Since both of my Berkley Lightning and Cherrywood HD rods had guides rust and break both fitted with freshwater Sienna 2500 reels I wanted to look into saltwater rods and reels to buy. I already bought the 8" Tsunami rod/reel at Walmart for $30 to just try surf and jetty fishing in New Smyrna Beach and just wanted to get something longer but at the same time better.

 

From all I read Ugly Stick GX2, Big Water or Inshore rods are good but the Shakespeare reels that are on those as a combo are not too good but I am sure much better than that $30 combo rod I bought at Walmart which was not too bad at all so far. The Penn combos are the oposite, the Penn Battle II combos are $110-130 but those rods Penn includes in those combos are not that good, and Pursuit II & III reels are flimsy for $70 combo. I found combos from both makers on Amazon, Walmart, Dick's, Bass Pro and other box stores and was wondering what I should do as they seem to be good deals to me.

 

I was thinking of getting Ugly Stick GX2 6'6 or 7' M rod to replace my Berkleys as a smaller rod I can also use for Bass and of the Pier and then to also get Surf/jetty/inshore rod that is 8-10" M or MH to through 4-6oz sinkers at the beach fitted with 5000/6000 reel size. 

Also Penn seem to include 7000 or 8000 reels in their longer Pursuit and Battle Combos with 8-10" rods which is an overkill and I do not want anything over 6000 size, ideally a 5000. I want to also be able to take this rod to fish on the charter boat offshore when I go later this month.

 

Please suggest me and guide me in the right direction. I am an almost 40 male that has been fishing 2 years.

So you're looking for two things right?

 

1) A heavy combo for saltwater surf fishing that is better than a $30 Walmart Combo

2) A new spinning rod to pair up with a Sienna 2500

 

What's your budget for each?

2 hours ago, Junger said:

So you're looking for two things right?

 

1) A heavy combo for saltwater surf fishing that is better than a $30 Walmart Combo

2) A new spinning rod to pair up with a Sienna 2500

 

What's your budget for each?

Thanks. Yes that is correct. Unless I can get away with ugly stick gx2 combo with Shakespeare reel