FS Digest

I'm looking for an all around rod that will suffice for stripers and blues, flounder, tautog, seabass and the like, fishing from shore/pier/jetty and possible eventually kayak. The reel I'm using is a Penn Battle ii 4000 with 20 pound power pro braid.

I'm currently looking at the 7' Ugly Stik GX2 which is MH action and rated for 8-20lb line and 1/4-3/4 oz lure weight. I've heard excellent things about this rod and it's only $40, but I'm concerned that I may want something longer and beefier to handle 1 or 2oz sinkers when I'm bottom fishing.

--
by victormansella

FS Digest

What’s your budget? Sounds like we fish the same kind of waters so I can maybe help you out, and are you adding bait to the sinkers or are you talking 1-2oz for bucktails and jigheads?

--
by BassAssassination

FS Digest

Well, I’d say I have the perfect rod but you can only buy it as a combo, it’s lasted many years, reel included, and only down side is that it’s heavier because it’s fiberglass, lure rating is 4 oz but I confidently casted closer to 8 oz, it’s the zebco Bite alert combo, handled 5-6ft sharks, tarpon, all the way down to throwing freeline shrimp to small snapper, trout, and blues

--
by FANTOMphoenix

FS Digest

I use Okuma Guide Select swim bait rod, extra heavy, rated for 2-10oz. I have it paired with a daiwa lexa 400wn. It’s a very solid set up and my favorite to use for saltwater.

--
by Tacticalqueefsss

FS Digest

I have a GX2, I'm pretty new to fishing but boy is that thing fun. Worth noting that my reel got dunked in saltwater last time I was out and I think it corroded or something inside, even though I hosed it down after. Havent heard that happen to anyone else but figured I'd mention it, not sure if thats a salt issue or something else but I cant turn the reel right now

--
by DopeAndDoper

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

The biggest problem you'll have is length. A 7 fiooter is great for boat and pier, not so much for surf. The wave action on the line will make life difficult. Its not bad if your fishing right at the breaker, like for sea mullet it pompano but if you're trying to fish a bar out it won't work.

nicstr28

Salt will lock up a reel in a few days. Best to submerge in freshwater was soon as you get home until you can disassemble the reel. . If you take it apart...completely you still may be able to salvage it. The bearings will be the biggest issue but they may still be salvageable. An ultrasonic cleaner can do wonders too.

Cleemartin Loc: Hampton, Virginia

Get the matching rod for your Penn Battle 4000 reel. It should have come as a combo offer when you purchased the rod. Would have cost only $20.00 more than the purchase price of the reel.

JimCT Loc: Connecticut

Wish I could pick an all round rod for this. A 7 foot MH should work for most pier and jetty fishing. Not sure I would be too worried about tautog or black bass from a pier or jetty. Mr Tautog likes hiding in rocky bottoms and almost always needs a boat. . If you got one great but not likely. These days most of the strippers and blues you will catch inshore are going to be pretty small and below the legal keep length. So a MH 7 footer should do fine. However I would even thinK of that rod for shore aka surf fishing . I want something I can hurl that buck tail, popper, or chunk of bait way out there into the deeper water. For striper and blues I still Want a rod with some heft so a 8 to 9 foot MH in a medium or fast action might work . That is going to take some effort to cast so depending on your strength and build take this into consideration. For fluke (aka summer flounder) you want a lighter what rod , maybe a medium power and definitely a fast Action 7 1/2 or 8 foot rod . Fluke bite is not strong and you need the sensitivity to sense it. And with fluke you are going to be bottom bouncing or at least fishing just above the bottom so you need a rod you can jiggle, bounce, etc for what ever time you are fishing . You don’t want a heavy rod for this. But you still need to be able to fling that lure out there. Once again doormat size fluke are getting rare in shore fishing.

You might reduce this to two rods. The 7 foot MH for the pier and jetty and try on the surf and see what your cast is like. The fluke rod above will work for strippers and perhaps blues so,maybe that becomes your all round surf rod.

Remember for sale water you want rod parts such has guides, reel seats etc that can stand up to saltwater.

As for brand buy the best you can afford. If that means and Ugly Stick so be it. That is your rod. Pre COVID a lot of fishing clubs around here haVe used equipment sales To raise money and I found pretty nice rods at these shows for pennies in the dollar, used, but still fine.

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

By the fish your catching you must be on the east coast . We used Fenwick Lunker sticks . Glass rods perfect for buck railing and light bottom fishing . They were the best rods in the 70s . Then boron and grafite were born and the game changed . Fenwick is still a good rod . Check out thier website.the black and gold series by Daiwa are fantastic reels.

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

To sum this whole thing up, you can't really use a single outfit for all these applications. The penn 4000 is a good reel that you can use for all these type of fishing. The rod is another thing. Your best bet is to have 2 rods, one 7 foot MH for jetty, pier and boat and a 10 foot or longer for surf. The surf rod needs to be rated for at least 4 to 6 ounces to be able to throw the lead and bait without stressing the rod. By the way if your reel gets dunked in salt and sand, it should be taken off the rod as soon as possible and soaked in warm fresh water over night, then stripped down and cleaned and lubed.

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

just hose it down after a days fishing always worked for us here. soaking a reel is the last thing i can think of doing after a days fishing. its more like clean fish wash boat take nap.

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

When i mentioned soaking it, not for everyday cleanup. I do that only if a rod lays down in the surf like if you drop it onthe suds. The sand and salt penetrates everywhere and must be cleaned out or risk damage to the reel.

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

ok gothcha makes more sense.

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

Nap is most important lol