11 Best Saltwater Fishing Rods: Guide To The Best Fishing Rod Brands For Saltwater
With saltwater fishing gaining more popularity day-by-day, the equipment you use for it needs to be selected with utmost care. There are a bunch of good saltwater fishing rods available in the market today. However, which is the best saltwater fishing rods totally depends on your personal requirements.
A saltwater rod is basically a gigantic variant of the traditional fishing tool, tailored to work in rivers, seas, and oceans. These rods are invariably different in the portions as all of the rod’s aspects are enlarged to handle the larger fishes as well as work in water which can be highly corrosive.
To tell you more, there can be two types of saltwater rods: spinning and baitcasting, which can be further classified into offshore, inshore, surfcasting etc.
Usually, the inshore rods are a bit smaller and weigh lesser than the saltwater rods, as they are designed to function in a depth lower than 100 feet. In general, all the inshore rods have a medium power and showcase fast actions since they are engineered to snatch the challenging fish species, such as mackerel, redfish, grouper, and others.
On the other hand, the offshore rods are engineered to be used in over 100-feet depths that are home to the somewhat larger species, such as shark, swordfish, and yellowfin. Hence, the rods should be a lot more powerful and larger to tackle the massive species that live in the depths.
Quick Navigation: Best Saltwater Fishing Rods
- SHAKESPEARE- Ugly Stik GX2 1-Piece Spinning Rod
- Croix Mojo
- Loomis E6X Inshore Spinning Rods
- Daiwa Tatula
- Plusinno Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
- Okuma Longitude Surf Graphite Saltwater Fishing Rod
- Fiblink Bent Butt Fishing Rod 2-Piece Saltwater Offshore Trolling Rod
- Shimano TREVALA Spinning, Graphite Saltwater Jigging Spinning Rod
- Sabiki Bait Saltwater Fishing Rod
- Sougayilang Rod + Reel Combo
- Okiaya “Blueline” Series
Which Is The Best Saltwater Fishing Rods?
See, deciding or ranking the best saltwater fishing rods truly comes down to a few factors: performance and personal preference. The general consensus on the best saltwater fishing rod blanks hints straight to the fiberglass pieces.
Fiberglass is a unique material with a few properties, making it perfect for saltwater rods. What are the properties of fiberglass? Fiberglass is hugely flexible. It lets the rods make an almost parabolic arc when it attempts to trap the fish. This type of flexibility ensures that the rods do not snap when a big fish catches the bait.
Further, the best saltwater fishing rods use fiberglass in its make because of its massive strength and durability. Fiberglass is capable of hauling 200-pound catches without causing any damage.
Another vital aspect to consider in the good saltwater fishing rods is the corrosion-resistance of the material used. Unlike the other variants, saltwater is capable of handling salt day after day without causing any damage.
Our Top Pick – SHAKESPEARE- Ugly Stik GX2 1-Piece Spinning Rod
We have marked it number one in our list because it is our top pick for a lot many reasons. This saltwater rod is incredibly durable, extremely sensitive, and wickedly strong, and hence, one of the best fishing rod brands for saltwater.
| Product | Rating | Price | Shop Now |
|---|---|---|---|
SHAKESPEARE- Ugly Stik GX2 1-Piece Spinning Rod |
4.6 |
$39.95 – $78.03 | Buy Now |
Croix Mojo |
4.7 |
– | Buy Now |
G.Loomis E6X Inshore Spinning Rods |
5 |
$209.99 – $219.99 | Buy Now |
Daiwa Tatula |
4 |
$179.99 | Buy Now |
Plusinno Fishing Rod and Reel Comb |
4.3 |
$60.99 – $96.99 | Buy Now |
Okuma Longitude Surf Graphite Saltwater Fishing Rod |
4.3 |
$78.09 | Buy Now |
Fiblink Bent Butt Fishing Rod 2-Piece Saltwater Offshore Trolling Rod |
4.7 |
$97.99 | Buy Now |
Shimano TREVALA Spinning, Graphite Saltwater Jigging Spinning Rod |
4.8 |
$129.99 – $179.99 | Buy Now |
Sabiki Bait Saltwater Fishing Rod |
4.4 |
$61.99 | Buy Now |
Sougayilang Rod + Reel Combo |
4.2 |
$79.98 | Buy Now |
Okiaya “Blueline” Series |
4.2 |
– | Buy Now |
We will take this in detail in the later part of the article.
11 Best Saltwater Fishing Rods
1. SHAKESPEARE- Ugly Stik GX2 1-Piece Spinning Rod
Shakespeare is unquestionably one of the best fishing rod brands for saltwater. This brand has been in existence for several decades. Over these years, in the race of best fishing rod brands for saltwater it has time and again released various Ugly Stiks, which are all inarguably good saltwater fishing rods. Among the multitude of good saltwater fishing rods from this brand has toffer, we have selected this one: the Ugly Stik GX2 1-Piece Spinning Rod.
The rod has been designed with super-quality fiberglass and graphite. A transparent tip further complements these in the end that betters its sensitivity. The guides that you see on the piece are thoroughly made of stainless steel. As a result, there is nunnecessary headache associated with the O-rings popping out.
Hence, regardless of the water – deep water, skimming top-water, or the fishing shallows, this one from Shakespeare is the best beginner saltwater fishing rod and that’s how Shakespeare remains number one in the best fishing rod brands for saltwater.
|
$39.95 – $78.03 |
4.6 |
Buy Now |
ProsA few reasons why this is the best beginner saltwater fishing rod are:
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ConsEven though it is the best beginner saltwater fishing rod, it has one shortcoming, that is:
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2. Croix Mojo: Best Beginner Saltwater Fishing Rod
The next one in our best saltwater rods list is the St. Croix Mojo. So, if you are chasing redfish, tarpon, bonefish, or any other variant, you need a good rod capable of catching the fishes on the flats, which is when this fishing rod will come in handy. This rod from one of the best fishing rod brands for saltwater is the best fishing rod brands for saltwater in every respect. The rod has a phenomenal casting range and offers a fast tip action. This makes rock-solid hooksets and flawless presentations effortless.
Regardless of your needs, St. Croix Mojwill make it simple and straightforward for you tcatch fishes. It is an inshore spinning rod that is engineered with superior quality SCII graphite. The rod is rugged and is designed tlast. With this, you get the required backbone that you are seeking. However, the rod is sensitive tensure that you dnot miss any delicate nibbles from the skittish fish.
St. Croix Mojis designed with hard aluminum-oxide Batson Forecast® guides and has 316 stainless-steel frames. These are much longer and resist the rust invariably better than the other inshore fishing rods, which have only 304 frames included.
This best beginner saltwater fishing rod can be availed in twversions of 7-foot-6-inch and 7-foot long versions. You can make your choice depending on whether you desire a rod that offers greater maneuverability or casting distance.
|
4.7 |
Buy Now |
Pros
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Cons
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3. G.Loomis E6X Inshore Spinning Rods
When you are on the lookout for the best saltwater rods for inshore, you can without a doubt shop for the G.Loomis E6X Inshore Spinning Rods. G.Loomis is alsone of the best fishing rod brands for saltwater, which has been in the business for a while and is known tproduce top-quality inshore fishing rods in the market. This is one of the best saltwater rods. Manufactured by G.Loomis, the first-ever manufacturer temploy graphite rods, that ensured that more fishes could be caught with these best saltwater rods. There is nsurprise that G.Loomis, which is one of the best fishing rod brands for saltwater, consistently comes with new improvements. Moreover, you just cannot find a better rod when it comes tfishing inshore than this one. Though these are a bit on the pricier side, you can be assured that it is one of the best saltwater fishing rods, and it will surely help you catch more fish than others.
|
$209.99 – $219.99 |
5 |
Buy Now |
Pros
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Cons
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4. Daiwa Tatula
If you need good saltwater fishing rods that are great for baitcasting, you can shop for the Daiwa Tatula. It is one of the best saltwater rods and is ideal for someone whhas been fishing for quite some time. We listed this rod in our best saltwater rods list tsave you from all the unnecessary hassle and save you some time. One big reason it has made its way intour good saltwater fishing rods list is that it comes with a 5-year warranty.
It is the number one baitcasting rod in our list of best saltwater rods as it comes with Daiwa’s 45-degree bias construction, which avoids all possibilities of blank twisting and offers these best saltwater rods with the requisite hook setting power, sensitivity, and strength. The exquisite Super Volume Fiber (SVF) graphite technology of Daiwagives the requisite strength and flexibility tthese good saltwater fishing rods.
Moreover, these best saltwater rods have Fuji Alconite ring guides that dnot allow line fraying. Furthermore, the Daiwa custom machined aluminum reel clamp nut and reel seat ensure that the reel stays in place regardless of how tough the fight may be.
These best saltwater rods’ grips are split and have an EVA foam, assuring due sensitivity, security, and comfort. Owing tthe materials engineered intthese good saltwater fishing rods, this rod’s supreme-quality accessories have a beautiful design.
You can find these best saltwater rods in a myriad of different size options, which work great for both freshwater and saltwater settings. It is available in 7’2″, 7’0″, and 6’10”. Moreover, these best saltwater rods are alsavailable in a myriad of different power options that best cater tyour different needs – heavy, medium, and medium-heavy.
These best saltwater rods come in a single-piece construction. However, it is a big downside for someone looking for one of the best saltwater fishing rods portable.
|
$179.99 |
4 |
Buy Now |
Pros
|
Cons
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5. PlusinnFishing Rod and Reel Combo
If you seek the best saltwater fishing rods that come in a set or combo, this one can be a great pick. A lot of people want that their chosen rod gives them more portability than may be possible with a two-piece rod, and that is where the role of the telescopic rod comes intplay. This rod collapses tbelow 2 feet, and the rod comes with a HA 3000 reel, which is saltwater-friendly. It is alsone of the best beginner saltwater fishing rod.
This best beginner saltwater fishing rod is composed of a high-density carbon fiber, which engineered together with fiberglass, which makes it adequate tcater tthe harsh environmental factors that cause havoc on the low-grade rods. Furthermore, the rod’s hooded reel seat is made with stainless steel material, which makes it highly corrosion-resistant and ready for saltwater.
Moreover, the aluminum oxide guide inserts add tthe rod’s durability and make it even more lightweight. It goes without saying that these best saltwater rods dcome with Eva foregrip, and makes it easy and comfortable thold all day.
This telescopic saltwater rod comes in a myriad of sizes, which gfrom small thuge as it is available in sizes such as 5.91, 6.89, 7.87, and 8.86. You get these best saltwater rods in medium power. Thus it can cater tyour fishing needs as much as possible.
A notable thing about this reel and rod combination is that it is the best beginner saltwater fishing rod. So, people whare just started out and seek a good place tstart with can opt for this one. It means that if you are already a trained professional, you may want tlook elsewhere.
|
$60.99 – $96.99 |
4.3 |
Buy Now |
Pros
|
Cons
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6. Okuma Longitude Surf Graphite Saltwater Fishing Rod
Next in our list of the best saltwater rods is the Okuma Longitude surf rod. These are beautifully designed, and unlike the others that we have listed in this best saltwater fishing rods list, these dnot come with an annexed reel. So, this means that you can customize your fishing experience by picking the reel that best caters tyour needs.
These best saltwater rods are composed of a sensitive graphite material, which is coupled with the aluminum oxide insert, which is both high-grade materials. The usability is further accentuated with the hooded reel seats and the stainless steel guide frames, which are double-footed.
These best saltwater rods have cork wrapped fore along with rear grips. As a result, it does not slip in your hand. Moreover, the EVA cushions both over and beneath the reel seat only make it comfortable thold for long hours. These best saltwater fishing rods are available in twparts. These ensure better portability, and the brand sells the rods in lengths from 8-12 feet.
|
$78.09 |
4.3 |
Buy Now |
Pros
|
Cons
|
7. Fiblink Bent Butt Fishing Rod 2-Piece Saltwater Offshore Trolling Rod
Next, we have the Fiblink rod, which is known for its solid construction. The rod’s durable e-glass graphite composite blanks provide it with exceptional pulling capability. The rod is robust, and its structurally accentuated solid glass fiber construction increases the strength while still maintaining the desired sensitivity. You can avail of this rod in lengths of six and seven inches for IFGA stand up fishing.
These best saltwater rods are engineered with high-grade quality roller guides. It has a smooth polished line, which guards the wear free line flow and stainless steel roller guides, and offers due corrosion-resistance and high power control.
The rod has an aluminum alloy extreme exposure reel seat with tapered hood transitions found both over and beneath the reel seat protecting cap. It is made with spiral metal and is connected tightly along with the fishing boat firm and strong. As a result of this, it won’t pull off even when you are out there catching the bigger prey. These best saltwater fishing rods have a groove at the connecting joints of the rod. It aids in aligning the guide and preventing rotation.
These rods have a non-slip handle, which ensures a solid grip and better comfort. The bent butt made of high-strength aluminum alloy adds tits durability. The rods have a gimbal cross towards the bottom of the butt rod for fighting chairs or rod holders. These best saltwater rods are perfect for Yellowfin Tuna, Marlin, and record Wahoo. Moreover, the sensitive tip and the phenomenal backbone makes it best for all the action. You get a one year warranty with this one.
|
$97.99 |
4.7 |
Buy Now |
Pros
|
Cons
|
8. ShimanTREVALA Spinning, Graphite Saltwater Jigging Spinning Rod
Next in our list of the best saltwater fishing rods is the casting rod, from one of the top-notch brands, Shimano. Shimanis one of the best fishing rod brands for saltwater. The casting rod is manufactured with a high-grade carbon butt section. It alshas TCA tips, which betters its sensitivity and makes it lightweight.
These best saltwater fishing rods are designed toffer you the best recovery rate and optimal response. It allows you tsubdue the fish hastily.
These ones will be the good saltwater fishing rods for you if you are on the lookout for one that assures a long and durable performance. The reason it is possible is because of the diamond polish and the Aluminum Oxide Guides. These even make this rod corrosion-resistant. Furthermore, the rod has EVA foam rubber grips, which are comfortable and add tthe rod’s comfortable and secure grip.
|
$129.99 – $179.99 |
4.8 |
Buy Now |
Pros
|
Cons
|
9. Sabiki Bait Saltwater Fishing Rod
Next in our best saltwater fishing rods list is this fishing rod by Sabiki. It is a great fishing rod when you wish tcatch your bait smoothly. Having this rod means that you will never have tbuy bait in your life. This can save you a lot of money. This rod is approximately seven feet long and is engineered with top-grade quality.
With these best saltwater fishing rods, you get a lifetime guarantee. So, that means that regardless of how you use it, your interests are guarded. You can use this rod with any bait case reel or micrspinning. These rods come in pieces, making it easy for you tcarry around and store along with your traditional rods. Having this rod with you, you will be able tenjoy a whole day of fishing on the sea. It is one of the best saltwater rods perfect for beginners.
|
$129.99 – $179.99 |
4.4 |
Buy Now |
Pros
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Cons
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10. Sougayilang Rod + Reel Combo
Dyou know what causes the biggest disappointment? You shell out thousands of dollars on fly fishing equipment and discover later that it only fails on you when you need it the most. This combof reel and rod is priced at $289. At this price, you can avail of several reels and rod setups rigged and ready for the moment when the fish automatically presents itself tyou, or you are wise and gwith a rod that can be light on the pocket.
 |
$79.98 |
4.2 |
Buy Now |
Pros
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Cons
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11. Okiaya “Blueline” Series
Next in our best saltwater fishing rods is the custom rod weighing anywhere between thirty tthirty-five pounds. It is a 6’0″, beautiful rod, which is excellent for offshore trolling when you are out there searching for Marlin, Dolphin, Wahoo, and Tuna. The tip of the rod is sensitive and works well on snapper and grouper.
The rod has a premium fiberglass rod blank, smooth stainless steel rollers, which are super smooth, and five roller rods, which add tthis rod’s durability and functionality.
|
4.2 |
Buy Now |
Pros
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Cons
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What Makes a Good Saltwater Rod?
Here are a few points that you need tconsider thelp you pick the best saltwater fishing rods.
Power
You should opt for one of the best saltwater fishing rods with the proper power tcater tyour purpose.
You can understand power as the degree of weight or force that it takes for the rod bending. Power is categorized as:
- Light
- Medium
- Medium-light
- Ultralight
- Heavy
- Medium-heavy
Now, if you are on the lookout for blacktip sharks or massive yellowfin, you may need a heavy rod because they can haul the big beasts with ease. On the other hand, it can be overkill for someone trying tcatch the bonefish and snappers because you should gfor something in the medium or medium tlight the power range.
Action
Action is the degree of the rod, which flexes when it is loaded. In times of the extra-fast or fast action, the rod will flex just at the tip. On the other hand, in the slow action case, the rod will flex along most of the rod’s length. The slower action offers a better casting distance. Moreover, they alslower the odds of you yanking the lure off the fish’s mouth hastily on the hookset. In contrast, the fast-action rods will enable you tcast with better accuracy tallow the experienced anglers tset their hook on the large fish.
Length
Length is alsan important criterion when shopping for the best saltwater fishing rods. Keeping all things equal, the long rods let you cast farther than the shorter ones. So, it is best topt for the longest rods, which you may be comfortable with when casting distance is a vital metric. On the other hand, if you are putting in a lot of time using jigging spoons or fishing from the swamped piers, you could gfor a shorter rod.
Rod Style
The next metric in selecting the best saltwater fishing rods is the rod style. Your chosen style should be following your experience and skill level. In many cases, the experienced anglers tend tget more improved results via the bait casting rigs as opposed tthe spinning setups as a consequence of the baitcasting rod.
This can:
- Cast at a greater distance
- Hold a lot of lines
- Perfect for the heavy tackle than the spinning rigs
- Have a better drag system as compared tthe spinning rigs
Regardless, the bait casting combos are slightly harder tuse and cast than the spinning gear, which may be tomuch for the novices.
Castability
The next faction when shopping for the best saltwater fishing rods is castability. It all comes down tensure that you can cast out a line in a manner that hopes tdit with the distance and accuracy you may be looking for.
Accuracy can be availed from a rod with a fast action, which can cast with speed thelp you reach the target. However, this will alsmean that your rod is pretty stiff, and you are sacrificing the potential distance.
One way tovercome this is topt for a heavier lure that can bend more on the rod. So, this means that you can get around the rods with various stiffness levels. With the fishing rods, you are aware that the higher the bend of the rod, the tremendous energy it will save up. The principal and working are quite alike in the elastic band.
Let us understand this with an example. If you have a tip that frequently bends under its weight, it can get very tough tcontrol. This means that you will not get a similar degree of accuracy tget with a rod, which does not move as much.
It is a castability conundrum, and this is where you should work out your preferences. Given the multitude of available options, you have a middle ground tpick the best saltwater fishing rods that offer you the best of both worlds.
One Or Multi-Piece Construction
Practically, anyone looking for one of the best saltwater fishing rods would like tgwith a single-piece rod that you can smoothly cast intthe sea and carry around with you without any hassle. Well, yes, the single-piece rod will sure give you the stability you need, and you will not have tbother about taking it apart and then putting it back or rather assembling it.
However, there is a big problem. Not everyone has the luxury tcarry along with them an 8-foot rod whenever and wherever they want tgaround fishing. So, there is surely a logistical problem, and this makes the portability difficult as it gets hard thandle away from the water.
Ttell you the truth, this happened tbe a lot harder decision as the multi-piece rods are not as stable as the one-piece rod. Moreover, they dnot have the desired strength levels as their counterparts. However, today the multi-piece rods are quite better than others and have been developed ta point where there is practically ndistinction between the two. Thus, now it is always a good idea tshop for a rod that can be broken down intseveral smaller pieces.
Material
When shopping for one of the best saltwater fishing rods, you need tselect a fishing stick that is engineered from the material, which excels your fishing purpose. Primarily there are twtypes of materials commonly used:
- Graphite
- Fiberglass
As for the price, the fiberglass fishing rods are somewhat cheaper. Moreover, they are better and more challenging when it comes tbattling the bigger fishes. As for the price, the fiberglass fishing rods are relatively less expensive. Moreover, they are better and more stringent when it comes tbattling the bigger fishes.
On the other hand, graphic fishing rods provide you with better sensitivity, which lets you gauge even the tiniest bites. Many manufacturers alsmake composite rods that amalgamate the best characteristics of graphite and fiberglass. However, tavail of this level of performance, you will shell out good money. Casual anglers can opt for anything between graphite and fiberglass.
Nonetheless, there are still a few things that you need in every saltwater rod. For instance, you may want a durable fishing stick that lasts you a long time, regardless of being exposed tthe sand, sun, and salt.
Portability
For a fishing rod, the portability can be decided by twfactors – the number of pieces and the weight. We have already talked about the weight above in power ad material, but you can find multi-piece, two-piece, and single-piece engineering.
Usually, the single-piece rods are sturdy and robust. They are always regarded better in quality, and they are believed tlast a lot longer. Furthermore, these rods are hugely sensitive, given that the whole blank is intact. However, as for the storage, they can be a bit of a hassle, especially while you are traveling.
On the other hand, the multi-piece or the two-piece rods are easy tstore. You can carry them around and stack them in compact spaces while you travel a long distance. As a result, they are the most convenient picks. However, they dnot give you the sensitivity and the durability of the single-piece rods.
Moreover, other portable options, such as telescopic rods, are composed of sections that can collapse inteach other for better portability and storage.
Can we use the freshwater fishing rods in saltwater?
The good saltwater fishing rods and the freshwater rods look quite similar teach other. However, some differences distinguish one from the other. Thus, it never really a good idea temploy your freshwater rods in a sea or an ocean.
The primary reason you should never use the freshwater rods in the sea is their size. Usually, the freshwater rods are in between the size range of five tseven inches and weigh below 100 lbs. However, these rods are not meant for the fishes beyond that size. Even though they may seem ok with some in-shore species, they should be avoided in the saltwater. We hope this explains why you should refrain from using your freshwater rods as a replacement tthe good saltwater fishing rods.
That is not all. Another more vital reason you should avoid using the freshwater rods in the saltwater is that even the best freshwater rods are at times not designed tdeal with the corrosion that may occur as a result of the saltwater. The salt’s corrosive properties tend teat away the tools that are not treated with unique compounds. This makes the equipment useless in only a few days.
Bottom line
So, these were the best fishing rod brands for saltwater. It goes without saying that saltwater fishing is challenging and more rewarding as compared tfreshwater fishing. However, you can enjoy it the best when you have the right equipment with you, be it in performance or materials. So, you can gthrough our list of some really good saltwater fishing rods above and make a smart choice.