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Like freshwater fishing, saltwater anglers as a whole cast a wide net on the types of conditions they aim to fish in and catches they’re looking to snag. The result is that there are a wide variety of saltwater fishing rods aimed at catering to different styles, goals, and situations. The best way to start searching for your saltwater fishing rod is to look at your fishing location and the size of fish you plan to catch. This helps to fine-tune the details in your saltwater fishing rod selection.
Purchasing an inappropriate rod for your conditions and catch can result in disastrous consequences, as it’s not unheard of to see an angler with a broken rod, shattered guides, and reels that have broken free of their seats. When choosing a saltwater fishing rod, look for durability (the ability to flex along its length and remain flexed under enormous pressure repeatedly without cracking or breaking) and corrosion resistance for all metal surfaces exposed to salt.
Fortunately, this guide can help you delve through the different aspects of choosing a saltwater fishing rod to help you find the perfect match for your catch. With over 20,000 fishing items in our inventory, Outdoor Shopping has the most extensive lineup of fishing equipment online today! Shop our inventory of saltwater fishing rods at Outdoor Shopping.
Rod/Blank Materials
Material | Guidelines |
Graphite | The ultimate material for flexibility, sensitivity, and fighting power.The best graphite rods tend to be costlier but will be heavier, stronger, and more sensitive. |
Fiberglass | More durable but less sensitive than graphite, fiberglass rods are more ideal for boat rods, larger fish, and heavier applications. Fiberglass also tends to stand up better to the brutish abuse of saltwater fish species. |
Keep in mind that some of the best rods utilize layers of both graphite and fiberglass, capitalizing on the best qualities of both and allowing for more specific actions for certain rods. Composites of these two materials produce rods that are lightweight, powerful, and sensitive - but not as much as a pure blend of either material alone.
The material composition of all polymer and composite surfaces must be able to withstand degradation by sunlight and chemicals, such as boat fuel, solvents or lubricants.
Handle
Lighter materials tend to work better for bass-fishing, but with saltwater fishing, the abuse of rod holders, fight belts and chairs, and gunwales can quickly destroy lighter handles and render your saltwater fishing rod useless. Look for grips that are resistant to abuse and degradation by sunlight.
Material | Guidelines |
Cork | A comfortable and lightweight handle with sufficient grip, even when it's wet, that will transmit the delicate vibrations. Traditionalists tend to prefer cork over EVA foam counterparts. |
EVA Foam | Resists stains and is suited for rod holders more so than cork. Two-handed models produce optimal results for long casts and more leverage in a fight. |
Some rods requiring more sensitivity like slow action saltwater fishing rods will feature a split handle, allowing the user to place their finger or hand on the exposed section of blank.
Action
When you put pressure on the tip of your rod, how much does it bend? This is the ‘action’, which describes the flexibility of your rod. Sometimes slow action rods are termed 'parabolic', meaning the bend of the rod is similar throughout the length.
Action | Guidelines | Best for: |
Fast | A fast-action rod will bend in the top ⅓ or less of the blank and provide long, powerful casts. They’re generally used with heavy lines, lures, and baits. |
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Medium | Flexible along the top ½ of the shaft, these are popular because of their versatility. |
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Slow | These will sometimes start to bend in the lower third of the rod and offer little rigidity. |
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In addition, taper describes not only the thickness of the rod but also the thickness of the wall of the blank and where along the blank less material is used allowing more bend. Thus, taper affects action and is generally synonymous.
Specialty Saltwater Rods
With saltwater fishing rods, there are standard options that many find suitable to choose from, but specialty rods can improve your fishing situation for different saltwater conditions and catches.
Rod | Guidelines | Best for: |
Ice Rods | Shorter, these rods measure no more than 36” and are rigid with only two or three guides. With ice fishing, there’s no need for casting and, thus, no rod action. |
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Deep Sea Rods | Up to 14’ long, deep sea rods are extremely durable, are intended for larger catches, and are typically mounted to fishing boats. |
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Surf Rods | Can measure up to 14’ long with an elongated handle grip for double-handed casting. The long casting distance is essential to getting the line over the surf and into calmer waters. |
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Trolling Rods | With a fast action, these lines are dropped over the side of a boat, allowing the boat to drag the cast. |
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Rod Length: Saltwater fishing rods tend to come in lengths between 6-12 feet long, with rods between 8-9 feet being a good starting point for beginners.
With over 20,000 fishing items in our inventory, Outdoor Shopping has the most extensive lineup of fishing equipment online today! Shop our inventory of saltwater fishing rods at Outdoor Shopping.
