The are almost as many surf rods as there are fish in the sea. How do you know which is the best surf fishing rod for you? Don’t worry – we’ll answer that question for you.
Choosing the right rod is important, so be sure to read carefully.
But, if you’re really in a hurry, here are our picks for the best surf fishing rods.
- PENN Squadron III Surf Conventional Rod < Best value!
- Okuma’s Solaris Surf Fishing Rod
- Tica UKGA Surf Spinning Rod
- Berkley Big Game Spinning Rod < Best for on a budget!
- Tica UMGA Surf Spinning Rod
- PENN Battalion Surf Spinning Rod
It’s important to understand the different features of a surf fishing rod, so let’s start there.
Length
Surf fishing rods are longer than other types of rods. Longer rods are better for casting heavier weights and reeling in bigger fish.
Most surf fishing rods are between 8 – 12 ft. Shorter rods in that range are easier to control, especially for beginners. Longer rods are usually better for casting greater distances. If you’re just starting out, look for a rod in the 8-10 ft range.
Number of Pieces
Most surf fishing rods are either one or two pieces. There are some traditionalists who say a one-piece rod is better because it is more sensitive. In reality, most people won’t be able to tell the difference between a one-piece rod and a two-piece rod. We prefer the two-piece option rod, since it’s much easier to transport and store.
Material
Most modern day rods are made of some form of graphite composite. Some of the more “budget friendly” rods might be made out of fiberglass. There’s no doubt that graphite composite is better than fiberglass, but a fiberglass rod works fine for the causal angler on a budget.
Rod Action
Action describes how much of the rod is designed to bend. Rod actions range from slow to extra fast. Surf casting rods are generally either fast or moderate fast.
A rod with a slow action will allow it to bend through its entire length. This style of rod is often found in the shorter 8′ to 11’ lengths and is more forgiving than a fast action rod. This means that this style of rod is a good choice for beginners to surfcasting and anglers that don’t need to cast a great distance to find the feeding fish.
Rod Power
Power refer to the stiffness of a rid, which can thought about as how much the rod will bend under weight. Most surf fishing rods are in the medium to medium heavy range.
Lure Rating
The lure rating tells you the what weight lure (or bait) the rod will cast the best. It’s a range that you’ll normally see printed on the rod itself. Lower end lure rating ratings will be around 1-4 ounces. Higher ranges, like the Okuma Solaris, will be around 4-8 ounces.
Keep in mind that these are recommendations by the manufacturers. In reality a rod that casts 4 ounces really well won’t also cast 8 ounces just as well. The “sweet spot” is somewhere in that range.
Line Rating
Line rating gives a recommendation on what to pair with a rod. So a rod with a 15-30lb works best with line with a test weight in that range. It doesn’t mean you can’t use line above or below that range, but you’ll want to stay pretty close.
Spinning vs Conventional Rods
The main difference between spinning and conventional rods, is the type of reel that used and where the reel is positioned. Although there’s not much of a difference in the rods themselves, you’ll need to decide what kind of reel you’ll be sing before purchasing the rod.
As you can see in the image, a spinning reel hangs below the rod and the casting rod sits on top of the rod. There are a few other differences as well. Unlike the spinning reel, the line on a casting rod spools parallel to the rod. Casting reels also have smaller guides, which are the eyelets the line runs through.
There’s no better type of rod/reel for surf fishing. Most people agree spinning rod are easier to use for beginners. Use whatever you’re comfortable with.
Our picks for the best surf rods:
PENN Squadron III Surf Conventional Rod
The perfect starter rod
Penn probably has the best reputation of any rod on this list, and for good reason. Even the entry-level models (like the squadron) are composed of high quality graphite composite. There’s no going wrong with a PENN rod. Just keep in mind this is a conventional (aka casting) rod, so you’ll need to pair with a conventional reel.
| Length | 10′ |
| Pieces | 2 |
| Rod Materal | Graphite composite |
| Color | Titanium/Red/Gold |
| Rod Action | Moderate fast |
| Rod Power | Medium |
| Handle Material | Rubber shrink tube |
| Line Rating | 15-30lb |
| Lure Rating | 2-6oz |
Okuma’s Solaris Surf Fishing Rod
Best ‘under the radar’ rod to impress your fishing buddies
Not as popular as Penn and some other brands, but one of our favorites. Not to mention, this rod just looks cool.
| Length | 10′ |
| Pieces | 2 |
| Rod Materal | Graphite |
| Color | Black |
| Rod Action | Fast |
| Rod Power | Heavy |
| Handle Material | Cork |
| Line Rating | 20-40b |
| Lure Rating | 3-8oz |
Tica UKGA Surf Spinning Rod
The “do everything” rod
A lot of people aren’t familiar with Tica rods, but we think that’s going to change. The 9ft version is the sweet spot of the UKGA series. The moderate-fast action makes this a very versatile rod. Not our first choice for targeting the real big fish, but overall a solid spinning rod.
| Length | 9′ |
| Pieces | 2 |
| Rod Materal | Graphite TC1 |
| Color | Red/Black |
| Rod Action | Moderate fast |
| Rod Power | Medium |
| Handle Material | Rubber |
| Line Rating | 12-25lb |
| Lure Rating | 1/2-3oz |
Berkley Big Game Spinning Rod
The best budget surf fishing rod
Seriously, check the price on this thing. But don’t be fooled be thinking low price mean low quality. Berkley makes more than just great bait, and this rod is a perfect example. If you’re on a budget, or you’re looking for a backup surf rod, this one is for you.
| Length | 8′ |
| Pieces | 2 |
| Rod Materal | Fiberglass |
| Color | White/Black |
| Rod Action | Moderate fast |
| Rod Power | Medium heavy |
| Handle Material | EVA |
| Line Rating | 12-30b |
| Lure Rating | 1-4oz |
Tica UMGA Surf Spinning Rod
Your go-to rod for jetty or pier fishing
With a higher quality 24t graphite composite blank, the UMGA is stronger than you need. And since it’s one-piece, it’s much more sensitive than you’d expect.
| Length | 8′ |
| Pieces | 1 |
| Rod Materal | Graphite 24T |
| Color | Grey/Black |
| Rod Action | Moderate fast |
| Rod Power | Medium |
| Handle Material | Cork |
| Line Rating | 10-25lb |
| Lure Rating | 3/4-3oz |
PENN Battalion Surf Spinning Rod
When you need a BIG cast
Step 1. Buy this rod.
Step 2. Learn how to surfcast like a pro.
Step 3. Impress everyone on the beach.
| Length | 10′ |
| Pieces | 2 |
| Rod Materal | Graphite composite |
| Color | Black/Gold |
| Rod Action | Moderate fast |
| Rod Power | Medium heavy |
| Handle Material | Rubber shrink tube |
| Line Rating | 15-30b |
| Lure Rating | 1-5oz |
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Hello! My name is Tim and I’ve been fishing for over 30 years. I’ve learned a lot about fishing during that time and I love sharing that knowledge with others. I’m also a member of the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). Thanks for checking out the site!