The Greatest Saltwater Fishing Rods for 2024, Examined

One of the best saltwater fishing rods will not be solely powerful sufficient to outlive the tough and tumble world of ocean, bay, and backwater, however are additionally delicate sufficient to detect refined bites in deep water. Sturdy blanks, corrosion-resistant parts, and superior supplies enable saltwater rods to detect the lightest chew and nonetheless have the facility to beat a pissed-off ocean predator. For this evaluate, I examined one of the best saltwater fishing rods to see how they carried out on the water. 

How We Selected the Greatest Saltwater Fishing Rods

To check one of the best saltwater fishing rods, I spent the previous yr fishing with those on this record. I focused speckled trout, striped bass, and redfish with the Daiwa Proteus. Then, I trolled for tuna, dolphin, and wahoo with the Shimano Tallus, and once I marked fish deep, I broke out the Carnage III for some jigging. Whereas testing the rods, I took notes on how nicely parts and development stood as much as arduous fishing. Solid after solid, drop after drop, I famous how the rods carried out in each energy and sensitivity. By means of this course of, I caught a number of fish. All the rods I examined will work a lure and struggle a fish, however they’re additionally a pleasure to fish with.

The Greatest Saltwater Fishing Rods: Evaluations and Suggestions

Greatest Inshore: Bull Bay Stealth Sniper

Key Options

• MSRP: $180
• Lengths: 7 and seven.5 foot 
• Powers: Medium mild, medium, and medium heavy
• Truth motion
• Carbon fiber clean
• Tangle free guides 
• EVA foam break up grip 

Examined Rod Specs

• 7 toes, medium
• Weight: 4.6 ounces
• Line Ranking: 6 to 12 kilos
• Lure Ranking: ¼ to ⅝ ounce
• Butt Size: 8.5 inches

Execs

• Light-weight 
• Spectacular spine
• Glorious casting accuracy and distance
• Affordable worth for elite efficiency
• Snug to solid all day

Cons

Bull Bay Rods is without doubt one of the smaller manufacturers on this record, however don’t let that idiot you into considering they’ll’t compete with the large names. The Stealth Sniper is probably the most well-rounded inshore rod we examined, having each finesse and spine. This rod can solid mild jigs a mile with spectacular accuracy and has the sensitivity and contact to work small lures exactly. What actually separated the Stealth Sniper from the pack was its power and talent to play massive fish that far exceeded its score. Whereas testing, this rod landed a number of jacks, snook, and black drum as much as 40 kilos. 

We preferred the ultra-comfortable foam break up grip that has prolonged size above the reel seat. The tangle-free guides and well-placed spherical hook keeper assist reduce problem and line interference when casting. 

Total, the Bull Bay Stealth Sniper was probably the most full rod we examined from prime to backside. Its good mixture of finesse and power makes it the perfect inshore spinning rod. With a price ticket of $180, it’s additionally considerably cheaper than different comparable rods on this record. When a rod with this stage of efficiency is paired with a price ticket like that, it’s arduous to disclaim it the highest spot. — Kevin Hughes

Learn Subsequent: Greatest Inshore Spinning Reels

Greatest Premium: Fenwick World Class

Key Options

• MSRP: $475
• Lengths: 6.5, 7, 7.5, and eight toes
• Powers: Medium mild, medium, medium heavy, heavy, and additional heavy
• Actions: Quick and additional quick
• Spinning and casting rods accessible 
• 40/36 ton graphite mix with reinforcing resin
• Titanium information frames with zirconia inserts
• Cork and foam grip 
• Tangle free guides

Examined Rod Specs

• 7 toes, medium 
• Line Ranking: 8 to 17 kilos
• Lure Ranking: ¼ to 1 ounce 

Execs

• Extremely snug to fish
• Handles a variety of line and lure weights
• Extraordinarily light-weight

Cons

• Costly
• Poor hook keeper placement

I’ll minimize proper to the chase; this rod is unimaginable. In truth, have been it not for the exorbitant price ticket and a baffling design flaw with the hook keeper, it simply would have been rated as the highest rod. 

Let’s begin with the positives. This rod fishes like no different inshore spinning rod I’ve used. Regardless of being thicker close to the grip than different rods in its class, it’s nonetheless extremely mild and casts like a dream. The sensitivity when working small lures was past spectacular, and the palm becoming design of the grips and reel seat make it one of the snug rods I’ve ever fished. 

Very like the Stealth Sniper, the World Class can also be astonishingly adept at dealing with fish a lot bigger than its score would recommend. It has an nearly supernatural skill to subdue fish that may push different rods to the breaking level. It’s arduous to explain in phrases, however this rod allows you to join and direct the fish throughout a struggle in a approach that’s distinctive and spectacular. 

Now, let’s handle the negatives. At practically $500, it’s on the prime finish of the marketplace for inshore spinning rods. Whilst you definitely get what you pay for in regard to efficiency and high quality, there’s no denying that it’s a hefty worth. Second, and maybe one of the complicated design flaws I’ve ever seen, this rod has an oblong hook keeper positioned on the left aspect of the rod, simply above the foregrip.

The form and placement of the keeper signifies that, when you aren’t paying consideration, your line will loop across the keeper whereas casting, inflicting your solid to stall and your lure to fly again at your face. I can not for the lifetime of me determine how this component made it on an in any other case nearly good rod. My finest guess is that it’s a vestige of the baitcasting rod design, for the reason that looping downside can be a non-issue with a baitcaster. It’s a small flaw that’s simple to repair with a pair of pliers, however that shouldn’t be the case on a rod this nicely designed and this costly. 

Hook keeper and worth apart, the Fenwick World Class is an absolute dream to fish. No different rod we examined had its mixture of really feel, power, consolation, and high quality. For those who’re snug with the fee and don’t thoughts bending the hook keeper, this rod is the whole inshore fishing package deal and nicely definitely worth the worth. — Kevin Hughes

Greatest for New England: Shimano Teramar NE 

Key Options

• MSRP: $230
• Lengths: 6.5 and seven toes
• Powers: Medium, medium heavy, and heavy
• Actions: Average quick, quick, and additional quick 
• EVA foam grip 
• SeaGuide Zirconia guides
• TC4 Carbon clean

Examined Rod Specs

• 7 toes, medium
• Line Ranking: 10 to twenty kilos

Execs

• Sturdy
• Glorious for jigging
• A lot of spine

Cons

What the St. Croix Legend Event Inshore is for finesse, the Shimano Teramar NE is for jigging. The NE within the identify stands for “Northeast” and it’s simple to see why, because it’s designed particularly for the Northeast model of inshore fishing that usually means casting or vertical jigging heavier jigs and plugs.

When it got here to throwing heavier lures, this rod was in a position to deal with the pressure of casting whereas nonetheless offering us the sensitivity to work the lures precisely. It was the proper rod for throwing jigs within the ¼ to 1 ounce vary for bigger snook and redfish and had a powerful quantity of spine to maintain the fish pinned and switch their heads through the struggle. The prolonged EVA foam grip rested properly below my arm and supplied a superb quantity of torque whereas enjoying fish. 

This rod is a good instance of why it’s necessary to grasp what a rod is constructed for and the way it feels, relatively than simply counting on specs. The Teramar NE we examined is technically the identical measurement, energy, and motion because the St. Croix Legend Event and the Fenwick World Class. However the three rods couldn’t be extra totally different from a efficiency perspective. The Teramar NE is the bully of the inshore rods we examined, excelling at sticking massive fish and protecting them caught. Whereas it’s undoubtedly not a rod I’d advocate for finesse functions, you’ll be arduous pressed to discover a higher, lighter rod for placing the hammer on fish round construction or in deeper jigging situations. — Kevin Hughes

Greatest Gentle/Heavy Crossover: Daiwa Again Bay

Key Options

• MSRP: $150
• Lengths: 7 toes, 1 inch; 7.5 toes, and seven toes, 10 inches
• Powers: Medium, medium heavy, and heavy
• Actions: Quick and additional quick
• Cork grip
• Fuji FazLite tangle free Okay guides

Examined Rod Specs

• 7.5 foot, medium heavy
• Line Ranking: 10 to twenty kilos
• Lure Ranking: ⅜ to 1 ounce 

Execs

• Effectively-rounded
• Fairly priced
• Good casting distance
• Sturdy spine

Cons

The Daiwa Again Bay proved to be an ideal bridge between the sunshine deal with rods and the heavier responsibility ones. Daiwa markets the Again Bay collection as a flexible crossover rod for east coast inshore situations, and after testing it I firmly agree. I discovered that the 7-foot, 6-inch, medium-heavy Again Bay had sufficient sensitivity and finesse to work lighter deal with. The quick motion tip was delicate sufficient to impart refined motion to jigs and smaller plugs, in addition to really feel lighter strikes. Whereas this was a pleasing shock, the rod nonetheless carried out nicely as a heavy-duty setup, particularly when combating bigger fish. 

It was wonderful for throwing jigs within the ½ to 1 ounce vary and had sufficient stopping energy to show the heads of bigger snook and drum. The tangle free guides and basic cork grip present a clear casting expertise, and the rod itself has the proper quantity of energy for ripping lengthy casts with small to medium sized lures. If there are any actual drawbacks to the Again Bay, they aren’t instantly noticeable. The largest challenge I see is the dearth of a protecting coating on the clean, which might result in vital put on and tear down the road, particularly if utilizing this rod in harsher situations. — Kevin Hughes

Learn Subsequent: Greatest Inshore Spinning Rods

Key Options 

• Weight: 1 pound
• Materials: Graphite
• Line guides: Fuji Okay guides with aluminum oxide rings
• Standard rod

Execs

• Carbon bias development
• Fuji back-stop locking reel seat
• Winn grips

Cons

• Winn grips solely on choose fashions

Go away it to Daiwa to throw all the most recent rod-building developments right into a collection of high-quality saltwater rods anybody can afford. Once I acquired a take a look at pattern, I needed to name Marc Mills, Daiwa’s discipline advertising and marketing supervisor to clarify all of the bells and whistles this rod accommodates. The HFV Nano Plus clean’s design has an unimaginable weight-to-strength ratio that helps forestall the rod from twisting below strain. I can really feel the end result once I’m combating a giant fish as a substitute of combating the fishing rod. Extra energy is transferred from the rod to the road to assist elevate the fish and maintain the road guides perpendicular to the water whenever you’ve acquired a giant one hooked. And the clean makes use of Daiwa’s Braiding X mixture of resin and materials that makes the rod extremely robust but sturdy. 

Daiwa added Fuji’s newest FazLight Tanglefree guides with ceramic middle ring for longer casts and fewer friction. Considered one of my favourite options is Fuji’s back-stop reel seat that makes use of a lock nut to maintain the clamp from loosening whereas the reel is below strain. A number of Proteus fashions characteristic Winn grips that are dense polymer grips that supply extra seize and a softer really feel whereas nonetheless being more durable than EVA and cork. The Proteus Boat Rod is one in all my favourite fashions, however the collection covers inshore and offshore fishing with the identical clean know-how and probably the most superior parts.

Learn Subsequent: Shimano Nasci: Saltwater Spinning Reel Overview

Key Options 

• Weight: 3 kilos
• Materials: Graphite and fiberglass
• Line Guides: Fuji Okay Guides with Alconite inserts
• Spinning rod

Execs

• Sturdy carbon and fiberglass composite clean
• Responsive and durable line guides
• Aluminum gimbal

Cons

• Solely accessible in a single measurement

Vertical jigging opened up offshore fishing to a brand new era of anglers, and PENN’s Carnage III makes the game much more accessible. Earlier than vertical jigging hit the water, when you wished to focus on tuna or wahoo you wanted a dozen heavy motion trolling rods. Vertical jigging lets you goal the identical fish with a single light-weight fishing rod and high-power reel. PENN’s Carnage III Jigging rod is greater than as much as the take a look at. Regardless that the Carnage III is without doubt one of the extra inexpensive jigging rods, PENN didn’t skimp on the parts with Fuji Okay guides with sturdy SiC (silicon-carbide) inserts to deal with the warmth of a giant fish. 

The weak level on most jigging rods is the reel seat. I’ve seen a pissed off tuna rip a reel proper off a jigging rod. However not with the Carnage III’s Fuji graphite and aluminum reel seat. The reel seat is formed to cup with one hand that gives a snug maintain whereas jigging. I’ve additionally seen tuna yank a jigging rod from an angler’s hand, however PENN gave the Carnage III rubberized shrink-wrapped grips which are sturdy and sticky even when lined with fish slime and sweat. My favourite characteristic is the aluminum gimbal, a top quality contact that pays off when the rod is bent double and jammed right into a combating belt. Presently, the Carnage III solely is available in one measurement that’s applicable for medium-sized tuna and massive backside fish. Nonetheless, this rod is a superb selection for saltwater jigging. 

Key Options 

• Weight: 1.49 kilos
• Materials: Carbon fiber
• Line guides: Stainless body with aluminum oxide eyes
• Spinning rod

Execs

• Cool shade
• Subsequent-generation carbon fiber compound
• Snug Winn fore grip

Cons

For the least friction and probably the most power, St. Croix added their stainless-steel line guides with slim aluminum oxide rings to their Seage rod. The reel seats are low profile and supply a light-weight really feel when holding the reel that reduces fatigue when casting within the surf all day and thru the evening. 

Like all St. Croix rods, the know-how comes packaged in a cool-looking rod. The deep, darkish blue shade actually stands proud on a crowded seaside. And, the built-in hoods on the reel seat and slim line guides appear like they imply enterprise. The shrink wrapped butt and Winn foregrips have a minimalist design, but they supply most traction and a bit of give for consolation. Cork accents within the butt add a basic look to the fashionable rod. However the true take a look at comes on the seaside whenever you solid to striped bass or education crimson drum. 

St. Croix’s dedication to particulars turned evident once I casted the Seage. On the again solid, I felt the rod loading however not overloading or lagging. And on the solid, the facility transferred by way of the rod like a whip to launch my lure towards the horizon. The stiff and responsive SCII carbon fiber returns to a straight place that reduces friction that may in any other case have an effect on distance and accuracy.  

Key Options 

• Weight: 7 ounces
• Materials: Fiberglass
• Guides: One-piece stainless-steel
• Spinning rod

Execs

• Reasonably priced
• Sturdy
• Snug padded grips

Cons

• Much less delicate than graphite

This heavy-duty spinning rod has been up to date with even more durable parts and development. Ugly Stik swapped their well-known unbreakable fiberglass clean with graphite composite so as to add sensitivity and scale back weight whereas sustaining sturdiness. The Bigwater provides sturdy, one-piece stainless-steel line guides that don’t have a ceramic insert to interrupt, and the fabric is corrosion resistant for years of wear-n-tear. 

With fashions from medium to heavy, and lengths from 6 toes, 6 inches to 15-foot lengthy, the Bigwater has a mannequin for all the things from casting to trolling to surf fishing. I’ve a set of Bigwater backside fishing rods on my boat, and the 7-foot, medium-heavy rods are good for dropping an eight-ounce sinker and backside rig to sea bass and triggerfish. The Bigwater is a good cut price, so I bought 4 of them to maintain rigged with totally different backside rigs that I can simply hand to visitors who don’t have their very own rod. The Bigwater has the spine to elevate a double-header of sea bass off the underside with a forgiving spine that absorbs the runs and dives of massive bluefish or cussed shark. These rods are powerful, so I don’t fear about banging them across the boat. In truth, Bigwater rods have in all probability caught extra fish than some other rod on my boat. 

Issues to Think about Earlier than Shopping for a Saltwater Fishing Rod

After years of fishing saltwater, I’ve seen rods fail, disintegrate, snap, and explode. In my expertise, one of the best saltwater rods don’t should be fancy, cool trying (although it is a plus), or costly to get the job finished. Whether or not they give the slightest bump of a speckled trout or the explosive strike of a dashing wahoo, one of the best saltwater fishing rods can suck it up and dish it out. Listed here are some issues to contemplate before you purchase one.

Clean

The clean is a fishing rod’s spine. It’s the tapered tube of composite fibers that’s the basis for the grips, reel seat, and line guides. First, contemplate the clean materials. Fishing rods are product of fiberglass or graphite, additionally known as carbon fiber. And a few rods are product of a mixture of supplies. Briefly, fiberglass is cheaper and stronger however much less delicate. Graphite is lighter and extra delicate, however can also be dearer and fewer sturdy than fiberglass and is usually labeled with weight scores like 24 ton or 30 ton to point the rigidity of the fabric. The next quantity is lighter and stiffer, but additionally extra brittle. I don’t put an excessive amount of weight into this designation. To me, rod development is extra necessary than properties of the uncooked supplies, and I haven’t discovered any correlation between weight numbers and rod high quality. 

Listed here are some guidelines you’ll be able to observe: An extended clean makes an extended solid, whereas a shorter clean provides extra accuracy and combating energy. Blanks are rated from mild to additional heavy weight to match the scale of the lure and the scale of the goal fish. Rods are additionally rated gradual to additional quick to point how deep the rod tip bends in direction of the rod butt. A quick rod solely bends on the tip, whereas a gradual rod provides a deeper bend. Usually, quick rods are extra delicate and correct whereas gradual rods present an extended solid and extra combating energy. Lastly, a fishing rod is rated by lure weight and line weight. In my expertise, this classification is taken with a grain of salt. A ½- to 1-ounce rod could also be good for a 2-ounce lure and there’s nothing flawed with utilizing 10-pound take a look at line with a rod rated for 20- to 50-pound line.

Line Guides

Line guides are crucial element that have an effect on casting distance and combating energy. They’re additionally often the very first thing to interrupt. While you solid, the road information’s job is to gather line because it leaves the reel and direct it out of the rod with the least resistance. To struggle a fish, the road information transfers combating energy from the reel to the fish. The hardest rod guides are single piece stainless-steel or titanium. Line guides with a ceramic or composite insert solid farther however appear to interrupt sooner. Superior line guides with ceramic inserts are extra delicate to telegraph each nibble.

Reel Seat and Grips

The reel seat and grips are sometimes neglected, till a giant fish takes off and rips the reel from the rod or pulls the rod out of your palms. For mild motion rods, the reel seat and grips enhance sensitivity. In my expertise, one of the best reel seat is mild and stiff and even exposes a part of the rod clean to really feel the slightest chew. The grips are additionally mild and slim with a snug really feel for casting all day. On heavy rods, the reel seat and grips forestall a giant fish from breaking apart the occasion. Steel or high-impact graphite reel clamps join the reel securely to the rod.

Really feel

Once I go rod procuring, I take my reel to the deal with store. I collect all of the rods within the applicable class, after which I take a look at the burden, stability, and grip of the reel on the rod. In truth, I don’t hesitate to string the road by way of the eyes and tie on a lure to check the motion. Once I take into consideration the hours I’m going to spend with a fishing rod, I put quite a lot of effort into selecting an ideal match. For those who can, get your palms on one before you purchase it.

FAQs

Last Ideas

It doesn’t matter what sort of saltwater fishing you propose on doing, there are many choices for various situations and budgets. Think about the way you’ll spend most of your time fishing, and select one of the best saltwater rods that work finest for you. For those who can, get your palms on a couple of totally different ones to strive them before you purchase them.