Issue with Penn 600 drag

Buddy gave me a Penn 600 jig master reel which he only used once or twice.  Having an issue with the drag.  Works fine at my house which is inland Mendo County.  Can adjust it just fine.    When I get to the coast drag is extremely loose and even when I crank it down it won’t tighten down to the point to be able to fish with it.  Thought drag washer was shoot from being left cranked tight for long time but each time I get home it works properly. 

Any ideas?  Thanks.

When you said it's working fine at home, did you put some weight at the end of the line?

What kind of line are you using, and did you spool it yourself?  If using braid without any kind of backing, it is possible the line could be spinning on the spool. Might not do it at low drag tension at home, but does do it under more tension while fishing.

Yes at home drag works good, can adjust it so no line come out or loosen to set drag.   At the coast no matter how tight it is the line pulls fairly easy and can’t get it tight enough no matter how much I crank the drag down.  Seems crazy!   

Yes it is braid line without any backing but again at home if I tighten drag down fully no line pulls out and as I loosen drag it works as it should allowing line to pull out with pressure and less as I lighten drag. At coast it pulls out like I have the drag set super light even when it is crank down tight. 

Thought maybe drag was left tighten to long of a time period and failed but seems to work whenever I’m home. 

Penn 500 not 600.

I would try to re-spool. You don't need to replace the line, per se, if you can spool it onto a different reel, then back onto your jigmaster.

I give a good wrap or two of electric tape under my line, that way the braid has something to grab onto. Then tie an arbor knot, get your line wet, and spool up with moderate tension applied. 

Your drag washers could be shot also, but that would be a permanent problem. They wouldn't necessarily be "loose" or "tight" but sticky - with the drag tightened and tension applied to the line, it would pull a bunch of line, then stick, then pull a bunch of line.

I’ll give it a try. Thank you.