Surf report- I caught one ! 11/15/21:

[AndyS]

I don't normally fish during the day but with the low clouds and sun angle I thought it might be okay. Original plan was to wait till low tide and wade out to the sand bar. Got to 7th Ave. at Seaside Park and walked down to the beach, no bar to be seen but some nice cuts and lots of birds diving out front, good sign. On about my 10th cast I thought I was snagged, then I'm like wait a minute, I'm surf fishing. Small striped bass of around 25" gave me a good fight, quickly released. Not too much later I haul off a nice cast only to hear a loud crack and see my one half of my rod take off, OHHH NOOOO !!! My rod had snapped at the ferrule.
So let me tell you about my surf rod and how old it is. I got the rod from a co worker named Doug when I worked at Efingers in the fishing department. In the department we would save all the Trilene coupons at the bottom of the bulk spools when emptied, it was kinda my job keeping track of the "Trilene Bucks" When we got quite a collection I would divide up the pile among the workers in the fishing department, I think each coupon was worth a dollar when you mailed them in, Trilene would send you a check. I think I had 50 coupons when Doug asked me if I would like to trade my coupons for a surf rod he wasn't using anymore, I said sure, what the heck.
Turns out the rod was a St Croix Ben Doerr Surf System rod, I fell in love instatly !! The details: SS86M2 Medium Moderate Fast Action 8' 6" SC (2) Graphite 6-14 lb. up to 1 1/4 oz. This rod is what dreams are made of. Sad to see her go. I used this rod extensively in the surf, really got my monies worth I would say but I got it for free.
On the fence about putting together a new set up this year. I was thinking that this outfit was a bit heavy, considering I matched it with an old Penn 6500ss but I felt confident when I used it, and still throw mono. I have a med-heavy freshwater outfit just been sitting here collecting dust, a nice one piece 7 ft. Kunnan rod with a Daiwa SS 2600 Tournament reel that I know will just explode the minute it sees saltwater.
I'll hit the tackle stores locally when I get some time. I see Shucker using the Daiwa BG in saltwater and they seem to hold up well. I won 't buy one of those really thin surf rods, they seem nice but I sure they are hard to handle when your hands get cold fishing in late November and early December.
Any inputs on a new set up, please feel free to advise.
Wanted to hit the Raritan river today for trout but decided against it with the high winds. Looking at my schedule I may be able to hit the suds a few more times this week, I'll keep you posted !

[Gumada]

In case you didn’t think of it, I’m pretty sure those rods were guaranteed for life....just sayin...

They probably would send a different rod....

[AndyS]

Guaranteed for life with proof of purchase I think. I don't think they make the Ben Doerr surf rods anymore. Funny, when guys saw a new St Croix rod come out they would take their old rods and snap them in half and we at Efingers would give them a new one, St. Croix kinda caught onto this. If I have to I'll purchase a new St Croix rod , they are well worth it.

[Jigman13]

The lower end st croix rods are garbage. The higher end sticks are waaaaay better. Check out the shadow surf line from tackle world. I have the 10'6 and can launch an SP or 1.5 oz bucktail like a dart launched out of a cannon. It's a tad light for heavier metal lips and such but anything from 1.25 to 2.5ish oz can be seriously launched. I've beached 25 lb bass on it but got taken to church by the one that got away 2 seasons ago. Too light a rod and too weak a reel the turn the beast. Wound up shearing some vital reel components as the beast dumped my spool at 18 lbs of drag lol

[NJ219bands]

I caught and released 3. Tagged 2.

[Pietro]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

The lower end st croix rods are garbage. The higher end sticks are waaaaay better. Check out the shadow surf line from tackle world. I have the 10'6 and can launch an SP or 1.5 oz bucktail like a dart launched out of a cannon. It's a tad light for heavier metal lips and such but anything from 1.25 to 2.5ish oz can be seriously launched. I've beached 25 lb bass on it but got taken to church by the one that got away 2 seasons ago. Too light a rod and too weak a reel the turn the beast. Wound up shearing some vital reel components as the beast dumped my spool at 18 lbs of drag lol

18 lbs of drag on a spinning rod? What are you fishing for?

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by Pietro

18 lbs of drag on a spinning rod? What are you fishing for?

I was hooked up into a very large striper in the back of the raritan 2 springs ago in April on a big metal lip swimmer. I couldnt stop the fish at all and kept bumping my drag up until it was maxed out... Pretty sure the Spinfisher VI 4500 i was using maxes out at 18 lbs. I was about 8 to 10 wraps from my backing when the hooks finally pulled. Next cast, on the retrieve, the reel was a peppermill...