There's some nice rods Roger! And
I'm big on the land based shark fishing too, but don't feel limited. Just as happy catching a minnow so long as its big enough to toss on the barbie!
Look forward to the day I can pop over for your annual beach fishoff on PINS, and bring some of my gear along to give it a Texas workout. Only problem there is my van is a 2WD and I worry (just a little) about getting bogged down. In Florida I dont worry so much as I just park off A1A and walk over a few yards to the beach.
Meanwhile I have decided on the 12' seeker blank to go full conventional, having today viewed a number of Larry Finch (based in JAX) videos. His style re pompanos and whiting is right in line with mine even if he is based a couple hundred miles north of where I fish which is around Sebastian inlet in Brevard County. (Where we lived before I moved up to ATL, but where we still frequent). That one will be rigged with a 7000 narrow or a Penn 525Mag (with the mags pretty much disabled, i.e. "commando")