Length

Surf Fishing Rods typically come in a range of range of lengths from 7 to 15 feet. Somewhere in the 9ft to 12ft range is what I consider the sweet spot for your general surf casting setup. This range will get your bait out a good distance from shore and will keep the line above most moderate surf conditions. I personally prefer a rod 9ft to 10ft in length for their versatility with different styles of fishing. I find that a 9ft rod, with the correct power and action, will easily cast out a Pompano rig with a 2oz to 4oz lead and can still keep the line above most moderate surf conditions.  Additionally, the 9ft to 10ft rod tends to wear me out less if I want to throw on a spoon or jig to sight cast for Redfish, Snook, and Tarpon. If you have ever tried to toss a spoon with a big 12ft rod for an hour you will know what I mean. One downside of the shower surf rod is that rough surf conditions and tall waves may drag your line around which can lead to twisted up leader and off target bait.

If you fish in an area where you consistently need to toss your bait out 70+ yards, adding a little length to your rod may be a necessity. The added length can also help you if the surf conditions in your area produces tall waves by keeping your line out of the surf which in turn will help keep your bait in the target area. For my longer casting rods I tend to stay in the 11ft to 12ft range mostly so I don't have to deal with the added burden of transporting the big 15 footer. Most conditions I fish do not require me to launch the bait very far so anything over 12ft for me is a little overkill. When I know I will just be doing some “set it and forget it” type fishing the 11 to 12ft rod is the ticket. However, for those special days where I want to launch my bait a mile to target some shark or big Tarpon, I do keep the big boy around. With that being said, before you step up to the next length rod to increase your cast distance, be sure to checkout these great tips on casting (or at least getting your bait) further out there.

Power

Rod power determines how stiff the rod is and is expressed terms of weight.  The typical surf rod will be somewhere in the Medium to Heavy range with the most prominent being medium-heavy. The heavier the power of the rod the stiffer it is and the more pressure it requires to flex the rod. For surf fishing the primary consideration taken into account when selecting the power of a rod will be the weight of the lure or weight you will be casting on a regular basis. Most rods indicate the lure and line rating for the rod somewhere along the rod blank. For example, with my 12ft surf rod  typically throw a 2oz to 4oz Sputnik sinker. For this I selected a medium-heavy rod that has a lure rating of 2oz to 5oz. This range gets me just under the max range of the rod but just at the lower range.  This rod would be able to throw less or more weight, but will not be efficient in either case.

The other, and more obvious, consideration would be the size of fish you are targeting.  The bigger and/or more scrappy fish might require heavier line and in turn heavier power. Smaller fish like whiting, pompano, speckled trout, and flounder are best target using a medium power rod. Slightly larger fish such as bull red, striper, and bluefish would require a medium-heavy rod. Big fish such as tarpon, king mackerel, and smaller shark would need a Heavy power rod.

Action

The action of a rod is determined by how the rod bends when put under a load during a cast or a fight. The faster the action the further toward the tip of the rod for the start of the bend. So, fast action rods bend close to the tip, medium action rods bend somewhere in the middle, and slow action rods bend closer to the butt of the rod. Action also impacts how a rod fights fish in that faster action rods have more of the rod to use during a fight. In other words, faster action have more rod to use more as leverage against the fish, where slow action rods use less of the rod.

Fast action rods provide a more precise cast, a stronger hook set, and a more efficient fight when compared to the medium and slow action rods. Additionally, fast action rods tend to be more sensitive which lends well to more active fishing since you will be able to feel your lure lure during retrieval and will be better able to detect a fish strike. If you intend on doing any cast and retrieve style fishing with artificial lures, the fast action rod is preferred. If you value precision over distance a fast action rod typically outweighs the benefits of the slower action rods.

The slower action rods do however come with some added benefits to consider. The primary example being superior cast distance as they provide the ability to “load up” the rod with more energy which is translated to your bait. I think of this as slower action rods have more whip to sling the bait further out there. This additional whip also can be beneficial if you are casting live bait or tossing out anything that tends to come off the hook during the cast.  The slower action tends to be slightly more gentle to the lure on the ride out. If you tend to do more spiked fishing (casting and setting rod in a sand spike/rod holder) with circle hooks then the slower action rod can be a great choice.  Most anglers tend to stay in the medium rang for a little more versatility.

Now that you know how to choose a rod for surf fishing, read through our Best Spinning Reels for Surf Fishing to find a good match for your rod.

Tight Lines Y'all!