Introduction
There are hundreds of rods and reels on the inshore fishing tackle market. How do you finally decide which one to go with, and makes makes you decide? We all know price is a major factor that influences customers’ decisions every day; however, the equipment you use for fishing aligns perfectly with “you get what you pay for.” In this short blog, we offer recommendations with embedded links to make your search easy and effortless. We find that Bass Pro Shops is overall a great place to order your equipment, with free shipping on orders over $50.
Light Inshore Fishing Tackle
Our first (budget) pick for throwing around finesse baits on the flats, trying not to spook shallow fish would be the Penn Squadron III in a 7’6″ Medium Light configuration. This is the best bang for the buck, coming in at only $69.99. The longer length will ensure that you’ll be able to cast a lighter bait further. For an upgraded option, at a higher price point, we recommend looking at the Penn Battalion II 7’6″ Medium Light.
This rod is a little more expensive, but overall higher quality. You can pair either of these rods with a Penn Spinfisher VII with a 2500 size reel. Pair this set up with 10lb PowerPro braided line, and you’ll be wacking some big fish! This exact set-up can catch slot sized snook and reds without a problem. It really comes down to the bait you want to throw and the environment you’re fishing in. If you want to throw a bigger bait, you’ll need to tie it on a heavier rod.
Medium Inshore Fishing Tackle
So, you’re looking for an all around inshore fishing set-up. This is what should come first in your arsenal if you’re starting from scratch. If you’re not starting from scratch but do not have a rod similar to the ones listed below, you’ll want to make sure you pick one up, as this is the most versatile and all around great set-ups for inshore fishing. You can fish the flats and throw small baits or medium sized baits without a problem.
This combo can throw anything from a Berkley Gulp Shimp to a decent sized live mullet or bigger artificial bait. Our budget rod and reel pick would be the Penn Squadron III 7’6″ Medium with a Penn Spinfisher VI in a 3500 size. The Penn Battalion II 7’6″ Medium with the same reel is a great choice also. Spool this with 10-15 PowerPro braided line and you’ll be set.
Medium Heavy Inshore Fishing Tackle
Moving up in power, the medium heavy rods listed below are for throwing bigger lures and bigger live bait. When combat fishing, you can also throw a smaller presentation on these rods, as you will need the extra power and drag from the bigger reels. These combinations are great for combat fishing docks, mangroves, and other various structure inshore. You can throw big spooks, swimbaits, and huge mullet on these rods, and they really enable you to catch giants.
We recommend the Penn Battalion II 7’6″ Medium Heavy with a Penn Slammer IV in either the 3500 or 4500 size. The only difference between the two reel sizes is a weight savings of 1.1 ounce with the 3500 and slightly less line capacity. We recommend this reel, even though it is more expensive. It will last longer than the cheaper Penn models and be able to handle much more abuse. Pair this combo with 30lb PowerPro braided line and hang on!
Heavy Tackle
Atlas, the heavy tackle paragraph you’ve been waiting for. You want to catch huge fish along bridges or throw some big baits in the inlet or jetty. While there is a time and a place for the other rods and reels, you need power when fishing against abrasive structure. You need a rod with power, where you can hoarse the fish to the boat. A heavy rod and lots of drag on your reel is essential!
If you are looking for a heavy set-up, we recommend the Penn Battalion II 7′ Heavy with a Penn Slammer IV in the 6500 size. The Slammer has 40lbs of drag and the rod can pull a Goliath Grouper out from the bridge piling in no time. We recommend using 50lb PowerPro braided line for this one. Also, once you purchase this set-up, you can always buy another rod and take it offshore. Its line capacity is great for deep dropping, trolling, or doing whatever kind of fishing you want to out there!
Summary
Consider purchasing the medium and medium heavy set-ups before the others. These two categories will get you the furthest into fish catching ability and the widest range of applications of throwing them. Penn is a favored brand by BD Boatworks, and we suggest any of their rods and reels. Penn is great, but dont skip out on looking at the other brands such as Daiwa, Shimano, Offshore Angler, etc.
We hope you enjoyed this informational blog and we look forward to hearing about all of your great catches!
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