What to look for in an ocean fishing rod?

I like Phoenix abyss rods 806 or 807. You can use them for almost everything and they are my favorite halibut rods. I caught a 20 pounder over the weekend on the 807 and it handled great.

Dang brah!  Slipped that one in there…

I like Phoenix abyss rods 806 or 807. You can use them for almost everything and they are my favorite halibut rods. I caught a 20 pounder over the weekend on the 807 and it handled great.

Dang brah!  Slipped that one in there…

Can confirm, I witnessed this! 

I hate to say this too, but you said you have children so you sound old enough to do some reading on your own.  It sounds like you have very little understanding so coming here and posting all your questions is not the best bet.  You should educate yourself a bit more and have a better understanding first before asking questions.  Nothing wrong with asking questions but you have almost little to no basic understanding of fishing it seems.  If you don't have step 1 down, steps 2-10 are going to be confusing as hell.

I hate to say this too, but you said you have children so you sound old enough to do some reading on your own.  It sounds like you have very little understanding so coming here and posting all your questions is not the best bet.  You should educate yourself a bit more and have a better understanding first before asking questions.  Nothing wrong with asking questions but you have almost little to no basic understanding of fishing it seems.  If you don't have step 1 down, steps 2-10 are going to be confusing as hell.

Damn dude.

https://www.amazon.com/Ugly-Stik-Tiger-Casting-Rod/dp/B01IDEPLV2/ref=sr_1_11?crid=3MR6GMVNESLBH&keywords=ugly%2Bstik%2Btiger&qid=1683124768&sprefix=ugly%2Bstik%2Btiger%2Caps%2C256&sr=8-11&th=1

Is this Ugly Stik the all-around option talked about above?  I see even "Ugly Stik Tiger" yielded a few different rods (at least by the name).

And, it seems to me most technical data is missing the most critical - how heavy can the load be, before the stick breaks.  Is this not important?  Seems to me this is equivalent to the weight capacity of a kayak, which is very critical data.

A few rods I have now are very thin and bends easily; if I hook a 20 lb halibut I think the rods might break.

Most rod manufacturers group their rods into the zones that the rods are designed to be used in.  So, for rockfish, CA halibut, lingcod, etc, you are looking for inshore rods. 

Ugly Stik makes a bunch of different rod series.  Ugly Stik Tiger and Big Water series rods are their inshore rods, designed for stuff like CA halibut, rockfish, and other medium sized inshore fish.  Within the Tiger series, they have rods designed for trolling, jigging, and casting, to cover the different techniques that most folks are going to use while fishing in the inshore zone.  They are more or less meant for the same kinds of fish, but optimized to be used certain ways.  For example, I have a 6'6" medium power rod, which is designed for jigging.  I also have the 8' medium light rod mentioned earlier, designed more for casting and trolling.  Both rods are versatile, and can be used for whatever I want, but the shorter, stiffer jigging rod makes for a better day of jigging for rockfish with heavier jigs/weights, and the longer, more sensitive trolling rod works better for trolling in the bay for halibuts.  Both have more than enough backbone to land any fish in the target area.

Generally speaking, the line and lure ratings printed on the rod are meant to help indicate how that rod behaves.  If you stay within those specs, you won't have any issues, and shouldn't break the rod.

I hate to say this too, but you said you have children so you sound old enough to do some reading on your own.  It sounds like you have very little understanding so coming here and posting all your questions is not the best bet.  You should educate yourself a bit more and have a better understanding first before asking questions.  Nothing wrong with asking questions but you have almost little to no basic understanding of fishing it seems.  If you don't have step 1 down, steps 2-10 are going to be confusing as hell.

Damn dude.

Damn what?  I'm just saying whats true.  If I wanted to plant a fruit tree, I'd go look up the basics of gardening and go from there.  Not jump on a forum and ask people what type of shovel I should get.  If I don't bother getting myself to step 1, then the rest of the way will be difficult and thats the truth.  I only said that because despite all the input from people, he genuinely seems lost and its hard to explain those concepts to people who don't care to read up on it, even the slightest bit. 

this is a tiger lite xh 7ft. i don't think they make these models anymore. one of my first setups i ever bought.  handled all the big fish ive caught, including a huge guitar shark, couple, 80+lbs bat rays, and that pac hali up in shelter cove years back.   you cant break an ugly stick.  if you don't know how to fish, expensive gear will break on you or feel like its going to break.  so if that's your fear, get an ugly stick.  and watch those retro commercials about them, and be happy that you did.

its for sale in the for sale section.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

Travella 7' ML and Terramara inshore 7'-6" ML for me but for you Ugly Stick for sure! 

It's what I used for at least five years and It's still sitting on the wall floppy and unbreakable sometimes I'll  still take it out to troll for Salmon.



 

Travella 7' ML and Terramara inshore 7'-6" ML for me but for you Ugly Stick for sure! 

It's what I used for at least five years and It's still sitting on the wall in all it's floppy and unbreakable glory, last year I even took it out again to troll for salmon.



 

https://www.amazon.com/Ugly-Stik-Tiger-Casting-Rod/dp/B01IDEPLV2/ref=sr_1_11?crid=3MR6GMVNESLBH&keywords=ugly%2Bstik%2Btiger&qid=1683124768&sprefix=ugly%2Bstik%2Btiger%2Caps%2C256&sr=8-11&th=1

Is this Ugly Stik the all-around option talked about above?  I see even "Ugly Stik Tiger" yielded a few different rods (at least by the name).

And, it seems to me most technical data is missing the most critical - how heavy can the load be, before the stick breaks.  Is this not important?  Seems to me this is equivalent to the weight capacity of a kayak, which is very critical data.

A few rods I have now are very thin and bends easily; if I hook a 20 lb halibut I think the rods might break.

Alright brother……normally there are no circumstances in which I’d recommend an ugly stick…….but ……..you should get an ugly stick.


And ironically enough, I heard a recent suggestion that rod manufacturers should adopt a more uniform rating system based on the maximum drag pounds it takes to shut down the rod blank. Your post kinda implies that same concept……maybe it needs to be adopted lol. 

And ironically enough, I heard a recent suggestion that rod manufacturers should adopt a more uniform rating system based on the maximum drag pounds it takes to shut down the rod blank. Your post kinda implies that same concept……maybe it needs to be adopted lol.

I can get behind more a standardized rating system, for both rods and reels.  Its crazy how two rods with exactly the same line/lure ratings can behave so differently.

For reels, sizing is all over the board too.  All categories too.  One reel in a 40 size is bigger than another reel in a 60 size. 

I hate to say this too, but you said you have children so you sound old enough to do some reading on your own.  It sounds like you have very little understanding so coming here and posting all your questions is not the best bet.  You should educate yourself a bit more and have a better understanding first before asking questions.  Nothing wrong with asking questions but you have almost little to no basic understanding of fishing it seems.  If you don't have step 1 down, steps 2-10 are going to be confusing as hell.

Damn dude.

Damn what?  I'm just saying whats true.  If I wanted to plant a fruit tree, I'd go look up the basics of gardening and go from there.  Not jump on a forum and ask people what type of shovel I should get.  If I don't bother getting myself to step 1, then the rest of the way will be difficult and thats the truth.  I only said that because despite all the input from people, he genuinely seems lost and its hard to explain those concepts to people who don't care to read up on it, even the slightest bit. 

While I totally see your point, guy was just looking for a rod recommendation.  No need to get salty. 

While I totally see your point, guy was just looking for a rod recommendation.  No need to get salty.

I'm not being salty.  To be honest, I can assure you his next posts will be asking about reels, lines, hooks, etc. You really want to break every little aspect of fishing down for him?  I'm just recommending that he takes the first step to educate himself, so that he can then educate his kids that he plans on fishing with.  Whether it was his post about asking for kayak recommendation 15 years ago, or few weeks ago, now to this...its evident he doesn't know what he wants and most of that comes from lack of information.  Some of you guys that keep encouraging this behavior is wild.   

While I totally see your point, guy was just looking for a rod recommendation.  No need to get salty.

I'm not being salty.  To be honest, I can assure you his next posts will be asking about reels, lines, hooks, etc. You really want to break every little aspect of fishing down for him?  I'm just recommending that he takes the first step to educate himself, so that he can then educate his kids that he plans on fishing with.  Whether it was his post about asking for kayak recommendation 15 years ago, or few weeks ago, now to this...its evident he doesn't know what he wants and most of that comes from lack of information.  Some of you guys that keep encouraging this behavior is wild.   

So what?  If his excitement in his re-found love for kayak fishing means he's asking a lot of questions, I think that is positive energy and I find it entertaining.  You can make the same point without being critical, if you choose to.  It seems more like you want to run him out for asking too many questions. Chill out

So what?  If his excitement in his re-found love for kayak fishing means he's asking a lot of questions, I think that is positive energy and I find it entertaining.  You can make the same point without being critical, if you choose to.  It seems more like you want to run him out for asking too many questions. Chill out

Got it!  Lets be super passionate about something and not read up on it and not know a single thing and ask questions about something I know nothing about.  Fantastic attitude to pass down to future generations...just awesome.

Don't worry Al, I'm hanging up the towel on bashing hopeless people since ya'll love harboring them so much.    

So what?  If his excitement in his re-found love for kayak fishing means he's asking a lot of questions, I think that is positive energy and I find it entertaining.  You can make the same point without being critical, if you choose to.  It seems more like you want to run him out for asking too many questions. Chill out

Got it!  Lets be super passionate about something and not read up on it and not know a single thing and ask questions about something I know nothing about.  Fantastic attitude to pass down to future generations...just awesome.

Don't worry Al, I'm hanging up the towel on bashing hopeless people since ya'll love harboring them so much.   

You should read my first 20 posts and then come bash me cause I did the same thing. 

So what?  If his excitement in his re-found love for kayak fishing means he's asking a lot of questions, I think that is positive energy and I find it entertaining.  You can make the same point without being critical, if you choose to.  It seems more like you want to run him out for asking too many questions. Chill out

You should read my first 20 posts and then come bash me cause I did the same thing. 

Ha! I am only guilty of one or two.

I forget that our thought processes are all geared differently. 

Good luck with finding the right rod for your needs bluestar. I am pretty easy on picking a fishing rod for ocean fishing. Decades of experience has played a major role though. All of my rods are knock offs. I can pretty much go and pick one up off the rack and make my decision by just flexing the rod on the showroom floor.    Hehehe. " Flexing my rod".

Of course it all depends on the application in which you are going to use it for? It never ends. Like a kid in the candy store. 

Alex