Hey friends. Stepdad wants to gift me his surf rod that he never uses, as I’m moving to San Diego and want to get more seriously into surf fishing.
I’ve surf fished before, but only with my 8ft travel spinning gear catching smaller fish, smaller leopard sharks and rays, on up to 1.5oz weight. Never owned or used a “proper” surf setup.
It’s a 12.5ft telescoping rod. Can’t find any info on the brand or model online.
I’ve done some research but my main concern is… will I struggle to cast this thing and use it in surf? I’m 5’7” tall and not super strong. I don’t know if I’d have a difficult time casting and landing fish with it. Trying to decide if it’s worth shipping or checking it at the airport from TX to CA. Should I just… politely decline and start with a shorter surf rod? Or say fuck it and try to learn to fish with this monster of a rod? Gonna try to take it to a lake soon and just see how it feels with my small reel.
I have a Daiwa saltist back bay 3000 that I use for bass, trout, occasional surf fishing, I’m aware I’d want to get a larger size proper salt reel for this rod or a shorter surf rod. Any recs? Budget is ~$300-$400 for a reel or a reel + shorter rod.
Posted by ashtrayheart3
9 Comments
If it’s free, give it a go…..I think you will struggle with it, based off how thick it is, not necessarily the length. I’d look for something in the 9-10’ range with a much thinner and responsive rod blank. That thing looks like a nightmare for anyone to cast.
Yeah that thing is a beast. Big enough to be a Shark or GT rod and probably only usable for throwing bait. If you plan to throw lures you will probably want something that is less weight and more enjoyable to cast.
Big bait = big fish. Big rod = big cast. Big rod x big bait + far cast = 1 cast every 2 hours. You’ll be ok. I’ve proven it. Using maths
If you don’t struggle now you will struggle later from the strain of using it.
Surfcasting isn’t easy on the body and you want the lightest setup you can get away with.
Repetitive injuries are too common in the fishing community and there is a reason why people don’t use war clubs like that if they can help it
Nice crappie rod
I have a few 13-foot Ulua Surf rods that will throw 8oz 12 yards plus. You just need to rig it accordingly. It’s not going to be your go-to pompano rod.
Honestly maybe for a fishing trip or two you’ll manage but once u start fishing on the regular you’ll realize what length of the rod is easier to work with. Mind u im 5’7 and would say strong enough but 11 ft seemed to be the max length i could manage easily due to my arm length and how i could handle the rod everything else the butt of the rod would go up to my armpit and past it and then it would be very difficult to balance the rod.
That being said use whatever rod u are comfortable with!
If I would recommend the rod size for you 9-11 ft tops and lighter the weight the better. Might have to pay a lil more for that type of quality but your arms and body will thank u later! That being said Walmart affordable catfish rod 8- 9 ft takes 1-3 oz weight that’ll be more than enough! Use lighter braid line to cast it further length of rod being able to cast farther in my mind is pretty negligible what matters most is smaller diameter fishing line period which braid can do for u
You could throw a car battery with that!
Telescoping? I’d politely decline tbh. Bass pro sells a 12′ and 15′ surf rod for about $160, or $80 for an ugly stick big water in a 2 piece that would be better suited within that budget. I’d also step up to a 5k-6k reel at that length. Find something that can throw up to 4oz.
Also remember when surf fishing. most of the fish are literally right behind the waves, you don’t need to cast to Japan.