Best Surf Rod: Guideline and Reviews (2019)

There are just a few things in life that concentrate and liberate the mind than shore fishing. Despite the fact that most times we sit out in the rain, shivering in the snow, and occasionally wilt in the scorching heat, yet we still find ourselves going for fishing.  So, the question is why the love for fishing?

Picture	Name	Our Rating	Price
	Shakespeare Ugly Stik Gx2 Spinning Rod	4.5*	$
	Penn Prevail Surf Spinning Rod	3.5*	$$
	Tica UEHA Series Surf Spinning Fishing Rod	3.5*	$$$
	Okuma Fishing Tackle CSX-S	4*	$$$$
	Tsunami Airwave Elite Surf Spinning Rod	5*	$$$$$

The answer lies in an old Chinese proverb that says, “with a silken line, and a delicate hook, I wander among the ripples for freedom.” That is it. Fishing is freedom. It is freedom from our daily responsibilities and to let our mind run wide.

The joy of catching a wet slimming creature most times overwhelms us.

That is why it is so important to have the right fishing tools to make your fishing adventure a complete joy. Having the right fishing tools will go a long way in making your fishing experience a breeze and a memorable one.

One of these vital tools is the surf rod. The type of surf rod and reel setup you have will determine the kind of lures you will be using and the kind of fish you will catch.

Fortunately, you don’t have to pass through the hassle of searching for the surf rods. We’ve done all the hard work for you by reviewing the ultimate surf rods on the market. These brands are not only perfect for different lures, but will also help you to catch more fish consistently.

But before we dive into that, let’s take a look at the meaning of surf fishing.

what is all the Hype about Surf Fishing?

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Surf fishing is one of the easiest and fun ways of catching fish just by standing on the shoreline. Its simple method includes casting baits or lures into the water to catch fish from a particular shoreline such as beaches, fishing piers or even rock jetties. Anglers can use both live and artificial baits to catch fish in both saltwater and freshwater.

However, you have to be careful of undertows and violent waves as these can cause injury in some cases. That is even more reason you have to dedicate some of your time to learn beach structures, the tides and know how to cast lures for best results.

2.What are the Must Have Surf Fishing Tools for a Beginner?

If you are a shore fisherman, then you’d agree with me that there are essential fishing tools that you have to possess when fishing. Listed below are some of the tools you should have as part of your fishing arsenal.

Fishing line

A Fishing line is a type of cord specially made for fishing. A good fishing line comes with numerous microfibers which are braided into a single tight cord to enhance its durability, knot strength, and abrasion resistance. As a beginner or professional angler, if you want your bait to suspend in the water column, it is essential to choose a fishing line that doesn’t sink.

Fishing Reel

Fishing reels are one of the most valuable tools for anglers on shore fishing. They are tools that are attached to a fishing rod and feature gears to deploy and retrieve line quickly. Fishing reels are divided into 2 types which are the Spinner and baitcasting reels.

Spinning reels, as the name implies, come with rotating bail arms and bail wire that goes around the wire spool. They are the most popular reel for bait fishing. The Baitcaster on the other hand, are fishing reels that are mostly used by pro bass fishermen because it has several more control than any other fish reels out there.

Fish Lures

Fishing lures are baits that are designed to attract and catch fish. They display some quality of vibrations, movements, and colors to attract the attention of a fish.

They can be both live and artificial baits. But, the most frequently asked question is, live bait and artificial lures, which one catches more fish or even bigger fish? The thing is, live bait is the most natural baits and will find a wider variety of species, especially when you are surf fishing in freshwater.

But artificial lures do have a couple of advantages over live bait because it can cover more water and give you the options of using a bunch of different presentations to attract bigger fish.

Fish Hook

A Fish hook is also a vital part of an angler’s tool that is used for catching fish by piercing the fish in the mouth. They feature an eye to tie the line and a barb to prevent the fish from slipping back after taking a bite.

The point of the hook is where the hook penetrates the fish. Some hooks are mostly thicker and designed for saltwater fishing, and don’t bend out of shape.

Fishing Knife

Yes, you read that right. Fishing knives are one of the essential tools of an experienced angler. They can be used to serve different purposes. Most anglers use fishing knives for trimming ends, cutting lines or instantly turning a catch into a meal.

You can also use it as a safety measure to fend off animals that might want to cause you harm. Make sure the knife comes with a lot of versatility and can be hooked to your belt to enable you grab the knife when you want to use it for urgent needs.

What is Surf Fishing Rod?

Now to the main course of this article: surf fishing rods. A Surf rod is a flexible, elongated rod that is attached to a line ending in a swivel or hook to catch fish.

There are different types of rods, and there are some that enable you to cast further while other durable ones give you more sensitivity.

Some faster action rods are going to bend in the top third of the blank and give you more distance on your cast. Other rods come with moderate actions and curve into the handle of the rod.

Although these kinds of rods aren’t going to cast that far, when it hooks up with a fish, that whole rod is going to work for you.

How Do You Pick the Best Surf ?

Choosing the right rod can be pretty difficult, especially when you are swamped with many options to choose from. There are a million of different kinds of Surf rods to choose from, which can be quite overwhelming trying to pick the right one out. Here are few things to consider when choosing the surf rod.

What material is the rod made from?

The first thing you want to consider before buying a surf rod is the type of material it is made from. We do prefer you go for surf rods that feature graphite composites and fiberglass material to give you a durable and sensitive rod that can easily cast heavy weighted lures in saltwater.

Apart from durability, most of these rods are non-corrosive in design and offer a lot of sensitivity to transmit the vibration of the rod to your hand. Other than allowing you to feel the fish movement, these types of rods are also very easy to maintain.

Find Out About the Spine of the Rod

Every fishing rod has a spine, and it’s the strongest portion of the rod going up and down. You want to make sure the eyes of the rod are built along that spine and by putting the tip on the ground and rolling it. Of course, you can feel where the stiffest part of the rod is and if the eyes are aligned along the spine.

Consider The Weight Of The Rod.

Another factor you have to keep in mind is the weight of the fishing rod. If you are into lure fishing, it will be a great idea to go for rods that are relatively lightweight. Our recommendation is to go for rods that are less than 50 pounds in weight due to their ability to cast the lightest lure pretty well.

Consider the Reel you are going to Use

Now, there are plenty of rods and reel combinations on the racks of every tackle shop, and truth be told, you’re better off picking out a reel and rod that you like and putting the two together.

But, we suggest you get the proper feeling by trying it out yourself. To feel the action of the rod by just waving it back and forth doesn’t do much for you. So, it will be an excellent idea to do a first spin of the reel and see if it wobbles to know how well the reel is balanced.

Consider the Ceramic Liners

Another detail to look for on a surf rod is the ceramic liners. The ceramic liners are known to cut down on line wear.

For plain old metal, ceramic liners can wear on your fishing line a little bit. But with a straight metal guide, you don’t have the possibility of the liner popping out which can really ruin the rod, which is one of the most important factors to consider.

What is the Grip Type of the Rod

Another thing you want to look out is the grips. Some people prefer foam while others prefer quark grips. But it really isn’t a big deal. It ’s a matter of personal preference and what you want.

What is the Rod Length?

When we talk about length, it refers to the entire rod from the tip section all the way to the butt and includes the grips of the rod. Rods vary from 4-foot to all the way up to 12 and even 15 feet sometimes.

There are some advantages and disadvantages to longer or shorter rods. Longer rods allow you to cast larger lures and also lets you cast further. Shorter rods are commonly used for casting lighter weight lures and cast a little bit shorter than longer rods.

Consider the Rod Action and Weight

This refers to the point on the rod where the rod bends. When you bend a good rod, it bends close to the handle which equates to an ultra-light action. As you progress up to a medium action, when you bend it, the bend is a lot closer to the tip section. And as you progress up in action, the bend is just going to be in the tip section.

So, the action varies from ultra-light, medium, medium heavy, all the way up to heavy-duty rods. You can find a rod’s length and action on the underside of the rod. If you’re going to be fishing for pan fish, or some smaller species of fish, we recommend that you choose an ultra-light action rod to light action and a 4.6 to 5.6 range.

If you are going to be fishing for bass, walleye, striper, and some of those larger fish, we recommend you go with a medium to medium heavy action rod.

And if you are going to be surf fishing, pier fishing or cat fishing, we recommend you go for a medium heavy to heavy action rod and the 8-foot medium heavy surf rod is the most popular surf fishing rod.

What are Top 5 surf rods on the market?

After a lot of extensive research and testing, we have reviewed the best 5 surf rods on the market. These brands are currently the best surf rods you can find on the market, and they all display unique features which seem to set them apart from the crowd.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at

What are the surf rods for surf fishing in 2019 ?

Tsunami Airwave Elite Surf Spinning Rod TSAWESS-1062MH

If you are a professional angler or just a beginner, and you are looking for a rod that comes with the best performance, then the Tsunami Airwave Elite is for you. The TSAWESS-1062MH is the most modern Fuji K-frame designed specifically for braided line, giving you greater flexibility.

The Elite fishing rod is made from graphite composite coupled with a dense fiber that saturate the denser cloth to build a very strong fishing rod. The quality and detail of the design are outstanding. It is sturdy and well-made. With a length of 90-foot six inches and a weight size of 50-30 pounds, the rod offers high sensitivity and handles all sizes of fish.

This lightweight unit provides a pretty nice pencil poplin rod that is well-built. It features an X-lock handle, Fuji reel steel, and Fuji K guides as well as a 30 k guide to give you a modified Kona Layout.

With a Nanotechnology design, this lightweight rod offers a greater lifting power and works perfectly on 30-pound test braid. The fishing rod also provides a good buck cap that allows you to use it as a walking stick and to give you balance when you get hit by a wave while in the water.

Being a two-piece rod, the Tsunami Airwave did an excellent job of featuring a part called the Ferrule that bends the rod closer to the handle. The Tsunami Airwave sells at a retail of  $157 on Amazon, making the fishing rod the best bang for your buck around.

Shakespeare Ugly Stik Gx2 Spinning Rod

We are taking a step down, and we are going to be looking at some of the legends. Next on our list is the famous Ugly Stik GX2 from Shakespeare. The Ugly Stick features everything you have got to know about its legendary performance over the years.

If you are thinking of buying a classic rod for your surf fishing adventure, then you want to take a look at the GX2 Spinning rod. The ugly stick offers you with toughness and durability, and the confidence to fish for anything and anywhere.

Anglers everywhere, know ugly stick by its clear tip design. Featuring Ugly tech construction, the fishing rod is a 2-piece, 6-foot medium action, 6-15 model line poles that offer a classic design while eliminating insert pop. Since it is a combo rod, it comes with a reel and a strong pull. The unit combines fiberglass and graphite to create an incredibly strong and sensitive rod.

This lightweight feeling rod delivers outstanding strength and durability that makes this stick every angler’s workhorse. The GX2 provides all the benefits of a balanced rod combining force and performance you have to depend on. The plain tip delivers extra strength, and it is sensitive to the lightest strike. We also love the fact that it allows anyone to fish on multiple lines like a braided line.

The Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod is at the top of its class when it comes to value. For less than $68, you’re getting a top of the line Surf rod that will always get the job done.

If you are looking for a budget rod that will easily do the work for you, then the Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod is a trusted rod that offers you great flexibility and strength to get the job done.

Okuma Fishing Tackle CSX-S

The Okuma fishing tackle is one of the hottest selling rods around on the market. It is a 7 foot, 2-inch medium light, moderate fast action rod. The Okuma offers a lightweight and a steady design with high-end features that set it apart from other fishing rods.

The unit has a 30-ton carbon blank and carbon on the back of the reel to keep the weight of the rod down in at 4.5 ounces. The rod also has a split grip, EDA foam, and a rubberized cork as well as threads that give you a nice comfortable grip when you hold on to the rod.

With an ALPS 326 grade stainless steel guide frame coupled with a Zirconium inserts for various kinds of braids. The handle set of this brand gives you the needed comfort and strength without being slippery as well as a fluid handling of the rod when wet.

It also comes with a medium micro guide which reduces the line slap to give you a further cast. The frames are stainless steel, and the inserts are a hard aluminum oxide, which is perfect for braids.

My favorite feature is the rod action which is very sensitive. Its slower action is the selling point of this rod. The softer action paired with the medium macro guides really makes a great casting rod.

The rod is responsive, durable and works perfectly well on different types of reel. The Tackle CSX-S- offers an exceptional and outstanding distance coupled with a smooth and comfortable casting. With a price tag of $125, the Tackle CSX-S- offers you a great price for the money.

Penn Prevail Surf Spinning Rod

The Penn Prevail Surf Spinning rod is a top of the line fishing rod that is specifically designed to give you the best fishing experience.

The blank of this element fishing rod is made from a graphite and fiberglass material to give you the sensitivity you need and the strength to pull the rod when it catches fish.
Featuring a two-piece rod, the Penn Prevail delivers unique power and performance to give you robust and sturdy fishing rod. This lightweight rod also offers a stainless steel frame coupled with a hard and smooth aluminum oxide material which works perfectly for both monofilament and braided lines.
The handles of this rod sports a rubber shrink tube grips to make sure that the rod doesn’t slip-out of your hands when it gets wet. The Penn Prevail Surf Spinning Rod also comes with a DPS row seat with stainless seat hoods to enhance its durability and firmness.
The Prevail Spinning rod did a great job when it comes to throwing artificials in the surf, and plugging dead bait in the surf, striper blues, as well as soaking. At a retail price $66 to $132 on Amazon, the Penn Prevail offers everything you can find in a high-end surf rod.

Tica UEHA Series Surf Spinning Fishing Rod

The Tva UEHA series is a great fishing rod that is made from high modulus graphite material. It relies on its oxide ring and Fuji Alum Aluminum Oxide ring guide for strength and durability.
The look and feel of this rod are impressive and work correctly on different types of surf fishing like the Salmon surf perch and stripers.

As one of the finest rods around, the Tica offers a remarkable weight lure of 1/2oz to 2oz.
With a lightweight and well-structured design, the rod is sturdy and very sensitive to the lightest strike. The rod is sturdy and can last you for a very long time than most expensive rods.

The rod is flexible, beautiful and can handle both small and big fish. The unit is built to stand abuse and cast as far as you want it to go. The best part is that the fishing rod can deal with different kinds of lure size and weight.

Currently, the Tica UEHA Series retails at a budget price of $84-$194 on Amazon, and the device is packed with a lot of cool features to make your fishing adventure a whole lot fun.

If you are looking for a reliable fishing rod that can get the job done perfectly, then you can’t go wrong with the Tica UEHA Series Surf Spinning Fishing Rod

How to Set Up Surf Rod?

The way and manner you are going to set up your fishing rod will determine whether you will catch more fish or not. A 12-foot reel will hold 20-25 pounds of monofilament line.  Although braid works pretty well, monofilament line is the best way to start out. Also, note that the rod fights the fish, and the reel holds the line. Here is a step by step guide on how you can set up your surf rod

1. Attached the reel to the rod
2. The next step is to set up your rig. The rig is used in surf fishing to keep your bait stationary in the sand and allows the bait to swim freely close to the weight. You can use surf rig when you are targeting species that are common in the surf such as pompano, whiting, bluefish, and other species.

To make a surf rig, you’ll need a pyramid sinker, a piece of heavy monofilament material and either a three-way swivel or a two-swivel and snaps to hold everything together.

3. Once you have done that, you have to attach your fishing line to one of the eyes of the swivel. Then you will also attach another piece of line to another eye on the swivel while the other end goes to your pyramid sinker. You can also put a snap attached to the sinker if you want to be able to change out your weight depending on how your bait is and what you are targeting.
4. After that, you will also have a monofilament piece of material tied to the final eye of the swivel and make sure you cut extra snip off the excess line on the Knot
5. Also, don’t forget to add a split shot to the line which will allow the bait to sink faster.
6. Attach a hook as well as live bait that can swim around on the bottom to attract the fish.
7. Finally, once your surf rig is ready, you can go fishing with it and see what you will catch

How to Choose the Best Reel for Surf Rod

If you are choosing your first reel or you are trying to add one to your arsenal, there are several factors you have to consider that will hopefully make your next purchase a little much easier.

One of the most important factors is the different types of reels and their functions, pros, and cons. Like we earlier said, there are 2 different types of a fishing reel. We have the spinning reel and the baitcasting reel.

Spinning Reel

The spinning reel is the easiest reel for beginners, and it is mostly associated with the light line.
Pros

• Part of the advantages is that these reels work wonderfully with lines in the 6 to 12-pound test range or braided line from 10 to 20 pounds.
• If you are throwing light lures presentations like a drop shot shaky head or wacky worm, then this is the perfect reel for you.
• It does not easily corrodes or rust and can cast further than the other types
• You can quickly change a spinning reel to either left-handed or right-handed side.

Cons

• However, if you want to flip the jungle or throw big crank bait, then you might want to shy away from spinning reels.
• Apart from that, a spinning reel is quite heavier compared to baitcasting reel.

Baitcasting Reel

The Baitcasting fishing reel is the top choice of many bass anglers. The main reasons so many Pros love using baitcaster is the versatility and what it tends to offer. Although it is expensive and complicated, it can easily handle all types of casts. Whether you throw-in frogs, big crank baits, crank baits, this is the reel for this kind of fishing.

We suggest you get the best gear ratio that falls within your budget.

Pros

• Another nice feature of a bait casting reel is because they are lighter and comes in a lighter smaller package. So, if you want to be casting all day long, then a lighter reel like the baitcaster will be a perfect choice for you.
• Another nice feature of a baitcaster reel is that they have greater line capacity.
• It also comes with a lot of drag and strength in a tiny package. For example, the Abu Garcia Revo inshore reel can generate 28 pounds of drag which is a massive drag. Though small, and light, this reel is very powerful.
• Another thing you get with baitcaster reel is distance control compared to a spinning reel. The lever on a baitcaster gives you a lot of control

Cons

• Although baitcasting reels offer extreme versatility, one drawback for beginners is the steep learning curve often associated with them. They are a little harder to use.
• They are more expensive compared spinning reels
• You can move a baitcaster reel either left-hand or the right-hand side.

So which one should you go for?

The truth is that both baitcaster and spinning reel have something to offer you. If you are just getting into fishing, we would generally recommend the spinning reel because it is easier to use, less complicated and gives you more bangs for your buck.

But if you are in a situation where you need an ultra-light reel that will help you to control your distance and also comes with a lot of line capacity, then it would be worth it to spend the extra money on a baitcaster reel.

What is the Best Lure for Surf Fishing?

To be a good angler you need to have a good selection of lures. The water clarity and temperature also determine the types of bait you should use. So, no single bait is going to cover all those factors. We are going to be looking at the best lures for any particular species you are looking for.
Rapala Extra
The Rapala Extra is a top water lure, and it is perfect for Tarpon, Jax mackerel and more. The bait has a nice wobble with a straight retrieve and comes with great action.
The Magic Swimmer
The magic swimmer is one of our favorite lures because it has the best of any lure we have used. It looks so much more like live baits and has been proven to catch a lot of fish such as Tuna, Rockfish, and even flounder.
Gotcha Plug
Another lure we recommend is the Gotcha plug, which is really fast and produces a fast jerking motion. However, they don’t work well on winter seasons, but works well on springs and summer seasons.
Bomber 16A
The Bomber 16A is a widely used lure for saltwater fishing. The Bomber offers a 7.5-inch length coupled with a molded plastic tip and a hollow plastic body to allow it to flow freely in the water. The lure has sharp hooks and sturdy split rings that can catch heavy-duty fish. It works subtly on top water and is one of the most popular lures used by a lot of anglers.
The Diamond Rig
The diamond rig is a windy lure and can attract jacks and king fish. They are heavy and can cut through the wind.
Rattle Trap
This lure works perfectly on lighter tackle and smaller 7-foot light tackle rods. It comes with 15-pound test monitor feel and shakes its head slightly when you put it on the water.
Tsunami plug
This lure really works well for heavier surf casting. If you are casting for rock fish, this lure works pretty well and can get the job done.

How to cast a surf rod

How you skillfully cast your surf rod, goes a long way on whether you will catch fish or not. If you want to catch more fish with less effort, the following tip is what you should take into consideration.

The first thing you want to do is to get the weight to the tip of the rod to be about 4 to 5 feet. With that, there’s no way that the weight can hit you when it comes over your shoulder.

The next thing you want to do is hold the reel in your other hand and push the reel around till the other bearing is right underneath your trigger finger. Then, you will have to pull the line in with your other hand to hold the line.

When you open the bail, the rod is ready to go, and when you let go of your finger, the line comes out.

After opening the bail, you have to swing the rod around, take your other hand and put it on the butt of the rod. It is preferable to use a long rod with a long handle so you can have enough space to hold on to because the shorter handled ones don’t allow you to use both hands on the rod.

Although the length of your fishing rod depends on what you want, with the longer rods, you can use both hands, and then you can push with your right arm and shoulder, and also with your left hand down to your pocket.

The movement of casting is very simple. To cast a surf rod, you will have to pull your line tight to the rod, then line your sinker up with your bottom eyelid as this helps with the action from the fulcrum.

Let the sinker sit on the sand, keep the line tight, and keep your eyelid straight up in the air and switch hands. The hand at the bottom of the rod is going to push down while the other hand is going to push up and they are going to be in a different position, almost like crossing your arms.

After that, you just do a nice slide cast like other lines three-quarters to the way of the cast.

When you’re casting, you will have to put one foot in a forward motion, and in the direction you want to cast. You also want to keep your hip way over the water so you can cast straight ahead of you. So the movement would be that while your hands are up, you can push and pull, throwing your surf rod into the water.

How to Make Surf Fishing Rod Holder

Making a rod holder or a rod stand is easy. And what you’re going to need is the sand spike which is a 14 gauge, 4-foot medium duty u-post which cost about $4.11. The nuts and bolts are all going to be a metric m61 millimeter thread.

You’re going to need a 75-millimeter metric cap screw, 30-millimeter machine screw, m61 thread, wing nut and a zinc plated lock nut. The other thing you’re going to need is a one and a half inch by 2 foot PVC pipe.

Take your PVC pipe and eyeball about a 2-inch section from the top. Cut that off with a hacksaw or an old knife that is heated up over a flame. This piece is going to keep the top of the pole steady on a sand spike. And to maintain the butt of the pole in place, you will have to measure out the eyeball of about 4 inches of the PVC pipe.

On the small piece of PVC pipe cut, pierce a hole straight through the side. Fix one bolt into the hole created. For the longer piece of PVC pipe, you’re going to do the same thing as you did to the small PVC pipe.

After creating one hole at the bottom of the large PVC pipe, create another hole on the opposite side that lines up.

So, when you want to attach the small piece of pipe, you’ll take the 30-millimeter screw and screw up the smallest PVC pipe to your sand spike.

Measure about three quarters down the sand spike, line up the larger pipe that was previously cut and screw it up with the sand spike. After following this whole process, then you are good to go. You have your self-made fishing rod holder.

Final Thought

There you have it. A detailed guide to everything you have to know about surf fishing rod. We hope you find this article interesting and useful. If you are a beginner or an experienced angler and you are looking for the best fishing rod, we highly recommend the above surf rods.

They all come with a lot of cool features to make your fishing experience a lot more fun. They are equipped with modern technologies and unique features to help you catch more fish and give you the best fishing experience at an incredible price point. Take a look at them and see the one that suits you and your budget.

• Consider surf rod power (It should be made of durable, non-corrosive, sturdy material like graphite to cast heavy weighted lures or bait in salted water)
• Consider surf rod’s weight (lightweight recommended)

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