Alright ladies and gentlemen, I'm new to the "big bait heaving off of piers, land, and surf" type of fishing. Every trip I took down to the coast, I always used artificials and relatively light tackle for just trout and reds. Just a year or so ago I found myself wanting to chuck out big live baits and heavy rigs for bigger fish like drum, bull reds and even shark. I was looking at some rods and found myself just settling with an ugly stick I found at a tackle shop in Port A. It's the BWSB1120 model ugly stick. It's a 7'0" heavy power rod. Its bigger than what I intended to buy and was looking for but I got a good deal on it. I want to know what size of spinning reel would match with this because I have no clue. I was thinking a 60 size Fin Nor lethal but I'm not really sure. None of the tackle shops had them so I was going to order one but I just want to know what other people who know what they're talking about think. I mean this is a pretty hefty rod. Maybe not quite as beefy as a tiger rod but it's almost there. I know it's more a matter of preference and what balances with the rod but I'm just curious. I'll probably be doing a lot of big drum fishing off of piers and the bank and even some surf fishing. Probably some bull red fishing and cat fishing and even some shark fishing as well with big chunks of cut bait and whole crab.

Also I just got back from a trip this past weekend where I hooked into a big drum on light tackle and I got spoolled in just a matter of seconds. I had about 3/4 of the line I was supposed to have on the reel and I knew that if I hooked one it'd be tough to get it in but I can say I'm personally hooked on the thrill of catching one.

Penn Battle 6000
Shimano Saragossa 6000/8000SW
Fin-Nor lethal 60 is a good choice, but a little heavy.
might think about a longer rod for that kind of fishing (surf,jetties)

good luck in your quest!

Get a 10'- 12' graphite surf rod.. but more importantly learn how to use it correctly. You should be able to cast 100-150 yards once you learn.

I see guys with those rods that don't know how to use them and they're casting maybe 30-35 yards. You can launch it if you know how. Read up on surf rod casting technique.