Surf Rod

[Luna Sea 5]

I was using my 11' Ugly Stick surf rod.. Since the SurfRocket wasn't around, I realized how important it is to have your cast go past the beakers.

There were times my line would get washed back to the beach.

I just ordered a 15' rod from cabelas.  Hopefully that will some some of the problem.

[Hotrod]

Yea. Nick..  Nothing like having Kenny There

[Bucktail]

IMO a 15' rod will be very difficult to cast.  You're probably better off going with an 11' or maybe 12' and really practicing your distance casting technique (if distance is your main concern).  The reel you choose will also be an important factor.

My .02

-Bob

[Luna Sea 5]

Well, I know the fundamentals of casting.  I am using a Penn 8500 SS with power pro on a 11 Ugly Stick.  I am casting a 6oz weight with a whole bunker on it.. I still got cut marks on my casting fingers, bleeding like crazy for 2 days now.

[IrishAyes]

Get yourself a finger guard. It is a leather like 'finger glove' that you slip over your finger to eliminate the cuts. 

Also, with the ground swells and moon tide currents a 6 ounce weight probably is way too light to enable you to hold bottom. A longer rod won't help all that much for that.

[Reel Time]

 with what your trying to chuck, it will be difficult to cast far with any setup.

 i hate ugly sticks for casting, to much tip flopping in the breeze. i have an 11 penn graphite that will cast just about as far as i want it to with 4-6 oz of weight, and a clammy.
 
 with a whole bunker you will probally need to bump up the sinker to fight it from being drug all over the place.

 as for the finger, use waterproof cloth surgical tape wrapped around your casting finger right where the string lays across. has worked for me for years, and its cheap compared to how many uses you get out of it.

[Luna Sea 5]

thanks for the help everyone.. I am new to the surf fishing, but now I am committing myself to it for this fall.  The guys I brought with me the last time called me today asking when I am going again.  I may have to make this a weekly thing.

[first2wins]

I have seen a quite a few 15’ rods…..they are latched to the truck and used as a flag pole. 

All kidding aside there are a few things to try first. 

Get out when ever you can but next time ask if you can toss some of there rods to feel the difference.  Nothing against ugly sticks they can take a beating but the ones I have used in the past have a very soft tip much like Real Time mentioned

Dicks, Sports Authority sells a Diawa Beef Stick for something like $40 that can do just about anything. 

Build a taller sand spike for those big surf days. 

Often fish are in the troth so you may be missing a ton by rocketing your bait out there. 

Try a sputnik sinker.  Cast that sucker out there give it a few shakes to settle in and you should be good to go.  I was using 6oz and getting washed out when a guy handed me a 3oz sputnik and showed me how to use it.  saved my day.  either he realized I was a sad sap or that I would eventually not get my line in b4 it crossed him up one time. 

[Luna Sea 5]

this is what I ordered.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0030677119183a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Ftemplates%2Fgiftcertificate%2Fgiftcertificate.jsp%3Fid%3D0005586990011a%26podId%3D0005586%26catalogCode%3DIB%26navAction%3Djump%26indexId%3D&Ntk=Products&QueryText=surf+rod&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3A%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

[Hotrod]

I have seen a quite a few 15’ rods…..they are latched to the truck and used as a flag pole. 

All kidding aside there are a few things to try first. 

Get out when ever you can but next time ask if you can toss some of there rods to feel the difference.  Nothing against ugly sticks they can take a beating but the ones I have used in the past have a very soft tip much like Real Time mentioned

Dicks, Sports Authority sells a Diawa Beef Stick for something like $40 that can do just about anything. 

Build a taller sand spike for those big surf days. 

Often fish are in the troth so you may be missing a ton by rocketing your bait out there. 

Try a sputnik sinker.  Cast that sucker out there give it a few shakes to settle in and you should be good to go.  I was using 6oz and getting washed out when a guy handed me a 3oz sputnik and showed me how to use it.  saved my day.  either he realized I was a sad sap or that I would eventually not get my line in b4 it crossed him up one time. 

Hi Fish..  Great input!. 

Welcome to the site!!

[ped579]

There are a few things I would like to cover here.  Nick did you ever try this rod first?  The reason I ask is that the 15' rod is in 3 pieces which will make the action of the pole a lot different as the pieces have to ferrule into each other which makes it more susceptible to twisting away from center.

All the 15' rods I have seen and tried were one piece design. 

The rod you ordered will only handle up to 6 oz weights that might be to light especially if you have in mind tossing whole bunker. 

I have 2 Ticas and I have found them to be a great asset to my arsenal. 

The first is a 11' 2 piece conventional rod it is the TC2 that is rated at:

Lure Wt.   3 - 8 oz

Power   Fast (the measure of a rods ability to come back to center after casting without flopping)

Action  Medium Heavy (a measure of the type of fish it will be able to handle)

Line Wt  15 - 40 # test

The second is also a Tica but a spinning 10' 6" 2 piece TC3 Dolphin Surf

Everything is the same except the line Wt which is to 30# test

I have found these rods to be fantastic in feel and casting ability.  I have them teamed up with a conventional Penn 525 Mag with 40# PP and the spinning is also a Penn the 560 Slammer with 30# PP.

I know you said you already ordered it but If you want to try my outfits just give me a call and we can go out and you can try them out and see if there is any difference in feel and casting ability.

As for the bloody finger, I use Curad flexible fabric band aids they are water proof and I usually have to cut it off after use.  I have lost a number finger guards and the feel is just not there.

I hope this helps.

Paul

[Pfishingruven]

I agree with everything everyone has already posted.  A smaller rod with the proper power, action and weight rating will give you a farther cast than just simply a longer rod.  13+ foot rods become very awkward and very difficult to get that good casting action.  However, I never say never and I have seen it done and seen it done well.  I have also seen guys with 12ft rods casting half the distance of my 9 footer simply because they have no idea what they are doing and the rod becomes difficult for the to handle!

Good Luck!

 

[surfrocket]

this is a great post,havent been on in a few days,busy busy,busy. what else is new,lol.

i have a 12 footer,great rod just too damn big. it takes the fun out of fishing,for me atleast.

nick i had that rod that you ordered, broke it though,it will be ok for you to play with. i have to say though if you get hooked on the surf as many of us are you will want a much better set up.

along with Paul, I swear by Tica. I have an 8 footer,9.5 footer, 10 footer,and a 10.5 footer.for the money they are great rods. i also have a loomis with a 400 calcutta conventional,which i love. but the ticas still take it for me.fishing the surf isnt always about distance,"SHOULD I SAY THAT,LOL" the wash produces alot of fish. if you want distance, SURF ROCKET is the only way. i am planning on hitting the beach pretty hard again next weekend,this one looks beat. if you would like to try my stuff out as well let me know.

good luck bro

[gagedylan]

are there many of you that toss out WHOLE bunker in the surf? i have never done it in the surf, only chunks, or heads. i use an 11' okuma, and a cheap shakespeare 12' combo bought at Dicks for 40 dollars. the 11' okuma has better action, but the shakespeare gets the longer casts. the sinker with the little legs(i forget what they call em) is a must. especially in the rough surf. i have quite a few of them, started using them last year, and i swear by them.

[Luna Sea 5]

I figured, since I have 2 12" rods, I can play with this larger one as well.  Even if I do get hooked on surf fishing, its hard to spread my available time between the boat and the surf, so for now, I guess what I have will do. 

[bayonne]

for the most part the bass are in the suds but knowing were the holes and sloughs are is great as well i dont hit the beach enough to be able to read the water some guys could just look and say this is the spot sand moves so what is good one day could be a dead zone another i just go to spots i usally fish and hope for the best
ive gotten some 20-30 lb bass from the surf and pleanty of monster blues and the biggest weakie was like 12lbs on a bunker chunk trying for blues for bass clam has become my go to bait
i once only fished bunker or worms sring time worms are a good choice

[surfrocket]

typically i dont think many people fish a whole bunker,lol. but with the surf rocket it can be done. unless we are sharkin we dont use whole bunker typically.