Surf fishing allows fishermen to catch the size of fish which makes telling tall fish tales unnecessary. Whether you’re a newbie to fishing or you’re an experienced angler, having the right gear is important to catching photo-worthy saltwater fish. We’ve researched some of the best surf fishing rods and reels and came up with four that we think may interest you.
IN A HURRY? HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS…
| Best Surf Fishing Rods | Product | Brand | Action Type | Power Type | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best surf rods for the money |   | Okuma Longitude Surf Graphite Rods | Extra Fast/Heavy action | Medium, Heavy | Check Price |
| Best travel surf rod |   | QudraKast Fishing Rod and Reel Combo | Fast | Medium, Heavy | Check Price |
| TopBest surf fishing rod and reel combo |   | PENN Squall Level Wind Reel & Rod Fishing Combo | Moderate fast | Medium, Heavy | Check Price |
| Best surf fishing rod for distance |   | St Croix Mojo Surf Saltwater Casting Rod | Click to Edit | Click to Edit | Check Price |
Table of Contents
What Are The Best Surf Fishing Rods?
Best surf fishing rod for the money
- Sensitive and durable graphite composite blanks: Equipped with a sensitive graphite composite blank and enough back bone to cast heavy baits a long way yet feel the lightest of bites
- Premium quality components: Aluminum oxide guide inserts are braid compatible and the double footed stainless steel guide frames keep your line running straight
- Comfort and functionality: The butt section of the Longitude Surf Rods are wrapped in premium cork for a non-slip fore and rear grip feel for all day casting.
- Multiple lenghts and actions: Longitude Surf Rods are available in five different lengths to cover your needs.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Specifications | |
Length | 8 feet, 9 feet, 10 feet, 11 feet, 12 feet |
Weight | 10.8 oz for 8 feet, 14.8 oz for 9 feet, 21.6 oz for 10 feet, 26.8 oz for 11 feet, 30.6 oz for 12 feet |
Action type | Extra Fast/Heavy action |
Power type | Medium, Heavy |
Line weight capacity | 15-30 lbs for 8 feet, 15-40 lbs for 9 feet, 20-40 lbs for 10 till 12 feet |
Lure weight capacity | 1/2-3 oz for 8 feet, 3-6 oz for 9 feet, 3-8 oz for 10 till 12 feet |
This rod is part of the Longitude series of surf rods, which have new technology built into them. All of the models in the Longitude series are two-piece blanks. Models range from eight to twelve feet in length. The Okuma model is rated for lures between three and eight ounces and for 20- to 40-pound lines.
Okuma rods are made to help anglers cast heavy baits far out into the water. These rods feature soft-touch EVA cushions above and below the reel seat, stainless-steel hooded graphite reel seats, and oversized double-footed aluminum oxide guides.
Best travel surf rod
- Made from high density carbon fiber mixed with fiberglass. The fishing pole are made from high-strength, ergonomic graphite and they have a soft and comfortable high-density EVA handle to hold.
- Suitable for Panfish, Trout, Walleye, Bass, Catfish, Striper, Some Saltwater Surf Fishing or Inshore Fishing and More! A really nice gift and collection for fishing enthusiasts
- It features a white color in the tip end for enhancing night luminous visibility also reflecting any biting signal from bass.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Specifications | |
Opened Length | 6.29 feet, 7.02 feet, 8,13 feet, 8,95 feet |
Closed Length | 16,3 inches, 17.5 inches, 17.9 inches, 18.8 inches |
Weight | 5.29 oz, 7.05 oz, 8.81 oz, 10.58 oz |
Action type | Fast |
Power type | Medium, Heavy |
Line weight capacity | 5-10 lbs; 5-12 lbs; 5-15 lbs |
Lure weight capacity | 7-10 lbs; 7-15 lbs; 7-20 lbs |
Gear ratio | 5.2:1 |
Ball Bearings | 12 + 1 Stainless Steel |
This budget-friendly telescoping rod and reel set is ideal for gift-giving, a child’s first set, or for use as a backup set. Besides the fishing rod, it also comes with a reel, and a stocked tackle box. The tackle box contains a fishing line, hard bait, Octopus soft bait, five steel crank hooks, five jug hooks, three-color fish hooks, thunder frog, fishing gear pendant, 15 fishing luminous beads, and a product manual.
As such, this fishing gear lets you catch a wide variety of fish. This implies striper, catfish, bass, walleye, trout, panfish, and inshore and saltwater fish. As a final note, the telescopic rod features a glow-in-the-dark white tip, which enables you to better see fish-biting activity at dusk.
Best surf fishing rod and reel combo
- Level wind trolling reel for big game fish in a variety of saltwater conditions
- HT 100 carbon fiber drag system provides powerful drag without sacrificing smoothness
- 2 stainless steel ball bearings and instant anti-reverse bearing that eliminates rotor back play
- Durable, ultrasensitive rod with tubular glass blank construction. Max drag: 15 pounds
- Marine grade bronze alloy main gear; 1 piece tubular glass blank with solid tip
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Specifications | |
Length | 6 feet, 6.5 feet |
Weight | 20.9 oz |
Action type | Moderate fast |
Power type | Medium, Heavy |
Maximum drag capacity | 20 lbs |
Gear ratio | 4.9:1 |
Spool material type | Aluminum |
Reel Size | 2000/20, 3000/30 |
This relatively affordable rod and reel set is a customer favorite, mainly because of the rock-solid level wind reel that’s included. A level wind reel is a type of baitcasting reel that uses moving line guides to evenly distribute the line across the spool instead of letting the line build up.
The level wind trolling reel enable you to pull in large fish from various saltwater conditions. The ultrasensitive rod lets you feel fish bite, even when the fish is located hundreds of feet underwater during a strong current.
It is rated for a 20- to 50-pound fishing line. Though, customers report that this combo is easy to set up and that it can handle fish that weigh up to 80 pounds.
Best surf fishing rod for distance
- Premium quality SCII carbon with FRS for unparalleled strength and durability; Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART); Off-set ferrules on two-piece models provide one-piece performance
- Comfortable handle provides comfort, durability, and style while ensuring you maintain a strong grip on your fishing rod
- Specialized, weight-saving surf guides with zirconium rings and black frames; Fuji DPS reel seat with black hood; Dual Flex-Coat slow cure finish
- 5 year warranty
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Specifications | |
Length | 10 feet, 10.5 feet, 11 feet, 12 feet |
Weight | 12.6 oz, 12.7 oz, 13.6 oz, 20 oz |
Action type | Moderate fast |
Power type | Medium, Heavy |
Line weight capacity | 10-20 lbs for 10 feet, 12-25 lbs for 10.5 feet, 15-40 for 11 feet, 20-60 lbs for 12 feet |
Lure weight capacity | 1-4 oz for 10 feet, 2-6 lbs for 10.5 feet, 3-8 lbs for 11 feet, 6-16 oz for 12 feet |
Gear ratio | 4.9:1 |
Spool material type | Aluminum spool |
Reel Size | 2000/20, 3000/30 |
If you need a saltwater casting rod that is lightweight, durable, and sensitive, this graphite rod may be just what you’re looking for. This tension-supported medium/Mod-Fast two-piece ten-foot rod performs like a one-piece pole and weighs only 13.6 ounces. Customers love its feel and say that it has awesome casting loads and that it releases quite smoothly.
This rod has two coats of Flex-coat slow-cure finish. This rod has a Fuji DPS reel seat with black hoods, but you will need to purchase a reel for it. This rod is backed by a five-year warranty.
What Is Surf Fishing?
Surf fishing is a type of fishing where the angler catches fish while standing on the beach, rock, or fishing pier or while wading in the shoreline water, also called the surf. Since fishermen who fish in this manner are often standing in surf waters, this type of fishing became known as surf fishing. This sport is also sometimes referred to as surfcasting or beach casting.
While the rods used for this sport are capable of launching the lure or bait two or three hundred yards into the water, some surf fishing is done in knee-deep water. This sport is usually done in saltwater, but it can also be done in freshwater.
Here’s what to look for when choosing the best surf fishing rod for your next adventure:
Length
Surf rods come in lengths of between nine and 16 feet. You’ll want a rod on the longest end of that spectrum for long-distance casting and for catching the very largest fish. However, the lightweight of shorter rods helps when hauling in a large fish.
Material/Build
You’ll need your surf rod to be highly durable, so you’ll likely be happy with a composite that is a combination of fiberglass and graphite. A composite gets its flexibility from the fiberglass and its sensitivity from the graphite.
Action
Action refers to the rods’ flexibility. You’ll need your rod to have some fiberglass in it so that it can bend without snapping in two just as you’re fighting the biggest fish you’ve ever caught. When the entire rod bends, it’s a slow action rod, and slow action increases your casting distance.
However, it sacrifices some casting accuracy. When the upper part of the rod bends, it’s a medium-action rod. When just the tip bends, it’s a fast action rod.
Power
This refers to the weight of the rod. It’s also called its taper. Weights are ultralight, light, medium, and heavy. It affects casting distance and the ability to reel in fish.
Sensitivity
The longer your rod, the less sensitivity it will have, even when made out of sensitive materials. Check the customer reviews for people who comment on the sensitivity of particular rods.
Casting Ability
Your range will cover up to a four-ounce spread, say from six to ten. Your weights can overpower your rod if they are out of the ideal range. One way to avoid this is by making sure that your fishing line suits your rod.
What Kind Of Fish You Can Catch When Surf Fishing
The species of fish caught depend on what is available in the region you’re fishing in. You can catch California Halibut, Barred Surfperch, Spotfin Croaker, and California Corbina off the west coast. West coast shark fishermen will only find Seven-gill, Soupfin, and Leopard sharks there.
Anglers can find many more kinds of sharks on the east coast between New York and the Carolinas. They can also catch the highly-valued striped bass. The heaviest striped bass caught there by a surf fisherman weighed 78.5 pounds. However, striped bass is more commonly found within the range of between 30 and 40 pounds.
Other fish that surf fishermen catch in that part of the country include tarpon, snook, Spanish mackerel, pompano, bonito and albacore tuna, weakfish, flounder, tautog, black drum, redfish, and bluefish. From the Carolinas south, redfish anglers can catch many redfish.
Key Insights & Takeaways
While a fishing rod may appear at first glance to be simplistic, it is actually a quite complex thing. You’ll need to know what kind of fish you want to catch and where you want to fish when choosing your fishing gear. The rod type you’ll need will also dictate which reels, lures, and sinkers you should use.
We’ve looked at a lot of fishing gear to come up with our top four picks for the best surf fishing rods and reels. The winner in our lineup is the PENN Squall level wind reel and rod fishing combo. It has many features that enable optimal performance. Although it is made of graphite, customers report that it hauls in fish up to 80 pounds without breaking. As such, the reel is a high-performance one.
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