We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More \u203a<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n Twenty years ago, I started surf fishing for big red drum with a hand-me-down fiberglass surf fishing rod that was yellowed with age and abuse. I fished for an entire year without catching a trophy redfish.<\/p>\n After twelve months of dogged defeat, I saved up some money and purchased a modern graphite rod with high-grade components. I landed a red drum over 40 inches on my first trip with the new rod. My success wasn\u2019t due to skill or luck; it was the rod. The combination of materials and design resulted in the fish of a lifetime and ignited a lifetime of surf fishing for red drum.\u00a0<\/p>\n Surf anglers ask the most of their fishing rods. The best surf rods focus on distance, accuracy, power, and finesse. To meet the need, rod manufacturers combine cutting-edge materials and designs with tough components to create action-specific rods focused on surf fishing.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re looking to catch your first fish in the surf or you\u2019re an old salt, the best surf fishing rods put it all together to make surf fishing easier and more enjoyable.\u00a0<\/p>\n Choosing the single best surf rod is impossible. Surf fishing rods are specific to fishing tactics, location, conditions, and personal preference. Comparing a bait rod to a lure rod is apples and oranges.\u00a0<\/p>\n I started with five general categories of surf fishing.\u00a0<\/p>\n Then, I queried my surf-fishing friends across the country for their favorite surf sticks.<\/p>\n For a second opinion on each rod, I called in my friend Ryan White, owner of Hatteras Jack Bait and Tackle<\/a> and a world champion long caster<\/a>. We spent an afternoon casting each rod and considering the construction, materials, and feel of the rod.\u00a0<\/p>\n The best surf rod doesn\u2019t mean the most expensive. Yes, some of the rods in my review are high dollar. Quality and performance cost money. Other rods in the review are a bargain. As rod technology improves, it trickles down to lower-price models. While top-of-the-line rods use every advantage at any cost, you can get a high-quality and solid action surf rod for a reasonable price.<\/em><\/p>\n I started with the most important questions.\u00a0<\/p>\n To determine the sweet spot where the rod is most comfortable and efficient. I cast each rod using a variety of lures and sinkers within the rod\u2019s recommended weight range. In addition to distance and accuracy, I noted the rod\u2019s build and fit.<\/p>\n The next test is the most difficult. How does the rod feel while casting and retrieving? Does it load up and snap the lure like a whip? Will the rod bend and sway under the action of a swimming plug?<\/p>\n In surf fishing, there is a direct correlation between the quality of the equipment and the chances of success. Fishing from the beach requires a long accurate cast, hyper-sensitive action, and solid power to make it all come together.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n Every surf angler needs an all-around medium-weight bait rod for long, accurate casts. PENN\u2019s Carnage III is the third generation of their top-of-the-line model with great components at a reasonable price. \u201cYou get a lot of bang for the buck,\u201d says White.\u00a0<\/p>\n High-quality components like Fuji K guides with SIC inserts reduce tangles with smooth silicone rings for a long cast. PENN is proud of its S3SL construction, sandwiching layers of graphite and fiberglass for sensitivity and durability. The rod is rated for a 2- to 6-ounce lure, but I felt comfortable throwing a 5-ounce sinker and bait. The Carnage III is a little on the bulky side, but the extra weight translated into extra strength, making the rod tough enough to serve as a reliable medium-action rod for striped bass, redfish, and black drum.<\/p>\n Read Next<\/strong>: Best Surf Fishing Reels<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n I\u2019ve slowly been replacing the fishing rods in my arsenal with Shimano XX rods. I started with my boat and kayak rods, and now I\u2019m stoked to add Tiralejo XX rods to the surf fishing quiver.\u00a0<\/p>\n The XX stands for Shimano\u2019s Spiral X and High-Power X blank construction. The blank starts with vertical carbon fibers wrapped inside and out with spirals of carbon fiber tape. This allows Shimano to precisely balance power and sensitivity in exact sections of the blank to achieve performance requirements. Carbon fiber rods are inherently more fragile than fiberglass rods, but the spiral construction keeps the blank from twisting or compressing under pressure without adding weight.\u00a0<\/p>\n My first Tiralejo XX addition was the 9-foot, 6-inch spinning rod. This model is perfect for an angler casting heavy lures from a rock jetty or pier, where accuracy and crowd control are the most important qualities. A medium power rod has flex to allow a lure to swim freely, but the Tiralejo\u2019s Spiral X wrap\u2019s fast recovery keeps the cast snappy.\u00a0<\/p>\n With a big fish on the line, I can feel the power translated into the fight allowing the rod to beat the fish. And, when I\u2019m landing a heavy fish, the High Power X construction allows me to hold the rod tip high without snapping the rod.\u00a0<\/p>\n The rod is rated for a lure up to 3 ounces, but I found the 3-ounce mark a comfortable starting point with the capability to cast a 2-ounce bucktail and rubber jig tail or 3-ounce swimming plug.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n Narrowing down the best surf fishing rod for striped bass isn\u2019t easy, so I hit up my friend Nick Honachefsky, host of Saltwater Underground<\/a> and a New Jersey based surf angler. Without hesitation, Honachefsky recommended the St. Croix Seage Surf spinning rod. \u201cThe beauty of the 10-foot, 6-inch model is its versatility,\u201d Honachefsky says. According to him, the rod is capable of working a 3-ounce wooden plug, a 1-ounce StingSilver<\/a>, or throwing a chunk of clam with a 3 to 6-ounce sinker.\u00a0<\/p>\n Honachefsky adds that the 10-foot, 6-inch medium-heavy model can beat a 20-pound bluefish or 40-pound striped bass. In my testing, the medium-fast model snaps out a cast and still has enough play to allow a lure to work. St. Croix\u2019s Advanced Reinforcing Technology carbon fiber and Fortifying Resin System work together to create a hearty rod with a striking blue finish and premium wraps. Honachefsky appreciates the low-profile butt section and light blank. \u201cI can throw the rod for hours without bumping into my side every cast,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Read Next:<\/strong> Best Baits for Striped Bass <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n When you think of surf fishing, you imagine a warrior angler dressed in GoreTex armor charging the crashing breakers with a long, heavy surf rod clutched in his hand like a lance. Or, you picture a white sand beach, blazing sun, and fishing rod resting in a sand spike while you rest in a folding chair, drink in hand. But there is another side of surf fishing. I\u2019m talking about light tackle fishing in the shore break for small game.\u00a0<\/p>\n Okuma designed the Rockaway SP for West Coast anglers targeting surf perch with small baits and lures. When Ryan White and I tested the rod, we got excited about using it for pompano, speckled trout, and redfish. The Rockaway SP is an ultralight, super sensitive 24\/30 ton carbon fiber blank with a split grip and low-profile guides to transmit every nibble to the angler\u2019s hand. The split 24\/30 ton carbon is the key to its versatility. Twenty-four-ton graphite is forgiving, which makes it durable and powerful. While 30-ton graphite is sensitive, light, and fragile.\u00a0<\/p>\n The reel seat leaves a section of the blank exposed so you can feel the slightest tap. This is important for feeling a light bite and helps me feel the lure bouncing along the bottom. The Rockaway SP is rated for \u00bc to \u215d ounces, but I think it could handle a rig up to one ounce without losing distance or accuracy. Okuma squeezed every ounce of technology into a lightweight, super-sensitive rod capable of fishing light lures for smaller fish.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n Published Jun 7, 2023 7:00 PM
\n <\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\nHow I Tested\u00a0the Best Surf Fishing Rods<\/h2>\n
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Best Surf Fishing Rods: Reviews & Recommendations<\/h2>\n
Best Medium Weight Conventional: PENN Carnage III<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/PENN-Carnage-III.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
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![\"Author](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/PENN-carnage-iii-testing.jpg\")
![\"Angler](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/PENN-carnage-iii-close-up.jpg\")
Best Medium Action Lure Rod: Shimano Tiralejo XX TRJXS96M<\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/Shimano-Tiralejo-XX-TRJXS96M.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
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![\"Author](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/Shimano-close-up-scaled.jpg\")
![\"Author](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/Shimano-testing-scaled.jpg\")
Best Striped Bass Rod: St. Croix Seage SES106MHMF2<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/St.-Croix-Seage-SES106MHMF2.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
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![\"Angler](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/St.-Croix-close-up-scaled.jpg\")
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/St.-Croix-testing-scaled.jpg\")
Best Surf Perch Rod: Okuma Rockaway SP<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/Okuma-Rockaway-SP.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
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![\"Angler](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/okuma-close-up.jpg\")
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Best Heavy Bait Rod: Century Drum Gun<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/Century-Drum-Gun.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
![\"Author](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/century-drum-gun-testing-scaled.jpg\")
![\"Angler](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/DSC_5659.jpg\")
![\"Author](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/DSC_5674.jpg\")
![\"We](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/06\/07\/surf-fishing.jpg\")