintenance: Keeping the 117L Alive
The beauty of the Senator is its simplicity. You can take this reel apart on a kitchen table with a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. Try doing that with a modern 2-speed lever drag reel—you'll end up with 400 tiny springs and bearings scattered across the floor.
Pro Tips for Longevity:
- Grease the Screws: Saltwater loves to "weld" those stainless screws into the side plates. Every time you open it, dab a little marine grease (like Yamaha Blue or Cal's) on the threads.
- The Dog Spring: This is the heart of the anti-reverse. It’s a tiny piece of metal that makes that iconic "click-click-click" sound. If that spring fails, the handle will spin backward and likely break your fingers. Keep a spare. They cost about a dollar.
- Aluminum vs. Bronze Spools: If you find an old one with a chrome-plated bronze spool, it's a tank, but it's heavy. The newer black anodized aluminum spools (29L-117) save a ton of weight and won't corrode as easily if you leave wet line on them.
Is it Still Relevant in 2026?
You've got a lot of choices now. You could buy a Shimano Tiagra or a Penn International. Those are amazing reels. They are also $800 to $1,200.
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The Penn Senator 14/0 is the "blue-collar" big game reel. You can often find them used for $250-$400. Even brand new (though production has been spotty over the years), they are a fraction of the cost of a gold reel.
It’s not for everyone. It doesn't have a level wind, so you have to use your thumb to spread the line (carefully, or you'll lose a layer of skin). It’s heavy. It’s slow. But it is reliable. When you're standing on a beach at 3:00 AM and something massive starts peeling line toward the horizon, there is a very specific comfort in hearing that heavy-duty clicker screaming. It sounds like history.
Actionable Next Steps for New Owners
If you just picked up a used 14/0, don't just spool it up and head to the beach. Do these three things first:
- Open the side plate and check the drag washers. If they look like dark paper or felt, they’re the old style. Replace them with a fresh HT-100 carbon fiber kit.
- Check the stand screws. Make sure the reel seat is tight. A 14/0 has enough torque to literally rip itself off a cheap rod if the mounting isn't solid.
- Get a real harness. Do not try to fish this reel "stand-up" without a plate and a back harness. The leverage will destroy your lower back before the fish even gets tired.
Load it with 130-lb test, find a sturdy pier, and get ready for a workout. The Senator doesn't give up, and as long as you keep it greased, it’ll probably outlive you.