If you are serious about catching fish from shore, you’ll want to spend a little extra to get the best surfcasting rod in your arsenal.
We recommend the Fiblink 2-Piece Surf Casting Fishing Rod if you are looking for the best compact surfcasting rod on the market.
Considering that your surfcasting rod and reel are often the two most expensive tools in your fishing tackle, it’s crucial to do your due diligence before parting with your money.
So we’ve put together this list to help you find the best surfcasting rods worth buying.
Read more about our top five picks below.
Best Surfcasting Rods – Reviews & Buying Guide
Best Overall: Fiblink 2-Piece Surf Casting Fishing Rod
If you are looking to buy the most compact casting surf rods on the market, we strongly recommend this option.
This Fiblink’s fishing rod is an excellent pick for anglers who prefer to travel light.
In addition to being lightweight, the rod won’t take up a lot of space, thanks to its two-piece construction.
With this option, you’ve got a 2-piece rod that works great both from the shoreline and inside a boat.
The folks at Fiblink did an amazing job with the design concept of this surfcasting fishing rod, offering anglers the perfect strength to weight ratio.
The 2-Piece Surf Casting Fishing Rod by Fiblink comes in a state-of-the-art carbon fiber construction; little wonder it is incredibly sensitive.
Whether you are casting from the shore or in the middle of the open waters inside your boat, the solid carbon fiber construction ensures extra toughness and durability.
Available in lengths ranging from 9 to 13 feet, you are most likely to find a rod length that suits your fishing style.
Two other remarkable features that make this one of the best surfcasting rods are the non-slip handle and the reel seat.
With a non-slip, diamond X-wrap rubber covering the shrink tube handle, you get a firmer, secured grip.
And the high-strength reel seat combined with high-density EVA grips ensures you have greater control and maximum comfort during fishing.
For guides, Fiblink employs a mix of stainless steel and ceramic material.
This combo minimizes friction during long casts. Plus, the smoothness of the guides prevents lines from getting stuck.
Regardless of all of these outstanding features, you can still pick up this rod at a price that won’t hurt your wallet. We’ll like to keep this review balanced.
And although this is our best overall pick, it is important to point out the recurrent complaint about the eyelets not being as durable as other parts of the rod. But that’s not a deal-breaker for many people.
Featured Specs
- Material: Graphite
- Size: 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 feet
- Technique: Surf
Pros
- Moderately priced surfcasting fishing rod
- Impressive sensitivity and performance action
- Travel-friendly fishing rod
- Works great for boat fishing
- Non-slip rubber handle
Cons
- Eyelets are not very durable
Runner-Up: Berkley Big Game Fishing Rod
This rod from Berkley is constructed with materials that resist impact and fracture. It is offered at an incredibly low price yet it does what it is designed to do very well.
The design combines good-quality materials, such as carbon, titanium alloy, and zirconium to produce a thin, stout, and ultra-lightweight rod.
Berkley Big Game might be worth considering if extremely long surfcasting rods aren’t really your thing.
Berkley’s option should be on your radar if you are in the market for an affordable surf casting rod that doesn’t compromise quality.
The Big Game Casting Fishing Rod is the least expensive model on this list, making it a great pick for beginners to surf fishing.
Constructed with a tetra axial carbon material, you can expect nothing short of exceptional strength to do battle with the strongest of fish.
As you may have guessed, the construction material also ensures maximum durability. But one thing that might come as a surprise is the weight of the rod.
It is not the longest casting surf rod out there, but it is surprisingly lightweight for a stout rod.
This combination gives you a balanced rod that feels comfortable in the hand.
Talking about comfort, the cork handle is made with premium-grade material and it is full EVA.
To take the comfort level up a notch, Berkley threw in custom Fuji soft touch reel seats.
Titanium oxide inserts adorn the stainless steel guides to keep your line unfurling smoothly.
Featured Specs
- Material: Carbon
- Size: 6.6 feet
- Technique: Casting
Pros
- Budget-friendly surfcasting fishing rod
- Stout and solid rod
- Lightweight, balanced, and durable
- Premium-grade cork with full EVA handles
- Soft-touch reel seat
Cons
- Not the best pick if you’re looking to cast for greater distance
Alternative: Berrypro Super Panther Surf Fishing Rod
Available in 9 to 13.3-feet, this rod with its aesthetically pleasing workmanship is an excellent choice for anglers who want a spinning rod.
It is also a great pick if you pier fish or surf fish for larger species, such as halibut or stripers.
Berrypro solidly constructed the rod using high-quality and durable components, making it an ideal option for casting lures into the surf and controlling even the most stubborn fish.
It is a long-lasting fishing rod and one that you should consider adding to your collection.
If you are completely new to conventional casting, you may have an easier time getting a handle on this fishing method using the Berrypro Super Panther Surf Fishing Rod.
Besides its great looks, the rod is extremely light and very flexible. But don’t mistake these characteristics for a weak rod.
The Super Panther is as sturdy as any good-quality surfcasting rod can ever be.
Constructed using an advanced X-carbon technology, the rod is incredibly tough, durable, and sensitive.
To take the sensitivity to an even higher level, Berrypro included enhanced K-frame stainless steel guides with a ceramic ring.
And as if that’s not enough, the guides are positioned along the bottom of the blank’s spine with extreme precision.
This allows the slightest vibrations to move along the line to the rod and eventually to the angler’s hand very quickly.
Here’s another reason this rod should be on your radar. You’ll hardly experience hand fatigue even when you spend all day casting. And that’s because of the comfortable grips.
Compared to many other surf poles, this one has thinner grips. Plus, the lightness of the rod means you’ll only have the weight of your catch to worry about.
Featured Specs
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Size: 9, 10, 10.6, 11, 12, and 13.3 feet
- Technique: Spinning
Pros
- Great price
- Durable anti-wear butt cap offers increased rod protection
- Remarkable and exquisite workmanship
- Precisely aligned guides improve vibration transfer
- Backed by a one-year warranty
Cons
- Not the best choice if you want a greater reach for long-distance casts
Alternative: Fiblink 4-Piece Surf Spinning & Casting Fishing Rod
Consider this 4-piece rod if you love our best overall product but want something that offers more casting distance.
At a maximum length of 15 feet, this is the longest casting surf rod on this list.
It is also a fantastic choice if you want a surfcasting fishing rod that is convenient to transport. It assembles and disassembles easily for travel.
It follows Fiblink’s tradition of excellent built quality. At its current price, this surfcasting rod is an absolute steal!
This 4-Piece option from Fiblink is, no doubt, among the best surfcasting rods you can currently lay your hands on in the market.
While the product is moderately priced, it comes with a solid construction that ensures toughness and durability.
This comes down to the carbon fiber reinforced material used in crafting the rod. The rod features an improved 30T Japanese carbon fiber blank.
This accounts for its exceptional sensitivity, increasing its capability to transfer the smallest changes in water current as well as covert fish movements around your lure even when they don’t actually bite.
Similar to the 2-piece model, the Fiblink 4-piece surfcasting fishing rod features guides constructed using a combination of stainless steel and ceramic materials.
Vibrations from the line to the guide are enhanced, thanks to the smoothness and sensitivity of the guides.
The rod also comes with a non-slip rubber shrink tube handle as well as a real seat with a high-quality cork grip.
In addition to giving the rod a traditional look and feel, these features improve control and comfortability.
If for some reason, you get a defective rod, do not hesitate to contact the company.
The manufacturer backs the product with a one-year warranty and 100% money-back guarantee, so you can shop confidently.
Featured Specs
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Size: 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15 feet
- Technique: Casting
Pros
- Works well for a variety of casting lengths
- Comes complete with a convenient protection bag
- Competitive price
- 4-piece construction allows for easy transportation
- One-year warranty with a full money-back guarantee in case of a defective product
Cons
- Considerably heavy rod, making it unsuitable for all-day casting
Alternative: Savage Gear Squad Surf Casting Rod
This is a heavy-duty surf fishing rod built to pack a punch yet very lightweight.
The overall construction is superb and you can confidently purchase the rod, knowing that you’ll get your money back if you are not satisfied no questions asked!
Don’t mind spending extra cash to get the best rod for surf fishing? Savage Gear’s rod might be just what you’re looking for.
The Savage Gear Squad Surf Casting Rod is the most expensive option on this list. And as expected, it comes with a handful of impressive and innovative features.
This rod is engineered with first-rate materials, such as a 24-ton high modulus carbon, making it a great choice for both freshwater and saltwater fishing.
It is fitted with slip-resistance grips to give you the highest level of control while fishing, regardless of whether conditions.
Savage Gear’s rod comes with Fuji SS Tangle K-guides and alconite inserts. This makes for the smooth unfurling of your line so you don’t have to worry about tangles.
Featured Specs
- Material: Carbon
- Size: 10, 10.6, and 11 feet
- Technique: Surf
Pros
- Slip-resistance grips maximize comfort
- Powerful, durable, yet light rod
- Designed to increase accuracy
- Reel seat fits nicely on the rod
- Offers 100% money-back guarantee
Cons
- A pricier fishing rod
Surfcasting Rods FAQ
What is the best length for a surfcasting rod?
As with most things fishing, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the length of surfcasting rods.
The most suitable length will vary from angler to angler depending on a few different factors, such as the style you want to fish, how often you want to cast, what you’re going after, and even your height.
Generally, if you are hoping to cast a good distance from the shore, you should be looking at between 10 and 14-foot surfcasting rods.
In some cases, you can even go for a 15-feet surfcasting fishing rod if you really want to cast very far.
On the other hand, if your fishing style entails casting more often, you will be better off with shorter surfcasting fishing rods of between 7 and 9 feet.
To be on the safer side, a 9-foot rod is better for a short surfcasting fishing rod.
However, 11 to 12 feet is generally okay if we must choose a single optimal length for surfcasting fishing rods.
This length range is ideal for a couple of reasons. First, it is long enough to offer a combination of ideal hook setting capability and excellent long casting distance.
Secondly, it is not difficult to maneuver, as the rod is not too that it becomes awkward and tiring.
But are longer casting surf rods better?
If surf fishing is your thing, then yes, longer rods are your best companions.
Why is that?
If you’re going surf fishing, you can generally expect to find fish on the edges of sandbars no less than 50 to 150 yards from the shorelines.
That means you will need the longest casting surf rod you can find to reach this distance.
Short rods (7 to 9-feet) are not entirely bad for surf fishing. They are great when it comes to deploying baits. Plus, they cast fine, too.
But during a battle, a snag, or a bit, you will have less power and lesser control with short rods.
Bottom line: consider your limit when choosing the best long-distance surfcasting rods. If you can use a 13 to 15 feet rod without pain or fatigue, by all means, go for it.
If 11 feet or a little less is your limit, stick with that length to give better casting and fighting power.
But if you don’t have any idea what your limit is, consider going for the sweet spot, which is between 11 and 12-feet rod.
Do longer fishing rods cast further?
A rod’s length typically affects the accuracy, hook set leverage, and of course, casting distance. This means longer fishing rods will generally cast further than shorter rods.
Longer rods allow you to reach a greater distance because the force you create during the load combines with the energy created when the rod flexes.
The combination of these two moves up the line and as a result, more energy is generated and more distance is covered.
On the flip side, shorter rods are generally more accurate compared to longer fishing rods. In other words, a short fishing rod is your best bet if you are fishing brush, docks, or other tight covers.
But if you want more leverage, as you’ll certainly need for catching fish from shore, it is best to go with long-distance surfcasting rods.
Accuracy isn’t so much a concern when making long casts from shore.
However, surfcasting rods and reels that match perfectly will deliver the best results when it comes to additional casting distance.
This means it is important to increase the line capacity of your reels because smaller spooled reels won’t offer significant benefits when paired with longer fishing rods.
Bigger reels allow you to have more lines on your spool, and that makes it easier to unroll on a cast.
What’s the most expensive fishing rod?
Whether you are looking to invest some serious money in fishing gear or just curious to know the most expensive fishing rods on the market, here are some of the options with steep price tags:
- Crowder Rods: These have a more modern touch and start at a little over $500. Options with more accessories and features can have prices going up to a few thousand dollars.
- Daiwa Rods: Starting at over $500, Daiwa Rods can be customized for several purposes. And with more customization comes a higher price tag. These rods are excellent for underarm, sidearm, and overhead casts.
- Orvis Helios 2 Fishing Rod: With this fishing rod, you should be looking to spend about $800 for a cheap option. Whether you’re looking to get a rod that’s great for freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, or fly fishing, Orvis Helios has something suitable for your interest.
- Combo Bent Butt Fishing Rod: Combining modern materials with state-of-the-art manufacturing, Bent Butt rods offer anglers remarkable strength and control. The Combo Bent Butt Fishing Rod is priced at nearly $1,800, making it one of the most expensive fishing rods.
- Oyster Bamboo Fly Rod: This is the most expensive fishing rod in the world, with a price tag of $4,600. Every unique piece is hand-crafted to suit individual customers fishing needs. The rod comes with gold inlays and engravings.
Are bamboo rods worth anything?
Yes, bamboo rods are sought-after collection pieces. Antique bamboo rods can cost up to several thousand dollars at auctions, but that doesn’t mean you’ll become instantly rich just because you have or find one.
Not all bamboo fishing rods are created equal. A valuable collectible fishing rod is manufactured by a reputable maker, such as Everett Garrison and Harold Steel “Pinky” Gillum.
Depending on the model and the time you find one on the market, a Garrison rod can go for as much as $20,000.
Pinky Gillum rods are also very expensive considering their rarity and exceptional casting ability. However, they are not as flawless as Garrison’s rods.
If you own or find an antique bamboo rod by Edward Payne, you may be looking at a value of around $8,000, especially if it is still in great condition.
A few out of the many other respected rod makers with valuable rods include
- Everett Garrison H.S. Gillum
- Lyle Dickerson Phillipson
- Granger Thaddeus Norris
- Jim Reams Kovalovsky
- Orvis F.E. Thomas Edwards
So, if you somehow stumbled over a bamboo rod in the attic or have a collection and you’ll like to know the value, start by checking for trademarks and signatures.
Conclusion
Whether you are new to surf fishing or you’ve been in the game for a while, finding the best surfcasting rod can significantly improve your results.
While all of the surfcasting rods on this list are great, you need to factor in your fishing style, the fish you are going after, and specific fishing conditions you’ll be fishing before choosing a rod.
In addition to putting food on the table, money in your pocket, or just fulfilling your hobby, surf fishing is an excellent sport and the best surfcasting fishing rods will make the activity worth your while.
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