With your brand new Fathom Electric reel securely placed in the rod holder on your boat, you're all set to drop bait into the depths for the very first time. In this video, Brett shows how easy it is to power up your reel and prepare it for battle. Drawing from his extensive deep dropping experience, Brett also runs through some essential tips and tricks to safely begin fishing.

We hit the water with the PENN Fathom Electric Series to show just how quick and simple it is to get set up and fishing right there on the boat.

Quick Setup on the Water

Getting started is easy. Simply hold down the two key buttons for three seconds to power up the reel. Once the display lights up, the line counter automatically zeros, letting you know the reel is ready to go.

This reel was pre-rigged back at the shed, with braid set to zero and around three metres of leader added as a safety measure when hauling fish up from the depths. When winding manually, this also helps prevent wraps at the rod tip or swivels smashing into the guides.

Before dropping your baits, make sure:

• The handle is disengaged

• The preset drag is set to suit your style of fishing

Once that’s ticked off, it’s simply a matter of dropping your baits in and getting fishing.

Safety First

A quick but important tip: always drop your rig and hooks into the water before the sinker. This reduces the risk of hooks catching your hand and the lead driving them in—a small step that makes a big difference offshore.

Controlled Deep Drops

The PENN Fathom Electric features an assisted braking system that makes dropping rigs smooth and controlled. Engage the spool brake and adjust the dial to suit the weight you’re sending down. Once set, it becomes a hands-free drop, which is a game-changer for deep dropping.

As your rig descends, the line counter tracks your depth in real time, letting you know exactly when you hit the bottom and enter the strike zone.

Power When It Counts

Hook-up time is just as impressive. To set the hook, simply use the speed control dial and let the reel drive it home. Even from depths of 200–250 metres, the Fathom Electric has no trouble pulling both sinker and fish back to the surface.

Battery life is equally impressive, delivering around four hours of hard fishing on a single battery, even after repeated deep drops.

Straight Out of the Box Performance

The session wrapped up with a stunning flametail snapper, one of the true prizes of deepwater fishing. It’s proof that the PENN Fathom Electric Series is built for serious offshore anglers—no complicated setup, no fuss, just plug in and fish.

If you’re looking to target deepwater species with confidence, power, and ease, the PENN Fathom Electric reels are well worth a look.