Updated 2/13/2024

Looking for the best pier fishing rods available on the market today? Look no further. I’ve done the hours of rod research and testing on weight, strength, durability, material, and portability so you don’t have to.

Pier fishing raises a few unique challenges. Long casting distances require longer fishing poles which conflicts with potentially cramped or crowded conditions favoring compact setups. Also, equipment portability can become a key factor if parking is far from the pier.

Make sure you have the right pier fishing rod for your next saltwater fishing trip!

*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

• Best Overall: St. Croix Triumph Surf Spinning Rod
• Best Under $100: Fiblink Surf Spinning Fishing Rod
• Best Value: Penn Battallion II Surf Spinning Rod
• Best Lightweight: Okuma Cedros Surf CSX Rod
• Best Premium: St. Croix Legend Surf

The 5 Best Pier Fishing Rods

Our recommendation for best pier fishing rods is to pick a surf spinning rod that is 9 to 10 feet long. These rods are saltwater rated, break down into manageable carrying sizes, have the length required to cast long distances, and are still compact enough to fish on a crowded pier. Read on to see our recommendations by category.

1. St. Croix Triumph Surf Spinning Rod

• Length: 7 – 10.5 feet
• Rod Material: Graphite
• Guides: Aluminum oxide
• Warranty: 5 Year
• Available in 2 and 4 piece versions
• Heavy duty travel case with the 4 piece travel version

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 pier fishing rod is the St. Croix Triumph Surf travel rod which we feel is that perfect mix of premium quality with a manageable price tag. We recommend the 9 or 10 foot versions for pier fishing.

We prefer the four piece travel option that comes with the travel case. The peace of mind of transporting a full size pier fishing rod in a compact, hard-sided, 3 foot travel case had me smiling all the way to the beach. Zero stress worrying about braking too hard and busting off a guide or snapping a rod (compared to my 1-piece, 7 foot rods diagonally lying in my truck bed!).

One thing to note is the travel case does not have space for a reel. At first, I thought this was going to be a problem, but I actually really like it. It allows the rod case to be extremely compact and it’s been no issue storing my reel separately.

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.

The only downside we can think of is the comparatively higher price tag. That said, we feel like the features of this premium rod are a steal at its price point and make this our choice for best overall surf fishing rod.

For further reading, check out our in-depth review of the St. Croix Triumph Surf rod.

2. Fiblink Surf Spinning Rod

Fiblink Surf Spinning Fishing Rod 4 Piece Travel Rod Portable Spin Fishing Rod (Spin:12-Feet)

• Length: 10 – 15 feet
• Rod Material: Carbon Fiber
• Guides: Stainless Steel w/ceramic inserts
• Warranty: 1 Year

Pros:

• Budget friendly

Pier fishing doesn’t need to break the bank! Fiblink Surf Spinning Rod is our choice for the best pier fishing rod under $100 and is a great option for the budget conscious angler. You don’t need expensive gear to catch fish.

Like many budget fishing pole options, this rod is heavier, less sensitive, and constructed with lower quality parts that could potentially fail earlier than more expensive rods. That said, you could purchase four of these for the same price as a higher end pier fishing rod!

We recommend thoroughly rinsing the guides with freshwater after any outing to prolong the life of the stainless steel.

The rubber shrink tube grip is functional but doesn’t feel nearly as good as the cork options on other fishing poles.

We were pleasantly surprised that even a budget rod includes a warranty period (albeit 1 year). It’s better than nothing, but the 3 or 5 year warranty periods of the mid to high tier surf rod lines are notably better.

3. Penn Battalion II Surf Spinning Rod

PENN Fishing Squadron III Surf Conventional Fishing Rod, Titanium/Red/Gold, 10′ – Medium – 2pc (SQDSFIII1220C10)

• Length: 9 – 12 feet
• Rod Material: Graphite Composite
• Guides: Fuji Alconite
• Warranty: 1 Year manufacturing defects only

Pros:

• Great value for the price

Our choice for best value pier fishing rod is the Penn Battalion II Surf Spinning Rod. Penn’s second generation Battalion surf rods are well respected amongst seasoned surf fishing pros. The rod features Alconite ceramic guides that claim to have 80% greater compression strength and be 20% lighter than Aluminum Oxide.

We wish the warranty was a bit better for a rod over $100 but such is life.

The Battalion II is a solid mix of quality manufacturing at a reasonable price point. It isn’t as lightweight, sensitive, or as travel friendly as some of the options on this list, but it’s a great value proposition for its price.

4. Okuma Cedros Surf CSX Rod

Okuma Fishing Tackle CSX-S-1102MH Cedros Surf CSX Graphite Saltwater Spinning Rods, Black

• Length: 9 – 11 feet
• Rod Material: Carbon Fiber
• Guides: Stainless steel frames with zirconium inserts
• Warranty: Lifetime limited warranty & 3 Year Accelerated Replacement Program

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Excellent Sensitivity

The Okuma Cedros Surf CSX rod is a huge value offer with unparalleled strength and sensitivity in a light weight package. They’ve gone a unique route with smaller diameter guides than you’d expect on a surf rod, but in practice this rod casts just as well or better than the competition.

With this rods light weight, it makes a great option for anglers who intend to hold their rod or cast frequently rather than use a rod holder.

Additionally, the lifetime limited warranty and 3 year accelerated replacement program are great value adds. The 3 year replacement program allows you to trade in your rod for new for a flat cost of $50 (within 3 years of date of purchase).

5. St. Croix Legend Surf Casting Rod

St. Croix Rods Legend Surf Casting Rod

• Length: 7 – 12 feet
• Rod Material: SCIV Graphite with Fortified Resin System (FRS)
• Guides: Titanium
• Warranty: 15-year transferable
• Integrated Poly Curve (IPC) & Advanced Reinforcing Technology (ART)

Pros:

• The best money can buy

Finally, if you want the strongest, lightest, and most sensitive pier fishing rod on the market, look no further. St. Croix pulled out all the stops with the Legend Surf series of rods and it’s our choice for the best premium pier fishing rod.

The rod features three of St. Croix’s innovative technologies.

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 (like the huge bull red you’ll be fighting in the surf)!

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.

Also, St. Croix manufactures their high-end rod lines in Wisconsin for United States based anglers looking to support local manufacturing.

With the best technology available on the market comes a high price tag which is the only downside of this incredible fishing rod.

Comparison Table

Check out this handy table comparing some of the key features of the rods on our list.

Conclusion

Pier fishing can be tough on both the angler and the equipment. Massive fish, big baits, and choppy waves demand the best equipment available. Long hikes in and potentially crowded fishing conditions highlight the need for portability and a balance of compactness and rod size. Our top choice for the best pier fishing rod available is the St. Croix Triumph Surf Spinning Rod due to its portability, light weight, strength, and quality of materials for the price.

Check out our articles for great reels to pair with these rods:

• Best Surf Fishing Reels
• Best Saltwater Reels
• Best Saltwater Baitcasting Reels
• Best Saltwater Spinning Reels
• Best Flounder Reels
• Best Conventional Reels

Check out our related rod articles:

• Best Saltwater Fishing Rods
• Best Saltwater Rod & Reel Combos
• Best Inshore Fishing Rods
• Best Sheepshead Rods
• Best Surf Fishing Rods
• Best Surf Fishing Rod & Reel Combos

How to Choose The Best Pier Fishing Rod For You

While the key factor for selecting the best surf fishing rod for you should be rod length (casting distance), other factors like rod power, action, materials, and portability are important to the decision.

For even more reading, check out our article on how to choose any fishing rod.

Length

The first thing many anglers notice with pier fishing rods is how LONG they are. Most normal fishing poles are 6 to 7 feet long whereas pier fishing rods are commonly 8 to 15 feet long! Rod length is vitally important for pier anglers.

Pier fishing is similar to surf fishing in that it requires the longest casting distances of any type of fishing. Longer rods allow for longer casts. That doesn’t mean immediately go out and buy the longest rod available! It’s important to balance your ability to comfortably handle the fishing rod with casting distance.

For most anglers, a 9 to 10 foot pier fishing rod is the perfect balance of being a manageable size while still allowing you to cast the required distance. Piers can be crowded or have maximum rod sizes, and we’ve found that 9 to 10 feet is the sweet spot for rod length.

Power

Rod power is the fishing industry’s terminology for rod stiffness. Rod powers range from ultralight to heavy.

Since pier fishing usually uses large baits to target big fish, medium-heavy power is a great starting place for pier fishing rods. It is a good balance of rod stiffness while still being pleasant to handle.

For targeting the largest saltwater fish like bull reds, sharks, and black drum, a heavy power rod could be the right choice.

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).

Many pier fishing rods come in moderate to moderate-fast actions which are a perfect balance of sensitive and castability. Generally, pier fishing rod length allows you to cast plenty far with a sensitive, moderate-fast action.

Check out our article on fishing rod actions for even more information.

Portability

Another key factor to picking the best pier fishing rod is portability. Since pier rods are so long, they usually break into 2 or 4 pieces for transport. Imagine having to transport a 12 foot, 1-piece rod in your vehicle to the beach!

Think about purchasing a ‘travel’ version of pier fishing 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 beach. Four piece rods can break down into 3 foot, compact forms that fit perfectly in most vehicles.

Handle Material

Rod handle feel is an important factor to consider when picking a surf 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 pier fishing rod, avoiding common causes of damage, and mastering preventative strategies to ensure your gear remains in prime condition.

Pier Fishing Rod Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of rod is best for pier fishing?

Pier fishing is best with specialized surf fishing rods that are 9 to 10 feet in length with medium to medium-heavy power (rod backbone). Pier fishing targets large fish species like striped bass, black drum, redfish, flounder, pompano, sharks, and corbina, which require heavier baits that the rod needs to be able to handle.

Additionally, casting distance is critical. Longer fishing rods can cast further, and pier fishing rods are some of the longest around. The extra 20+ yards of casting distance you may get with a pier fishing rod frequently mean the difference between catching fish or not.

What reel to pair with pier fishing rod?

Pier fishing rods should be paired with saltwater spinning reels in the 4000-6500 size range. These reels are large enough to handle big surf fish species and can hold enough line to allow pier anglers to cast as far as the long pier fishing rods will allow.

Be sure to thoroughly clean your equipment after surf 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 pier fishing rod?

Nine to ten foot surf rods are the best length pier fishing rods for most people. It is a good middle ground of a manageable size to transport and handle while still being able to cast the long distances required for pier fishing. Shorter fishing rods may not be able to cast far enough.

Additionally, some piers have a rod length limit of 10 feet.

Is a 7ft pole good for pier fishing?

While you can still catch fish pier fishing with a 7 foot rod, a longer pier fishing rod can cast further which could mean the difference between casting to where the fish are feeding or not.

If your options are pier fish with a 7 foot pole, or don’t fish at all, fish with the 7 foot pole. If you have the option, bring a 9 to 10 foot pier fishing rod ensure you can cast to where the fish are feeding.

How many yards of line do you need for a pier fishing rod?

Preferably 200 yards or more. Combining the facts that pier fishing rods are designed to cast extremely far, and big surf fish may make a long run with your bait, the maximum available line on your pier fishing rod and reel is important. Swapping from mono to braid can help with this because braid has a smaller diameter meaning you can fit more on the reel spool.

Is mono or braid better for pier fishing?

Braided fishing line is preferable for pier fishing. Braided line has significantly smaller diameter for the same strength line when compared to mono. This can be key while pier fishing, because wind and waves will constantly be pulling at your line. The smaller diameter means less effect from the elements.

What kind of bait for pier fishing?

Pier fishing can be done with both live and artificial baits. The most common type of pier fishing is using live bait on a bottom rig like a fish finder rig or high low rig (check out our in-depth article on the best surf fishing rigs). Rig up a 1/2 – 4 oz weight and live bait on a circle hook and you’ll be catching fish in no time. You can catch anything from bull reds to sharks surf fishing with live bait. Common pier fishing baits are live shrimp, cut bait, squid, and crab (check out our article on the best surf fishing baits).

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 fish 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