Williams RX Flipper

A folding knife is a must-have everyday companion tool. The Williams RX Flipper features all the right qualities for constant carry: a sharp drop-point blade that will retain its edge; a textured G-10 handle; a lanyard loop and clip; and an extended oval for one-hand opening. The RX Flipper measures 8 inches long; its CPM154 steel blade measures 3 ¼ inches. The knife comes in blackout or tan and costs $99.

Garmin quatix 7

The latest iteration of Garmin’s marine smartwatch—the quatix 7—delivers even more onboard control for select Garmin displays as well as multiple features for use on and off the boat. The quatix 7 comes in three models—Standard, Sapphire, and Solar—all come with touchscreen and button controls. They’re compatible with and can control (not just mirror) many GPSMAP units and can include optional BlueChart g3 coastal and LakeVu g3 charts. With internal GPS, the watch monitors a wide variety of activities and sports and is loaded with more than 42,000 golf courses. Health resources include 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, pulse ox, sleep score and energy monitoring. Users can receive smart notifications, use Garmin Pay and personalize everything through the Connect IQ app. The watches range in price from $699.99 to $1,199.99

Guy Harvey Groove Life Rings

Silicone wedding bands have gained great popularity among anglers who are concerned about the safety of metal rings during the sometimes-frenzied circumstances of the sport. As a result, Guy Harvey has partnered with Groove Life to create a line of marine-themed, medical-grade silicone rings. Groove Life’s patented technology enables air to flow in and moisture to flow out, preventing ring rash and sweaty fingers. Anglers can buy Guy Harvey designs such as mahi skin or slammed (billfish). Sizes range from 4 to 14, and prices start at $34.95.

Bajio Roca

Bajio’s extra-large, bio-based Roca sunglass frames offer complete protection and coverage on the water, reducing glare and light intrusion without fogging, thanks to the vented side shields. Blue-light-blocking technology minimizes eye fatigue and strain. Roca frames are available in shoal tort matte, black matte, and dark tort gloss with either polycarbonate or glass lenses in seven colors. They cost $199 and $249.

Penn Slammer IV

Penn’s new Slammer IV spinning reel features an improved IPX6 sealed body and spool as well as a redesigned drag system with Dura-Drag. Penn added all-brass CNC gear technology, an 8+1 stainless-steel bearing system, and a hydrophobic line roller bearing. Slammer IV reels are available in sizes 2500 to 10500 (weighing 11 to 42.9 ounces); gear ratios range from 4.2-to1 to 7-to-1. The reels cost $259.95 to $379.95.

Grundens SeaKnit Performance Boat Shoe

The lace-up SeaKnit boat shoe features a seamless knit upper and a unique polyurethane overlay that provides light water resistance on wet surfaces. The shoe also comes with a non-marking, natural-gum-rubber outsole with razor-cut siping for traction. A shock-absorbing EVA midsole and comfort footbed provide cushioning. Proprietary fabric treatments resist odor and stains. SeaKnit shoes come in five colors and in sizes 8 through 11 1/2. They cost $109.99.

Bubba Tidal Inshore Rods

Bubba has introduced three inshore rod models—Tidal, Tidal Select and Tidal Pro. Tidal rods feature 24-ton graphite construction, split reel seats and stainless-steel guides. They come in lengths from 6 feet 10 inches to 7 feet 6 inches, in spin or casting models, and cost $129.99. Tidal Selects ($199.99) are made from 24/30-ton Toray graphite and come with Fuji graphite reel seats and Fuji BC Concept-O guides (aluminum-oxide inserts). Spin and baitcast models range from 7 feet to 7 feet 6 inches. Tidal Pros feature 30-ton Toray graphite, Fuji graphite reel seats and Fuji K-Series guides (Alconite inserts). Available in 7-foot or 7-foot-6-inch lengths, and in casting and spinning models, they cost $329.99.

Gill Pro Expedition Shorts

Designed for diehard anglers, Gill’s Pro Expedition Shorts dry quickly and provide full mobility with four-way stretch. The wicking fabric, made from 92 percent polyester and 8 percent elastance, repels water, blood, and other stains and naturally controls odor due to Gill’s XPEL technology. The shorts feature deep side pockets, a zippered tool pocket on the thigh, and double hook-and-loop-closure rear pockets. Side waist adjustment offers extra comfort. Available in sizes XS through 4XL and in graphite, medium gray and pool blue, the shorts cost $79.95.

Fire & Smoke Society Rubs

Fire & Smoke Society started a few years ago in the kitchen of James Beard Award-winner Paula Disbrowe. Each of the brand’s 23 spice blends were developed and refined before they were produced at a larger scale. The rubs include an angler favorite—Fish Monger—a blend of Himalayan pink salt, garlic, herbs, lemon and orange peel. But blends are also available for a variety of meats, and for pork, steak, ribs, tacos, chicken wings and even potatoes. The 10.7-ounce shakers cost $12.99.

Shimano Ultegra XSE

Shimano engineers fortified the Ultegra XSE surf reel to enhance its power and durability. The ultra-rigid CI4+ body reduces flex and directly translates angler effort into winding, and the cold-forged HAGANE Gear offers lasting strength. Shimano’s X-Ship system maintains precise pinion-gear alignment with the drive gear by supporting the pinion gear with bearings on both ends. An exclusive combination of water-repellent coatings and water-channeling construction shrugs off the salt environment’s corrosive elements. Available in the popular 14000 size, the XSE holds 330 yards of 20-pound-test monofilament. The reel is expected to debut in mid-June; pre-orders from select sites are available now at $214.99.

Costa Lido

The Lido delivers Costa’s core performance features yet it sports a more modern design geared toward West Coast anglers. The bio-resin frames include vented, adjustable Hydrolite nose pads, top and side shields, sweat channels, spring hinges and thin temples that fit beneath hats. Lido is available in three colors and comes with 580 glass or polycarbonate lenses. The sunglasses cost $197 to $277.

Read Next: New Fishing Gear for Spring 2022

Noble Oak Bourbon

Noble Oak says its brand was created to offer a great whiskey that gives back—every bottle plants a tree. To celebrate Earth Month in April, the company decided to double that offer by planting two trees for every bottle purchased through June. Noble Oak whiskeys are double-oak matured—first aged in charred new American white oak barrels followed by a trademarked WoodCraft finish for body and flavor. The bourbon costs $36.99; rye costs $41.99.

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Yeti Camino 50 Carryall

The ultimate boat bag, this 50-liter heavy-duty Yeti tote helps organize gear and transport it between truck and vessel. Made from the same waterproof, ultra-durable, and easily cleaned material as the Panga Duffel, the Camino 50 features an EVA molded bottom, two interior zippered pockets, CrossBar handles, and deployable dividers to keep gear such as reels separated from bulkier equipment. The $200 bag measures 16.5 inches high by 22 inches long and 12 inches wide and comes in navy or storm gray.

Shimano Tranx 150

The Shimano Tranx 150 expands this low-profile-reel family to deliver a versatile model perfect for lighter inshore presentations. The metal Hagane Body adds durability while enhancing smoothness. The smallest Tranx, the 150 weighs 6.7 ounces, carries 150 yards of 20-pound braided line, and offers 13 pounds of max drag. The reels also feature Shimano’s cross carbon drag material and will be available in three gear ratios — 6.3-, 7.2- and 8.2-to-1. They cost $209.99.

Bubba Tidal Series

Bubba has officially released its three-model series of inshore fishing rods: Tidal, Tidal Select and Tidal Pro. All three models feature spinning and casting options in multiple lengths, actions and powers. Tidal rods ($139.99) feature graphite construction and come with stainless-steel guides and a split reel seat. Tidal Selects ($199.99) feature Fuji components and 24/30 Toray graphite construction. They also employ Bubba’s Non-Slip Grip material. Tidal Pros ($329.99) come with top-of-the-line Fuji reel seats and guides, 30T Toray graphite construction, ergonomic carbon-fiber handles with Non-Slip Grip, and a lightweight design.

Fin-Nor Bouncer

Fin-Nor, one of the most storied brands in big-game fishing, has introduced a line of performance sunglasses that includes 20 styles, several designed with iconic captains such as Miami’s Bouncer Smith. Bouncer frames (pictured) feature a large-to-extra-large fit, an integrated spring hinge, adjustable rubber nose pads, rubber temple tips and low-profile side shields. They come in three colors and with either glass or plastic lenses in gray or copper and with three mirror options: silver, green, or blue. All Fin-Nor sunglasses will offer Lateral Line Lens Technology, which reduces blue light transmission for sharp, distortion-free color. They also feature enhanced abrasion resistance, hydrophobic/oleophobic coatings on both sides of glass lenses, and five- or seven-layer anti-reflective coating. Available in April, the sunglasses will cost $159 to $209.

Toadfish Elite Guide Series

Toadfish’s new Elite Guide Series spinning reels — in 2500 and 3000 sizes — feature an aluminum body, a carbon rotor and handle, and a sealed carbon drag. Both models come with 7+1 sealed stainless-steel ball bearings and a gear ratio of 6-to-1. They carry 240 yards of 10-pound braid, weigh 7.8 ounces and offer 16 pounds of max drag. Elite Guide Series reels cost $150.

G. Loomis GCX Inshore

Each G. Loomis GCX Inshore rod blank uses the company’s multi-taper design process that allows engineers to reinforce potential stress points while reducing extra material. The process makes these rods lighter with more precise lengths, powers and actions. Available in three casting and 11 spinning models, the rods feature solid cork handles, Fuji reel seats and an optimized SeaGuide guide train. Casting rods come in 6 ½- and 7-foot medium and medium-heavy versions; spinning rods come in 7-, 7 ½- and 8-foot models in a wider range of powers. The rods cost $289.99 to $339.99.

Huck Performance Bucket

Huck makes its performance buckets from an impact-modified, UV stabilized material called SpryTech, designed to outperform typical disposable 5-gallon containers made from high-density polyethylene. The company says it’s nearly impossible, in fact, to break its buckets. Other features include non-skid feet with finger indents on the bottom, “spaghetti-pot” side handles with finger indents, and a stay-put main handle system with finger indents. You can just grab the bottom or sides of the bucket rather than the handle and still control emptying or filling. The 5-gallon Huck measures 13 5/8 inches high, and has a base diameter of 10 ½ inches and a mouth diameter of 11 ½ inches. It weighs 3 pounds. Available in gray, blue, olive, tan, or white with tan, white or black handles, Hucks cost $99.95 (customized versions available).

Daiwa D-Vec Dry Bag

Daiwa’s new waterproof D-Vec dry bag backpack is made from a tarpaulin/nylon with PVC coated material. It features a waterproof zippered front compartment, an easy-access pliers holder, a nylon top handle, padded shoulder straps, and a rollover-and-snap design. It measures 16-by-27 inches and weighs 2 pounds. Available in black, it costs $79.99.

RedFin Sanibel

RedFin’s Sanibel frames were designed for larger faces. They feature heavy-duty, two-way stainless-steel hinges, no-slip, Megol rubber nose pieces, and under-the-cap ear stems. Manufactured by Carl Zeiss Vision, the nylon polarized lenses help eliminate glare and come with a coating that repels water, fog, sweat and oil; an anti-scratch protectant helps resist abrasion. Sanibel frames are available in matte black or black tortoise. Lenses come in coastal blue (dark gray/blue mirror), Gulf blue (light green/Caribbean blue mirror), shallow mirror (yellow/light green mirror) and dark shad mirror (gray base w/ silver mirror). They cost $229.

Read Next: More Saltwater Fishing Gear

Zerofit Heatrub

Zerofit has released two new baselayers — Heatrub Ultimate and Heatrub Move — for cold-weather protection and comfort on the water and anywhere in the outdoors. Ultimate ($90) has been independently tested to be five times warmer than competitors, with a heat-retention rating of 0.78. Standard baselayers have a 0.1 to 0.14 rating; a sweater would be about 0.3. Heat threads inside the garment are activated by movement. Recommended temperature range is 14 through 50 degrees. The Move baselayer ($76) has been tested to be twice as warm as similar products. The fabric on the inside is 45 percent polypropylene; the shell is a hollow polyester. The garment removes sweat from the skin, and its recommended range is 23 to 53 degrees. Ultimate comes in black, white, red, blue and gray; Move comes in black, white or titanium.

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These days, an invitation to travel and fish becomes a welcome distraction from pandemic stay-at-home-itis. So when Bubba asked me to join their pros and other media representatives to test the company’s new line of Tidal inshore rods in Charleston, South Carolina, last month, I jumped. Good choice.

Which leads me to a question: What would you call new spinning rods that land 110 redfish in one day among four anglers? “Lucky” just doesn’t seem to do it. “Golden?”

By the way, that release tally earned our team a coveted Fishing Machine T-shirt from our fishing hosts — Redfin Charters. Also, in addition to redfish, we caught trout, flounder, bluefish, sheepshead and black drum. Swish.

Throughout a day and a half of fishing, we switched up among the three Tidal versions — Tidal, Tidal Select and Tidal Pro. The red-and-white Tidal rods feature 24-ton graphite construction, split reel seats and stainless-steel guides. They come in lengths from 6 feet 10 inches to 7 feet 6 inches, in spin or casting models, and cost $129.99.

Also red and white, Tidal Selects are made from 24/30-ton Toray graphite and come with Fuji graphite reel seats and Fuji BC Concept-O guides (aluminum-oxide inserts). Lengths for spin and cast models range from 7 feet to 7 feet 6 inches. Selects cost $199.99.

Read Next: More Inshore Fishing Tips

Tidal Pro rods — colored black and red — feature 30-ton Toray graphite, Fuji graphite reel seats and Fuji K-Series guides (Alconite inserts). Available in 7-foot or 7-foot-6-inch lengths, and in casting and spinning models, they cost $329.99..

Tidal rods will be available in February.

Credit: Chris Woodward / Sport Fishing

Bubba makes it a practice to build products that take anglers from water to plate. So the redfish bash last month — which netted my team more than 110 redfish — also featured a fresh-caught, fish-five-ways appetizer at dinner, a shore lunch of shrimp and prime rib and a six-course evening meal from noted chef Capt. Jamie Hough.

The post Charleston Redfish Rumble appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

G. Loomis’ new IMX-PRO Blue Series saltwater rods come in four spinning and six casting high-performance models for inshore and light-duty offshore species, and were designed primarily for Northeast anglers. The rods feature multitaper technology and high strength-to-weight ratios. Casting rods come in three lengths from 7 feet to 7 feet, 6 inches; all spinners measure 7 feet long, with specific strengths and actions for fishing swimbaits and jigs, pitching plugs, and handling live baits and bucktails. All feature cork grips, Fuji reel seats and Fuji’s new Fazlite K-Frame guides. The rods cost $350 to $385.

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Okuma worked with Capt. Rick Murphy, host of the Sportsman’s Adventures TV show, to design the Ricky Red Signature Series of rods to match the needs of Florida inshore anglers. The series includes 12 models — eight spinning and four casting rods — that range in length from 6 feet, 6 inches to 7 feet, 6 inches and in action from medium-light to heavy. Components include Fuji aluminum-oxide guide inserts for ­braided-line use, Fuji reel seats, and cork grips. The rods cost $99.99.

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St. Croix has expanded its Mojo Salt lineup with eight new models — three spin, five casting — for boat, jetty and pier fishing. The blanks feature an SCII graphite and SCI linear S-glass blend for lightweight durability, Sea Guide boat guides, EVA handles and Fuji gimbals (on medium-heavy- and heavy-power models). New conventional models include 7-foot-6-inch and 8-foot medium-heavy- and heavy-power rods; new spinners include a 7-foot-6-inch medium-power rod and two 8-footers, one medium and one medium-heavy power. The rods cost $220 to $240.

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As an old rod-and-reel commercial fisherman used to tell me, “You can’t cook what you can’t hook.” With that in mind, I’d wager that more game fish avoid being hooked and cooked because of bad casts.

That includes casts that come up short, casts that don’t land anywhere near the fish, casts that spook fish, and casts that snag docks, rocks and mangroves.

Matching your tackle with the conditions under which you’re fishing and the species you’re pursuing can make a huge difference in your casting. A light lure on a heavy-duty rod with a tiny reel probably won’t go more than 10 feet beyond the boat.

“With any type of tackle, it’s all about balance,” says pro angler Bernie Schultz. “The rod, the reel, the lure and the line. All of that has to work together for accuracy and distance.”

Schultz grew up fishing the Sunshine State’s coastal and inland waters with his uncle and grandfather, and now lives in Gainesville, Florida. Invited to join the Shimano pro staff because of his casting skills, and also a Fuji and Rapala pro staffer, Schultz has successfully competed in redfish, snook, bonefish and kingfish tournaments.

“You can downsize your line so it travels more smoothly through the rod guides, but light line is a compromise in strength,” Schultz adds. “You’ve got to be careful there. I generally use 10- to 15-pound Sufix 832 braided line. Nothing gives you distance better than braid with spinning tackle.”

Tackle Choices
Because spinning tackle is easier for most anglers to cast than baitcasters, Capt. J.R. Waits (fishcall.com) provides his anglers with 7-foot medium-power rods in extra-fast actions while fishing around Charleston, South Carolina. “I like to use 15-pound braided line on 6- to 12-pound Penn Battalion spinning rods,” says Waits, a Penn pro staffer, who pairs the rods with Clash 3000 reels spooled with SpiderWire Invisi-Braid. “That’s pretty much my go-to setup for redfish, sea trout and flounder.”

Capt. Scott Simpson (captainscottsimpson.com) of Long Beach Harbor, Mississippi, chooses 7-foot medium-power Penn Battalion rods rated for 8- to 12-pound line. A member of the Penn pro staff for more than 20 years, his go-to reel is a Spinfisher VI 3500.

For saltwater fishing, Schultz ­typically uses medium to medium-heavy Shimano Expride spinning rods, ranging from 6 feet 10 inches to 7 feet 2 inches, because he feels that gives anglers “the best chance for accuracy and distance. It’s got a lot of backbone but also a tip that’s super fast, which helps casters launch a lure and aids in accuracy.”

He downsizes a bit to a 6-foot-6-inch rod when casting under overhanging mangroves or skipping lures under docks, explaining that the average angler is better off using a shorter rod in close quarters and a longer rod when long casts are essential.

Tennis Anyone?
Simpson makes it easy for new and inexperienced anglers to quickly figure out how to cast correctly. He tells them that “throwing a spinning reel is a lot like playing tennis,” which has backhand, forehand and overhand shots.

“You use an overhand cast when you’re really going for distance. You can put a lot of power into it,” Simpson says.

Simpson advises a forehand cast when distance is not a major concern. “For a forehand, think of swinging at a 45-degree angle (a 90-degree angle would be parallel to the water). When you make your cast, the 45-degree angle is going to give you a little loft or elevation, which will give you greater distance. For a backhand cast, if you’re a right-hander, you’re going to bring that rod tip to your left, and you’re throwing it kind of sidearm.

“It’s all a timing thing,” he tells those who are less experienced. “Don’t worry about distance at first; just worry about getting it out there. Then you can slowly start working on distance. Once you get your distance, then you can work on accuracy.”

For maximum distance, right-­handers should put their right index finger above the reel-seat stem and their middle finger below it. The left hand should grip the bottom of the rod. To cast, push back with the left hand and forward with the right hand to snap the rod and send the lure flying.

Read Next: Topwater-Lure Tricks of the Inshore Experts

Schultz likes sidearm and underhand casts because they make it easier to control how softly the lure lands in the water when throwing to spooky fish. He uses his left index finger to gently apply pressure to the spinning-reel spool toward the end of the cast so the lure’s forward momentum stops just before it hits the water, with the lure touching down instead of splashing down.

Simpson chooses Abu Garcia Revo or Pflueger baitcasting reels when casting in what he calls tight structure because they do a better job of stopping the line.

“If you need to cast the lure right next to that bank, and you need to put on the brakes midcast, put your thumb on the spool, and it’ll stop that lure right where you want it,” Simpson says. “The easier you do it, the softer the lure will land in the water.”

Hitting the Target
Accuracy is important whether ­casting to structure that attracts fish, such as a dock or oyster bar, or casting to a fish that you see. Waits instructs his anglers to cast ahead of and beyond a fish that’s swimming.

“You don’t want to hit the fish on the head,” Waits says. “You do want to lead a fish, anywhere from 2 to 10 feet. If the water is really clear or the fish are spooky, lead them by a lot. Then reel the bait toward the fish and put it 2 to 3 feet right in front of them, letting the bait fall slowly to the bottom.”

Waits does not aim for a specific spot when he casts to a moving fish. His goal is simply to get the lure beyond and in front of the target.

“You’re not trying to hit the fish, or, in other words, be accurate. You’re trying to get the bait correctly in front of the fish. If the cast is too far, just stop the line with your hand. The bait will fall into the water, and then you can work it,” he says.

If the cast is so inaccurate that the offering lands behind or way out in front of the fish, then quickly retrieve and recast.

Evenly spooling your line on the reel to begin with helps ensure accuracy and distance, according to Waits. He adds that after making a cast with a spinning reel, don’t crank the handle to close the bail because that causes what are known as wind knots, or tangles, in the line.

“I tell my customers to pull on the line a little bit after the cast and close the bail with their hand,” he says.

Schultz suggests working on your technique in a swimming pool or from the bank of a pond, lake or canal.

“It’s repetition,” Schultz says. “I think a lot of people don’t practice, then they’re put in a situation where they have to make a good cast. I have a guide friend who says some people are world-class casters until a fish shows up. The more you practice, the better.”

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Designed to match the demands of Gulf Coast anglers targeting redfish, trout and flounder, Shimano‘s new GLF series casting and spinning rods dial in the proper action for preferred techniques. The lightweight, one-piece, 30-ton hybrid blanks come with Shimano custom reel seats and titanium-oxide guides. Measuring 6 feet 6 inches, 6 feet 9 inches, 7 feet, and 7 feet 6 inches, the rods come in medium and medium-light power with fast action for 10- to 30-pound line classes. They cost $89.99.

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Today’s fishing rods must be lightweight and sensitive while providing enough backbone for big fish. Savage Gear’s new Browser series of spinning and casting rods — for inshore saltwater species and freshwater bass — delivers all of that, the company says. Browsers begin with a light-carbon blank that blends unidirectional fiber over 24-ton carbon in the tip section to increase lifting strength. The series includes 14 models from 7 to 8 feet in length and with medium-light to extra-extra-heavy actions. Browsers feature Seaguide CCS guides and custom reel seats flanked by foam foregrips and a cork butt section. They cost $79.99 to $129.99.

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A go-to inshore spinning rod doesn’t have to break the budget, but it might take a bit of sleuthing to find the right one. To be clear, there will always be a strong correlation between rod price and quality; anglers can expect a $250 or $300 inshore rod to incorporate exceptional components and a primo blank. The trick is to find a lower-priced rod ($160 or less) with many of the same qualities that are found in the best spinning rods available. In fact, more than one rod maker has told me the benefits in more expensive rods actually plateau at a certain point.

“Higher-priced saltwater spinning rods often have a higher graphite content when compared with lower-priced rods with fiberglass or a combination of graphite and fiberglass,” says Stephen Britt, of Penn fishing rods. “A higher-priced rod with a blank composed primarily of graphite often will be lighter, have a thinner-diameter blank and be more sensitive. The fiberglass rod most likely will be heavier but offer greater durability than a high-graphite-content blank.”

Luckily, the same saltwater spinning rod makers that produce the most expensive and best saltwater spinning rods on the market also meticulously design and build inexpensive models.

“If properly cared for, less-expensive rods can last the angler most of their lifetime,” says Bruce Holt, of G.Loomis. “The life of the components is probably shorter than that of the blank, but sticking with high-quality components extends their life as well.”

To explore some top options for affordable inshore fishing rods that handle 10- or 15-pound braided line comfortably, we reviewed the market past and present for the best spinning rods for the money. These are the best rods for trout. These are the best rods for redfish. Understand that several of the best spinning rods listed below are rated higher, for 15- to 30-pound-test, and others are rated lower at 6- to 12-pound-test or 8- to 15-pound-test. Still, we picked these rod options because they fall into the nearshore- and inshore-spinning-rod category that’s popular along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts.

• 13 Fishing Omen Green
• BUBBA Tidal Rod
• Daiwa Back Bay
• Fenwick Elite Tech Inshore
• Okuma Fishing Tackle Shadow Stalker
• Penn Battalion
• Quantum Smoke Inshore
• Shakespeare Ugly Stik Inshore Select
• Shimano GLF
• St. Croix Rods Mojo Inshore
• Star Rods Sequence

Throughout this guide, you might notice terms like “fast action” or “medium power.” Most anglers know these terms, but some might appreciate a quick refresher. The action, or taper, of the rod indicates how much bend is in the rod tip. A fast-action rod bends in the top third of the blank; medium action often bends in the top half of the rod, and slow action may incorporate bend throughout the majority of the rod.

Rod power, sometimes called backbone, refers to a stick’s lifting power. The power of the rod works in conjunction with the line weight of the rod. Fishing a grass flat with no structure might entail light line and little power in a rod, but casting near heavy structure, such as a jetty or pier, requires heavier line and more power to force hooked fish away from tangles.

“Higher-end rods can be lighter in weight and more sensitive, but they need to be babied, as they can be fragile,” says Okuma’s John Bretza. Consider the rod options below to find your blue-collar workhorse.

Check out these affordable inshore spinning rods for $160 or less.

13 Fishing Omen Green

• Length: 7 feet 2 inches
• Power: Medium heavy
• Action: Fast
• Line Weight: 10- to 20-pound-test
• Rod Weight: 4.9 ounces

Overview: The Omen Green was designed to be a long-casting, fast-loading rod with a smooth yet powerful taper capable of delivering accurate casts to anything an inshore angler might encounter. Key components include Japanese 30-ton Toray graphite, poly vector graphite construction, Alps 316 stainless-steel guides with zirconia inserts and Portuguese cork. A unique hook keeper is completely snagless and prevents the line from catching during a cast.

BUBBA Tidal

• Length: 7 feet
• Power: Medium light
• Action: Fast
• Line Weight: 10- to 20-pound-test

Overview: The BUBBA Tidal series of spinning rods catch your eye with its creative use of vibrant reds, blacks and whites. Backed by a 5-year warranty, the Tidal graphite spinning rods are constructed with stainless steel, corrosion-resistant guides. At the butt end, there’s a split reel seat for sensitivity and a BUBBA grip for comfort. The skeletonized reel seat allows the angler to stay in contact with the exposed rod blank.

Daiwa Back Bay

• Length: 7 feet, 6 inches
• Power: Medium heavy
• Action: Extra Fast
• Line Weight: 10- to 20-pound-test

Overview: Daiwa’s Back Bay series of inshore spinning and casting rods were designed for fishing East Coast’s many inshore back bays. These spinning rods were designed with heavier power ratings to allow both live bait fishing and casting lures. Features include light and sensitive extra-fast blanks with backbone, one-piece cork handle and FAZ LITE ring guides.

Fenwick Elite Tech Inshore

• Length: 7 feet
• Power: Medium
• Action: Fast
• Line Weight: 10- to 30-pound-test
• Rod Weight: 4.8 ounces

Overview: Fenwick’s Elite Tech Inshore rod series starts with a high-modulus blank and skeletonized Fuji reel seat. High-grade cork handles give each rod a comfortable nonslip grip finish. Deep-pressed titanium guides help eliminate inserts from popping out. The Elite Tech Inshore rod series incorporates 10 different models.

Okuma Epixor Inshore

• Length: 7 feet, 6 inches
• Power: Heavy
• Action: Moderate Fast
• Line Weight: 15- to 30-pound-test
• Rod Weight: 15- to 30-pound-test

Overview: Okuma’s Epixor rods feature 30/36-Ton carbon, ultra-light, slim and balanced blanks and unique use of Bopp (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) blank protect film from damage during use and transportation. Other features include Seaguide XO anti-tangle 316-stainless steel guides, Zirconium guides inserts and ergonomic touch blank reel seats.

Penn Battalion

• Length: 7 feet
• Power: Medium
• Action: Extra fast
• Line Weight: 10- to 30-pound-test
• Rod Weight: 5.1 ounces

Overview: The one-piece, 30-ton 100 percent graphite blank is incredibly sensitive in Penn’s Battalion lightweight inshore rods, providing flex, sensitivity and pulling power. Seventeen inshore spinning models range in length from 6 feet 6 inches to 8 feet. Extra-light, light, medium-light and medium rods feature split and full-cork grips with a Fuji skeleton reel seat. To optimize casting distances, spinning models feature Fuji SV or Y stainless-steel frames with aluminum-oxide inserts.

Quantum Smoke Inshore

• Length: 7 feet, 6 inches
• Power: Medium heavy
• Action: Fast
• Line Weight: 8- to 14-pound-test

Overview: Building on the success of their current Smoke Inshore rod series, Quantum’s S3 (Series Three) family of products is full of PT technology. The HSX64 graphite construction this blank is a special blend of premium Toray graphite for strength, sensitivity, durability and action for Inshore applications. Premium components like Fuji SK2 reel seat and our exclusive PT Guide System provides the perfect placement and size of aluminum oxide guides for ultimate performance.

Ugly Stik Inshore Select

• Length: 7 feet
• Power: Medium heavy
• Action: Fast
• Line Weight: 10- to 25-pound-test
• Rod Weight: 7.8 ounces

Overview: Ugly Stik’s Inshore Select series rods include Ugly Tech technology and Ugly Tuff one-piece stainless-steel guides for increased toughness and dependability under saltwater conditions. Offered with full-cork grips, in five spinning models, all rods retail for just $60. The tapered actions cast artificial or live bait with equal ease.

Shimano GLF

• Length: 7 feet, 6 inches
• Power: Medium
• Action: Fast
• Line Weight: 8- to 14-pound-test

Overview: Shimano’s GLF inshore rods, a series of four casting and four spinning rods, were built to catch speckled trout, redfish, flounder and other coastal Gulf species. Made with 24- and 30-ton carbon blanks and featuring a Titanium Oxide semi-micro guide train, the split-grip GLF rods have comfortable cork mid grips, high-density EVA front and rear grips, along with Shimano custom reel seats.

• Length: 7 feet
• Power: Medium
• Action: Fast
• Line Weight: 8- to 17-pound-test
• Rod Weight: 4.9 ounces

Overview: The St. Croix Mojo Inshore MIS70MF is a medium-power, fast-action blank designed with St. Croix’s popular SCII graphite. All spinning rods measure 7 feet or 7 feet 6 inches. Features include a Fuji DPS reel seat, hard aluminum-oxide guides with corrosion-resistant frames, premium-grade cork handles and a five-year warranty. “The fast-action design is best suited for fishing artificials, including soft plastics, on ¼- to ½-ounce jig heads, poppers, walk-the-dog baits, popping or rattling corks, weighted paddle tails and spoons,” says Jeff Schluter, St. Croix’s vice president of brand management.

• Length: 7 feet, 7 inches
• Power: Medium Heavy
• Action: Fast
• Line Weight: 10- to 20-pound-test

Overview: Star Sequence rods feature an extra layer of graphite for added strength and durability in a fast-action taper. The inshore series features cushion cork grip. All rods in this series feature quality Fuji components including Fuji K-guides.

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