Home Forums Fishing Saltwater Surf Rods

Going to be camping at St Joe State Park in Northern Florida for a couple of weeks this spring.

I'd like to try surf fishing and have no idea of what length rod I should be looking for. I have a couple of Cardinal #6 reels I will be using. They are a decent quality reel and will be spooled up with a couple of hundred yards of 40-50# Power Pro.

Also, if anyone should happen to have a couple of rods for sale, I'd be interested.

Thanks in advance

Long road are nice for surf fishing.

I'd look for a rod at least 10' and rated for your line and whatever you're casting for.

Have this rod

Good rod for price point. Shimano and okuma make a good med priced rod too

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product//B00BD57TW8/ref=twister_dp_update?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This helps greatly in casting and distance and prevents your finger from being torn up casting with braided lines.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Breakaway-Cannon-Casting-Aid/743343.uts

You didn't mention your targeted species, but 40-50# line is usually way overkill for surf fishing in Florida coastal waters, unless you're targeting tarpon or other big bruisiers. Otherwise, 14-25# class line with a fluorocarbon leader and a 7-8'6" rod is enough. The only other caveat would be trying to fling large baits out to a distance like a second sand bar.

A lot of the sport can get lost in the heft of the tackle.

Hello,

I have a good supply of 20# Power Pro I can use as well.

Don't really know much about what fish are available in late March. Whiting and Pompano?? Maybe Specs and Reds?

From what I've been able to gather, I'll maybe need to pitch a 2-3 oz sinker??

All my rods are 7' max for freshwater fishing.

Thanks,

Rudy

Braid under 30# or so can be hell on the hands and a pain in the azz.

I use 30 or 50 for about everything from trout to lings and kings. You can pack plenty on even a smallish reel and run a top shot of mono appropriate for your fishing and any other leader needed.

Like LD said, you don't have to use a long rod if you're catching little surf perch right off the beach, but if you want to chuck it out a ways, length is muy bueno.

10 ft harringtons with tld 50s 4/os and 6/0s.

I have most of my surf rods setup with 20 lb mono and i use the 50lb power pro for a shock leader 2 times the length of my rod. I love powerpro but experience less wind knots with mono. Length of your rod is highly dependent on where your fishing but 9-10 feet will work about anywhere.

Don't buy a cheap rod. Most of mine ran about $110 to $140. I've got one cheap one and I call it the "Lincoln Log". It's stiff as hell. Ive got a couple that are real good ones and the best one is a Penn, but can't remember the model#.

Surf fishing off of Cape Cod for Blues, Striped Bass, Bonito, Spanish Mackerel, I use 20# test mono with a 12" steel leader on a good 10 to 12 foot rod. I throw a 2 1/2 or 3 oz Hopkins or Deadly Dick. I've got all Penn Reels and the last model was called a "Battle". The older ones were model# 6500 or 7500.

As far as what is best for where you're going, I'm not too sure.

I've never seen that Breakaway Cannon Casting Aid thing before. I'm gonna have to try that. Currently I use waterproof medical adhesive tape on my finger. It helps increase my distance.

i know the guy who owns Breakaway tackle here in corpus, Nick makes good tackle geared towards distance casting in the surf.

My main surf rod is a breakaway. Probably 15 years old. Really a nice rod. When my gloves get old I cut the finger out of it. Fasten it with some duct tape. Works for me. I dont surf fish as much since I moved to SwFl Florida. Wadefish here.

BoarMaster, I love wading myself. Been doing it for about 45 years here in FL. Some spots here in FL, if you get in the water, you're standing on the fish.

rudyc, if you ever plan a trip as far as the Keys, look into Bahia Honda State Park. Try to get "Sandspur" section, if you can. Ocean side. It's mangroves and hardwood hammock, and the campsites are staggered, so you're not looking directly into each other's campsites. At Sandspur, you can just walk out down 30 steps from your campsite and be fishing.

If you can't get into Bahia Honda at your desired time, Long Key State Park is pretty nice, too. But, it's like a narrow peninsula.

Hi Local,

Thanks for the advice.

My wife and I spent some time camping at Long Key back in the '70's, we also were at Bahia Honda for a couple of days. Had a great time. The highlight of that trip were the couple of times we spent snorkeling on the reefs at John Pennycamp State Park. It felt like we were in the fish tank at Bass Pro Shops, only there were more and bigger fish and crazy pretty coral.

rudyc, if you were hitting those parks and fishing in the Keys back in the 70's, I'm sure you were having a good time. That was the golden age..