Written By John VanDerLaan
*We may earn revenue from the products available on this site and participate in affiliate programs
Our staff of surf fishing experts have tested and reviewed all of the best surf fishing rod and reel combos so that you can find the right one for you.
We chase striped bass and bluefish from the Cape Cod Canal and outer beaches to the jersey shore, Chesapeake Bay and the Mid Atlantic Coast.
Here in Florida, we have speckled trout, pompano, snook, redfish, black drum, flounder, jacks, Spanish mackerel, snapper, and even grouper if we can find rocks or pilings to fish. No matter where you live along the coast, there are plenty of fish available to you.
Best Overall
PENN spinfisher IV combo
Best For Beginners
penn battle iii combo
Staff Favorite
Daiwa bg surf combo
The Complete List:
Surf Fishing Rod and Reel Combo Reviews
These are real reviews of the exact surf fishing rod and reel combos that we use on beaches and jetties from Cape Cod, to the Jersey Shore, Mid Atlantic Coast, all the way to Florida, Alabama and Texas.
Best Overall: PENN Spinfisher VII Surf Combo
The PENN Spinfisher 6500 spinning reel is the one we recommend along with its PENN rod as the best combo for most anglers' needs while surf fishing. This doesn't mean it's the best one for you, but if you fish for a variety of fish species from the beach, this one is probably the one that fits your needs best. Read on to find out!
The Spinfisher VII is well-sealed and has sealed bearings and a drag system to keep out moisture and dirt that can cause a reel to lock up or grind gears or bearings. It has more line capacity than the average spinning reel for surf casting and it is built to withstand the high-pressure environment that comes with reeling in huge fish.
The PENN Spinfisher surf rod is a composite of graphite and fiberglass, so it's hard, flexible, and ready to give you some of the longest casts possible for this rod length. You'll also appreciate the comfortable EVA handles and rubber shrink grips for an iron grip that won't slip, even when wet.
It is a great rod and reel combo for working lures in the surf or bait fishing.
Features
SPINFISHER VII REEL
Reel Type – Spinning.
Reel Size – 6500 with many other sizes available.
Gear Ratio & Retrieval Rate – 5.6:1 (42 in).
Materials – Full metal body and sideplates and CNC Gear technology.
Spool & Line Capacity – Superline balanced aluminum spool. Clear line capacity rings. 335/50 lb. braid.
Drag – 30 lb. Sealed drag using HT-100 carbon fiber washers.
Bearings – 5+1.
Durability – Excellent. IPX5 sealed body and spool.
SPINFISHER COMPOSITE ROD
Length – 10 ft. (2 pieces).
Materials – Tough graphite and fiberglass composite blank.
Power – Heavy.
Action – Moderate-Fast.
Handle – Lightweight EVA with rubber shrink tube grips. Note, the rod at our link is a SpinFisher rod with a cork handle.
Reel Seat – Graphite.
Guides – Dura-Guide stainless steel without inserts.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
If you are looking for the best rod and reel combo that is reasonably priced and durable, this is the one for you.
Best for Beginners: PENN Battle IV Surf Combo
The PENN Battle IV is perfect for beginning surf fishing enthusiasts from teens to adults. This combo includes a PENN 9-foot medium-heavy power rod and is well-matched to the Battle IV reel. The price is right for this advanced beginner's surf fishing combo. This makes an excellent gift for anglers new to fishing!
Features
PENN BATTLE IV SURF REEL
Reel Type – Spinning.
Reel Size – 6000. Sizes from 1000 to 10000 are available.
Gear Ratio & Retrieval Rate – 5.6:1 (41 in).
Materials – Metal body and sideplates. CNC Gear Technology.
Spool & Line Capacity – Aluminum spool. 335 yd. 50 lb. braid.
Drag – 25 lb. HT-100 carbon fiber discs.
Bearings – 5+1.
Durability – Sealed bearings. No special sealing for the spool or internals. Requires cleaning often.
PENN BATTLE ROD
Length – 9 ft. (2 pieces).
Materials – Graphite-fiberglass composite blank.
Power – Medium-Heavy.
Action – Moderate-Fast.
Handle – Split handle. Rubber shrink tube and EVA grips.
Reel Seat – Graphite.
Guides – PENN Dura-Guides. Solid steel, no inserts.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
If you're a beginner looking for a very strong time-tested surf fishing spinning reel and rod with a fair price and with decent components that will last you at least a few years, the PENN Battle IV is one of the best available choices in the market. We've been more than happy with ours and we intend to buy more this year.
Staff Pick: Best Spinning Outfit: Daiwa BG Surf Combo
We have some guys on staff that love this surf combo and we can see why. It is a high quality reel that is sized perfectly and it is matched with a 10' surf rod that casts extremely well and is durable enough to stand up to the elements. This combo really hits the sweet spot of features vs price.
Features
DAIWA BG5000 REEL
Reel Type – Spinning.
Reel Size – 5000.
Gear Ratio & Retrieval Rate – 5.7:1 (47.4 in).
Materials – Black anodized machined aluminum body.
Spool & Line Capacity – ABS aluminum spool. 360 yd. 50 lb. braid.
Drag – 22 lb. Waterproof and carbon fiber washers.
Bearings – 6+1.
Durability – Oversized gearing and waterproof drag. 7 total bearings.
DAIWA ROD (1002MH)
Length – 10 ft. (2 pieces).
Materials – Graphite and carbon fiber composite blank.
Power – Medium-Heavy.
Action – Moderate-Fast.
Handle – EVA foam.
Reel Seat – Graphite.
Guides – Cut/groove-proof aluminum oxide guide inserts.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Daiwa brand fishing gear is considered by many to be on par with Shimano and PENN. This rod and reel combination has some excellent specs and durable materials and features that should provide years of satisfactory use. Some on our team prefer Daiwa spinning combos to conventional outfits for surf casting. You might too!
Best Casting/Conventional Surf Combo: PENN Squall II Star Drag Surf Combo
Back in the day, all the old timers lining the beach and the jetties were using conventional gear. Somewhere along the line, most surf fisherman made the switch to the easier to use, spinning rod and reel. Today, there are still some diehards that appreciate the longer casting conventional surf casting gear. We have a couple of these diehards on staff and this is the surf combo that they use.
Features
PENN SQUALL II STAR DRAG REEL
Reel Type – Casting/Conventional.
Reel Size – 15 (1500).
Gear Ratio & Retrieval Rate – 6.1:1 (29 in).
Materials – Graphite frame (body) and sideplates.
Spool & Line Capacity – Live spindle and free-floating aluminum spool. 290 yd. 50 lb. braid.
Drag – 20 lb. Star drag HT-100 carbon fiber discs.
Bearings – 6+1 shielded.
Durability – Sealed bearings and conventional reel types enjoy added resistance to saltwater and other elements.
PENN SQUALL ROD
Length – 10 ft. (2 pieces).
Materials – Tubular graphite-fiberglass composite blank.
Power – Medium.
Action – Moderate-Fast.
Handle – Split style, rubber shrink handle, and rod butt.
Reel Seat – Graphite.
Guides – PENN Dura-Guides.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
The PENN Squall II Star Drag reel and rod combination is one of the all-time greats in surf fishing in our opinion. The casting distance on this one is extra far and the reliability and durability is well-known among anglers who've been using them for a long time.
If you're looking for a tough conventional reel that isn't too big and that you can use from the beach on a 10 ft. rod, this one is a great choice for you. We always have line on ours and they are ready to go.
Best Budget Option: PENN Pursuit IV Surf Combo
Let's face it, surf fishing can get expensive, so we wanted to share a high quality, budget surf fishing rod and reel combo. We reached out to everyone on our staff and this combo is the one came up the most. It is ideal for beginners or anybody on a budget.
Features
PENN PURSUIT IV REEL
Reel Type – Spinning.
Reel Size – 8000.
Gear Ratio & Retrieval Rate – 4.7:1 (44 in).
Materials – Graphite body.
Spool & Line Capacity – Machined and anodized aluminum Superline spool. 345 yd. 80 lb.
Drag – HT-100 carbon fiber discs.
Bearings – 4+1.
Durability – Sealed bearings.
PENN PURSUIT ROD
Length – 10 ft. (2 pieces).
Materials – Graphite-fiberglass composite.
Power – Heavy.
Action – Fast.
Handle – EVA grips with grooves for fingers that give a better grip wet or dry.
Reel Seat – Graphite.
Guides – Dura-Guides.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
We recommend that beginners learning how to fish, who want to get involved in surf fishing from the shore grab one of these 8000-size PENN Pursuit saltwater reels. These are very popular rod/reel combos from one of the best names in the sport. We still have PENN Pursuit IIs and IIIs we're using after years of moderate saltwater use.
Best Cheap Option: Ugly Stik Surf Combo
Best and cheap rarely are used in the same sentence, but I just felt like some of you were going to be looking for a cheap option. After all, you are going to be smashing this combo on the rocks at the jetty and laying in in the sand on the beach. Who wants to spend a lot of money to abuse a rod and reel combo like that.
This combo is cheap, but it also features an indestructible Ugly Stik rod, which we have found to be awesome for surf fishing.
Features
SHAKESPEARE REEL
Reel Type – Spinning.
Reel Size – 7000.
RELATED: What Size Reel For Surf Fishing?
Gear Ratio & Retrieval Rate – 4.1:1 and RR not stated.
Materials – Graphite spinning reel.
Spool & Line Capacity – Aluminum spool. 300 yd. 25 lb. mono.
Drag – Oil felt.
Bearings – 1+1.
Durability – Unsealed. Some parts are durable.
UGLY STIK BIGWATER ROD
Length – 9 ft. (2 pieces).
Materials – Ugly Tech construction, graphite and fiberglass.
Power – Medium-Heavy.
Action – Moderate
Handle – Split handle. EVA grips. Some models have a rubber gimbal.
Reel Seat – Fuji graphite.
Guides – Tuff-Guides. One piece stainless steel without inserts.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
If you're looking for an entry-level surf fishing combination to try just to see if you like fishing from shore or not, this one is a great starter kit for you. If you can afford it, we think you should get one of the other combinations on this page because at worst, you can resell it. Your experience will be better.
But, if you don't have the money then don't feel bad about getting this one and trying it out. This might be your gateway into saltwater fishing and you may love it. There is plenty of time to upgrade your gear later!
