Surf Rod/Reel Recommendations Please

[The Rookie]

Hey all, i'm just starting to get into surf fishing and will be trying my hand at the outer banks in the beginning of Sept. I'm looking for opinions/recommendations for mid level or budget rod/reel set ups. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[thecameraguy]

If you are just getting started I'd go with a 9' or 10' Ugly Stick surf rod and a Penn 6500SS (or equivalent) reel. Many here may recommend a longer rod or different reel, but I have found this set-up to be adequate until you get some more experience. The upside is that you will have this combo for years so you'll be able to get the most out of your initial investment. Good luck! Make sure you post back here and lest us know how much success you have.

[C-Hawk18]

I'd go with a 9' Tica. Under $100. I have an Okuma Epixor 55 on it. I think I paid $45 for the reel off Ebay.

[The Rookie]

Thanks guys, i was looking at the Tica, but have heard mixed reviews. I would spring for a St. Croix as i have a few of them already in my boat and love them. The Penn 750ssm's i'm not thrilled with due to where they're made. I could pick up a used one but you never know what you're getting. Anyone have any recommendations on a good bait/plug St. Croix and reel to fit it? I was thinking about a Stradic, but don't know much about them. anyone use them?

Thanks!

[obnc]

I use both Tica rods and Stradic spinnings reels, and I love them. For the money, the Tica rod provides great performance. I especially like the fast action 10'6" rod (UEHA632002S).

If you want a conventional reel, Both the Penn 525 mag reels and the Daiwa SL20SX are really nice reels. It's hard to favor one over the other. Both reels cast very well. The Daiwa SL20SH (the slosh) is an older reel with a graphite spool and is a bargain at a 100 bucks.

[jrhjr]

Ocean Master OM10SC for 4 to 8 oz and a sl20sh. A sweet combo and reasonable $ (I've got several) If you're new at this you probably want to start with a spinning reel and maybe stay around 7 to 9' for the rod (no backlashes) I own a bunch of Stradics but they're fast, expensive and a little finicky. Try a Spheros. A little slower, same drag, less expensive and very durable.

Good Luck and have fun!

[The Rookie]

Thanks guys! Yeah i think a spinning rod will be a good start for me. I'll check the spheros out. Thanks! Any suggestions on a rod to go with it?

[The Rookie]

When you say the stradic is"fast" do you mean the retrieve?

[Bend-Lure]

My first surf rod was a 10.5 foot tica rated 2-8 oz. I loved it then, and I still use it all the time. It’s great for about 5 oz. You can lob an 8 out there but I wouldn’t really lay into a cast with 8 on it. It’s very thin compared to my 12’ers. The 10.5 is nice because you could really throw big lures with it to. Big bucktails, or big casting spoons. I have always had a stradic on it. Good reel, but I would probably go with a spheros if I had it to do again.

[Salmo trutta]

Tica all the way for the rod. Great price for the quality comparable to St. Croix.

As for reels, I usually buy cheap but they don't last long.

The Ocean Master heaver, rated to 10 ounce spinning rod like a broom stick. You probably want a rod with a little more play in it.

I have a 8' tica that I use for jetty fishing, throwing lures, sometimes bait up to 3 or 4 oz. Perfect lighter surf rod that can handle almost any lure application from the surf.

[Salmo trutta]

I want to get into conventional surf casting rods, mostly for 8 and bait drumin and for the sharks of summer. Something that's bigger than my 11' Ocean master spinning rod and that can hold more line than a spinniing reel.

I've looked at the Diawa Sealines and I like them.

Why go for the smaller SL20SH, why not go bigger? I doubt I'll be plugging with this reel. Is this reel more of a surf reel than say the 30? The Penn 525 mag seems a little small but I've heard good things.

[The Rookie]

Thanks ALL! I got the Tica 10'6" with the Spheros. Feels like a nice combo. Can't wait to try it out! Thanks for all the advice!

[Seahunter]

I want to get into conventional surf casting rods, mostly for 8 and bait drumin and for the sharks of summer. Something that's bigger than my 11' Ocean master spinning rod and that can hold more line than a spinniing reel.

I've looked at the Diawa Sealines and I like them.

Why go for the smaller SL20SH, why not go bigger? I doubt I'll be plugging with this reel. Is this reel more of a surf reel than say the 30? The Penn 525 mag seems a little small but I've heard good things.
Most get hung up with the distance thing or don't have the money for application specific tackle. Typically they compromise by using a smaller reel than they normally would for the application.

I'm and Abu guy so I can't give you a one on one relationship, but here is what I use. Size wise, the 20SH would relate to the Abu 6500 and the 30SH to the Abu 7500.

My light heaver setup is a 6500 Chrome Rocket (14# mono) on an Allstar 1418 (11'6") rod. This combo will throw 5 oz. further than you'll ever need for day to day fishing. Good tournament rod. I use it mainly for Stripers and Blues but have caught Drum on it as well. Not the best Drum combo but it will work if you have room to work. I wouldn't try fishing the conga line at the Point with it.

I keep two bait& 8 setups on the truck. The first is a Lamiglas 1221MH (10’) with a 7500C3CT (17# mono) This is my conga line combo. It was built specifically for throwing bait&8 in close quarters. Its short stature detracts from its distance casting ability but it’s my absolute favorite rod to fight a big fish with.

My go to setup for Drum, or anything else big, is a Lamiglas 1502MH (trimmed to 12'-3") with a 7500CT3 (17# mono). This is my reach out and touch someone combo when the big fish are around. The blank was trimmed to optimize distance when throwing 6-10 oz and bait. The combo is extremely light and an absolute joy to fish. Probably weighs less than your OM rod alone.

I have to warn you, all three of these combos are pricy.;-)

[Wave Washed Charles]

Tica/Spheros will be a fun setup if the fish are there, and you'll have no problem learning how to throw it and catching some fish with it. The thing is, you can't beat a conventional for distance. I've fished for the past 11 years with a Sealine/BG Gold setup and caught quite a lot of fish, but at that time I lived 15 minutes from the Point at Cape Hatteras and could fish when the fish were there. Now that I've moved to Northern VA I finally broke down and bought a Mag 525 and 12 foot heaver, why? because now i can only fish on weekends. I love reeling in big stripers on the spinner, and have a selection of 4 to 6 oz metal to toss, but in the past if the fish weren't biting close to shore I just went home and fished another day while the guys throwing 8nBait 30 yards farther than me were catching fish.
Enjoy your setup, keep your eyes open and plan on adding a conventional in a year or two you'll never regret owning one, so far I haven't.

[Salmo trutta]

So you're getting that much further with a 525 than with the sea line? Why not just put the sealine on the 12 footer?

[Bend-Lure]

Thanks ALL! I got the Tica 10'6" with the Spheros. Feels like a nice combo. Can't wait to try it out! Thanks for all the advice!

Good Choice ;-) You will like it.