4000 size on a 9 footer is a bit small. For a 12 footer a 8k size reel would be good choice I use penn slammers for my spinners for peace of mind since they can get dunked and continue working. But other options are spinfishers, saragosas, Daiwa bgs, pursuitIII I wouldn't go cheaper than that. But you'll have to maintain the lower end reels more often. Have you tried using spider/sputnik sinkers so that you can hold in the current better? They are more expensive but they hold much better. Also buying a breakaway cannon casting aid will allow you to cast without cutting your casting finger if you use braid. I cast 4-8 ounces plus bait in the surf and get around 60-100+ yards(measured on a field) and also depending on the wind and the surf setup I use with both spinning and conventional reels. Look up hatteras cast and pendulum cast casting techniques on youtube and on the many forums youll find online for more casting distance. A conventional reel will give you more distance but it seems you're set on spinning reels.