Updated 2/13/2024
Flounder are a flat, somewhat bizarre looking saltwater species. They spend most of their time lying on the bottom waiting for a juicy snack to float by. When finding and catching these fish, it’s important to have the best flounder rod in your hand to maximize chances at a successful catch. Flounder are notorious for poor hookup ratios and lost fish where having the right equipment can make all the difference.
Most anglers target flounder with soft plastics on a jig head or with live bait on a bottom rig. Other inshore techniques like popping corks may pick up a flounder here or there but the best bet to find these fish is to fish near the bottom of the water column where these incredible ambush predators lie in wait.
Flounder are many saltwater anglers’ favorite fish to eat. Their white flaky flesh is mild flavored and delicious, making them ideal keeper fish for popular preparations like baking or frying.
I’ve done the hours of rod research and testing on weight, strength, durability, and material quality so you don’t have to. Check out my top recommendations for the best flounder rods to have the right rods for the job.
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
Our Top 5 Picks
Most rods on our list come in spinning and casting versions. Both can be great options. We recommend spinning rods as good all-around choices and as more beginner friendly. Baitcasting rods are easier to cast accurately but can be tricky if you aren’t as experienced with baitcasting reels.
For live bait bottom rigs and lighter soft plastic setups we recommend spinning rods for flounder. Baitcasting setups are only preferred for heavier lure setups that will have frequent casts. Check out our considerations for each type later in the article.
- Best for the Money: Penn Battalion II Inshore Rod
- Best Under $100: Ugly Stik Bigwater Rod
- Best Under $200: St. Croix Triumph Inshore
- Best for Surf Fishing: St. Croix Triumph Surf Spinning
- Best High End: St. Croix Legend Tournament Inshore Rod
The 5 Best Flounder Rods
Whether you’re a novice angler or a grizzled expert, we have you covered. Check out my recommendations for overall best flounder rods for different categories like best value, best for different price points, and more!
1. Penn Battalion II Inshore Rod
- Length: 7′ to 8′
- Power: Light to Extra-Heavy
- Rod Material: SLC2 Carbon
- Guides: Fuji Alconite
- Handle: Premium Cork or Rubber Shrink Tube
- Warranty: 1 Year manufacturing defects only
Pros:
- Variety of sizes accommodates multiple fishing techniques
- Premium rod features for reasonable price
Our choice for best flounder rod for the money is the Penn Battalion II Inshore Rod. This rod captures a great balance of value, price accessibility, and quality features. It’s a workhorse inshore fishing rod that is perfect for almost anything the ocean can throw at it.
Is this rod perfect? No. Is it solid equipment for the price? Definitely.
We picked this rod as our best choice for the money because of it’s versatility and competitive price point. We love the 7′ medium power spinning version as an all-around flounder rod that is perfect for both live bait fishing and soft plastic fishing.
The SLC2 Carbon rod blank and Fuji Alconite guide material construction are considered mid-tier materials that should last plenty long with proper care. The full cork handle feels great for prolonged inshore fishing trips. We do wish Penn offered a better warranty (like St. Croix), but it’s hard to complain at this price point.
2. Ugly Stik Bigwater Rod
- Length: 6’6″ to 15′
- Power: Medium to Heavy
- Rod Material: Ugly Tech (combo graphite & fiberglass)
- Guides: Stainless Steel
- Handle: EVA Foam
- Warranty: 7 Year manufacturing only
Pros:
- Budget friendly
- Wide size range makes it a great budget option as a shorter inshore rod or longer surf rod
Our choice for the best flounder rod under $100 is the Ugly Stik Bigwater Fishing Rod. Budget pricing doesn’t mean budget performance. This rod is nearly indestructible and comes in a range of sizes and powers perfect for all types of flounder fishing.
This rod is plenty sturdy. It’s heavier and less sensitive than most other similar class rods. The stainless steel inserts will succumb to saltwater corrosion quicker than pricier alternatives. The foam handle is functional and feels fine (although we personally prefer cork!).
We love that this rod comes in a huge range of sizes and it has a better warranty than many of the pricier rods available. For targeting flounder out of a boat or wading, get one around 7′. For surf fishing for flounder we recommend 10-12′.
This is an excellent budget option that can catch fish just as well as higher-end rods. Don’t think twice about adding an Ugly Stik Bigwater to your fishing arsenal.
3. St. Croix Triumph Inshore Rod
- Length: 6’8″ – 7’6″
- Power: Medium-Light to Heavy
- Rod Material: SCII Carbon
- Guides: Aluminum-oxide
- Handle: Full Cork
- Warranty: 5 year
Pros:
- Great value for the money
- Premium sensitivity
Our choice for the best flounder rod under $200 is the Triumph Inshore Fishing Rod. This price point is the best bang for your buck for balancing quality and price. Our favorite aspect of the Triumph Inshore is it’s superior sensitivity which is important to detect subtle flounder strikes. Knowing you have a flounder messing with your bait because you felt a minor tap can mean the difference between catching the fish or not.
The 7 foot spinning, medium power, fast action Triumph Inshore is a great option as the best flounder rod on this list. This rod is made with saltwater rated components on a strong, lightweight, and sensitive rod blank. It’s perfect for working soft plastics or soaking shrimp trying to catch a doormat flounder.
The full cork handle feels great. There’s plenty of backbone in the medium power (or heavier) versions to deal with larger flounder while still maintaining excellent sensitivity to detect subtle strikes.
4. St. Croix Triumph Surf Rod
- Length: 7′ to 10’6″
- Power: Medium to Medium-Heavy
- Rod Material: SC2 Carbon
- Guides: Aluminum oxide
- Handle: Cork Tape
- Warranty: 5 Year
- Available in 2 and 4 piece versions
Pros:
- 36″ hard-sided travel case for the 4 piece version is a delight to transport
- Long, comfortable cork tape handle
- Premium rod features for reasonable price
Our top choice for best flounder rod for surf fishing is the St. Croix Triumph Surf Rod because it nails that perfect mix of features and value we’re always looking for. Make sure to check out our in-depth review of the Triumph Surf.
Surf, pier, and jetty fishing can require long casting distances. This means that surf fishing rods are much longer than regular fishing rods. We recommend surf rods around 10 feet long because you can cast what feels like a mile but the rod isn’t too big to become unmanageable. For a deeper dive on surf fishing rods, check out our article on the best surf fishing rods.
Surf fishing is a great way to target flounder with live or cut bait on a bottom rig. Having a longer surf rod to maximize casting distance can be the difference between a great day fishing and an empty cooler. For flounder, look for structure in the surf like current guts, rocks, or jetties to find surf flounder waiting to ambush prey.
St. Croix rods are synonymous with quality and the Triumph Surf Spinning Rod is no exception. We love the feel of the long, split cork table handle. It is comfortable and the rod casts like a dream.
The rod blank is St. Croix’s proprietary SC II graphite fiber which is lightweight, durable, and sensitive with a higher strain rate than fibers commonly used by other rod manufacturers. The Triumph Surf Rod is on the lighter end of available surf rods with superior sensitivity without sacrificing strength.
5. St. Croix Legend Tournament Inshore Rod
- Length: 7′ to 7’11”
- Power: Light to Extra-Heavy
- Rod Material: SCIV+ Carbon Fiber
- Guides: Alconite & Stainless Steel
- Handle: Super Grade Cork
- Warranty: 15 Year
- Integrated Poly Curve (IPC), Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART), Fortified Resin System (FRS)
Pros:
- The best money can buy
- Made in the USA
Our choice for the best high-end flounder rod is the St. Croix Legend Tournament Inshore Rod. St. Croix pulled out all the stops with the this rod line. St. Croix’s Legend Tournament Inshore Rod is the strongest, lightest, and most sensitive flounder rod on the market.
We love the full cork handle, top end construction materials that should last forever, and St. Croix’s 15 year warranty. Our experience with St. Croix’s customer service has always been stellar so we feel it’s important to mention.
To top it all off, this rod line is made locally in Park Falls, Wisconsin!
The rod features four of St. Croix’s innovative technologies.
SCIV+ is St. Croix’s next gen, super high modulus carbon fiber. It is a hybrid carbon fiber blank enhanced with new IACT Glass technology that makes for a lighter, stronger, and more sensitive fishing rod.
Integrated Poly Curve (IPC) eliminates all transitional points in the rod blanks for smoother actions, increased strength, and greater sensitivity.
Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART) is an exotic carbon fiber material that adds a magnitude (10x) of strength with virtually no increase in rod blank diameter or weight and significantly improves the hoop strength of the blank by preventing it from deforming under severe loads.
And last but not least, rods manufactured with the Fortified Resin System (FRS) advanced manufacturing protocol consistently test 33% stronger than those built with standard resins and curing methods.
Comparison Table
Check out this handy table comparing some of the key features of the rods on our list.
| Rod Name | Length | Power | Rod Material | Guides | Handle | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Battalion II Inshore Rod | 7′ to 8′ | Light to Extra-Heavy | SLC2 Carbon | Fuji Alconite | Premium Cork or Rubber Shrink Tube | 1 Year manufacturing defects only |
| Ugly Stik Bigwater Rod | 6’6″ to 15′ | Medium to Heavy | Ugly Tech (combo graphite & fiberglass) | Stainless Steel | EVA Foam | 7 Year manufacturing only |
| St. Croix Triumph Inshore Rod | 6’8″ – 7’6″ | Medium-Light to Heavy | SCII Carbon | Aluminum-oxide | Full Cork | 5 year |
| St. Croix Triumph Surf Rod | 7′ to 10’6″ | Medium to Medium-Heavy | SC2 Carbon | Aluminum oxide | Cork Tape | 5 Year |
| St. Croix Legend Tournament Inshore Rod | 7′ to 7’11” | Light to Extra-Heavy | SCIV+ Carbon Fiber | Alconite & Stainless Steel | Super Grade Cork | 15 Year |
Conclusion
The best flounder rods need to cover a wide range of fishing techniques like soft plastics on jigs, live bait bottom rigs, and assorted lures. Our best for the money choice is the Penn Battalion II Inshore rod because of its versatility and value. We also really like the St. Croix Triumph Inshore as our choice for best flounder rod under $200 because of the incredible quality, strength, and sensitivity for the price.
What are you waiting for? Get out there and catch some fish!
Check out our articles for great reels to pair with these rods:
- Best Saltwater Reels
- Best Flounder Reels
- Best Inshore Reels
- Best Saltwater Baitcasting Reels
- Best Saltwater Spinning Reels
- Best Reels for Redfish and Speckled Trout
Check out our related rod articles:
- Best Inshore Fishing Rods
- Best Rods for Redfish and Speckled Trout
- Best Saltwater Fishing Rods
- Best Saltwater Rod & Reel Combos
- Best Surf Fishing Rods
- Best Surf Fishing Rod & Reel Combos
- Best Pier Fishing Rods
- Best Trolling Rods
How to Choose The Best Flounder Rod For You
Choosing the best flounder rod should account for factors like rod power, action, materials, and portability. Flounder are targeted with a variety of techniques that each have their own unique demands.
For even more reading, check out our article on how to choose any fishing rod.
Spinning vs Baitcasting Rods for Flounder
The two most popular techniques for targeting flounder are live bait bottom rigs and soft plastics on small jig heads. Spinning rods are better for both of these scenarios because baitcasting reels tend to backlash with lighter setups and live bait rigs. For larger soft plastics on jig heads, baitcasting rods are an excellent option due to their casting comfort and accuracy.
If getting one rod to do everything, we recommend a spinning rod to start. If grabbing an additional rod to cast lures, soft plastics, or about anything that requires frequent casts, we recommend baitcasting rods.
Length
Inshore anglers targeting flounder should pick rod length based on their selected fishing technique. Generally, longer rods can cast further, and shorter rods are easier to maneuver and are sturdier. The best rod length for most flounder anglers is rod around 7 feet long. This is a great length to be able to cast relatively far but still have the accuracy to pinpoint cast to a specific spot.
For flounder anglers fishing in the surf, rods between 10 and 12 feet are excellent options to allow for super long casts.
Power
Rod power is the fishing industry’s terminology for rod stiffness. Rod powers range from ultralight to heavy. Medium power is a great all around choice for flounder fishing. While all anglers dream of hooking into a 30″ monster flounder, realistically 90% of the flounder you catch will be between 14″ and 22″. Medium power is plenty strong for that sized fish.
Flounder are not known as strong fighters. Most of the time, hooking into a big flounder feels like snagging a large garbage bag for the first half of the retrieve followed by a short-lived but lively fight once the fish sees the boat. Because of this, dropping down to a medium-light power can be effective for anglers trying to maximize sensitivity without jeopardizing their ability to successfully catch a decent fish.
Action
Rod action refers to how far down the rod will bend when pressure is applied to the tip. Rod actions range from extra-fast (bends near tip) to slow (nearly the whole rod bends).
The faster the action, the more sensitive the rod will feel. The slower the action, the more casting distance you can get (the rod will feel like it whips more when you cast).
Fast actions are ideal for flounder fishing. They provide a balance of accurate casting and sensitivity. Fast actions also help with successful hooksets on flounder. Flounder have hard mouths that don’t tend to hook up as consistently as with other species like redfish. Fast actions help transmit the force of a hookset to the fish’s mouth which can reduces instances of lost flounder.
Portability
Another key factor to picking the best flounder rod is portability.
Seven foot long rods fit in most vehicles and boat rod holders. Much longer and you may run into problems. Make sure you check if your rod can fit in your vehicle before you make a purchase!
Think about purchasing multi-piece ‘travel’ versions of rods and/or look into travel cases to help protect your rod during transport. There’s nothing worse than accidentally breaking a guide or the rod tip on the way to the boat launch or beach.
Handle Material
Rod handle feel is an important factor to consider when picking a flounder fishing rod. Common handle types are rubber shrink tube, cork tape, or neoprene. Rubber shrink is usually considered a more budget option, whereas cork or neoprene feels better to grip and handle.
Rod Guide Material
Rod guide material is important because lower quality materials are heavier and will rust quicker and could potentially fail. This can be partially avoided by rinsing rod guides with freshwater after every trip.
The highest end rods have titanium or silicone carbide (SiC) rod guides whereas middle end or budget rods will have some variation of aluminum oxide or stainless steel.
Higher end rod guides are made with lighter materials with lower friction that will either rust slower or not at all. Less expensive rod guides are heavier and will succumb to the elements more quickly.
For additional information on rod guide considerations, check out our article that explains fishing rod guides in detail.
Rod Material
Rod blank material affects rod strength and how the fishing rod deforms during casting or reeling in a fish. Common rod materials are graphite, fiberglass, and composite. Check out our deep dive on rod blanks for more information.
Graphite
Graphite rods have incredible sensitivity in lightweight packages. They are great for detecting subtle fish strikes. Graphite rod disadvantages are that the rods can be a little weaker than the other options and more susceptible to breakage, especially around nicks or scratches.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is strong, durable and flexible but weighs more than graphite. They are less sensitive than the other types of rod materials.
Composite
Composite rod materials are a mix of graphite and fiberglass that seek to have the light weight and sensitivity of graphite rods with the strength of fiberglass rods.
Reel Seat
Reel seats are the component where the fishing reel is secured onto the fishing rod by tightening a locking nut. The basic parts of a reel seat are the body, hood, locking nut, and barrel threads. Common reel seat materials are either graphite or aluminum which are both lightweight, corrosion resistant materials. Reel seats are sized to match the power of the rod. For example, a reel seat on an ultralight fishing rod won’t fit a massive 10000 size spinning reel.
Most freshwater applications utilize fully graphite reel seats due to graphite’s light weight. For heavier duty saltwater applications, reel seats are commonly upgraded to machine-grade aluminum for increased strength. For targeting the largest fish on the planet, the complete rod butt and reel seat can be aluminum for maximum strength.
Maintenance and Care
Maintaining your fishing rod ensures its longevity and performance. After each use, rinse it with fresh water to remove dirt and debris, especially if you’ve been fishing in saltwater. Dry it thoroughly before storage to prevent rust and corrosion. Occasionally check for any signs of wear or damage. Store your rod vertically or horizontally on a rack, avoiding extreme temperatures or direct sunlight.
Explore our ultimate guide on fishing rod maintenance and care for comprehensive insights into maintaining your flounder fishing rod, avoiding common causes of damage, and mastering preventative strategies to ensure your gear remains in prime condition.
Flounder Rod Frequently Asked Questions
What reel to pair with flounder rod?
Flounder rods should be paired with high-quality, saltwater rated reels that match the rod type. Spinning rods should be matched with spinning reels and casting rods should be matched with baitcasting reels.
Match spinning rods with 3000 to 4000 size spinning reels for a great all around choice for common species like redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and striped bass. Pair inshore casting rods with saltwater rated baitcasting reels.
Check out our articles on the best saltwater casting reels and the best saltwater spinning reels for great reel options to pair with these inshore rods.
Be sure to thoroughly clean your equipment after saltwater fishing with a gentle freshwater rinse. Sand and salt spray gets in everything and your gear will last longer if you spray it down after each outing.
What is the best length flounder rod?
The best length for flounder fishing rods is 7 feet long. This length rod can accurately make long casts while still having enough backbone to reel in larger flounder. Seven feet rods are a perfect mix of casting distance without being too large for most anglers to comfortably handle.
Is mono or braid better for flounder rods?
Braided fishing line is preferable for flounder fishing. Braided line has significantly smaller diameter for the same strength line when compared to mono. This can be key while inshore fishing, because wind and waves will constantly be pulling at your line and trying to take your bait out of the strike zone. The smaller diameter means less effect from the elements.
How much line do you need for flounder fishing?
Inshore anglers targeting flounder need around 150 yards of line on their spool although they will rarely use more than 50 yards. Flounder fishing is relatively close quarters and casts are usually max of around 50 yards. Flounder are not considered strong fighters and won’t take a long run of line like some other species.
Fluke vs Flounder?
Flounder refers to a family of flatfish that, for East Coast anglers, includes gulf flounder, southern flounder, summer flounder, and winter flounder. Summer flounder are usually referred to as fluke and are common along the western Atlantic Ocean between Nova Scotia and Florida. Flounder all have similar body shapes and feeding habits, but vary slightly in size, coloration, and which side of the body their eyes migrate to as they mature.
Written By: Andrew Juran
Andrew is a seasoned angler with over 25 years of experience fishing across the United States. He has caught hundreds of flounder using various techniques and mentored many in the art of fishing. An advocate for sustainable fishing, Andrew is an active member of the Coastal Conservation Association, an organization committed to marine conservation.
For frequent fishing tips, behind-the-scenes looks, and real-time catches, connect with Andrew on Instagram
