Inshore Rod Recommendations?

[heyitskirby]

Finally got my boat down to Florida and I've started fishing in Tampa Bay.

 

I've been using a couple of Penn Battle II combos I bought a few years back for bottom fishing the James River for croaker, both are 4000 reels on 7' rods and work well for inshore.  I'm looking to get another set up so I can accommodate some non-fishing friends and figured I would get another Penn Battle reel, but wanted to look into trying out a better rod than the combo (not gonna lie, this set up will be for me).

 

Any suggestions?  Mostly focused on reds, trout, and snook, but also willing to fish for whatever is biting at the time.  I've never really paid much attention to my saltwater rods, so outside of length and action I'm not totally sure what to look for.

[bulldog1935]

I mostly fish inshore. 

I like my Crowder E-series Light (IM6) and my 13Fishing Omen Green (J30T) for different reasons. 

The Crowder has smooth power, maybe unlimited power, but a bit on the heavy side.  Crowder blanks are handmade in Florida. 

An opportune tide in February, I released 16 slot-size reds on it. 

 

 

The Omen Green is shocking light-in-hand and fast, and may be the best buy out there.  

I described my 7'1" ML bait to my bud as feeling every blade of grass. 

He fished his new spinning version Omen Green 7'2" ML for the first time last weekend and loved it.  If you're opting for one rod, 13Fishing has 7'1" Medium spinning in stock along with the longer 7'7" MH. 

 

You'll find a lot of fans for St. Croix, from Mojo to Avid,

first light, I go to my St. Croix Legend Glass

just-right action for dog-X, wakebaits and neutral-density jerkbaits, such as TSL Grasswalker.  Grasswalker dog-walks in the zone on any retrieve, fishes all day. 

Not showing off the trout, but YoZuri wakebait, "real gizzard shad", which reflects green and transmits pink - swap the hooks for salt

[Chris at Tech]

I’m one of the St Croix fans @bulldog1935 referred to!

 

I’ve got several of the now discontinued SCII Tidemasters but I really prefer my SCIII Avid Inshore.  If you’re fishing more open water, I think a 7ft M would be a good starting point but you might need to step up to MH if you’re throwing to bigger snook in the mangroves.

[heyitskirby]

@bulldog1935 - Thanks for the in-depth response.  I was surprised by the price of the Omen Green (I was expecting more) and will probably go in that direction.  I definitely need to get a couple of set ups, but since I'm just getting back into it one will be good enough for now.

 

@Chris at Tech - good info.  I hadn't though much about needing a heavier rod, but will keep this in mind once I get a better handle on what I'm fishing around here.  Would be good for trying to drag fish away from deeper structure too.  I do have an Ugly Stik Striper rod (currently with a Penn Fierce 5000) that I used to use for catfish that could probably become that rod for now.

[thunderblack]

I have been super thrilled with two inshore rods (spinners) purchased recently. One is the Shimano Teramar XX SE M F 7' and the other is a Daiwa Backbay 7'-1" M F. They both will handle any snook, redfish, or trout you hook into. The Backbay has a double locking nut which is a really nice touch so your reel stays put. 

[soflabasser]

Make sure to get a heavy action inshore rod if you plan on catching +40'' inshore gamefish. You can also get a medium action inshore rod for casting smaller lures.