With five oceans and hundreds of thousands of miles of beach to choose from, finding the best surf fishing rod and reel combo is something many saltwater anglers look forward to. Matching your favorite reel to the best rod you can afford is a process that many surf fishing enthusiasts undertake each season.
The veterans of the sport have it figured out, they know what they’re looking for in performance, reliability, durability, and ease of use. Hopefully, we can help you in deciding those factors for your own surf casting experience in the reviews written below.
We will review the 10 best surf fishing rod and reel combos. Some will be from different manufacturers, combined for the best product, and the same company will package others. A few of the surf fishing rod and reel combos on this list will sell for less than one hundred dollars, and at least one will cost you several thousand dollars to purchase. All in all, you need to pick one as a starting point and go surf fishing, you will become addicted, trust me.
The Winner for Best Surf Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
The 310-yard capacity with 30-pound braided line, coupled with that 50-pound drag provides the versatility you’re going to need to get in trophy-sized catches from the pounding waves.
Made of Devious Red “S” glass composite blanks, these rods are used by surfcasting anglers in longer lengths, but have the raw power and stability that deep-sea fishermen need in battling Marlin, Tarpin, and other large species.
Rarely does one sporting goods company totally dominate an industry, but Penn has accomplished that when it comes to saltwater fishing. Penn is the undisputed leader in saltwater spinning reels.
The nod for best surf fishing combo goes to the Penn Slammer III 8500 pair with the Hercules rod.
Penn makes six models of the Slammer III in sizes from 3500 to 10500. The 8500 is a great, heavy-duty reel that gets the job done without worrying about breaking line if you hook a big fish, or wearing yourself out handling a heavier reel like the 10500 which weighs almost three pounds.
PENN typically ranks high on anyone’s list for the best rod and reel combo, including ours.
When coupled with the nine-foot version of the Seeker Hercules Spinning Rod, you have a surf fishing rod and reel combo that can’t be beaten for almost any surf fishing adventure. The reel has a capacity of 310-yards of 30-pound test braided line, and the heavy-duty Hercules surf fishing rod has the rod length to cast a long way, and the flexibility and sensitivity to feel those strikes in the surf.
What is Surfcasting?
As simple as the name sounds, that’s what you’re doing when you fish from the beach, you are casting into the surf. That’s where the simplicity ends.
The casting technique you prefer, whether it be overhand, underhand, sidearm, or even those wild CO2 frozen bait launching systems that propel your line hundreds of yards offshore, determines what type of surf fishing combo to use.
Surf Fishing rods can measure up to 15 feet (4.57 m) and beyond. A surf fishing reel is generally a spinning reel but in the 8000 to 14000 range. To get an idea of the size difference, most freshwater anglers fish with reels in the 2000 to 4000 range.
You can find surfcasting anglers with reels weighing three pounds or more that can hold 500 yards of braided line.
You’ll be casting live bait a long way offshore with heavy sinkers. The total weight hook, bait, and lead sinkers can weigh several ounces to over a pound. That amount of weight, multiplied by the force of your cast, puts a lot of stress on a surf fishing rod, much more than you’ll find in any other style of fishing.
Deep-sea anglers use heavy, stiff rods and 6000 to 10000 series spinning reels, or large, oversized baitcasting reels, but they don’t put the quick-snap style force on their equipment, even when battling giant sailfish and heavy tuna, like a surf caster does on ever cast.
How Was the Best Determined?
When you have a surf fishing combo review, you have to look at both the reel and the rod. Penn, along with Daiwa, and Shimano have a corner on the fishing reel market, but surf fishing rods are a wide-open, heavily debated subject. We’ve included a lot of different varieties of rods, along with a few different reels, in our review.
The 310-yard capacity with 30-pound braided line, coupled with that 50-pound drag provides the versatility you’re going to need to get in trophy-sized catches from the pounding waves.
Made of Devious Red “S” glass composite blanks, these rods are used by surfcasting anglers in longer lengths, but have the raw power and stability that deep-sea fishermen need in battling Marlin, Tarpin, and other large species.
The Saltiga 5000 is top of the line, no question. The Magsealed protection on the spool shaft and line roller is just the start of the amenities with this reel.
The Penn Battalion II is a solid, heavy-duty two-piece 12-foot rod that delivers quality performance with just about any 5000 series or larger spinning reel.
A 10-foot Okuma rod combined with a 55 series (5500) Okuma reel is a low-priced alternative for the novice or weekend warrior who just wants to try their hand at surfcasting.
Best Surf Fishing Rod and Reel Combos Reviewed
1. Penn Slammer III 8500/ Seeker Hercules SHS-90H Spinning Rod
The 310-yard capacity with 30-pound braided line, coupled with that 50-pound drag provides the versatility you’re going to need to get in trophy-sized catches from the pounding waves.
Made of Devious Red “S” glass composite blanks, these rods are used by surfcasting anglers in longer lengths, but have the raw power and stability that deep-sea fishermen need in battling Marlin, Tarpin, and other large species.
Penn delivers in all the reels they manufacture. They’re specially designed to handle the rigors of salt, sand, UV radiation, and salt spray that surfcasting brings to the sport. A lesser reel won’t last long with clogged gears, worn mechanisms, and buildup that can’t be eliminated, even with regular cleaning.
The Penn Slammer III – 8500 is a hefty 30.8-ounce reel with a respectable 50-pound drag. It has a slow, powerful 4.7:1 gear ratio. The lower gear ratio of the larger Penn reels is purely power-based. You don’t need the control of a bass fishing reel, or the fast retrieve needed for crankbaits, you need raw, horse-cranking power when you tie into a big fish in heavy surf. The 4.2:1 acts almost like a winch when bending your surf fishing rod over, pulling it back, and taking in the slack during a battle with an ocean-going monster. The 310-yard capacity with a 30-pound braided line, coupled with that 50-pound drag, provides the versatility you’re going to need to get in trophy-sized catches from the pounding waves.
The Seeker Hercules Surf Spinning Rod is strong. Made of Devious Red “S” glass composite blanks, these rods are used by surf fishing anglers in longer lengths but have the raw power and stability that deep-sea fishermen need in battling Marlin, Tarpin, and other large species.
The solid titanium frame guides are 60% lighter than stainless steel, and the proprietary Nanolite rings eliminate corrosion. Black over metallic gray guide wraps accentuates the rod.
The reel seats and gimbals are composite and gunmetal gray aluminum.
This is one surf fishing rod that might wear you out before you return the favor.
2. Daiwa Bg Spinning Reel/ Shakespeare Ugly Stik Bigwater Surf Spinning Rod
The Daiwa reel is light for a 6500 series spinning model at just a pound. It’s rated for only braided line, but it handles a lot of it, 550-yard of 50-pound test, a quarter-mile of 65-pound, and an impressive 330-yards of heavy-duty 80-pound test.
This two-piece, heavy-duty 12-foot round weighs just a one-and-a-half pound, but it's durable grip, touch and can handle the challenges presented in landing a big fish in the surf.
Mix a couple of well-known angling companies, and you’re bound to get a top-notch combination. That’s what you’ll find when you take a 12-foot, two-piece Ugly Stik and attach a Daiwa 6500 BG spinning reel to it. This is a strong contender for the best surf fishing combo.
The Daiwa reel is light for a 6500 series spinning model at just a pound. It’s rated for only braided fishing line, but it handles a lot of it, 550-yard of 50-pound test, a quarter-mile of 65-pound, and an impressive 330-yards of heavy-duty 80-pound test.
It comes with an Infinite Duel Anti-Reverse, a waterproof drag system with a maximum setting of 33-pounds, and a quick 5.6:1 gear ratio.
The fishing line rolls in at a very fast 48.7 inches per crank.
Corrosion-resistant, this reel is ready for the challenges of ocean, bay, and pier angling.
Six ball bearings and one roller bearing provide smooth action and a hard body, and all-aluminum housing resists the damaging effects of saltwater.
What can you say about an Ugly Stik? They get the job done. This two-piece, heavy-duty, 12-foot round weighs just one-and-a-half pounds, but it’s a durable grip and touch and can handle the challenges presented in landing a big fish in the surf.
A clear tip design delivers added responsiveness and strength.
Casting distance is a great feature of this combination. With this surf fishing rod and reel combo in the hands of an experienced angler, you can get your bait well into the ocean, to the offshore depth you need to find hard-fighting game fish.
3. Penn Battle II 8000/ St. Croix Rods Mojo Musky Casting Rod
The 8000 series is a brute, and when coupled with a 9-6 Mojo Musky Rod you have a shorter, more powerful combination, that still features a very smooth action with the six-ball bearing Penn design.
The rod comes with a five-year warranty, and the black cherry metallic finish combined with the black and gold design of the Penn reel adds a little pop to your fishing environment.
The predecessor to the Penn Battle II remains a contender and a popular reel among saltwater anglers. The 8000 series is a brute, and when coupled with a 9-6 Mojo Musky Rod you have a shorter, more powerful combination, that still features a very smooth action with the six-ball bearing Penn design.
The reel works equally well with monofilament or braided lines and has good capacities for both types. In monofilament, the reel packs 340 yards of 20-pound, 310 yards of 25-pound, and 230 yards of the 30-pound test line. As usual, the braided line capacities are substantially larger, with a capacity of 345 yards of heavyweight 80-pound test braid, 390 yards of the six-pound test, and 475 yards of 50-pound test.
The 8000 has a powerful gear ratio of 5.3:1, allowing slower, more controlled retrieve, an important feature if you’re trying to get a large striper ashore.
A solid metal reel made of heavy-duty aluminum, it is resistant to the damaging effects of sun, sand, and surf.
The multi-anti-reverse design helps set the hook and keep the line taut on returns.
St. Croix makes a variety of versatile rods. This version features a split grip, premium SCIII carbon construction, and high-modulus SCIII carbon for strength and durability. This surf fishing rod comes in lengths from 6-10 to 9-6 and in power settings from medium/fast to heavy/fast.
For this combination, we’re going with the heavy/fast version.
The rod comes with a five-year warranty, and the black cherry metallic finish combined with the black and gold design of the Penn reel adds a little pop to your surf fishing environment.
4. Penn Clash II Lightweight Saltwater Shore and Kayak Fishing Reel/ Fiblink Surf Fishing Rod
The 5000 has a 38-inch per crank line retrieval rate, a 5.6:1 gear ratio, and a 20-pound drag system. It is rated for 240-yards of 40-pound test, 300-yards of 30-pound, and 420-yards of 20-pound test braided line.
The two-piece Fiblink carbon fiber travel rod is a perfect addition for easy transportation of rod and reel to the water. The 13-foot two-piece version of the rod provides strength for the whiplash effect of long casts with heavy bait and weights.
Penn takes three of the top four spots in our reviews with the Class II Lightweight reel. It’s designed for shore fishing in the 5000 series but works well in smaller versions with kayak enthusiasts.
The two-piece Fiblink carbon fiber travel rod is a perfect addition for easy transportation of a surf fishing rod and reel combo to the water. The 13-foot two-piece version of the rod provides strength for the whiplash effect of long casts with heavy bait and weights. Its carbon fiber construction offers incredible toughness along with finely-tuned action that allows you to feel strikes, even in strong cross currents.
A non-slip rubber shrink tube handle offers extra grip in the often-changing conditions of surf fishing on days that aren’t exactly sunny and bright, the kind of conditions that often produce tremendous catches.
Add the powerful, all-black full, metal Penn reel with an impressive eight-ball-bearing and one-roller-bearing design, and you’ll be the envy of your friends as your bait sails far beyond the casts they can make.
A clutch armor system, CNC gear technology, and HT-100 carbon fiber drag add versatility to an already reliable Penn platform.
The 5000 has a 38-inch per crank line retrieval rate, a 5.6:1 gear ratio, and a 20-pound drag system. It is rated for 240 yards of 40-pound test, 300 yards of 30-pound, and 420 yards of 20-pound test braided line. It handles monofilament well too, with capacities of 225, 200, and 135 yards in respective line weights of 12, 15, and 20-pound tests.
This combination isn’t as large or as heavy as other competing surf fishing rod and reel combos, but the mix of these two outstanding products produces a viable contender in the harsh conditions of surf cast angling.
5. Alwonder Saltwater Spinning Reel / Daiwa Beefstick Surf Rod
Alwonder is a relative newcomer that offers big features at a modest price in a pair of reels on the larger end of the scale at 10000 and 11000 size respectively.
At the lowest price of any of the combinations reviewed here, this is a pair you should consider if you’re working on a limited budget.
We have a surprise contender with an inexpensive surf fishing combo. The Daiwa name is well known in all aspects of angling, and their Beefstick, two-piece surf fishing rod is no surprise. However, Alwonder is a relative newcomer that offers big features at a modest price in a pair of reels on the larger end of the scale at 10000 and 11000 sizes, respectively.
The Daiwa two-piece rod is very light at just 8.78 ounces (0.33 kg), but delivers a whip-like action on casts in its 12-foot rod length.
Fans of the Daiwa Beefstick relayed experiences of tossing four-ounce weights a long distance and the rod having no problem in reeling in 30-pound game fish from the surf.
The Alwonder reel features entirely stainless steel construction in both left and right-handed versions. Its incredible 13-ball bearing, one roller-bearing design, has the most rolling parts of any reel reviewed here. The 14-total bearings create an incredibly smooth action at an incredibly low price.
Weighing a fraction under two pounds, the reel has one of the lowest gear ratios on the market at just 3.8:1 This ensures increased torque in battles with hard runner stripers, sea bass, or while cranking in the barn door style fight of a large halibut.
The drag has a 35-pound maximum, but with such a low gear ratio, you’ll be able to compensate well.
Designed only for the rigors of salt and sand, the 10000 series handles 460 yards of a 17-pound test, 295-yards of 25-pound, and 195 yards of 40-pound test braided line. The 11000 series has a slightly larger spool and can take 545 yards of 17, 350 yards of 25, and 230 yards of 40-pound test braid.
At the lowest price of any of the combinations reviewed here, this is a pair you should consider if you’re working on a limited budget.
6. Daiwa Saltist Spinning Reel / Tica UGSA Series Surf Fishing Rod
All stainless steel ball-bearings, a stainless outer body, and a sealed line roller and main shaft make the Saltist a worthy opponent against the marine forces of sand, salt and sun.
A non-slip cork handle, custom, handmade diamond wraps, and an eye-catching multi-color pattern make this an attractive mid-priced rod.
The two-piece Tica USGA is a 10-6 rod rated for 12 to 30-pound test braided line. Constructed of high modulus TC3 graphite, with Fuji Hardloy ring guides, and a Fuji DPS reel seat, this rod is made for heavy-duty surf fishing!
A non-slip cork handle, custom, handmade diamond wraps, and an eye-catching multi-color pattern make this an attractive mid-priced rod.
Tica recommends using it with one of their Talisman series reels, but we’ve found a better combination in the Daiwa Saltist 6500.
The Saltist is available in smaller sizes, with models in 2500, 3000, 4000, 4500, and 5000 sizes. You could surf cast with the 5000 series reel, but it would be on the small side.
The 6500 fits the bill well with this Tica rod. A 5.3:1 gear ratio combined with an ample spool generates 48.7 inches of line retrieve per crank. The reel weighs a solid 29.6 ounces and has a reliable, strong drag with a maximum resistance of 33 pounds.
Wound with monofilament, it can take 370 yards of 20-pound, 310 yards of 25-pound, or 260 yards of 30-pound test line.
The braided capacity is truly impressive for a 6500 series reel. Wound with 50-pound test braid the reel holds 550-yards of line. With 65-pound it still can take a quarter-mile of braid, and at its heaviest recommended braid weight, 80-pounds, it still holds 330 yards of line.
All stainless steel ball bearings, a stainless outer body, and a sealed line roller and main shaft make the Saltist a worthy opponent against the marine forces of sand, salt, and sun.
7. Daiwa 15 Saltiga 5000 Spinning Reel / Penn Battalion II Surf Fishing Rod
The Saltiga 5000 is top of the line, no question. The Magsealed protection on the spool shaft and line roller is just the start of the amenities with this reel.
The Penn Battalion II is a solid, heavy-duty two-piece 12-foot rod that delivers quality performance with just about any 5000 series or larger spinning reel.
The two top rivals in saltwater fishing are back at it again, but this time they’re working together to produce a truly remarkable light surf fishing combo. Put a quality Daiwa reel with a top-of-the-line Penn rod, and good things are bound to happen.
The Penn Battalion II is a solid, heavy-duty two-piece 12-foot rod that delivers quality performance with just about any 5000 series or larger spinning reel. Constructed of a graphite composite blank, with Fuji stainless steel guides, a Fuji reel seat, and weather-resistant rubber shrink tube handles, this surf fishing rod is the perfect partner for Daiwa’s Saltiga 5000 reel.
A warning about this reel before you read any further, this is the most expensive reel in this group of reviews.
The Saltiga 5000 is top-of-the-line, no question. The Magsealed protection on the spool shaft and line roller is just the start of the amenities with this reel.
Other reels set the bar high, Daiwa moved so high they might not see the competition for a while, but once again, it comes at a price.
An ABS aluminum spool, custom machined aluminum handle, a Zaion air rotor, and a hardbody design add an indestructible element to the Saltiga 5000.
A 4.4:1 gear ratio is one of the strongest in the industry, set with 13 stainless steel ball bearings and one stainless steel roller bearing, and a maximum drag of 33 pounds gets your attention.
The retrieval rate is a powerful 36 inches per crank.
Carrying Daiwa’s legendary workmanship, this reel will last you a long time and send your bait flying far out to sea with each cast.
8. Okuma Tundra Surf Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
A 10-foot Okuma rod combined with a 55 series (5500) Okuma reel is a low-priced alternative for the novice or weekend warrior who just wants to try their hand at surfcasting.
Moving from the highest-priced reel with the Saltiga 5000, we now take a look at the least expensive combination you’ll find that still gets the job done on the beach.
The Okuma Tundra is a surf fishing rod and reel combo with the decisions already made for you.
A 10-foot Okuma surf rod combined with a 55 series (5500) Okuma reel is a low-priced alternative for the novice or weekend warrior who wants to try their hand at surf fishing.
The white/blue synthetic surf rod is combined with an aluminum reel that holds 290 yards of monofilament line. A multi-disc oiled felt drag system with ceramic guide inserts works well with the fiberglass fiber rod.
You won’t have a lot of amenities with this surf fishing rod and reel combo, but you could purchase 30 of them for the price of the most expensive reel we’ve reviewed.
9. Penn Spinfisher VI Surf Spinning Rod and Reel Combo
The ambidextrous reel is a watertight design intended to keep salt and sand away from the inner workings. Five stainless steel ball bearings, a stainless steel roller bearing, and a durable full metal body side plate, rotor, and aluminum bail wire continue the effort at limiting corrosion.
Remaining in the realm of combinations from the same manufacturer, we find the Penn Spinfisher VI.
The ambidextrous reel is a watertight design intended to keep salt and sand away from the inner workings. Five stainless steel ball bearings, a stainless steel roller bearing, and a durable full metal body side plate, rotor, and aluminum bail wire continue the effort at limiting corrosion.
The sealed HT-100 Slammer drag system offers smooth but strong drag settings.
The reel has a 6.2:1 gear ratio, and the aluminum spool can handle 390 yards of the four-pound test, 250 yards of six-pound, and 210 yards of eight-pound test line.
This surf rod is seven feet long, and when you see the recommended four to eight-pound test line for this combination, you’re not going after the denizens of the deep with this setup. You will, however have a great surf fishing rod and reel combo for catching lightweight species from shore, and the durable, sun, salt, and sand-resistant construction will give you years of performance.
10. Eagle Claw Surf Beast Spinning Rod and Reel Combo
The 10-foot spinning rod carries the ergometric efforts of generations of Eagle Claw engineers. You may find rods with better action, and stronger resistance, but there is a feel to an Eagle Claw rod that separates it from the others.
No review of rods or reels is complete without at least mentioning Eagle Claw. This established company is one of the old guards in the world of fresh and saltwater fishing.
They’ve combined a pair of their durable products into an inexpensive combination that offers a lot of versatility from shore for novice and experienced anglers alike.
The 10-foot spinning rod carries the ergonomic efforts of generations of Eagle Claw engineers. You may find surf fishing rods with better rod action and stronger resistance, but there is a feel to an Eagle Claw rod that separates it from the others.
The two-piece fiberglass surf rod is easy to transport and is rated at medium/heavy action. It contains five-rod guides, plus the tip, and each one has aluminum oxide guides to aid in casting and retrieving without impeding your line.
The reel is a 50 series (5000) Eagle Claw spinning reel that comes pre-spooled with line.
This combination is ready to go right out of the box.
Buying Guide For The Best Surf Fishing Combo
You’ve just read about the 10 best surf fishing rod and reel combos ranging in size from 5000 to 11000 series spinning reels. You’ve also learned about surf fishing rods that start at seven feet and move up to 15 feet in size. That’s a lot of information.
We’ve recommended combinations for you that work well together, but personal preference is key in surf casting or in any other angling environment.
You can test the combinations suggested in this review, or you can pick and choose from the products listed above, the choice is always yours.
Just because we suggested a Daiwa reel and a Penn rod doesn’t mean it fits you. It works for many anglers, but everyone likes to tweak a product to fit their unique style of surf fishing.
Some of these combinations lend themselves to overhand casting, while others work better with a sidearm or even an underhand technique.
If big fish, long casts, and heavy surf are in your realm, but the bigger reels combined with, the longer surf fishing rods.
If you’re just surf fishing for fun, catching small fish a few yards offshore, you won’t need the big rigs, a 5000 series reel and a seven-foot rod will give you years of excitement and quality performance.
As always, it’s best to get your hands on a surf fishing combo before just buying one online or purchasing one after reading a review.
There is no substitute for touch, feel, and action. That’s why retail sporting goods stores continue to thrive in the world of online shopping.
Part of the fun of surfcasting is the impressive distances you achieve in tossing surf fishing lures hundreds of yards out to sea.
There are other methods of casting vast distances that people have used since the early 20th century.
The Joys of Surfcasting
As a teenager, I often fished for stripers and the occasional sand shark on the approach to San Francisco International Airport. The area in San Francisco Bay near the main runway was a prime spot for all kinds of fishing action.
We fished from shore using my uncle Quentin’s unique “build-up bait” process. He would grab green tomato worms (really caterpillars), and we’d toss them out about 40 yards. The bullhead catfish swarmed over these green squirming larvae.
The bullheads were the bait we used for sand sharks. We’d take smaller eight to 10-inch bullheads, hook them with a 4-0 hook and a two-ounce triangular sinker, then throw the whole assembly as far out into the bay as we could. At 13, I was getting out about 120 yards with an old Shakespeare reel and a seven-foot fiberglass rod. Quentin tossed his another 60 to 80 yards beyond mine. We almost always pulled in a two to five-foot shark on our outings.
Stripers came in on a minnow that my uncle brought with him or sometimes hunks of foul-smelling shrimp.
I don’t get many chances at surf fishing from my home in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in central Wyoming. But I do have a 40 Pflueger President (4000 series) that I used with a 10-pound test braided line to catch carp in Boysen Reservoir and Ocean Lake, both about 20 miles from my house.
The action on those big 10 to 15-pound carp is great, but the eating, not so much, so we fight them, throw them back in and try again.
I can get my line out about 130 yards with a one-ounce weight and a nightcrawler on a number-two hook. I use a one-piece custom rod made in Riverton, Wyoming by TB Custom fishing rods. It’s as close to saltwater fishing as you’ll ever find at 5000 feet (1.52 km) in elevation.
Conclusion
As a youngster, we lived on the west coast of Puerto Rico. My dad was a surfcasting enthusiast, and we always caught something on our many adventures on the beach.
He used a nine-foot, two-piece, black fiberglass rod and a big Shakespeare reel, but the native Puerto Rican fisherman had a different method. They wrapped monofilament around a quart-sized Coke bottle, tied their bait and lead weights on the line, and spun the line around their head at high velocity before releasing the line. It sailed as far or farther than my dad could cast with his nine-foot rod.
It was an impressive thing to watch.
Surf fishing is as old as mankind and will continue to be a popular sport for anyone living near the ocean or that has the wherewithal to make the trip to the big water.
Bringing the proper equipment ensures you’ll have a fighting chance at catching saltwater fish, but even if you don’t the experience is worth the effort.
For more guides on choosing your next rod, reel, or combo, check out our other articles below-
