A spin casting style fishing reel is provided with an anti-reverse mechanism that prevents the crank assembly from being rotated in one direction. A pawl actuator is rotated by the crank assembly rotating in one direction to activate an anti-reverse pawl which engages a ratchet to arrest further rotation of the crank assembly. Rotation of the crank assembly in the other direction rotates the pawl actuator to move the anti-reverse pawl out of interferring relation with the ratchet to permit free rotation of the crank assembly in said other direction.