.

For throwing crocs and bucks,  9-6 might work well; but youre pushing the top of the rod at 2oz......   when I know that I am just fishing in daylight to evenings, I'll use a 10' conventional and a calcutta.... I can watch the lure fly and hit the water, and there is less chance of a birds nest...


Ideally for surf casting, you might want something a little longer than 10' rod... especially if you wanna throw alot further and heavier lures (bombers & surf poppers) ....

I went with a 11' Loomis 2-4oz and a daiwa reel, the one with a long narrow spool (vs a short wide one); is easier for the line to come off the spool and increases your casting distance....

and, I only spool 12-15lbs mono, no braid for me!

Long A Bombers - Mackeral, Pearl and my favorite hard time find color!
Gibbs Popper - Mackeral
Yozura - Red/chrome
Hair Raiser - white/chartruese

This is whats in my bag...

Kind of reminds me of the folks who collected the Star Wars, GI Joes, and other action figures and just keep them in the packages. you are suppose to take the action figures out of the packaging, play with them for a awhile. When you get bored you soak them in lighter fluid and watch them burn and melt.

 
Thats my backup!  Here's the ones currently on deck...

**good call on the hook covers.  had one of those big sharp striper hooks go all the way thru the meaty part of my pointer finger...it was alot of fun pulling it back through with the barb..I should of just snipped off the eye at the lure and pulled it through that way..but I was driving and didn't have any dykes...no I didn't get in a wreck...